About Us

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Our Purpose

Quite simply - through our consulting services, we want to use our experience and talents to help others achieve their goals.  We take pride in ensuring that the people and places are in a better position due to our insights, influence and guidance.  In the end, we seek to build trusting relationships with business partners by providing additional capabilities or by identifying & unlocking untapped potential.  This is how we define "having fun".

How We Work

• Aligned actions - listen, understand, explore and align then adjust via feedback
• Transparent communications - frequent, focused, fact-based
• Hands on - the experience to engage at all levels, in the workspace where life happens
• Disciplined approaches - data-driven, problem solving techniques, project management tools and principles, applying LEAN principles
• Humility - we respect your business and employees; we listen, explore and will learn about your business to provide you the best options

The Team at Cardinal Points Associates

Mike Sawalski brings a robust skill set in innovation and product design in taking cutting-edge concepts and managing their progression to development and commercialization teams. He exhibits a unique blend of understanding the delicacies of the creative side of product development with the realities, limitations, and rigidity of the science side. 

By continuously monitoring market trends and applying unique technical insights against them, Mike delivers and implements pioneering technology strategies that address those trends. As a thought leader and change agent, he has led aggressive projects and delivered them on-time and within budget despite shifting priorities, demanding expectations, and stringent deadlines.
 

He bridges the gap between products and yet-to-be-developed concepts and ultimately new products. He spearheads the decision-making teams that select suppliers, outside innovations and technologies to key decision makers within leadership teams.

By using a combination of coaching, listening and an approachable manner, Mike has proven to be a highly effective team leader in galvanizing teams to embrace a singular vision and oneness of purpose. He has been repeatedly recognized for clearly and effectively communicating to audiences from a variety of cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds, oftentimes making sophisticated concepts readily understood by all.

Mike earned his Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is a Professional Engineer as granted by the National Society of Professional Engineers.
 

James Pawloski is a results-driven and innovative Technical Professional with 38 years of global experience in product launches, design and development, research and process development. Considered to be an expert on the design and manufacture of zippered plastic bags (he is named on 37 US Patents), he also has in-depth knowledge of liquid filling, secondary packaging and contract manufacturing.   

As a well-respected and disciplined leader, he has consistently delivered meaningful, timely results through use of creative solutions, team execution and solid engineering practices. He is experienced in technical troubleshooting, manufacturing operations, strategic planning, cost/budget analysis, training, mentoring, and project management.   

James has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science Engineering Technology from Saginaw Valley State University. He has participated in the Society of the Plastics Industry-Film and Bag Federation and the Plastics Industry Association-Brand Owners Council.

James enjoys wood working, home improvements, community theater and playing his trombone and guitar.  He has been married for 36 years and has 2 grown children and one grandchild.  

Mike Hudak has over 25-years directly in or in support of the consumer products industry. Having contributed to the success of a highly respected privately held global company, he has developed a mind-set for customer service, speed to market and consumer satisfaction. 

Mike has led manufacturing new products teams to move innovative ideas from the R&D space to the retail shelf by developing scaled up processes and equipment, identifying and qualifying sources of supply and establishing the supply chain to support customer demand.  Often, the manufacturing solutions for innovative products required innovative manufacturing and assembly processes.

He is a seasoned manufacturing leader who has focused and delivered on improvements in plant safety, product quality and loss reduction. Mike has managed contract manufacturing sourcing domestically and globally. He has a passion for people and team development as well as implementing process changes to support a growing business. 

On the strategic side, he has contributed to the assessments and/or implementation/integration of technology & company acquisitions, multi-region global sourcing projects and global manufacturing footprint changes (including greenfield sites).

Mike has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago – Graduate School of Business (now Booth School of Business).