Executive Profiles

Taylor-Wharton International: Board Members

Bill Corbin, Chairman & CEO, Taylor-Wharton International

Bill Corbin has served on TWI’s Board of Directors since its acquisition in December 2007 by Wind Point Partners. Bill brings more than 20 years of experience in industrial gases and the propane industry to TWI, which includes serving as the former Chairman and CEO of Titan Energy Partners, a successful propane distribution company. He also served as a Board Member of Valley National Gases on behalf of CI Capital Partners before its sale to Matheson Tri-Gas. Bill holds a BS, an MS from Pfeiffer University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Nathan Brown, Managing Director, Wind Point Partners

Nathan Brown joined Wind Point in 1997 and was promoted to managing director in 2004. Nathan is currently a director of America’s PowerSports, Marshfield DoorSystems, RailWorks, Taylor-Wharton International and United Subcontractors. Prior to joining Wind Point, Nathan was an analyst with the Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions departments of ScotiaMcLeod (now Scotia Capital Markets), a leading Canadian investment bank. Nathan holds a BA with a major in philosophy from Queen’s University, with Distinction, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, with honors.

Richard Kracum, Managing Director, Wind Point Partners

Rich Kracum joined Wind Point in 1985 as an investment manager and was promoted to managing director in 1986. Rich is currently a director of America’s PowerSports, Citadel Plastics, Omniflight, Physiotherapy Associates, Taylor-Wharton International and Vertellus Specialties. Prior to joining Wind Point, Rich was a principal in the Chicago office of the strategy consulting practice of Booz, Allen & Hamilton. In 1990, Rich, in partnership with the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, acquired Prange Way, a Wisconsin-based discount retailer with $150 million in sales, 24 stores and 2,500 employees.
As Chairman and lead investor, Rich was responsible for all activities of Prange Way, which he successfully exited six years later. Rich holds a BA from Carleton College, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and both an MS in chemistry and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Beta Gamma Sigma.

Sam Licavoli, former President, Industrial Sector, Textron, Inc.

Sam Licavoli brings us over 35-years of senior management experience across numerous industrial product lines. He is currently on the boards of The Waterbury Companies, a Wind Point portfolio company, and Material Sciences Corporation.

Taylor-Wharton International: Executive Management

Len York, Chief Financial Officer

Len joins TWI with 30 years of experience as a CEO, CFO, CRO across multiple industries. With an extensive background in manufacturing turnaround assignments, Len is a hands-on leader who will be very visible in our plants.

Prior to joining TWI, Len was founder and Managing Director of York+Company, which specializes in the management of underperforming companies. Before founding his own company, Len was a principal in the turnaround firm of Osnos & Company Inc., the oldest restructuring firm in the United States. At Osnos, he assisted clients in strategic and tactical planning and financial negotiating from disadvantaged positions.

Len holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Alabama and completed post-graduate training at the University of Michigan. He has held directorships in both non-profit and for-profit ventures.

Roland Wright, Senior Vice President Operations, Taylor-Wharton International

Roland Wright brings 28-years of experience in manufacturing leadership, procurement, and supply chain management. Most recently, Roland directed Lean Manufacturing initiatives within SPX, a $4 billion global provider of technical products and systems, industrial products and services, flow technology and service solutions. Roland is the key executive responsible for comprehensively implementing a structured productivity improvement program in every operation of TWI based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing. Roland directs TWI’s efforts in a matrix organizational structure, in conjunction with the division presidents, to achieve the essential improvement goals prescribed by the corporate strategic plan. He is also responsible for manufacturing, information technology, engineering, logistics, supply chain, safety, health and environmental practices.

Joseph Sorce, Vice President of Strategic Development

Joe’s diverse background includes experience in investment banking at Bear Stearns, treasury functions at Star Gas, and financial services at Fitch. His career has been characterized by cross-disciplinary assignments with extensive work in strategy, finance and marketing.

In this role, Joe will partner with the division presidents to develop and execute business development strategies, implement sustainable growth initiatives, and drive performance improvement.

Joe holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and an MBA in marketing from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

Suzanne Rosenthal, Vice President of Human Resources

Suzanne has extensive experience in managing HR functions for large diversified companies in the energy sector. Her most recent assignment was at Energy Transfer Partners, the third largest publicly traded energy partnership in the U.S., where Suzanne led the human resource group for 6,000 employees. In addition to her past human resources expertise, Suzanne has been a key contributor in driving organizational change and managing a performance based culture.

Suzanne has a BS from the University of Nebraska, and a MS in Human Resources Management from Barry University.

Kenneth T. Totten, Controller, Taylor-Wharton International

Ken Totten’s experience includes 37 years of increasingly responsible financial executive positions, at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., where he retired in 2006 as Controller-Latin America and South Africa. His financial credentials include positions in controllership, auditing, acquisitions, divestitures, international expatriate assignments and new company start-ups. Ken’s tenure at Air Products spanned over three and a half decades and he brings an impressive range of financial disciplines (MBA, CPA, CMA and CIA) to the TWI team. Ken’s extensive experience within the domestic and global industrial gas industries will provide are a ideal fit for TWI’s corporate expansion objectives.

Bob Gerkens, General Counsel, Taylor-Wharton International

Bob Gerkens operates out of the Lehigh Valley offices and is a part-time resource. Bob coordinates the outside legal counsel necessary for all the operating companies under the TWI corporate umbrella. Bob served 29-years at Air Products and Chemicals specializing in corporate law with an additional focus on commercial law for Air Products’ equipment businesses.

Ed Hare, Planning Manager, Taylor-Wharton International

Ed Hare is a part-time resource with extensive chemical industry experience at Rohm and Haas and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Ed establishes the business planning process for TWI’s annual and three year operating plans and he also assists in the corporation’s strategy development process. Ed’s experience includes examiner responsibilities for Malcolm Baldrige and he is responsible for ingraining a quality process mentality across all TWI work activities.

Taylor-Wharton International: Division Executives

Stuart Jara, Division President, Taylor-Wharton

Stuart joined Taylor-Wharton in 2008 and is responsible for all of Taylor-Wharton’s cryogenic and cylinder operations worldwide. Before joining the Taylor-Wharton team, Stuart held the position of Vice President of the tonnage business for BOC/Linde. Stuart holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BS and BA from Lehigh University.

Terry Ross, Division President, American Welding and Tank

Terry was most recently President of Crane Energy Solutions, a global manufacturer of valves for the energy and power industries. After serving as a manufacturing leader at General Electric, Terry developed his strategic and commercial leadership skills at Danaher Corporation. Terry also gained valuable experience as Vice President & General Manager of Gilbarco, Veeder-Root’s petroleum equipment division.

Terry holds a M.E. degree from West Virginia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a George F. Baker Scholar.