MICROCARE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Customer Relations Team Lead
Annette Serrano, started with MicroCare Medical Infection Prevention, then known as Certol, back in 1994. Annette rose through the ranks of the company, doing the tasks that needed getting done. Everything from answering customer service calls to entering payments into the accounting system and more.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Business Development
- Global Product Director
As the MicroCare Global Product Director, Bill Kushner specializes in seeing the big picture. It's his job to create long-term strategic plans to increase revenue and develop new markets. By looking at our current capabilities he develops ways for the company to create new products, expand into other markets, build new vendor partnerships and support our distributor network, all with the goal to grow the bottom line.
Bill is a graduate of LaSalle College with a degree in Public Administration, Business Administration and Management. He then pursued post-graduate studies at Temple University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, MicroCare Denver
When Brian King joined MicroCare back in 1998 it was a small company operating out of a 10,000 square foot facility in Bristol, CT. However, the company was growing fast. They needed someone to manage their manufacturing operations and maintain their filling line equipment. Owner, Chris Jones, being impressed with Brian's strong mechanical aptitude, brought Brian on as the first MicroCare Production Supervisor.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relations Coordinator II
As a Customer Relations Coordinator II, Cecilia Piña coordinates all aspects of our MicroCare customers' experience. This includes order processing and status, product availability and pricing inquiries, credit terms and shipping updates. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she also provides support to our domestic and international outside sales team and customers.
Job Titles:
- Key Account Manager, Medical Infection Prevention
As a Key Account Manager for our medical infection prevention line, Charlie is responsible for nurturing our existing customer base and bringing new customers within the medical market to MicroCare.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Founder
Chris Jones, an embodiment of curiosity and charisma, leaves an indelible mark on everyone he encounters. A true people-person, Chris is captivated by diverse perspectives and revels in meaningful connections, infusing each interaction with genuine enthusiasm.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Account Executive
Dan Sinclair is a seasoned professional with a diverse career spanning military service, insurance, and the electronics industry sales management for MicroCare. Currently serving as Strategic Account Executive for MicroCare, Dan brings a wealth of experience and valuable lessons learned to his role.
There is a stereotype that salespeople are brash, pushy and loud. If that's true, then soft-spoken David Ferguson is unique. He's the Commercial Sales Manager for Precision Cleaning products at MicroCare. Although he primarily works in North America, he also supports clients in South America, Europe and Asia. His focus is critical cleaning projects in the aerospace, military, electronics and medical industries.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer
- the Hush - Hush Sales Representative
Don Phifer could tell you what he's working on, but he'd have to kill you. Just kidding. It's true, however, that much of Don's work is highly confidential. As a MicroCare Sr. Technical Sales Representative, Don works with cutting edge production and design engineers in the medical, aerospace and defense industries. As such, much of what Don works on is top-secret. "Several of the companies I work with are ‘off the record' and I cannot even acknowledge they exist. They have incredibly high confidentiality requirements and the work they do is extremely hush-hush," Don explained.
Job Titles:
- the Chemist Who Hated Chemistry
Job Titles:
- Regional Sales Manager, MicroCare Asia
Job Titles:
- General Sales Manager, Mexico / LATAM
- Salt of the Earth Sales Manager
Ernesto was raised just outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied at the Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara earning his degree in International Business Management. "I grew up in a very traditional family in Guadalajara and spent the first 26 years of my life there," he recalled.
After graduation, Ernesto went to work at Flextronics in Guadalajara as a Traffic Analyst for their Imports Department, handling over 200 air shipments every day. "Flextronics was a great first job," Ernesto recalled. "My superiors and peers showed me how to make the most of my time in order to get complete customer satisfaction."
When people meet Ernesto Pollano for the first time, they instantly come away with a positive impression. Upright. Solid. Friendly. Ethical. Curious. These might be some of the traits which come to mind when you first meet Ernesto, the General Sales Manager, Mexico/LATAM.
Ernesto has been married to his wife and best friend Cristina for over a decade. They have two lovely daughters of whom they are tremendously proud. The Pollanos also share their busy, active home with their pup, Kalua.
