BSI's Leadership Team - Business Synergetics International

Members of BSI’s Leadership and Business Advisory Team specialize in areas specific to industry, subject matter and functional leadership skills. These Experts are “hands on” practitioners in the use of advanced management techniques. All have sat in the seat of management and are accustomed to having their improvement efforts measured objectively.

BSI’s Leadership and Business Advisory Team is comprised of over eighty highly skilled professionals. Many of BSI’s Experts are former C level executives and all have had at least 15 years of industry experience prior to entering the consulting world. Each member of the team possesses a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in guiding organizations through value chain optimization.

BSI’s executive staff will work closely with you to ensure that the team of Experts assigned to your engagement posses the specific expertise and skill sets needed in order to make certain that optimal results for your program are achieved.

Paul Lemke − President and Managing Partner

Paul’s consulting assignments encompass a broad range of experience at multiple levels, including numerous leadership roles, as well as project management and hands-on implementation. He conducts diverse international engagements, including Management turn-arounds, Customer Driven Performance Improvements, Lean Implementations and Supply Chain Integrations, Six Sigma Deployment, and Strategy Development and Deployment. He served as a Vice President for Fleetguard, a subsidiary of the Cummins Engine Company. Other leadership roles include President, COO, Sr. VP Integrated Supply Chain Management., Sr. VP Operations, and Plant Manager. He also served on the Board of Directors for a US-Chinese Joint Venture. Paul holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University, is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and is certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM). Paul successfully incorporated the InfoQuest® Business Process Review into BSI’s complement of client services and profit improvement initiatives. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity.

Kevin Crumbo, CPA − Senior Advisor

Kevin brings a unique complement of skills to BSI: he is a Managing Partner of Kraft Corporate Recovery Services, LLC, an affiliate of KraftCPAs. KCRS provides consulting services pertaining to troubled companies, including turn-around management, due diligence review, fraud investigation, and litigation support. Beginning his career at Coopers & Lybrand, Kevin has held senior financial positions in manufacturing, telecommunications, and healthcare companies. He has led successful turn-arounds, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. He presently serves on the board of directors of publicly-traded YAK Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: YAKC) and has previously advised the boards of several private companies. He also serves non-profit organizations: he is a board member of the Vanderbilt University School of Business, and a trustee of both the Nashville-Area American Red Cross and the Crisis Intervention Center. Kevin received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Kentucky, an MBA from Vanderbilt University, and is certified in forensic accounting.

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Tom Stith − Senior Partner

Prior to joining BSI, Tom’s experiences as a GE Management Leadership Development alumnus led to senior roles within GE, Emerson Electric, and other companies. Tom’s corporate experience includes assignments as President, Executive VP, GM, Plant Manager, and other roles. In addition to a BS in Chemistry, Tom has an MBA from the University of Alabama and has completed GE’s Management Development and Manufacturing Management Programs. His work has been published in three technical journals.

Robert Arnett − Senior Partner

Bob’s extensive international experience includes more than a decade as Sr. VP, GM, and member of the Board of Directors for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Prior to Toshiba, Bob was VP Manufacturing for RCA Consumer Electronics, responsible for factories in four Countries. Bob also served GE in a variety of Operational and Senior Leadership roles and completed the GE Management Development and Manufacturing Management Program. He has an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from The University of Louisville. He is currently President of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and was recently recognized by Toshiba as the Foreign National Business Leader of the Year.

Robert Knorr − Senior Advisor

Prior to becoming a very successful Sr. Partner with Coopers & Lybrand, Bob was CFO at Fram-Bendix, and then COO at Purolator Products. Since his retirement from C&L, Bob has served as Sr. Partner or Advisor to several startup businesses, including Business Synergetics International. Bob’s financial and overall business acumen has served BSI and others extremely well, as he cuts through the fog of strategic and financial considerations to get to the critical elements of business opportunities. Bob is a graduate of the Harvard Business School.

Dale Pinnekamp − Partner

Dale has spent the last 20+ years in five countries on three different continents acquiring diverse experience in international logistics, operations and supply chain management. This broad experience ranges from program management, information technology and production planning and control to master scheduling, distribution and manufacturing. Past positions include Logistics Systems Manager for GM Europe and Global Logistics Manager for Delphi, where his responsibility supported 50 factories and 22 distribution centers. As a General Manager for APL Logistics he ran a logistics, warehousing and distribution operation in Northeastern China. Dale’s consulting engagements in Korea involved Kaizen events utilizing lean manufacturing principles, value stream mapping and other Six Sigma problem solving techniques. Most recently, he has served as Director of Global Logistics and Fulfillment for a venture capital group with six portfolio companies in the automotive aftermarket, chemical, pharmaceutical and electronic industries. He received his Bachelors in Transportation and Logistics from Iowa State and his MBA from the University of British Columbia.

Li Weaver − Partner

Li’s professional experience spans 15 years in both China and the US. As a former Leader in Murray, Inc., Li led efforts in improving cultural understanding and developing business relationships. As a China-born US citizen, she has extensive experience in developing sourcing strategies that optimize global realities. Li has a Bachelors Degree in English and International Business from Beijing Foreign Language Institute, and an MBA from Mississippi State. Li serves clients in a range of business-to-business relationship areas, including China sourcing development, assisting US clients in accessing the Chinese market, and providing translation and cultural sensitivity training for both Asian and US clients.

Jim Samples − Partner

Jim’s past leadership roles include President and CFO. He has been VP of a wholesale distribution co., owned a distribution firm, and implemented store replenishment systems at The Home Depot. He also has experience as both a line manager and consultant. As a consultant, he developed the Direct Profit Profitability model for Discount Mass Merchandisers, defined merchandise classification systems for the hardware and drug industries, and has helped retailers develop marketing and sales initiatives based upon a continuous Voice of the Customer process. Jim holds Bachelors degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics from Purdue University.

Steven Tomasko − Partner

Steve has more than 30 years experience in Human Relations and Training. As VP of Human Resources in three different industries, he has successfully negotiated more than 60 union contracts, developed and conducted numerous training programs, and managed H.R. functions in organizations with more than 3,000 employees. Among his other consulting work, Steve currently conducts workshops on "Team Dynamics and Improving Team Performance," and a two- day course on ”Collective Bargaining.” Steve also conducts executive and team coaching engagements. Steve has a BBA degree from Cleveland State University.

Ed Reel − Senior Vice President

Ed has over 20 years experience in Fortune 100 and privately held companies that include Mobil Oil Corporation, Peach State Integrated Technologies, PricewaterhouseCoopers, TRW, American Software, and Summit Acquisitions Group. He has extensive knowledge and experience in a multitude of industries and functional areas that include manufacturing, business services, supply chain, logistics and distribution, mergers and acquisitions, industrial products sales and marketing, material handling systems, and supply chain application software. Ed has been a guest speaker at various Universities, expert panelist at business conferences, and selected as an Educational Session Leader at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Annual Global Conference. He has authored and co-authored white papers, quoted in numerous business publications, and written technical articles that have been published in industry leading supply chain magazines. He applies these skills in the effective assessment, analysis, and development of value-added solutions that deliver measureable economic value. Ed received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University and MBA from the University of Tennessee. .

Christine Cathey − Director, Human Resource Development

Chris has extensive experience and qualifications in Human Resource Development. In addition to roles in HR Leadership within industrial companies, Chris has been Executive Director of the Nashville, TN Benefits Board, designing, implementing, and administering fringe benefits for several thousand municipal government employees. Chris holds dual Masters degrees in Education and Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University.

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