Newsmakers

Sangeeta Kumari is a new quality engineer at Mack, working primarily on medical device programs. She brings 12 years of quality and chemical engineering experience to Mack, including stints with NSK Steering Systems America, Inc. (Ann Arbor, Mich.); TRW Automotive (Fayette, Ohio); Quality Industrial Services (Romulus, Mich.); and Dow Corning (Midland, Mich.). A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Kumari earned a bachelor’s in chemical engineering. During her academic career, she published three times in the Journal of Polymer Science and was recognized with the University Chemistry Department Research Award. Kumari is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Delta Sigma PI fraternity. She is also a Mentor with the Society of Women Engineers and devotes time to Big Brothers Big Sisters. An outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, snowboarding, biking and traveling, she resides in Manchester, Vt.

Simin Chai has joined Mack’s purchasing department as a supplier engineer. A native of China, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai), graduating second in a class of 125. He completed a master’s in mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, N.Y.), where he also fulfilled a Professional Leadership Series, served as a research assistant in the Flexible Manufacturing Center, and worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he completed a six-month engineering co-op assignment at Husky Injection Molding Systems (Burlington, Vt.). An enthusiastic guitar and tennis player, Chai makes his home in Troy.

Supply Chain Manager Eric White, a 10-year veteran of Mack’s procurement group, has earned certification as a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) by the Institute for Supply Management. To merit this designation, he had to pass all four modules of the CPM exam, which covers the operational aspects of purchasing, as well as agreements, negotiations, technology and relationship management. White and his staff are responsible for ensuring the overall continuity of Mack’s supply chain, including negotiating cost savings, managing logistic issues and nonconforming suppliers, and resolving lead-time delivery issues. He and his group manage over 500 suppliers.

Debbie Mattison, a 37-year Mack employee, has recently been promoted to material manager, Headquarters Plant, where she is responsible for warehouse management and inventory, scheduling, shipping and receiving. Prior to accepting this position, Mattison was purchasing materials manager, where she was charged with negotiating corporate contracts with plastic resin suppliers. She has earned certification by the Institute for Supply Management as a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), and is currently pursuing the next credential as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM). A long-time resident of Arlington, Vt., Mattison has a lengthy volunteer history with Arlington Area Childcare, the Arlington School Board, and the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union. She continues to support the American Legion Auxiliary, the Arlington Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, and the daughters of St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church. Mattison lives with her husband, Bob, and daughter, Caitlin.

David Hoffman, a native of Arlington, Vt., has returned ‘home’ to accept the new position of CNC supervisor. Previously, he worked for 13 years for Kingsbury Corporation (Keene, N.H.), which designs and manufactures metal cutting, assembly, turning and machining equipment in a 300,000 sq ft facility there. During his tenure, Hoffman steadily climbed the engineering career ladder, gaining a breadth of expertise that spans from project and applications engineering to reliability & maintainability, machine technology, and controls engineering. A graduate of Vermont Technical College (Randolph, Vt.), he earned a bachelor’s in electromechanical engineering technology (EMT), as well as the Excellence in Electromechanical Engineering Award. An active alum, he still participates as a member of the Advisory Committee for the BSEMT program. Hoffman resides in Hampton, N.Y., with his wife, Jennifer, and three children – Nekia, 17; Kassidy, 12; and Cole, 7.

Replacing Gene Birmingham as Cavendish manufacturing manager, Kevin Peets brings 15 years of operational experience to his new post, ranging from product and sales supervision to manufacturing and plant management. Most recently, he was general manager for Premier Precision Group (Newport, N.H.), a contract manufacturer providing machining and sheet metal fabrication services to the aerospace, defense, medical and other industrial markets. A graduate of Keene State College (Keene, N.H.), Peets graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in operations and technology studies. He is an active member of Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society for Business and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He is also an adjunct faculty member at River Valley Community College (Claremont, N.H.). Peets resides in Claremont with his wife, Denise. They are the parents of two adult daughters, Angela and Elizabeth.

Chrystal Moffitt has joined the purchasing department as procurement specialist, where she negotiates contracts exclusively for medical customers. Moffitt has developed a diverse employment portfolio, including purchasing, small business ownership, and retail management. During her most recent purchasing assignment as an agent for Wedeco Ideal Horizons (Poultney, Vt.), she set up the purchasing department in a new N.C. plant, while simultaneously meeting production schedules for UV water disinfection systems at both locations. Moffitt holds an associate’s in business from the Community College of Vermont (Bennington, Vt.), and has also pursued coursework at Norwich University (Norwich, Vt.). She resides in Peru, Vt., where she and her husband, Terry, maintain a solar-powered home, living totally off the grid.

Mack’s newest addition is Mark Lurz, an electrical/mechanical technician who is working exclusively on a medical device account. Lurz is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, where as fire control chief, he was responsible for the preventive and corrective maintenance of various electronic systems, including radar, computer, electro-mechanical weapons direction, electronic cooling, power conversion mechanics, and display equipment. He received extensive training during his naval career in electronics and electricity, air search radar, and gun fire control and weapon systems. A New York native, Lurz has returned to his home state, where he resides with his wife, Margaret, and their 15-year-old son, Karl, in Saratoga Springs. An avid cyclist and tri-athlete, he looks forward to taking on New England’s hilly terrain.