 |
|
| Walter K. Weisel |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Mr. Weisel is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Innova Holdings, Inc., Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc. (RWT), and Innova Robotics. Mr. Weisel’s career in control systems, robotics, and automation began at Cincinnati Milacron where he worked for 10 years with machine controls and computers in both field service and management. Mr. Weisel then served 13 years with Prab Robots, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Operating Officer. During his career with Prab, he transformed the company into an international organization and leader in the fields of industrial robots and automation responsible for the largest installed base of robots in North America. While with Prab, Mr. Weisel also acquired Unimation, Inc. (founder of the industrial robot) and launched a very successful robot remanufacturing (retrofit) business in which General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler immediately began contracting for retrofit services. This business sector quickly grew to over $10 million per year in sales. Mr. Weisel also formed Prab Command, Inc. (a subsidiary of Prab) and introduced the world’s first 100 percent voice-activated robotic arm and PC computer workstation for the severely disabled, including quadriplegics.
Mr. Weisel has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Product of the Year Award for the State of Michigan and the National Product of the Year Award for the development of the voice-activated PC computer workstation. He was also awarded the Joseph F. Engelberger Award which recognizes the most significant contribution to the advancement of robotics and automation in the service of mankind, and the Marketer of the Year Award by the American Marketing Association.
Eugene V. Gartlan
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Gartlan is the Chief Financial Officer of Innova Holdings, Inc. He has over 30 years financial management experience as the Chief Financial Officer of several organizations as well as several senior level financial management positions, including the following:
- Chief Financial Officer for The Thomson Corporation – Information Publishing Group with over 180 operating companies worldwide in the financial information, educational, reference, legal, professional, medical and technical publishing, and newspaper markets.
- Chief Financial Officer of International Data Group, Inc., a privately owned company encompassing 275 magazines and newspapers, research, book publishing and expositions with operations in 75 countries.
- Chief Financial Officer of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a leading international bond rating agency and financial information publisher.
- Chief Financial Office of Dun & Bradstreet Consulting, a market research and operating facility relocation consulting firm.
- Chief Financial Officer of Maxwell Macmillan International Publishing Co.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Gartlan was with Price Waterhouse & Co. Most recently, he was the President of StratEx Solutions, Inc. LLC, a company providing accounting, auditing, business planning, treasury and merger and acquisition services.
Mr. Gartlan has hands-on experience attaining strategic goals in complex international markets, particularly growth through mergers and acquisitions, both stand-alone and fold-in companies, new product development initiatives launching new business initiatives, and cost savings activities. He has extensive experience in accounting, auditing, treasury, financial planning and analysis, and international finance including foreign exchange exposure management, global liquidity management, capital structure and tax planning.
 |
|
| Sheri Aws |
| Vice President |
Ms. Aws has held several key positions on the Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc., (RWT) team for a period of five (5) years serving initially as an executive assistant to the engineering and sales departments. Ms. Aws also served as assistant to the sales and marketing Vice President, specifically maintaining outside sales team records, drafting quotes, coordinating product training classes, designing forms, and assisting the marketing team in every aspect of public relations. Her performance led to a promotion to a management position as Administrator of Proposals and Contracts, reporting to Mr. Weisel. Her responsibilities included developing the proposal process between sales and engineering, and maintaining company records pertaining to sales contracts and proposals. In early 2004, Ms. Aws responsibilities further expanded to include assisting Mr. Weisel while overseeing the overall company administrative operations, including human resources. In mid 2004, Ms. Aws was promoted to Vice President and Corporate Secretary, supervising the daily financial management reporting, assisting in handling all legal matters and documents relating to SEC reporting, shareholder relations and maintenance of the corporate books.
Ms. Aws serves on the William E. Weisel Scholarship Committee, a program dedicated to assisting full-time undergraduate students enrolled in engineering or technology programs, seeking careers in robotics or automated systems manufacturing and/or the medical field.
 |
|
| Bob Ballard |
| Vice President of Operations, Robotic Workspace Technologies |
Bob served as Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales from 2000 through 2002, and returned in March 2006 to Innova Holdings’ wholly owned subsidiary as Vice President of Operations.
His focus with Robotic Workspace Technologies is on outsourcing the manufacturing of the company’s flagship product, the Universal Robot Controller™ (URC™). He is responsible for all aspects of fulfilling orders, facilities, and support of sales operations.
