OFFICERS

Birte Mathis
PEMA President

Birte Mathis is CEO of Jacob Tubing, L.P. where she has worked since its entry into the U.S. market in 1998. In this role, she serves the needs of Jacob client companies in all of North, South, and Central America. Birte was instrumental in transitioning the company from a sales office to a manufacturing facility. Her team of more than 26 manufacture and deliver high- quality steel tubing, which is used in the manufacture of an array of products ranging from coffee to NASCAR components to the latest developments in space travel. Birte graduated with an engineering degree from the University of Florida. She and her husband Kent reside in Germantown, TN with her two stepdaughters and two rescue dogs. They are passionate about impacting the lives of humans and canines and work with the local homeless population and serve as a founding Board member of a near-by animal rescue.

Chris Nawalaniec
PEMA Vice President

Chris Nawalaniec is the President of Stedman Machine Company, Inc., Aurora, Indiana. Chris joined the company in 2004 as National Sales Manager, responsible for new machinery and systems sales. Current responsibilities include sales and general management, strategic planning, marketing and new product development. In his role at Stedman, Chris has been part of a team that helps customers improve their dry material processing systems in a wide range of international industries. Founded in 1834, Stedman assists its customers with improvement of product quality, lower operating costs and development of new products with size reduction and material processing expertise. Chris is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati: BSME, MBA. His career has been working with custom design, make-to-order manufacturing companies. Chris resides in Cincinnati with his wife Julie and their two college-aged children.

Travis Young
PEMA Treasurer

Travis Young is CEO of Vortex Global in Salina, KS. Vortex is a global engineering and manufacturing company specializing in process gates, diverter valves, and dustless loading solutions for dry bulk solids. His career at Vortex began as Director of International Business, overseeing the company’s exports. He later established Vortex’s operations in Europe and Asia, serving for 10 years as Managing Director of Vortex Global Limited in the United Kingdom. In his current role, Travis is responsible for Vortex’s strategy and marketing direction. Travis holds a B.A. in Marketing and International Business from Kansas State University. In addition to PEMA, he serves on the Board of Directors of other non-profit and for-profit entities. Travis and his wife Melanie have two sons and reside in Salina, Kansas.

PEMA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Rod Henricks
Executive Director of Sales – Schenck Process LLC

Rod Henricks is the Executive Director of Sales, Chemical & Performance Materials, Schenck Process, LLC. Previously he was the Director of Sales for Bunting Magnetics Co and held earlier product and sales management positions with the company. Prior to joining Bunting in 2009, Rod was in senior management of two companies that manufactured transportation equipment (truck bodies and trailers). Those were acquired by private equity, one in the late 1990’s, the second in early 2000’s. Rod is a former member of NTEA (National Truck Equipment Association) and their Young Executives Network (YEN). He also has held committee positions with the Wichita Chamber of Commerce (State Legislative Committee). A lifelong resident of Kansas, Rod enjoys having family close by. Oldest son Nathaniel is a Junior at Kansas State University majoring in Geographic Information Systems. Barron, age 10, is developing his talent with PGA Junior Golf.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rob Ward
President of U.S. Operations – Russell Finex Inc.

Rob Ward is President of U.S. Operations of Russell Finex Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Russell Finex Ltd. The company is a global manufacturer of separation and filtration equipment, and Rob has been with them for 20 years, with roles in the U.K. and the U.S. With a background in sales and engineering, he has held various positions in the company, including Vice President of Sales. Prior to his Russell Finex employment, Rob worked for a U.K. engineering company in the automotive industry. He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Rob and his wife Anne have two children and live in Charlotte, NC.

Robert Bunting
General Manager – Bunting

Robert Bunting is the General Manager for Bunting Elk Grove Village, IL. As the General Manager, he manages Operations, Sales, and Customer Service staff. Robert is the driver for sales growth via the e-commerce site, www.BuyMagnets.com,  through SEO development, PPC management and Google Shopping. He was influential in launching a new site built using WordPress and Woo Commerce. At this same time, Robert has been one of the co-chairs driving the organizational-wide renewed strategic plan. Robert is a 3-time winner of Bunting’s prestigious Product Manager of the Year. Robert stays involved, active and volunteers his time on PMMI’s Business Intelligence Committee. He is a member of a local Vistage KEY Group.

Outside of work, Robert has completed 2 Ironman Triathlons, over 20 Half Ironman 70.3 Triathlons, dozens of half marathons, and countless bike races. He is an avid city gardener, loves travelling to National Parks with his wife Becky, and enjoys a good craft beer on his roof top with Ivy, his Labrador Retriever, at his side.

Andy Forrester
Vice President of Sales (Americas) – Spiroflow Systems

Andy Forrester is Vice President of Sales for the Americas at Spiroflow Systems. Spiroflow was founded in Clitheroe, Lancashire, in the UK in 1971, and now also operates systems and automation/controls businesses in the Unicte States as part of their holding company based in Monroe, North Carolina. Andy is originally from Glasgow, Scotland, where he served 12 years in the Royal Air Force during which time he graduated from the Royal Military College of Science with a BSc in Information Technology. He subsequently joined the global manufacturer of construction products, Hilti, where he held various roles in Sales and Marketing in the United Kingdom, Canada and United States. He was subsequently Director of Sales for another PEMA company, Kice Industries, for 5 years before joining Spiroflow in October 2019. Andy lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife Julie and their two teenage children.