Job Titles:
- Multi - Talented Business Leader
- Vice President, Business Operations
Heather Gombos is one of the icons of MicroCare. She's been with the company for decades. She has come a long way from her childhood days of "playing MicroCare office" on Saturday visits to the company with her dad, Chris Jones. She's done almost every job in the company on her path to becoming Vice President of Business Operations. This dynamism makes her perspective on MicroCare, its history, its ethics, and its future very valuable.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, MicroCare Asia
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager, MicroCare Asia
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- the Entrepreneurial CFO
As CFO, John oversees the finance and accounting functions at MicroCare. He is responsible for our company's financal business planning and process changes to drive strategic growth and efficient operational scaling. John plays an integral part in determining our future MicroCare financial success.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relations Team Lead
Jordan Bartucca is our Customer Relations Team Lead. It is his job to help connect our customers with our team of sales reps and field technicians. "I serve as the go-between for everybody so customers get the help they need solving their critical cleaning issues," he explained. Jordan also gives support by sending documents, answering product questions and entering orders.
Juan De Paz-Lavalle began his journey with MicroCare in 2021. Armed with a background in chemical and biological engineering, Juan swiftly became a vital member of the MicroCare Medical family, currently holding the position of Chemist I.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relations Manager
Katie Nelson brought her energy and enthusiasm to MicroCare in 2014. She held different roles in Sales and Marketing, before becoming our Customer Relations Manager in 2017. Katie heads a busy department which is perfect for her. She thrives on busy. The Customer Relations Team fields customer calls, processes documents, provides quotes, creates invoices and troubleshoots problems - anything that needs to happen to best deliver our products and our promises to our customers.
Job Titles:
- Technician
- Laboratory Technician
Ken Tingley joined MicroCare in September 2021, as a Senior Laboratory Technician. As such, it is Ken's job to perform testing on samples supplied by the MicroCare manufacturing team or by our MicroCare customers. He also produces COAs (certificates of analysis) for all of the MicroCare products and supports the research and quality assurance teams.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Account Executive
Meet Kevin Marion, a results-driven Strategic Account Executive at MicroCare, known for his professionalism, care, and dedication. With a diverse background ranging from professional hockey to a successful sales career, Kevin brings a unique perspective and a problem-solving approach to his role.
In 1993, Kevin shifted gears and began his sales career at Marshall Industries, stepping into the unfamiliar world of semiconductors and production supplies. Thanks to his determination and willingness to learn, he quickly mastered the industry's intricacies. Over time, he built strong relationships with colleagues and customers alike, shaping the foundation of his successful sales career. In 2018, Kevin joined MicroCare after spending 18 years as the Central US Sales Manager at ITW.
Outside work, Kevin is a devoted family man, celebrating nearly 30 years of marriage with his wife, Kris. They have four children, Erika, Allison, Teddy and Charlie. They also share their home with three beloved dogs, Bucky, Beau and Louie. His commitment to community service is admirable, as he volunteers at his local parish, supports local food pantries, and assists with programs for veterans.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Account Executive, Precision Cleaning
- the Tailored Strategic Account Executive
Providing tailored critical cleaning solutions to her customers is Kristin Rosas' specialty. Kristin joined MicroCare in 2022 as a Strategic Account Executive for our Precision Cleaning and Medical Device Manufacturing platforms. In her role, she is responsible for sales and customer satisfaction for companies using bulk vapor degreasing cleaning processes.
Job Titles:
- European Business Manager, Fiber Optics
Liam Taylor brings a wealth of experience to his role as European Business Manager, Fibre Optics at MicroCare UK Ltd. With a background in marketing, trade shows and technical journals, Liam joined MicroCare in 2018, eager to contribute his expertise to the company's success.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Professional Philosophy
Lu Anne Green embarked on her journey with MicroCare in December 2023, and currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer. With a rich history of senior leadership roles directing global organizations across diverse industries such as Electronics, Lightning, Build Construction, Medical Devices, and Scrap Processing, her career has been marked by a focus on footprint rationalization, productivity initiatives, supply chain optimization, value engineering, and capital equipment management.
In her role at MicroCare, she leads our multi-site manufacturing and logistics Connecticut team, driving improvements in productivity and efficiency. Collaborating closely with our CEO, she is instrumental in developing and implementing the company's operational strategy, ensuring the seamless execution of our MicroCare objectives.
