Executive Staff

CRAIG D. GATES

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Gates  has been President and CEO of the Company since April 2009. He has held various executive management positions since joining the Company in 1994. From 1991 to October 1994 Mr. Gates served as Director of Operations, Electronics for the Microswitch Division of Honeywell Inc.  From 1982 to 1991, Mr. Gates held various engineering and management positions within the Microswitch Division.  Mr. Gates has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana.

RONALD F. KLAWITTER

Executive Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Klawitter has been Executive Vice President of Administration, CFO, and Treasurer since July 1997.  He has held a variety of executive positions since joining the company in 1992. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Klawitter was Vice President, Finance at Baker Hughes Tubular Service, a subsidiary of Baker Hughes, Inc.  He has a BA degree from Wittenberg University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

DOUGLAS G. BURKHARDT

Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations

Mr. Burkhardt has been Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations of the company since August 1, 2010.  Prior to this, Mr. Burkhardt has served in a variety of Senior Management positions within the Company since 1989.  Before joining KeyTronicEMS, Mr. Burkhardt worked for House of Aluminum and Glass for 12 years where he was the plant manager.

PHILIP S. HOCHBERG

Executive Vice President of Business Development

Mr. Hochberg has been Executive Vice President of Business Development of the company since July 2012.  From October 2009 to July 2012, Mr. Hochberg held the position of Vice President of Business Development.  He has held a number of number of Director level positions since joining the company in July 2000. Prior to joining KeyTronicEMS, Mr. Hochberg worked for Quinton Instrument Company as their Director of Marketing and Product Management from 1992 to 2000. From 1988 to 1992, he was employed by SpaceLabs Medical as their Business Development Marketing Manager. He has an MBA from the University of British Columbia, a BA Psychology, with a minor in Business from Washington University in St. Louis.

LAWRENCE J. BOSTWICK

Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs

Mr. Bostwick has been Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Affairs since July 2008.  He joined the company in February 2006, where he has held a number of Director level positions. From 2003 to 2006 he was Director of Supply Chain Management and Quality for the Lancer Corporation and from 1998 to 2003, he was Vice President of Operations for Thermacore International. He is a graduate of the Westinghouse and General Electric - Engineering and Manufacturing Professional Development Programs.  He is certified in both Quality and Industrial Engineering and is a Lean – Six Sigma Master Black Belt.  He has a B.S. degree in Production and Operation and IE from Bowling Green State University and a Masters degree from Syracuse University. 

BRETT R. LARSEN

Vice President of Finance and Controller

Mr. Larsen has served as Vice President of Finance and Controller since February 2010. Prior to joining KeyTronicEMS, he was Chief Financial Officer of FLSmidth Spokane, Inc. from December 2008 to February 2010. From October 2005 through November 2008, Mr. Larsen served as Controller of Key Tronic Corporation. From May 2004 to October 2005, Mr. Larsen served as Manager of Financial Reporting of Key Tronic Corporation. From 2002 to May 2004, Mr. Larsen was an audit manager for the public accounting firm BDO Seidman, LLC. He also held various auditing and supervisory positions with Grant Thornton LLP from 1997 to 2002. Mr. Larsen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Masters degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

FRANK CRISPIGNA III

Vice President of Supply Chain

Mr. Crispigna has been Vice President of Supply Chain of the company since October 2011.  Prior to this, Mr. Crispigna held a variety of Materials and Supply Chain positions at Plexus Corporation since 1997, most recently serving as the Director – Supply Chain Solutions from 2005 - 2011. He has a Masters degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.  Mr. Crispigna also is a C.P.M., and received his certification in Supply Chain Leadership from the University of Wisconsin.

DUANE D. MACKLEIT

Vice President of Program Management

Mr. Mackleit has been Vice President of Program Management since July 2012.  Prior to this, Mr. Mackleit served as Director of Program since July 2008.  From May 2006 to July 2008 he served as Principal Program Manager.  Prior to that, he served as Program Manager from March 2002 to May 2006 and Associate Program Manager from August 2000 to March 2002.  Mr. Mackleit has also held several other positions with Key Tronic Corporation.  Mr. Mackleit has an AA in Business from Spokane Falls Community College and a BA in Business/Marketing from Eastern Washington University.  He also holds a MBA from Gonzaga University.

KEVIN A. TOWLE, PE

Director of Manufacturing Engineering

Mr. Towle has served as Director of Manufacturing Engineering since July 2010.  He was R&D Mechanical Engineering Manager for Symetix a division of Key Technology Inc. (automation for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries), from July 2008 to December 2009.  From March 2005 to March 2008, he served as Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Biotronik, MSE (Class III implantable medical devices).  Prior to that, Mr. Towle served in several management capacities at Tektronix, Inc. Mr. Towle was the recipient of Tektronix Manufacturing Technology Leadership Award. Mr. Towle has a BS and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portland.  He also holds a MS in Management of Science and Technology from Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology.