Bios - Key Management Staff
Empire Precision's employees' broad backgrounds bring a wide perspective to our company
Neal P. Elli
President
Neal Elli is President and CEO of Empire Precision Plastics, a full service precision injection molding company focused on the medical device market. Neal co-founded Empire in 1992 after developing substantial record of achieving growth and P&L results for technology-driven manufacturing companies. He has a track record of successes in business development, market opportunity analysis, technical sales, general and project management in plastic injection mold and tooling, custom automated equipment, precision machining and metal stamping. His entire 30+ year career in the industrial market, primarily in plastics injection molding industry. He brings operational knowledge, sales and marketing skills, and a strong management background to the Empire organization. He is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company, and serves as the primary spokesperson for the company with customers and the community.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY. Neal has made technical presentations for SPE & AG Research Technical Conferences on Micro Molding and is a member of the SPE.
Markus Lettau
Director of Sales and Application Engineering
Markus has spent over 15 years in the injection molding industry. He started his plastics and manufacturing experience working in his father's custom injection molding facility in Ohio. After the sale of his father's company he started an apprenticeship at Engel Machinery. He later accepted a position as a Technology Center Manager and worked with leading technology companies in implementing advanced injection molding applications and manufacturing techniques. Working with foremost equipment and application companies such as Engel and Arburg he developed a strong technical background for process technology and specialized applications in the plastic industry. During his time at Arburg as a Regional Sales Manager he achieved recognition as a valuable resource in helping injection molders to provide value for their customers through intelligent application of technology.
As an Application Specialist and Sales Engineer Markus works as the initial customer contact for the Project Management Team and begins the process of achieving customer goals for their product.
Chris Judd
Director of Quality, Six Sigma Green Belt
Chris has 25 years experience in Quality Management and Quality Systems. Chris's responsibilities include managing Empire's Quality Management System (ISO registrations), and directing the Quality Department in driving Quality, ON-Time Delivery, and Customer Satisfaction. Chris is instrumental in New Product Development, Statistics, Engineering Inspection, IQ/OQ/PQ, APQP, and Manufacturing Quality support.
Education: Advanced Avionics and Ground Support Systems on F-15 fighter jets (United States Air Force); Certified Internal ISO Auditor; ASQ Certifications include CQM, CQE, and CMI. Quality Management Coursework at Rochester Institute of Technology and Monroe Community College.
Chuck Kirchoff
Senior Quality Engineer
Chuck joined Empire Precision in 2003 as a Senior Quality Engineer. He possesses 25 years of Quality Engineering experience, with an emphasis on injection molding in the automotive and medical fields. Chuck's responsibilities at Empire include maintaining the calibration system, Quality training, advance quality planning (PPAP, TR, PFMEA, Control Plans), internal audits, statistical analysis, measurement systems analysis, production floor quality plans and data management.
Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree - Business Administration - St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY
Quality Certifications - ISO Auditing, Advanced Metroolgy, Quality Planning
Tom Hockeborn
Senior Project Manager
Tom has over 30 years experience in injection molding manufacturing. As a Senior Project Manager, Tom works within the Project Management Team and facilitates all steps of the project through completion. He consults with customers to optimize product design and manufacturability; is also responsible for in house mold design and to oversee outsourced mold design. Support Sales Engineer and provide consulting input with customer to optimize part manufacturability and minimize production cost. Generate quotations for mold manufacturing, production molding and assembly services based on customer requirements. Responsible for outsourcing of components and provide technical support for all phases of mold design, construction and part production. Experience includes project management, new tool build quoting, DQ-IQ-OQ-PQ Medical Device Validation, design concepts, MoldFlow, Scientific Molding Principles, Solidworks, and Unigraphics. International experience includes Europe, Mexico, and Asia.
Education: Journeyman Moldmaker from New York State Tool and Die, Rochester, NY, and coursework in Electrical Engineering at the University of Rochester, Rochester NY.
Matt Schiavi
Chief Engineer
Matt has over 13 years experience in injection molding manufacturing. As a Chief Engineer, Matt works within the Project Management Team and facilitates all steps of the project until the project is complete. Responsible to consult with customer to optimize product design and manufacturability. Responsible for in house mold design and to oversee outsourced mold design. Support Sales Engineer and provide consulting input with customer to optimize part manufacturability and minimize production cost. Generate quotations for mold manufacturing, production molding and assembly services based on customer requirements. Responsible for outsourcing of components and provide technical support for all phases of mold design, construction and part production. Experience includes project management, new tool build quoting, DQ-IQ-OQ-PQ Medical Device Validation, design concepts, MoldFlow, Scientific Molding Principles, Solidworks, and Unigraphics. International experience includes Europe, Mexico, and Asia.
Education: Matt has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY, and an Associates degree in Applied Science and Drafting from Genesee Community College, Batavia NY.
Paul Carney
Senior Project Manager
Paul has over 30 years experience in injection molding manufacturing. As a Senior Project Manager, Paul works within the Project Management Team and facilitates all steps of the project until the project is complete. Responsible to consult with customer to optimize product design and manufacturability. Responsible for in house mold design and to oversee outsourced mold design. Support Sales Engineer and provide consulting input with customer to optimize part manufacturability and minimize production cost. Generate quotations for mold manufacturing, production molding and assembly services based on customer requirements. Responsible for outsourcing of components and provide technical support for all phases of mold design, construction and part production. Experience includes project management, new tool build quoting, DQ-IQ-OQ-PQ Medical Device Validation, design concepts, MoldFlow, Scientific Molding Principles, Solidworks, and Unigraphics. International experience includes Europe, Mexico, and Asia.
Education: Journeyman Moldmaker from New York State Tool and Die, Rochester, NY.
Kathleen S. Elli
Controller
Kathy had worked for both Fortune 500 and privately-held manufacturing companies before joining Empire Precision in August 1999. Her primary focus at Empire has been to oversee the implementation and maintenance of the company’s ERP system, cost accounting and profit reporting processes, human resource management, and office administration. Kathy is an active participant of Empire’s Senior Management Team and enjoys working with her peers to drive process and quality improvement projects. Her staff includes accounting, information technology, and administrative resources.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY. Kathy is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York.
Gary Oliver
Senior Process Engineer, Six Sigma Green Belt
Gary has over 20 years of processing experience in injection molding, which included Eastman Kodak Company and Fisher Price. Gary's responsibility includes Scientific Molding, Root Cause Analysis, Review of Tool Design, selection of materials for new products, Mold Flow Analysis, and on-site training for all these applications. Experience also includes multi-shot technology (rotating platens, lift & turn plates, and robotic placing of parts), Clean room applications, automatic rejection systems, valve gating, and process documentation. International experience includes Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Gary is also the training instructor at Empire (and some customers) for the following courses: Mold Setup, Process Setup, Troubleshooting, and Scientific Molding Principles.
Education: Gary is also an Assistant Professor at Erie Community College, teaching courses in Injection Mold Processing and Scientific Molding Principles. Other coursework included Polymer Science, Troubleshooting Hydraulic Equipment, RJG Processing, and some coursework at Penn State University.