Education
Lu Anne earned her degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and later pursued an MBA from Western New England University. This educational foundation has provided her with a holistic understanding of product design and manufacturing processes, enabling her to approach challenges with a comprehensive perspective.
In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Lu Anne helps propel the MicroCare continuous improvement initiatives and fortifies our steadfast commitment to excellence.
Job Titles:
- Eastern Mexico Regional Manager
- Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Mexico
- the Empathetic Sales Manager
As the MicroCare Eastern Mexico Regional Manager, Manuel Gonzalez is responsible for the growth and development of all MicroCare products including electronics, medical, precision and fiber optic cleaning fluids. It is his job to ensure our customers get the customers the right chemistry, the right process, and the right training, so they get the critical cleaning results they need.
Job Titles:
- Sales & Marketing Specialist
Sales and new customer development is Melissa Benkert's specialty. She started at Certol, now MicroCare Medical Infection Prevention, in April 2019. In her role as Sales and Marketing Specialist for our medical and dental infection prevention lines, she organizes and executes our medical and dental industry trade shows, manages existing customer accounts and spearheads new customer development.
Sales support is Patty Casey's specialty. She started at MicroCare in 2020 and with her promotion to Customer Relations II in 2022, it is her job to assist the MicroCare sales team in providing the best care and support for our MicroCare customers.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Account Representative, Precision Cleaning
As an accomplished and dedicated professional with nearly four decades of experience in the precision cleaning industry, Phil joined MicroCare in 2023, bringing with him a wealth of expertise as a Strategic Account Executive for Precision Cleaning.
Phil's journey in the critical cleaning industry has equipped him with a deep understanding of the significance of effective communication and relationship building with his customers. At the core of his approach is the belief that successful, enduring partnerships are built on collaboration, trust, and understanding. He thrives on asking the right questions and actively listening to responses, enabling him to provide tailored solutions that align with the unique requirements of each project.
Phil says, "I'm not just here to send customers a random solvent sample; I'm all about asking questions about what's working and what's not, listening to the responses and uncovering the real critical cleaning pains they're facing. After all, the last thing I want to do is sell them something that doesn't work. It's about more than just a transaction; it's about building partnerships that thrive."
Phil's sales philosophy revolves around making all stakeholders, from EH&S Officers, Manufacturing Engineers, and Manufacturing Managers, part of conversation. By acting as part detective and part problem solver, he ensures that all aspects of the cleaning challenge are considered and addressed comprehensively. This holistic approach has consistently yielded positive outcomes, strengthening Phil's belief that a well-informed and engaged team is key to success in solving our customers' needs and pain points.
Phil says, "My goal is to pave the way for success, fostering confidence that clients from any department can reach out anytime with the assurance of effective support."
While focusing on customers' cleaning problems, Phil is also mindful to find ways to streamline their processes and reduce their environmental impact.
Phil says, "In my role, I've been an advocate for environmentally conscious alternatives. Non-VOC, zero ODP and low GWP are not just buzzwords for me. They reflect my commitment to finding more environmentally sustainable alternatives for thrichlor, nPB and perc and safer, more responsible cleaning practices that can result in successful outcomes for both my clients and the environment."
Outside of work, Phil is passionate about contributing positively to society. He supports Alzheimer's research and helps fund St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, reminding us that our actions can make a difference beyond our immediate scope.
Phil resides in picturesque Maine with his wife, Andrea. Their two grown sons add a sense of adventure and dynamism to their lives. Their household also includes their pets, dogs Rupert, and Biffy, and cat Riku.
Beyond family life, Phil's interests are as diverse as the Maine seasons. Golfing and body surfing in warm weather and skiing in the snow. There's always a love for live music and home-cooked meals anytime, including Phil's favorite short ribs.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing
Ray joined MicroCare in 2021 with nearly 30 years of experience selling industrial chemicals and tools, including MicroCare products, in his prior role at Jensen Tool & Supply (now owned by Test Equity).
Ray, a process driven and fact-based decision maker, held top-level management positions in the industrial, electronics and construction industries. He started his career as a salesperson for Dexter Corporation and progressively advanced into roles at Stanley Black & Decker, Danaher Tool Group, Craftsman and as President at FEIN Power Tools.
