PRESS RELEASE – ST. LOUIS – August 30, 2021 – The Board of Directors for the Lighthouse for the Blind, a not-for-profit manufacturing and packaging organization with a dedicated social service mission, today announced that Eric D. Warnhoff of St. Louis has joined the organization as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. As an experienced leader in operations, Warnhoff brings a track record of successfully solving critical business challenges, providing innovative solutions, and elevating operational excellence at companies including BJC Healthcare in Missouri, and RLCB Inc. & LC Industries in North Carolina.
“Eric began his career at the Lighthouse over two decades ago. He demonstrated tremendous drive and dedication to our mission, and we are excited to welcome him back to the Lighthouse family,” says Ben Haltenhof, Lighthouse for the Blind’s Chairman of the Board. “His impressive experience in operational excellence will help to further expand on the organization’s objectives and status in the community.”
“I am deeply passionate about growing the capabilities of the Lighthouse and further cultivating their Blind Community Enrichment Programs to provide services and support to children and adults who are legally blind,” says Eric Warnhoff. “The Lighthouse is foremost a mission-driven organization, and I look forward to leading and positioning us as a catalyst to serve the blind community in St. Louis and beyond.”
For the past 11 years, Warnhoff was the Director of Transformation Support and System Operations for the Center for Clinical Excellence at BJC Healthcare. In this role, he led efforts to transform organization performance by gaining operational efficiencies through continuous improvements, including redesigning the employee mail order pharmacy to reduce time and costs, and led the implementation and management of multi-million-dollar enterprise-wide technology systems across the organization.
Before joining BJC Healthcare, Warnhoff was Vice President of Operations and Operation Management at RLCB Inc., a $30 million industry in Raleigh, North Carolina, that provides textiles to the federal government. In this role, he led significant business transformational strategies within all facets of the agency. Warnhoff began his career with Lighthouse for the Blind and has spent over 18 years working with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and its affiliate agencies, leading business process engineering, project management, and production management in the Chemicals, Textiles, and Medical Kits divisions.
Warnhoff earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University. In addition, he holds a certificate in business management from the Darden Graduate School of Business. He is an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Services at Washington University. Eric is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a Project Management Professional and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Quality.
For more information about Lighthouse for the Blind’s business, programs, and mission, visit www.lhbindustries.com or contact Brittney Bettonville, Lighthouse Marketing Manager, at 314.423.4333.
About Lighthouse for the Blind
The mission of Lighthouse for the Blind, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is to assist individuals who are legally blind maintain dignity and independence through gainful employment, education, and support services. The organization’s two manufacturing, assembly, warehousing and distribution plants produce medical kits; catheters; aerosol and liquid paints; aerosol and liquid cleaners; adhesives; eco-friendly products; and others for business, consumer, and government customers nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of products from Lighthouse for the Blind’s Government and commercial brands, including SKILCRAFT®, Quake Kare® (quakekare.com), Tear Mender® (tearmender.com), RapidFix® (rapidfix.com), Badge Magic® (badgemagic.com), and CosBond® (cos-bond.com), contribute towards 18 community outreach programs that support children who are blind.
###
