Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to share with us your story and how you came to be at the helm of an important and influential corporation.

You started your career in the US Navy. What prompted you to join the Navy? How was your time in the service? Where were you assigned?

I joined the US Navy because my family has a tradition of military service. I followed the path of honor and duty set by my wife’s grandfather into the Submarine Service. My military education and experience provided me with the foundation necessary for success in my business career and cultivated a commitment to excellence. I was privileged to be selected to the Nuclear Power Program. I was stationed at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, SC, the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, CT and served on the USS Jacksonville (SSN-699) in Norfolk, VA.

You quickly began formalizing your training with education programs. What prompted you to take this step, and how instrumental was it to furthering your career?

A career in the Navy provided a foundation for commitment to attaining specific goals, one of which was developed from a lifelong passion I had for business in general. This ultimately led to my enrollment to the Business School at Jacksonville State University. There I developed a more refined business acumen and communications skills that have been crucial to managing teams and implementing decisions vital to business growth. As I navigated my journey to being CEO, I engaged in several positions in the demilitarization field and broadened my knowledge base in areas such as sales and marketing and project management. These varied experiences have been instrumental in a multi-dimensional approach to the business and the strategies required for growth. I continue to be very interested in studying new technology and evolution in best business practices.

You left the Navy and joined the civilian sector, gaining an additional eleven years experience before joining Dynasafe. What lessons did you learn during that time that were helpful in your start at Dynasafe?

Immediately following my time in the Navy, I started as an operator at the Anniston Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility. Over the next several years, I assumed several different roles with increasing responsibilities. Being an end-user of demilitarization technology has been instrumental in my ongoing understanding of the current and evolving technology and very specific client requirements. Having this knowledge helps Dynasafe create value for our client by providing the right equipment at the right price, improve efficiency, and more importantly ensure operator safety.

What does a typical day look like for you now that you are shouldered with the responsibilities of the CEO? How has this changed during the COVID pandemic?

We operate on six continents and across all time zones; therefore, my day starts very early. I typically start my morning with a physical fitness regimen, which allows me time to focus my thoughts on strategies for addressing the hot items for the day and to continue to develop bigger picture thoughts. At about 7:30 AM, I interact with our European team, checking in on specific projects, reviewing policies, and exploring new perspectives. I hold similar sessions with the US team at 11:00 AM and at 4:00 PM with the Asia Pacific team. Family is very important to me. If I do not have a client lunch meeting, I try to enjoy a lunch with my family or my spouse. 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM is reserved for “deep work”, where I intentionally shut down potential distractions which enables me to focus on the issues and define strategic priorities for Dynasafe. We have fortunately not been too disrupted by the ongoing issues associated with the COVID Pandemic. While we have not been able to travel to projects as readily and our sales team has not been able to visit customers, we are using remote communication platforms to keep each other updated and on plan. In this way, we have kept our employees safe while maintaining a full schedule for most employees.

Where do you see Dynasafe in two to five years?

Dynasafe is an excellent company with tremendous value-creation opportunities in front of it. We are at the forefront of the chemical demilitarization industry and the war against terrorism. We will continue to be the leader for the development of improved explosive containment vessels and demilitarization equipment and keep our warfighters and citizens safe. Our new focus is to help our clients meet their mission objectives. We are expanding our After Sales department to continue supporting our client base throughout the product lifecycle with maintenance, technical, and spare parts support. We will also leverage our demilitarization experience; we will offer engineering and operations support to improve efficiency and safety to a client’s demilitarization mission. Dynasafe will be the company that provides disposal and containment solutions from the inception to the completion of the EOD mission. We will provide clients with “peace of mind” via our training services, process engineering, plant operations, and construction operations.

Previously you were Director of Dynasafe USA, how is your current position different from that one, and how do you feel about this new position?

As CEO, my time is focused on business activities, alignment of the company, both internally and externally, and steering an international company in the right direction. My main objective is to forecast what could happen in a few months or even years from now and prepare for the possible outcomes. As Managing Director, I was more involved in the daily management of the company. Both roles offer their own rewards. The main difference now is that it is not about me “moving the needle” every day. It is my job to develop a vision with the team, build the best team, give them the best tools, and help everyone else “move the needle” daily. It is a very rewarding and exciting job.

Managing responsibilities like this can be stressful; what are your preferred ways of staying fit and relieving stress?

I really enjoy weightlifting and CrossFit. I try to be in the gym every weekday at 5:15 AM. I enjoy accomplishing this part of my daily routine as it proves to be invigorating and drives me to a proper focus. For the less physically exerting stress relievers, I enjoy reading and writing with a focus in business topics. I also enjoy renovation projects, which is fortunate since my wife and I live in a home built in 1896.