Newsmakers

Richard Thomas has accepted the position of program manager in the commercial business unit of the sales and engineering department. He joins Mack with experience as a product manager at CIRCOR Tech (Spartanburg, SC) and a quality engineering technician at CeramTec (Laurens, SC). Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management from the University of South Carolina Upstate (Spartanburg, SC) and an associate’s in mechanical engineering from Greenville Technical College (Greenville, SC). Originally from Arlington, Vt., he once again makes his home there with his wife, Kristin, and their three children, Taylor, Jacob, and Emma. When not at work, Thomas enjoys golf, snowboarding, football, and coaching youth soccer.

Jonathan Whitney has joined Mack as a new business development manager responsible for New England region sales. He comes to us from Abiomed (Danvers, Mass.), where he was senior project manager for the design, development and commercialization of cardiovascular devices. Earlier, he owned and operated his own business, Whitney Realty Services. Other engineering experience included stints at Gyrus ACMI, Alkermes and Raytheon, where he earned a green belt six-sigma certification. Whitney holds an MBA from Babson College (Wellesley, Mass.); a master’s in engineering management from Tufts University (Boston); and a bachelor’s in plastics engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He lives in Medford, Mass., with his wife, Katie, who is a material program manager for Raytheon. Together, they have two sons – Tyler, age 3, and Dylan, 1. A varsity track and cross-country runner in college, Whitney continues to run and compete in triathlons. He also enjoys golf and playing drums for a local band.

Brittany Epstein has joined the medical products group – MackMedical — as a sales service representative, reporting to Business Unit Director Kevin Bradley. She will be responsible for supporting several medical accounts. Epstein brings six years of retail sales experience to her new position. A student at Castleton State College (Castleton, Vt.), she is working to complete a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Epstein resides in Manchester Center, Vt., with her husband, Joshua, Sergeant, Winhall Police Department, and their two children – Elizabeth, age 6, and Nikolai, 3. Like most Vermonters, she enjoys outdoor activities and spending as much time as possible with her children.

Two employees, John Preiser and John McFadden, have also been recently promoted to program manager positions within the sales and engineering department. Preiser originally came to Mack from Nexus Custom Electronics, Brandon, Vt., where he was engineering manager. He joined Mack’s procurement department in 2007, where he served as supplier engineer for a Class III medical device. His responsibilities have now expanded to managing all aspects of the account. A graduate of Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Va.), he has a bachelor’s in electrical engineering technology. Preiser lives in Arlington, Vt., with his wife, Nicole, and son, Adam, age 10. An avid cyclist and former racer, Preiser enjoys all things outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and winter sports.

John McFadden has also risen from the ranks of supplier engineer to program manager, where he will handle commercial business accounts. Before joining Mack, he designed new equipment for Pad Print Machinery of Vermont. A graduate of the University of Vermont (Burlington, Vt.), McFadden holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering with a minor in pure mathematics, and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. A varsity athlete during college, he enjoys all sports, especially indoor soccer, golf, volleyball, football, squash, hiking and snowboarding. A Vermont native, McFadden takes a genuine interest in all Vermont has to offer, and was recently elected as the youngest member of the Select Board for Bennington, Vt.

The quality department has added three new staff members – William Hackett, Graham McFadden and Sherman McNeil. Accepting the position of quality engineer in the metals and machining department, Hackett has over 12 years of experience as a technician and electrician. Formerly with NSK Steering Systems America (Bennington, Vt.), he held several positions of increasing responsibility in quality and manufacturing during his 10-year tenure there. An active member of the American Society of Quality, Hackett is a certified quality inspector. He resides in Bennington with his wife, Tanya, and daughters, Crystal, age 7, and Makayla, 4. When not at work, Hackett enjoys camping, home improvement projects, electronics and technology, and spending time with family.

Graham McFadden has joined Mack as a quality technician within the MackMedical business group. A Vermont native, he previously worked as admissions representative for Southern Vermont College (Bennington, Vt.) following his graduation from the University of Vermont (Burlington). He holds a bachelor’s in business with a concentration in finance. McFadden also attended West Point Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.) and served in the U.S. Army. Formerly a gymnast, McFadden was a member of both the West Point Army Gymnastics Team and the Junior Olympic Team. He achieved Top 25 status in the U.S., and was a five-time winner of the New York State Gymnastics championships. Other favorite pursuits include hiking, camping, running, snow shoeing, mountain biking and gardening.

