LARRY E. WETZEL, P.E., CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Larry is an engineer, an inventor and a businessman. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the States of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California, and holds five U.S. patents and one European patent. Larry graduated from Pennsylvania State University (mechanical engineering) and St. Vincent College (mathematics).

After two decades in the HVAC construction industry, he founded Clean Room Technology, Inc. and rapidly built it into an international business with sales well in excess of seven figures. The company later merged with a French company, Clestra. He spent the next several years as chairman of Clestra's worldwide cleanroom operations.

In 1994, while serving as a consultant to Clestra, Larry co-founded Exponential Business Development Company to invest in and assist startup entrepreneurial companies in Upstate New York. Larry was a general partner until 2002 when the business was acquired by Newtek Capital, Inc.

Early in 1996, Larry and his son, Michael, acquired controlling interest in Floratech Industries, Inc. In 1998, Floratech introduced an innovative new air conditioniong product, HEPAiR, for the cleanroom and indoor air quality market. In 1999, Floratech, through its newly formed subsidiary, Cleanroom Systems, Inc., acquired the cleanroom air conditioning manufacturing division back from Clestra. In 2001, the parent company changed its name to Air Innovations, Inc. to better reflect its mission.

Larry is active in many philanthropic and business organizations in the Central New York community. He is a frequent lecturer and has published several professional articles. He sits on the boards of several companies in the region. Most recently, Larry is a founding board member of the NY Indoor Environmental Quality Center, Inc. and also serves as its marketing committee co-chairperson.

RICHARD (RICH) HUSTED, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard (Rich) Husted owns R.S. Husted consulting Inc., a company specializing in business strategy, manufacturing efficiency improvement, and acquisitions and divestitures. He sits on the board of several Central New York companies. Rich received his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering form Drexel University and an M.B.A from Syracuse University.

Rich previously enjoyed a 28-year career with Carrier Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, where he rose to senior vice president of the Container Refrigeration unit and vice president and general manager of the North American Residential Heating and Air Conditioning business. He was responsible for leading both operations to industry-leading market share positions and double digit returns on sales and assets. Rich also spent seven years with Carlisle Companies, Inc. where he was a corporate vice president and president of the Carlisle System and Equipment Group. In support of this business, Rich was involved in 17 acquisitions and joint ventures.

Rich is active in SCORE, an arm of the Small Business Association that provides pro bono support to start-up and small businesses.

JOHN A. RIZZO, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John A. Rizzo is a lean six sigma consultant for Moffitt Associates with 23 years experience in operations, finance, and sales/marketing. Before joining Moffitt, John led lean six sigma transformations at three manufacturing companies from the roles of director of operations, general manager, and president. John has worked or consulted in several different manufacturing and service industries including: precision metal working, pharmaceuticals, medical, electrical materials, air conditioning, textiles, and temporary staffing.

John has facilitated several hundred LSS kaizen events / projects. He is known as a passionate advocate for continuous improvement and is able to bring together individuals with different agendas. A partial list of areas where John has extensive experience includes: strategy deployment, creating flow, material replenishment systems, total productive maintenance, value stream mapping, mistake proofing, quality function deployment, set up reduction, failure mode effects analysis, design for manufacturing, and supply chain optimization.

John holds a B.S. from the Schools of Engineering and Business at the University of Vermont. He earned an M.B.A. and M.P.A. from Syracuse University. He is a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), APICS certified, and an HL Black Belt. He has also served as chairman for one of the largest manufacturing associations in the country.