Leadership

Dave Blaida joined Matrix Technologies in 1990 as an Associate Engineer in the factory automation department. He has held multiple positions within Matrix, including Engineer, Group Leader, Department Manager, and Director. Through all of these roles he has helped with development of engineering team members, customer relationships, and business practices within Matrix.

As CEO & President, he plays a leadership role in corporate management and strategic planning for the company He also is a member of the company’s board of directors.

Dave has extensive background in food and beverage manufacturing and operations, playing a primary role in developing many of the company’s key customers.

Dave has an extensive background in control and information system design and ERP integration. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Kansas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and has participated in many specialized training programs.

Dan Pruss joined Matrix Technologies in 2015 as the Chief Financial Officer. Dan is responsible for the administrative, financial, information technology and risk management of the company. He works to align them with the overall strategy of the company while managing the ongoing development and monitoring of control systems to preserve company assets and report accurate results.

Dan has an extensive background in financial leadership across multiple industries prior to joining Matrix. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a specialization in Accounting from Bowling Green State University. Additionally, Dan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Ohio.

Lisa Behrendt joined Matrix as the Director of Human Resources in August 2012. Lisa and her team are responsible for talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, learning & development, HR technology, and onboarding for all Matrix locations. It is part of the Matrix culture to focus on the employee experience and the continual enhancement of the policies and programs to support company growth. The HR team is instrumental in making sure those goals are met.

Lisa has over 25 years of human resources and leadership experience. She has a Bachelor of Business degree with a specialization in Human Resources from the University of Toledo. In addition, she has the Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional certification (SHRM-SCP) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources certification (SPHR).

Jason Perry directs the management and growth of the company’s three operations divisions which encompasses the Engineering Services, Industrial Systems, and Manufacturing Intelligence divisions. He began his career with Matrix in 2002 after graduating from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Heidelberg University with a degree in Physics.

Jason is responsible for the company’s operational performance, including personnel selection and development, planning and organization, quality, and customer relationships. Jason is also a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio.

Deborah Zimmerman leads our high performing and multi-skilled team of Project Managers, guides management of our Project Controls Department, and manages our PMO. She began her career at Matrix in 1995 as an engineer in the Industrial Systems Division. She has held many positions during her career at Matrix including Project Engineer, Group Leader, and Project Manager.

Deborah is responsible to ensure the consistent and efficient execution of corporate initiatives critical to the successful delivery of projects and continued development of those managing client project efforts. These activities are supported by her vast experience in the food, beverage, and chemical industries.

Deborah’s engineering background includes electrical power distribution and control system automation. She is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio, earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Ohio Northern University, and received the Monte Ajuja Certificate of Leadership Excellence in 2018.

Craig joined Matrix in 2017 as the Director of Information Technology. In this role he is responsible for ensuring that corporate technology at Matrix is aligned with industry standards and the company’s strategic vision. As a Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) he is also responsible for IT and physical security at all Matrix offices.

Craig graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Wright State University and has an MBA from the University of Toledo. He is a member of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).

Terry joined Matrix in 1997 as an Engineer in the Industrial Systems Division. He has held multiple other positions within Matrix during his career including Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Department Manager Senior Manager, and Associate Director. In Terry’s current role as Director of Industrial Systems he leads the growth and direction of factory automation, network infrastructure and information systems. As the director of one of the largest independent integration firms in North America, his diverse team has the skill and scale to handle small retrofit projects or large greenfield plant-wide installations. The key to success is the “Matrix Process” for project delivery which is backed by both ISO and CSIA best practices certifications.

Terry is a 1990 graduate from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Terry also has an extensive background in food and beverage manufacturing and operations

Kevin leads the management and strategic planning of the main groups within the division which includes Client Success Account Management, Client Relations Program, Client Development, Client Solutions Team, and Marketing. Kevin began his career at Matrix Technologies in 2016 as a Corporate Account Manager focusing primarily on the growth of customers within the Southeast region. In Kevin’s current role as Director, he oversees the growth and direction of each group leaders programs focusing on driving industry and client success for the company. Kevin and his team focus on building strong client relationships through awareness of Matrix services, understanding their challenges, recommending solutions based on best engineering practices and making a positive impact to their business.

Kevin has served in sales, process improvement, business advisory, consulting, and manufacturing leadership roles. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMCUSA) and involved with external peer groups to continue learning best practices to better serve clients in the industry.

Kevin’s diverse experience includes spirits, specialty chemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, aggregates/mining, and industrial manufacturing.