Ray holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts.
As Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Ray Bellavance leverages decades of experience to help lead the MicroCare team in promoting our growing lineup of brands and maximizing our sales and marketing resources across the globe.
Job Titles:
- Professional Scientist
- Senior Quality Control Chemist
Rebecca Mahoney is a professional scientist with over 12 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology industries. She has a proven track record of supporting clients with successful product advancement and providing technical expertise.
Rebecca joined MicroCare in March 2023 as a Senior Quality Control Chemist. In her role, she is responsible for developing, conducting and overseeing the analytical methods we use to test incoming raw materials and outgoing MicroCare products. Under her watchful eye, she ensures that every bottle pail or drum of cleaning fluid we make is properly tested and documented to the most stringent industry quality and safety standards.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Counselor
- Commercial Sales Manager for Sticklers
One thing you'll notice when you meet Rick Hoffman, Commercial Sales Manager for Sticklers, is that he is never still. He is a perpetual motion machine - his hands, his eyes, his whole body is always in action. Which may be the reason he has been a star athlete most of his life.
Job Titles:
- Master of Safer Solutions and ChemiCraft Wizard
With over three decades of experience in product formulation spanning various industries, Ross Gustafson is a seasoned Senior Chemist at MicroCare Denver, a role he assumed in October 2020. Armed with a B.A. in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Colorado - Boulder, his journey in the field of critical cleaning has been marked by a relentless pursuit of safer and more effective products.
Ross' career began with a focus on creating safer solutions for the metal cleaning industry, a commitment that has transcended into diverse sectors such as household industrial and institutional (HI&I) cleaners, beverages, cosmetics, and asphalt. As a MicroCare medical Senior Chemist Ross oversees the quality control testing of our products, formulating new ones, adapting current formulations when necessary, and enhancing the efficacy and safety of our product offerings.
MicroCare made theirs first European sale in 1990. Today, MicroCare UK Ltd provides a significant contribution to the overall achievements of MicroCare, LLC. The credit for that success goes to Scott Wells, MicroCare UK Ltd General Manager.
Scott has built an impressive team. He supervises a network of distributors which stretches across three continents (EMEA). He has multiple, highly capable sales people and a strong logistics team behind him, complete with a warehouse and logisitics centre based in Leeds, UK. It's a complex, high-pressure job that Scott does very well.
Scott started his career as a pricing analyst for Maplin Electronics, a high street retailer of electronic consummables and components. A subsequent move to Farnell introduced him to the world of product management where he gained a significant understanding of the soldering and electro chemical sectors. Scott migrated to an export sales management position at PACE follwed by a move to HK Wentworth, Electrolube. Finally, he moved to MicroCare in 2007.
Tom Doty joined MicroCare in January 2020, as our Quality Control Chemist and quickly advanced to Chemist III. As such, it is Tom's job to help customers find the right chemistries and processes to solve their critical cleaning problems whether it be for circuit boards, medical devices or industrial machined parts.
He performs cleaning trials and analysis to provide customers with guidance on selecting the right cleaning processes and fluids. He is also deeply involved in researching and developing new cleaning technologies for tomorrow.
Tom is testing new chemical formulations and blends including some groundbreaking high-purity products currently in development.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- the Humble and Proud CEO
- the New Business Development Manager Back
When Tom Tattersall joined MicroCare as the New Business Development Manager back in 1997 it was a small family-owned company. It consisted of one location and a handful of employees.
Today the company is a foundation business and part of the portfolio of Heartwood Partners. It is much bigger and growing fast. As Chief Executive Officer, Tom now oversees five production facilities, four logistics centers, a distribution network spanning 47 countries and nearly 150 employees across the globe. He is responsible for all business operations including business development and strategic planning.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Sales Manager for MicroCare Medical Infection Prevention
- Commercial Sales Manager, Infection Prevention
In his role, he works closely with all business segments to develop and execute winning MicroCare strategies. Tyler is responsible for defining and planning key objectives and delivering long-term sales growth across the Medical, Dental, and Industrial segments. He leads the customer interface with key decision makers at our top accounts to elevate MicroCare to a preferred partner. Much of his work is collaborative, not only with MicroCare customers, but also with our internal marketing, customer service, and product management teams.