The ATS Management Team
Richard W. Blaudow, Chairman & CEO
Dick Blaudow is one of the co-founders of Advanced Technology Services, Inc. (ATS) and is currently Chairman and CEO. He began his career at Caterpillar in 1969 in the Plant Operations Training Program. He later assumed the position of Staff Engineer in Plant Engineering in the East Peoria facility and held positions of increasing responsibilities. He started and managed the Electronic Repair Department at the East Peoria Caterpillar plant. This Electronic Repair Department later became the startup group of ATS. In November 1996, Mr. Blaudow, along with other investors, purchased the remaining outstanding shares of ATS from Caterpillar.
Mr. Blaudow received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University in 1970. He serves on the Board of Directors for Excel Foundry, Inc., M&H Logistics, TDI Products, Inc. and the Peoria Civic Federation Board. He served for several years on SIUC's Industrial Advisory Council of the Department of Electrical Engineering and as Chairman of the SIUC Engineering Annex Advisory Committee. In October 1998, Mr. Blaudow was named an SIU Distinguished Alumni in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to SIU. Mr. Blaudow is currently a member of the Chief Executive Organization, World Presidents Organization, and a former member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).
Jeff Owens, President & Chief Operating Officer
Jeffrey Owens joined ATS in 1988. Two years later, he was promoted to Account Manager in Detroit, Michigan. There, he built a strong customer base for ATS with the automotive industry throughout Michigan and Ontario. He was then promoted to Manager of the Detroit Region, which included taking on responsibilities for both sales and operations and later national account management. In that position, his national account knowledge and leadership was instrumental in the development of ATS' Factory Maintenance product-a product that has grown into a significant part of the company.
In 1996, Mr. Owens was promoted to General Manager of the Industrial Parts Services Division and in 1998 was promoted to Vice President of Industrial Parts Services. During his leadership that division's revenue doubled. In 2001 he was named Managing Director and Vice President of Operations, a position where he was responsible for operations, strategic planning, and implementation of ATS' major growth initiatives. Success in implementing ATS' growth initiatives resulted in Mr. Owens being named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2004.
Mr. Owens is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He serves on the board of the Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation. In addition, Mr. Owens is a member of the Illinois Business Roundtable. He is also a graduate of the Bell Leadership Roundtable Program. Mr. Owens graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in business administration. He currently resides in Peoria, IL with his wife, daughter, and son.
William M. Lutz, Chief Financial Officer
Bill Lutz joined the ATS team in September 2009 as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all corporate accounting and finance functions for the company.
Bill comes to ATS with nearly 30 years of business and finance experience in manufacturing, consumer products and services industries. Before coming to ATS, he recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Salton, Inc., a global public company recognized as a leading designer, marketer and distributor of branded, high-quality small appliances and electronics. Prior to Salton, Bill led the corporate consolidation and subsidiary accounting group at Capital One Financial following demonstrated success in various senior finance positions with manufacturing, consumer products and service companies, including AT&T and Viasystems. Bill’s experience includes financial management for international operations and a number of successful mergers and acquisitions. He is a graduate of Rutgers University where he received a Bachelor of Science and an MBA.
James W. Hefti, Vice President - Human Resources
James W. Hefti joined ATS in September 2005 as Vice President of Human Resources. Mr. Hefti's tenure includes over 20 years of experience in human resources administration and extensive expertise in operations management. He holds SHRM certification (Professional of Human Resources), and is a certified facilitator of Managing Interpersonal Relationships.
Prior to joining ATS, Mr. Hefti was Director of Human Resources - Distribution Centers and Director, Corporate Human Resources for Associated Materials, a $1.1 billion manufacturer and distributor of exterior building materials headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Hefti also served in Operations with Sterling Inc. of Akron, Ohio, the second largest retail jewelry chain in the U.S, operating as Kay Jewelers, JB Robinson Jewelers and others. He is a graduate of Malone College and served for six years as a United States Marine. Mr. Hefti currently serves on the Red Cross of Central Illinois Board of Directors and is a member of the Heart of Illinois United Way Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet.
Don Johnson, Vice President - Marketing
Don Johnson joined ATS in June of 2004 and oversees all marketing functions. Prior to joining ATS in 2004, Mr. Johnson was Vice President of Advertising/Brand Marketing for Eureka, an AB Electrolux company located in Bloomington, IL dedicated to the manufacturing and distribution of floor care products and other home and commercial cleaning products. He also held key advertising and marketing positions with John Deere, the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment, where he worked in every major division of the company including Industrial, Agricultural and Consumer Products. Mr. Johnson also served as Planning Manager at John Deere's European Headquarters in Mannheim, Germany where he held advertising and marketing responsibilities for Europe and the Middle East. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico.
Rob Currier - Vice President of US FMS and IPS Sales
Mr. Currier joined ATS in December 1987 as part of the Sales Organization. Over the course of his career, Mr. Currier served in many sales roles within ATS and eventually as an Account Executive focused on growing the Factory Maintenance Services (FMS) business. In 2000, Mr. Currier was promoted to Key Account Manager responsible for key corporate accounts. In 2005, Mr. Currier moved into a new role as Global Business Manager responsible for ATS' second largest corporate account. In 2007, Mr. Currier was named Vice President of US FMS Sales and Industrial Parts Services Sales.
Mr. Currier received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology with honors from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Bill Stuckert - Vice President of IT Services
Mr. Stuckert was named Vice President of ATS' IT Services Division in 2007. Mr. Stuckert is responsible for overseeing a 285 person IT Service Delivery organization with revenues in excess of $32 million.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Stuckert spent 11 years with Comdisco, Inc. where he was Senior Vice President of the Public Sector Sales and Services Division. Mr. Stuckert designed and managed enterprise wide change initiatives which increased sales from $4MM to over $180MM and helped make Comdisco a leader in Public Sector IT Services. Mr. Stuckert began his career in IT Services Industry with Mogo Computer Software and has held various senior management positions with CIT, Professional Business Systems, and EliteAgents, Inc. Mr. Stuckert attended Harper Jr. College and DePaul University.
Joe Pycz - Vice President of Operations
Joe Pycz was named Vice President of Operations in 2008. Mr. Pycz comes to ATS with more than 30 years experience in operations and management. He brings in-depth knowledge of strategic analysis and planning, corporate restructuring, lean manufacturing, global best practices, and experience with new plant start-ups and will serve as a key contributor in furthering the company's success. Mr. Pycz is responsible for customer site service delivery and related support operations.
Prior to joining ATS, Mr. Pycz served 12 years as President and CEO at ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft, LLC, in Danville, Illinois where he was responsible for operations and management. He successfully led and managed the company's growth from two plants with annual revenues of $35 million to four locations with annual revenues near $350 million. Mr. Pycz received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Illinois State University in 1976; has served on the Midwest Regional Advisory Board for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co and was a member of the State Labor/Management Cooperation Committee for the state of Illinois.