Sherman McNeil, also a quality technician, comes to Mack from Angiodynamics (Glens Falls, N.Y.), where he was an engineering intern in the research and development department. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.), he earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and was also awarded for Exemplary Achievement in the Study of Mathematics and Science. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. McNeil lives in nearby Salem, N.Y., and pursues ice hockey, biking, reading and traveling in his spare time.

Manufacturing has also added three – Thomas Jackson, Greg Perkins and Michael Burklund. Jackson, a U.S. Navy veteran, has joined the headquarters facility as a manufacturing engineer, primarily for medical programs. After 24 years of service with the U.S. Navy, Submarine Force, he brings complex electronic and electromechanical systems expertise to the table. Most recently, he was a project manager for the Submarine Learning Center, where he was responsible for developing computer-based training for navigation personnel in the Submarine Force. Earlier positions included quality assurance officer, where he managed a workforce of over 100; Navigation Division leading petty officer on the USS Albuquerque, where he supervised two work centers; and an instructor at Naval Submarine School (Groton, Ct.). Jackson makes his home in Dorset, Vt., with his wife, Melissa, administrator, Vermont Veteran’s Home, and children Dakota, age 17, Amanda, 14, and Daniel, 12.

Greg Perkins and Michael Burklund have both joined manufacturing at the Cavendish, Vt., plant. Perkins brings over 20 years of supply management and manufacturing expertise to his position as manufacturing supervisor. Previously, he was assembly & chemical operations supervisor for Vishay Tansitor, a broad-line manufacturer of electronic components in Bennington, Vt. Earlier, he was a production supervisor and process engineer for Crystal I.S. & Kyma Technologies, both in N.Y. and N.C. Perkins also served for eight years as a supply specialist in the U.S. Army and New York State National Guard. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in business management and economics at SUNY Empire State College (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), and has completed the U.S. Army Advanced Logistics Course with honors. Perkins lives in Cambridge, N.Y., with his wife, Jennifer, and children, Natalie, age 5, and Greg, 2. When not at work, he enjoys fly fishing, golf, sports and spending time with his family.

Michael Burklund, a program/manufacturing engineer at the Cavendish facility, owned and operated an engineering/design consulting firm for eight years before joining Mack. Earlier, he was a design engineer for groSolar (White River Junction, Vt.), and a mechanical engineer for Northern Power Systems (Barre, Vt.). Burklund holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in computer science from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.). He lives in Windsor, Vt., with his wife, Adrianne, and children Jacob, 8, Parley, 7, Oliver, 4, and Eliza, 2. He spends time “fixing” his Victorian-style home, as well as woodworking, fly fishing, and hiking with his family.

Catherine Haefs has accepted the position of procurement specialist at the headquarters facility, with a focus on medical supply management. She brings nearly 25 years of account management and product launch/support experience to her new position. Before Mack, she worked for Schleicher & Schuell BioScience, Inc. (Keene, N.H.), which was ultimately acquired by GE Healthcare. She held a variety of customer service/project coordination positions during her 23-year tenure there, including helping with the transition after the purchase by GE Healthcare. Haefs earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Keene State College (Keene, N.H.). A Connecticut native, she now lives in Bennington, Vt., and counts traveling and reading at the top of her list of pastimes.

Mack’s Finance department has also added two new staff members, Laura Nesbit and Jenn Millard. Nesbit, a CPA, has accepted the position of senior accountant, and brings 18 years of audit and accounting experience to her new position. Before Mack, she was audit and accounting manager for Love, Cody & Company CPAs, P.C., in Bennington, Vt. She has also taught accounting at the Community College of Vermont. Nesbit holds a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Vermont (Burlington), and a bachelor’s in accounting from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (North Adams). She is currently pursuing an MBA from the State University of New York at Albany. Nesbit is a member of both the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She lives in Bennington with her husband, Mark, and their children, Gabe, 6, and Jesse, 4. A marathon runner, her most recent events included the Marine Corps Marathon last October (Washington, D.C.) and The Shires of Vermont Marathon last month (Bennington, Vt.).

Jenn Millard also brings significant experience to her new position as cost accountant. She comes to Mack from The Orvis Company, a corporate neighbor, where she held several inventory and accounting positions of increasing responsibility over a 14-year tenure. She has also operated her own bookkeeping business in Danby, Vt. A graduate of the College of St. Joseph (Rutland, Vt.), Millard earned a bachelor’s in accounting. She lives in her hometown of Danby with her husband, Keith, and infant daughter, Kathryn. An avid gardener, she nurtures several perennial gardens around her home.