In
Michael McClung
Profile
Growing up in Beckley, Mike McClung always had a keen interest in math, so taking the Engineering route out of college was a relatively simple choice for him. But choosing between the various Engineering disciplines was not so simple. Also being relatively outgoing, he wanted to work in a field that allowed him to use his math skills, but combine that with the “people” side of the equation. He thought that Industrial Engineering would give him the best combination of both interests.
When Mike graduated from WVU, he interviewed with multiple companies across the eastern US. “My internship with FMC was really critical to my job options. I’m really glad that the WVU IE program has had a long time focus on getting students actual engineering experience while still in school,” Mike says.
Mike began his career with Burlington Industries, a textile manufacturer headquartered in Greensboro, NC. Over the next five years, he moved between three different plants, each time with increasing responsibility. He became a Manufacturing Systems Engineering Manager when he was 26 years old.
Mike left Burlington after five years and went to another textile firm: Kayser-Roth Corporation also headquartered in Greensboro. Working at the facility in Prosperity, SC Mike took on the roles of Plant Engineering Manager and Plant Quality Assurance Manager. After 6 years at Kayser-Roth, Mike and his new family moved to Athens, GA where he became the Corporate Director of Quality Assurance for Chipman-Union, a private textile manufacturing business. He eventually rose to a position where he had over 200 people in the business unit he managed.
Despite making tremendous strides in quality and cost reduction, Mike began to realize that the textile industry in America was fading and decided that a change in careers might be in order. After a lengthy and thorough interview process, he started his banking career with the First Union National Bank in Charlotte, NC. This was a major transition in careers and Mike was aided by a personal connection and solid experience. “I knew very little about banking,” Mike says. “In fact, my wife balanced our check book. But process improvement is truly industry agnostic.”
Over the next several years, Mike went through a number of bank mergers. “The banking industry didn’t have a history of process rationalization,” Mike says. “The major difference in financial processes is that you can’t always “see” the product moving through the various processes. But the IE tools I learned in college are just as applicable.”
Another change that Mike sees in banking is the intense amount of regulation that affects the banking industry. “We have to design processes that are both efficient and reflect the highest level of financial integrity, always keeping a watchful eye on risk while assuring our quality is high and our expenses are low,” Mike says.
Mike sees a great future for IEs in the financial industry.
Bio
During Mike’s 17 year tenure at Wells Fargo, he has served in a variety of project management, process improvement and leadership roles with First Union National Bank, Wachovia, and now Wells. In those roles, Mike has gained broad banking experience with a variety of business lines including Operations supporting Retail Banking, Business Process Outsourcing, International Operations, Wholesale Business Services, Data Governance, and most recently Wholesale Relationship Processes. His passion for process excellence and continuous improvement has provided a positive impact in each group represented.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mike spent 16 years in the manufacturing industry, starting off as an Industrial Engineering Trainee for Burlington Industries and ending his manufacturing career as the Director of Quality Assurance and Union Finishing Operations for a small textile firm in Georgia.
Mike earned his a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University and is a trained Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean practitioner. Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife, his two kids, his family and friends and working on various projects around their house in Mooresville, NC.
| Corporate Title | Senior Vice President – Business Process / Quality Manager |
| Functional Title | Process Engineering / Transaction Banking Data Governance Leader |
| Department | Wholesale COO Group / Wholesale Business Solutions – Process and Data Governance Team |
| Wells Fargo Tenure | 17 years |
| Professional Tenure | 33 years |
| Education | BS – Industrial Engineering, West Virginia University |
| Certifications | Lean / Black Belt Six Sigma Trained
Tatham Process Consultant |
| Industries Supported | Banking Operations
Textile Manufacturing |
| Organizations Supported | Burlington Industries
Kayser-Roth Chipman-Union Wells Fargo / Wachovia / First Union |
| Past Roles (with WF)
Reverse chronological order |
Transaction Banking Process & Data Governance Lead, IWS
Continuous Improvement Leader, International Wholesale Services (IWS) Strategic Process and Data Management Leader, International Operations Program Manager – BPO, Wholesale Operations Business Process Improvement Team Leader, Operating Services Senior Project Manager, Operating Services |
| Past Roles (outside of WF)
Reverse chronological order |
Corporate Director of Quality Assurance and Union Finishing Operations
Corporate Director of Quality Assurance Quality Assurance Manager Engineering Manager Plant Manufacturing Systems Engineering Manager Plant Industrial Engineering Manager Plant Quality Engineer Industrial Engineer |