Bob has broad experience in manufacturing processes and robotic applications. He was a Robot OEM Account/Retrofit Program Manager for the ABB Robotics, Fanuc, and Yaskawa Motoman accounts at Hypertherm, Inc.(Hanover, NH), a world leader in plasma cutting technology and automated cutting machine retrofits. Bob also worked for Thermal Dynamics (West Lebanon, NH), DuPont Instrument Products Division/Sorvall Operations (Newtown, CT) and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (West Palm Beach, Fla.) where he held key positions in engineering, design and account management.
Bob has published a number of technical articles for trade publications, and has been a frequent speaker at conferences organized by professional trade associations such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), American Welding Society (AWS), Steel Plate Fabricators, and the Italian Waterjet Association. He has also conducted numerous training sessions on plasma cutting. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from University Systems of New Hampshire.
His wealth of experience is a significant addition to the management team, enhances the company’s strategic position and strengthen its operations.
Ron Fukui
Chief Technical Officer
Mr. Fukui is President and co-owner of FAST Inc. a company providing repair services to the industrial equipment market.
Prior to founding FAST in 2001, Mr. Fukui held various positions within the Enprotech Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Itochu International, Tokyo, Japan, that provides engineered products and technical services to manufacturers in North America. He served as Vice President of Enprotech, General Manager of its Mechatronics Division that specializes in motion control, and as President of the COM, Inc. subsidiary that supplies PC-based test equipment exclusively for General Motors Corporation.
Mr. Fukui also served as General Manager of K & E Electronics, a provider of repair services and upgrades for electronic motion control equipment manufactured in Japan and used in North America.
For nine years prior to joining Enprotech Corp. Mr. Fukui was Product Engineering Manager for Prab Robots, Inc., an international leader in the fields of industrial robots and automation. While at Prab, Mr. Fukui designed two new robotic control systems and supervised the design of a third. He also created robotic vision and tracking systems used in the company’s products and supervised the improvements necessary for hydraulic components used in the precision robot applications.
In 1976 Mr. Fukui joined AMF, Inc. in their Inspection and Recognition Division where he designed vision systems. This equipment is used in the agricultural industry to identify, inspect and grade produce. While at AMF, he became involved in the Versatran line of robots, one of the two original robot companies in the United States. This division was later purchased by Prab Robots.
Mr. Fukui holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from California Polytechnic University. He consults to the hydraulics industry and has spoken on various Internet commerce topics. Mr.Fukui was awarded a United States patent for a position sensor design used in harsh industrial environments.
Mr. Fukui was an active member of SEMCA (South East Michigan Community Alliance) and a member of the Board of Directors from 1996 to 2001. He led the state’s SEMCA Assessment Committee and various other groups with the State of Michigan’s Work Force Development organization. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for Michigan’s School-to-Work programs from 1994-1998. This group provides guidance and funding for various programs to over 800 schools in our area.
 |
|
| Sandra Brooks |
| Incomm International, Inc., Marketing Counsel |
INCOMM International Inc. (Jacksonville, FL) has been retained to provide marketing services to Innova Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. INCOMM provides market research and analysis, strategic planning, and marketing communications. INCOMM specializes in emerging technologies in the worldwide B-2-B and B-2-C arenas. She works with Fortune 500 and Global 100, as well as start-up companies and small-to-medium businesses to launch technologies for automation and computer-integrated manufacturing including CAD/CAM software, advanced machine tools, industrial controls, and robotics; advanced computing technologies including simulation and virtual reality; Internet security technologies including encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection, and virtual private networks (VPN), and Internet applications like online learning, e-Commerce, and Web Services.
INCOMM’s founder, Sandra L. Brooks, has published over 200 articles on advanced technology and contributed to a number of textbooks; she also is a frequent speaker and author on marketing topics. She was named the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce West Council Small Business Leader of the Year in 2004. She is also a member of the Small Business Resource Network, jointly sponsored by the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida and the City of Jacksonville, where she serves as the Chairman of the Marketing Committee and the Vice President of Marketing on the 2005 Steering Committee. Ms. Brooks is an alumna of Loyola University.
INCOMM also has offices in Washington, DC and Seattle/Tacoma, WA.
|
|