Chuck Kerwin
General Manager – AZO, Inc.

Chuck Kerwin is General Manager of AZO Incorporated in Memphis, Tennessee, where he is responsible for the American sales office of AZO GmbH. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and Georgia State University with a Masters of Business Administration. Chuck joined AZO in 1998 with 15 years of manufacturing and project management experience with Thomas & Betts, Northern Telecom and Atlanta Gas Light Company. He is active in various local civic associations and participates in the Memphis in May BBQ Festival. Chuck and his wife, Tricia, have one grown son and live in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jason McDaniel
President & COO – French Oil Mill Machinery Company

Jason McDaniel is President and Chief Operating Officer of The French Oil Mill Machinery Company in Piqua, Ohio. After earning his in B.S. Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State in 1996, McDaniel joined the company and worked in various divisions and roles from 1996 through 2012. Then in January 2013, Daniel P. French recommended McDaniel succeed him as the company’s President, and the Board of Directors appointed McDaniel as President and Chief Operating Officer. McDaniel was instrumental in the decision to start operations in China and has been the point person for all FOM (Shanghai) Company, Ltd. activities, which allows French to serve the growing Chinese polymer industry with domestically made products to dewater and dry synthetic rubber. He was also recognized in August 2011 by Rubber & Plastic News as a top rubber industry professional under 40, for making a significant impact on the industry. Jason and his wife Amy have one daughter and reside in DeGraff, OH.

Chuck Mitchell
VP Sales & Marketing – Carrier Vibrating Equipment, Inc.

Chuck Mitchell is the VP of Sales and Marketing for Carrier Vibrating Equipment, Inc in Louisville, KY.  Established in 1950, Carrier is internationally known for outstanding innovation in the field of vibratory technology.  He is a graduate of University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School with a Master of Engineering (MEng), Mechanical Engineering.  Chuck joined Carrier in 1997 as a Project Engineer. In his current role he is responsible for the inside and outside sales force, contract negotiations, forecasting, new product development and is an integral part of the corporate development team.  In addition to PEMA, Chuck is also a member of the American Foundry Society (AFS) and hold two US Patents in the field of vibratory technology.  He and his wife Sandi live in Louisville, KY with their two teenage children.

Kyle Rhodes
VP Sales & Marketing – MPI (Magnetic Products, Inc.)

Kyle Rhodes is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Magnetic Products, Inc. (MPI) in Highland, Michigan. Established in 1981, MPI helps industrial manufacturers control metal in their production process by manufacturing reliable industrial magnetic and metal control equipment that removes contaminants, separates, or conveys metal. Kyle joined MPI in 2009 and has held positions is manufacturing, purchasing, sales and marketing. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and MBA from Michigan State University. Kyle and his wife, Jennifer, have one daughter and reside in Milford, MI.

Richard Weeks
Director Of Sales – The Dupps Company

Richard Weeks is Director of Sales at The Dupps Company in Germantown Ohio. Founded in 1935, The Dupps Company is still family owned and acknowledged as the industry leader in the manufacture and application of products and systems used in the protein recycling industry.

Richard is a graduate of Ryerson University Mechanical Engineering in Toronto Canada and prior to joining The Dupps Company in 2014, he was a founding member of three different industrial product start-up ventures. He has significant experience in a wide range of process control industries and has championed sales and marketing efforts on an international basis. Richard and his wife Mardi reside in Centerville Ohio and travel frequently to visit their three children and seven grandchildren.

Julie Whitten
Vacuum Conveying Division Manager – Piab USA, Inc.

BIO COMING SOON

John Winski
Director Of Sales – Coperion K-Tron

John Winski is the Director of Sales for Coperion K-Tron. Coperion K-Tron is a global engineering and manufacturing company offering state-of-the-art feeding, pneumatic conveying and complete material handling systems. John joined the company in 1987 and has held positions in field engineering, project engineering and various sales support and management positions. In his current role, he manages the sales network for North, South and Central America. John has an electronics engineering technology degree from Temple University. An avid musician, John spends his spare time playing saxophone with the Greater Kensington String Band where he parades annually every New Year’s day. John and his wife Christine reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and have two adult children.

STAFF

Elizabeth B. Armstrong, MAM, CAE, QAS
PEMA Executive Director & Secretary

Elizabeth Armstrong is Executive Director for the Process Equipment Manufacturers’ Association. Beth is the president of Association and Society Management International (ASMI) – PEMA’s management company – and chief staff executive for several of its clients, leading service teams and ensuring the annual work plans are executed successfully. She began her career as PEMA’s membership and statistics manager in the late 80s. Beth’s areas of expertise include service delivery approaches for non-profit organizations, board and committee management, non-profit account, marketing, and member services. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the AMC Institute. Beth holds a BBA in Marketing from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Association Management from The George Washington University. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE credential earned through ASAE); and a Qualified Association Specialist (QAS credential earned through the Florida Society of Association Executives).

Harry (Buzz) W. Buzzerd, Jr., CAE
PEMA Management Counsel

Harry (Buzz) W. Buzzerd, Jr., CAE, has served as Management Counsel to the Process Equipment Manufacturers’ Association since 1983. He began his association management career in 1964 and holds a CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation. He earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College, along with extensive graduate and professional education. In addition to his work with PEMA, Buzz is Management Counsel to the Association of Vacuum Equipment Manufacturers and the American Textile Machinery Association. He is Chairman and owner of Association and Society Management International, Inc., which he founded in 1982.