Learn About the Expertise

Kris Pfaehler is an accomplished manufacturing executive, board director, and strategic advisor with more than 40 years of leadership experience helping industrial companies achieve growth, operational excellence, and long-term shareholder value creation.
Throughout his career, Kris has held senior executive leadership positions with global manufacturing organizations serving the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, industrial, and engineered products markets. His responsibilities have included strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, sales and marketing leadership, business development, operational improvement, organizational transformation, and corporate governance.
As a member of executive leadership teams and boards of directors, Kris has helped guide organizations through periods of significant growth, ownership transitions, strategic acquisitions, international expansion, and operational transformation. His experience includes participation in multiple private equity transactions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic growth initiatives across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.
Kris has worked extensively with private equity ownership groups, boards of directors, and executive leadership teams to evaluate growth opportunities, improve business performance, strengthen governance practices, and create long-term enterprise value. 

Before establishing Sand Dollar Global Advisors, Kris served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Company Officer, Secretary, and Board Member of Waupaca Foundry, one of North America's leading manufacturers of iron castings. During his tenure, company revenue increased from approximately $1.1 billion to $2.0 billion while EBITDA improved fivefold. He participated in two successful ownership transitions involving ThyssenKrupp AG, KPS Capital Partners, and Hitachi Metals, while helping guide strategic growth initiatives, acquisition evaluations, and operational improvement efforts.
Prior to Waupaca Foundry, Kris was responsible for leading sales and marketing teams at Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Strattec, Talon Automotive Group, and American Bumper and Manufacturing (both Talon Automotive stamping assets and American Bumper facilities are now part of Flex-N-Gate.)
Most recently, Kris served on the board from 2020-2026 for Grede Holdings, an iron foundry manufacturing company with revenues exceeding $800 million, owned by Gamut Capital Management.  

Kris has extensive experience working with private equity ownership groups, boards of directors, and executive leadership teams to evaluate strategic growth opportunities, manufacturing investments, acquisitions, organizational development initiatives, and operational improvement programs. Throughout his career, he has participated in acquisition evaluations, due diligence efforts, integration planning, global joint ventures, and strategic planning initiatives across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Earlier in his career, Kris held executive leadership positions with Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Strattec Engineered Products, Talon Automotive Group, and American Bumper & Manufacturing (both now part of Flex-N-Gate), where he led global sales, marketing, business development, advanced engineering, program management, and strategic growth initiatives. He has built and managed international organizations with operations and customer relationships spanning the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.

In addition to his corporate leadership experience, Kris has an extensive record of board service and governance leadership. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business and on the Board of Directors of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Grede Holdings from 2020-2026, a private equity-owned manufacturing company, and ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, as well as numerous nonprofit organizations focused on education, community development, and human services.

Kris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master of Arts degree from Marygrove College. He has completed executive education programs through Harvard Business School, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and other advanced leadership and strategic management programs.

Today, Kris works with boards, private equity firms, executive leadership teams, and manufacturing companies seeking experienced guidance in strategic planning, growth initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, governance, and operational excellence.