Meet Our Staff

Located in Northern Nevada

Sandy Haslem, P.E.

Director

Phone: (775) 784-1935
Fax: (775) 327-2266

800 Haskell St., Suite 217
Reno  NV  89509

MS in Metallurgical Engineering; BS in Chemical Engineering; Licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada.
 
Twenty years in a leadership role in the industrial sector of Nevada.  Technical experience includes engineering, research and development and environmental compliance. Special expertise in chemistry, chemical processing, mineral processing unit operations, laboratory operations and quality control, extractive metallurgy, waste treatment and technical writing.

Jeff Lawrence

Operations Manager

Phone: (775) 856-5315
Fax: (775) 856-5320

475 Edison Way, Suite 117
Reno,  NV  89502
 
MBA in Finance & Management, University of Chicago; BS in Business Administration - Operations & Systems Management, Indiana University; Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).
 
More than twenty years of experience in materials, production, and warehouse management. Over 6 years experience in software companies that focused on manufacturing and the supply chain. Manufacturing areas of expertise include Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints (TOC), Demand Flow Technology (DFT), Electronics/High Tech Manufacturing and Outsourcing. Software areas of expertise include constraint based planning, master scheduling, shop floor control, configurators, and collaborative commerce.

David Steiger

Project Manager

Phone: (775) 445-3328
Fax: (775) 445-4488

2201 W. College Parkway
Carson City  NV  89703
 
BS Business Management (University of Phoenix) Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)

More than twenty years experience in hands-on manufacturing leadership from the shop floor level. Areas of emphasis include process and equipment improvement, practical application of lean and Demand Flow Technology (DFT) principles, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program development and implementation. David has led worker safety-improvement initiatives from both the plant floor and regulatory perspectives and he is experienced in management of the practical aspects of environmental compliance for manufacturers.

Rhonda Hohenstein

Program Administrator

Phone: (775) 784-1013
Fax: (775) 327-5389  

800 Haskell Street, Suite 217
Reno  NV  89509
 
MBA and BS in Business Administration, University of Nevada, Reno

With over ten years of office experience, including four years of accounting and bookkeeping experience in a CPA practice, Rhonda provides accounting expertise, performance metrics and documentation for grant support for the Nevada Industry Excellence program. Her business experience and background assists coordination of administration of management initiatives with the field activities.

Douglas Prihar

Project Manager

Phone: (775) 682-6440
Fax: (775) 682-6430

Neil J. Redfield Bldng. A, Suite 208, MS 0600
18600 Wedge Pkwy, Reno  NV  89511
 
MS and BS in Geology, Oregon State University.
 
Over 24 years experience, both domestic and international, in design, management, implementation and execution of integrated exploration programs for base and precious metals, and tungsten. Extensive experience and expertise in applied field methods, advanced project management, development of technical training and mentoring programs, quality control, drilling and remote site construction projects, and management of multidisciplinary teams. Excellent Spanish language skills.

Bob Bricca

Project Manager

Phone: (775) 772-9824
Fax: (775) 856-5320

475 Edison Way, Suite 119
Reno  NV  89502-4103
 
B.S.C. Accounting Santa Clara University, CPA
 
Business experience as part owner, CFO, General Manager and Executive Director with major industrial organizations in the West including KPMG, Superstrut and B-Line. Expertise in company management and sales augments Bob's proficiency in finance and accounting.
 
Served on governing boards of area Economic Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Nevada Manufacturers' Association (past president), University of Nevada Reno College of Business Advisory Board, Washoe County Organizational Effectiveness Committee (past Chairperson), various nonprofit charities. Recipient of "Best Business of the Year Awards" from Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada in 1995 and Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce in 1997.

Rene Zandonella

Project Manager

Phone: (775) 721-7515
Fax: (775) 327-2266

475 Edison Way, EDSN 201-A
Reno  NV  89502
 
MBA Management Golden Gate University BS Engineering Harvey Mudd College
 
More than 25 years of experience providing focused, solution-driven engineering and operations management leadership, carefully calculated to be cost effective and providing value added results. Special expertise in ordnance systems, safety, reliability, plant management, manufacturing, product development, ISO implementation, litigation support, facility construction, project management, strategic planning, self-directed work teams, situational leadership, and performance incentives.

Located in Southern Nevada

Terry Culp

Business Manager

Phone: (702) 895-2615
Fax: (702) 895-3000

4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 451076
Las Vegas  NV  89154-1076
 
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University; Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honorary Society.
 
Terry previously owned and operated several manufacturing operations with a diverse client base of industrial, governmental and educational customers including the federal government, New York state, General Motors, Proctor & Gamble, International Paper and Cornell University. He is particularly adept in sales, production, purchasing and engineering design.

Mary Arbutina

Project Manager

Phone: (702) 592-4569
Fax: (702) 651-5984

6375 W. Charleston Blvd, W2A
Las Vegas, NV 89146
 
BSE, Industrial Engineering, Arizona State University
 
Mary has over 20 years experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier quality engineering, and manufacturing management. She specializes in Lean Manufacturing, leading 5S programs and implementing Lean for the Office.

Jeff Englehart

Project Manager

Phone: (702) 469-0835

Fax: (702) 651-5984

6375 W. Charleston Blvd, W2A
Las Vegas, NV 89146
 
BS in Chemistry, USAF Academy MBA, University of Phoenix

Jeff has over 15 years of military aircraft logistics and manufacturing management expertise. As a Captain in the USAF he supervised numerous aircraft logistic squadron repair facilities. As Jeff transitioned to the private sector, he became a key contributor to the manufacturing management team of Rinker Concrete Pipe where he successfully implemented quality, safety and process improvements that resulted in improved bottom line performance and plant efficiencies.

Ed Sarmast

Project Manager

Cell: (702) 672-2957
Fax: (702) 895-5292

4505 Maryland Parkway, BOX 451076
Las Vegas, NV 89154-1076
 
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Nebraska Post Graduate Studies in the Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, New York
 
Ed is a retired Eastman Kodak Company Technical resource, with more than 35 years of national and international experience in design engineering, research and development, project management, implementation and execution of complex and integrated machinery and equipment. He has initiated and has been responsible for developing and implementing high quality manufacturing equipment focusing on business strategy, standardization in design, and process controls specifications. As a member of the facilities organization of Kodak Colorado Division, he was also responsible for the building maintenance and the development of the operational personnel. His primary specialization has been in the converting equipment manufacturing industry, both for the traditional silver-halide sensitized paper and film products and the digital paper and film products. As director of engineering, research, and development for the Colorado Time System Corporation, he was responsible for developing and manufacturing telemarketing and video boards as well as sport timing equipment.

Lorraine O’Neill

Program Coordinator

Phone: (702) 651-5694
Fax: (702) 651-5984

6375 W. Charleston Blvd, W2A
Las Vegas, NV 89146
 
Lorraine has worked in office administration for government and industry and specializes in office process automation. With years of experience, she provides administrative support and coordination for Nevada Industry Excellence projects and professionals in southern Nevada.