Lee received his BS in Chemical Engineering
from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from Clemson University.
Robert
E. Carty
Background
Bob
Carty is an experienced executive with considerable financial management,
systems, operating, marketing, interim management and consulting
experience in a variety of industries. Bob has managed the information system and systems planning
functions in diverse industries as well as providing advice and counsel
for technology based start up companies. Bob has strong financial
experience having served as the CFO or Controller in the technology,
manufacturing and service industries.
Experience
Prior to his association with GrandWest, Bob provided consulting services
focusing on business analysis, financial and strategic planning,
information systems, organizational change and financial restructuring for
established and emerging growth companies and has provided interim
management services to companies in transition. Bob’s system experience
includes strategic and tactical planning as well as design, implementation
and maintenance of manufacturing, distribution and financial systems in
PC, client server, mid-size and mainframe environments.
Bob was the CFO of EmTech Environmental Services, a hazardous materials
response company, the CFO of Town & Country Corporation, Fine Jewelry
Group, where he consolidated domestic manufacturing and administrative
operations, and implemented electronic data interchange and MRPII
manufacturing client server systems, the Controller of AirBorn, Inc., a
military electronics manufacturer, and various positions with Atlantic
Richfield Company including MIS, finance and planning functions. Bob has
worked with and served on creditor’s committees in high profile national
retailer bankruptcies
Bob began his professional career with Ernst & Young and is a CPA.
Education
Bob received his BS in Accounting from Rider College and an MBA in Finance
from LaSalle University.
John
M. Witmer
Background
John
has considerable manufacturing, engineering, operating and management
experience in the industrial and capital goods industries with an emphasis
on developing and implementing programs to modernize manufacturing and
engineering capabilities to increase capital and manpower productivity and
improve manufacturing efficiencies. John has served as the interim CEO of
a manufacturing company and has provided consulting services to clients in
a variety of manufacturing industries.
Many of John’s assignments have been in under performing
businesses or business units and he has a demonstrated record of achieving
significant operational and financial improvements.
Experience
Prior to
joining GrandWest, John was the interim CEO of an underperforming
manufacturer of products serving agricultural equipment manufacturers and,
as an interim officer for a lottery machine manufacturer, provided
solutions to correct major production and product quality problems. John
was the VP of Manufacturing and Engineering for American Laundry Machine,
a manufacturer of large complex industrial laundry equipment; the VP of
Manufacturing for Mazak Corporation with responsibility for all U.S.
manufacturing and support functions for the world’s largest machine tool
builder; the VP of Operations for Wilton Corporation a manufacturer of
hand and machine tools where he implemented TQM and JIT to improve
productivity and product quality; the Manager of Manufacturing and
Director of Engineering for Blaw-Knox, a producer of large complex
castings, weldments, rolling mills and military equipment. John has held
other engineering and manufacturing positions with TRW, McGraw Edison’s
National Electric Coil Division and Metal Forge Company and served his
tool and die apprenticeship with Timken Roller Bearing Company.
Education
John
received a BS in Finance from Franklin University and studied industrial
engineering at Ohio State University.
Dr.
Walter Bare
Background
Walter Bare is an accomplished executive with extensive management and
consulting experience in diverse process and manufacturing industries.
Walter is an acknowledged industrial expert in plant operations, process
control systems and process safety management and has in-depth experience
in the application of multi-variable expert computer systems and software
applications to automate, optimize and control complex production
processes and measure performance. Walter has participated in the
development of expert software systems for the petrochemical and refining
industries and has authored numerous articles on process control and
safety management. His work and consultancy experience has served clients
in Asia, Europe and South America.
Experience
As the founder of Fuzzy Logix, Walter provides proprietary software
and consulting services to support operations management in process
industries that include expert systems to monitor operations and tools to
audit employee performance. As a principal consultant for engineering
companies, Walter has gained considerable experience in developing and/or
implementing process automation systems and technology development. Walter
has served as a Refinery Manager and Director of Operations for Kerr-McGee
Refining Company where he held full P&L responsibility for a fully
integrated refinery.
Education
Walter received his BS in Chemical Engineering from The
University of New Mexico, a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering from
The Drexel Institute of Technology and a PhD in Electrical Engineering
from The University of Oklahoma
Lawrence A.
Burkholder
Background
Larry Burkholder is an executive with extensive
experience in a wide range of manufacturing, process and service industries. He has
managed manufacturing, processing, technical and marketing operations for Companies in the
specialty organic chemical, oil field chemical and food industries. Many of Larry's
assignments have involved responsibility for new business ventures and underperforming
business units of major industrial companies and he has extensive international
experience.
Experience
Prior to joining GrandWest, Larry was the
interim President of Cultor-China, a new business unit of a major Finnish food ingredient
manufacturer. Larry was responsible for establishing a business presence in China
including developing an actionable business and marketing plan, staffing (including the
hiring and training of a permanent Chinese General Manager) and the on-site management of
all construction, operations and administrative activities. Prior to
Cultor, Larry was
instrumental in the establishment of Pfizer Chemical's Oil Field Products Group where he
later became its General Manager. As its General Manager, Larry was responsible for all
aspects of worldwide chemical sales and services to the oil and gas industry, including
developing new business opportunities in China and India. Prior to becoming the Group
General Manager, Larry was responsible for providing technical support for new business
development throughout the oil producing countries. Larry also held various technical and
business development managerial positions at Pfizer Chemicals. Prior to joining Pfizer
Chemicals, Larry was a Commercial Development Manager for W.R. Grace and began his career
at Occidental Chemicals as a project engineer.
Education
Larry received his BS in Chemical Engineering
from Ohio University and completed various programs in graduate business studies at George
Washington University.
