Operating Principals
Kenneth B. Ackerman -- Over 40 years of operating and distribution experience working with manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retailers, warehousing firms, carriers and trade associations. CEO of Distribution Centers, Inc., a public warehousing company, which is now part of Exel Logistics USA, and management consultant at Coopers & Lybrand. More recent experience includes editing and publishing Warehousing Forum, a monthly newsletter, and authoring several books, including Warehousing Tips and Warehousing Profitably, and numerous articles.
Noel Marquez Davis -- 15 years of operating and logistics experience in the automotive, consumer products and industrial supplies industries. Experience includes VP of Manufacturing for a large industrial gear manufacturing company, management of just-in-time operations of Johnson Controls, a tier one supplier to Ford Motor, plant manager and director of LEAN manufacturing for Alcoa’s Closure Systems group, and turnaround manager of a truck trailer manufacturer. Prior to starting his career at Federal Mogul as an international supply chain manager, Mr. Davis was with the U.S. Navy as a weapon systems development officer and continues as a reserve Naval Intelligence Officer, having served in Iraq in the spring of 2003.
Joop F.G. de Groot -- 15 years of operating and logistics experience in the retail, wholesale and manufacturing industries. Served as CEO of Pearle Benelux, initiating a successful management buyout of the Dutch company and the acquisition of Pearle Belgium, while doubling revenue, tripling operating income and increasing inventory turns fourfold. Experience includes strategy and organizational consulting work while at McKinsey & Company in London.
Douglas A. Fisher -- Over 20 years of operating experience in the transportation and logistics industries with expertise in the areas of managing structural change and developing international services. Positions have included Vice President for Strategic Consulting Services for Manugistics Group, Inc., a $250 million provider of price/revenue optimization and supply chain software, and CEO of SurfAir, Inc. executing the turnaround of an $80 million privately held provider of transportation and extended-value services. Other experience includes Vice President for international operations, marketing and corporate development at Yellow Freight System, and Director of Planning and Budgeting for Emery Worldwide Corp.
John Kabbes -- Over 20 years of operating experience with manufacturing and distribution companies, focusing on aligning manufacturing, distribution and logistics processes with corporate goals. Expertise in a variety of industries such as electronics and consumer durables, automotive and heavy equipment, building and plumbing products and medical products. Positions have included Vice President of Logistics for Delta Faucet, President of Emco Wheaton and consultant for Touche Ross & Co.
Michael S. Madigan -- Over 30 years of financial and operating experience in industrial manufacturing and services and in telecommunications. Positions have included CFO of Dorr-Oliver, Inc., a $150 million international engineering services and equipment company, as well as various financial positions at Kennecott Corp. and RCA. Expertise includes analyzing business strengths, structuring acquisitions, building business value and selling profitably. Structured the leveraged buyout of Dorr-Oliver and managed the acquisition and divestiture of several foreign businesses.
