Board of Directors

The Manex Board of Directors is one of the company's strongest assets. As a group, our board members have backgrounds that represent diverse aspects of manufacturing, distribution and supply chains.

Steve Tessler - Chairman of the Board

Executive Vice President and Director of Sales for California Bank of Commerce

Steve reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Bank's Executive Management Committee. Mr. Tessler joined the Bank in August 2007. Before joining the Bank, Mr. Tessler spent three years as Manager of Business Development and Marketing for Diablo Valley Bank. As a member of the management team at Diablo Valley Bank, Steve spearheaded sales and marketing while helping the bank grow to nearly $250,000,000 in assets in just over three years. Steve has also worked for City National Bank, CivicBank of Commerce and Wells Fargo Bank. In addition, Steve has ten years of public accounting experience with a focus on serving the diverse needs of small to mid-market companies.

Hank Holzapfel

President and CEO of Manex, former Principal, Pragmatic Business Solutions and Senior Executive with Owens-Illinois

Hank has over 30 years of operating, executive management, and consulting experience. Prior to joining PBS, Mr. Holzapfel spent 27 years in various senior positions with Owens-Illinois, Inc., a global packaging and Fortune 200 company. He has extensive senior management experience serving in general management and executive positions within all divisions of Owens-Illinois. These included Vice President roles for its Glass Container Division (marketing, new product development, sales and sales service administration, and industry managers), Label and Carrier Divisions (general manager), Closure and Specialty Divisions (VP sales & marketing). He has acted as a change agent in reengineering businesses resulting in improved operations and profitability and has grown businesses through creative new product development, acquisitions, strong strategies, and new customer acquisition. His proven leadership abilities have been instrumental in developing and managing numerous successful, results-focused businesses. Hank earned a BBA from Ohio University and an MBA from Bowling Green State University and has served on numerous associations and boards.

Bruce Kern

Executive Director of the Economic Development Alliance for Business

Bruce has over 40 years in economic and business development serving in executive positions at both the local and state governmental levels.  He was the founding Director of the East Bay’s Economic Development Alliance and for the last 20 years has been a leader in promoting job growth and investment in both Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Mr. Kern is the incoming Chairman of the state-wide California Association for Local Economic Development representing over 800 members, including many California cities, counties and community development corporations.  He is also the vice chairman of Northern California’s Manex Board providing technical support and resources for manufacturers, and is a member of the United Way of the Bay Area’s Community Investment Committee. In 1998 he was the recipient of the “Golden Bear Award” for his outstanding contributions to the economic development profession in California.

George Lotti

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of Heat and Control, Inc.

George is the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Heat and Control, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of food processing and packaging equipment systems. He brings over 17 years of financial leadership and expertise in Manufacturing and Consulting, driving financial performance and prudent business practices. Prior to joining Heat and Control, Inc., George worked with Hood & Strong LLP in their audit and tax department. George is also on the Board of Trustees for CMTA boilermaker Employee Trust Board of Directors and is on the Board of Directors for Unconditional Love Animal Rescue and Placement. He holds a BS in Accounting from Santa Clara University.

Bruce Nagle

CEO and Founder of RW3 Technologies, Inc.

Bruce is CEO and Founder of RW3 Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of performance measurement and workflow optimization for the Consumer Goods (CG) industry. Prior to launching RW3, Bruce served as Chief Financial Officer for Carey Ahrens, a leading food broker, where he negotiated the successful sale of the company to Kelly-Clarke, Inc. Bruce has dedicated over two decades to the CG industry and continues to be an active leader, contributing articles to the leading industry groups, including GMA Forum, Consumer Goods Technology, Sales Force Automation, Brand Marketing, Enterprise Solutions and Field Force Automation.

John Nelson

Chief Manufacturing Officer, American Licorice Company

John is the Chief Manufacturing Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee for American Licorice Company, the world leader in the manufacture of extruded candy products, including Red Vines. He brings 25 years of manufacturing expertise and leadership driving strategic and operational practices for increased productivity and competitiveness.

Bruce (Tab) Wilkins, Jr.

Federal Liason, NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Tab has extensive experience leading local, regional and state organizations as well as working with federal agencies supporting technology-based economic development. He helped developed New York’s nationally recognized SBIR effort, led the development of New York’s industrial extension service and helped to develop and manage New York’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He subsequently helped found and then direct CONNSTEP, the Connecticut MEP while also leading a national study on MEP benchmarking and metrics. After moving to Seattle he joined the Washington Technology Center, where he helped develop a new vision for the organization, led the way in securing federal grants, private sponsorship and growing private service fees for WTC business lines supporting regional angel investment networks, SBIR support and university-industry cooperative research programs.