Meet Our Team

Jerome Hamilton is currently COO Warecorp. Jerome is responsible for Global Operations, driving profitable business growth, strategic planning and raising capital. Prior to Warecorp, Jerome was CEO of a startup, Open Therapeutics where he and his team created $30 million of value in 3 years. He was responsible for leading the company’s scale and global expansion, as well as managing business development, sales, marketing, and investor relations.

He joined Open Therapeutics TM after serving as Stratasys’ Senior Vice President of Global Operations, before which he was Vice President of LEAN Six Sigma Operations, Corporate Quality and Acquisition Integration for 3M.

There, he played a major role in devising strategy and operational plans for the company’s largest business group, Industrial Business Group. He also led the company’s Masking and Surface Protection Business with full P&L responsibility. Hamilton received his Bachelor of General Science from Morehouse College, his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, Master of Science in Engineering Management from University of Detroit, Mercy; and Master of Science for International Logistics from Georgia Tech; he is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School.

Hamilton served as Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Easter Seals Minnesota from Feb
2018 to Feb 2020. He is currently a Board Member of V2SOFT, a for profit Information Technology company headquartered in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is also a Board Member of the Minnesota Orchestra. He was listed in the 2014 Savoy Magazine list of Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America and was recognized as one of the Top 50 diversity professionals in industry– Global Diversity List, supported by The Economist, 2020.

Bennie is President and CEO of Bennie Fowler, LLC and a senior operations executive with 40 years of experience in the automotive industry at Ford, Chrysler and GM. His leadership positions have
encompassed international expansion, new product launches, turnaround and restructuring. As Group Vice President, Quality and New Model Launch at Ford, a $165 billion company, Bennie successfully launched 900 vehicle and powertrain programs while improving product quality around the world including launching 18 new vehicle assembly and powertrain plants in China, Russia, and India.
Bennie is a seasoned automotive expert with extensive responsibilities in leading manufacturing, product development, purchasing, total value management, quality and launch. Bennie has implemented an enterprise-wide quality and productivity plan reducing warranty reserves by over $3 billion, resulting in Ford being an industry leader. Process improvements have led to over $5 billion in cost improvement projects throughout the enterprise.

Bennie has the unique experience of leading manufacturing processes throughout the value chain of the automotive industry. From plant manager to chief operating officer to group vice president, he has guided transformations, as both change agent and effective leader. During the great recession, Bennie was one of eleven executives selected to restructure Ford resulting in eight consecutive years of profits totaling $65 billion. 

Bennie frequently leads the Ford Motor Company board of directors through quality and launch performance discussions. Bennie was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the Board of Overseers for the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program at The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He served on the Board of Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company . Bennie also served as a member of Beaumont Hospital’s Board of Directors from 2009 to 2014, where he chaired the Patient and Healthcare Committee and was a member of the Finance Committee.  Bennie founded the Powerstroke Athletic Club in 2000, an afterschool youth organization based in Southfield, Michigan. Powerstroke’s mission is to develop positive characteristics and values in youths through hard work, discipline, education and relationships by relating the lessons of competitive sport to real world challenges. Powerstroke has helped over 4,000 youth since its inception, many which have received scholarships to college.

Bennie is a native of Augusta, Georgia, holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from
Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and a MBA in operations management from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

Richard M. Shulman, attorney, University of Michigan, AB Political Science, 1991, University of Detroit, Juris Doctorate, 1994. Mr. Shulman is admitted to practice in New York and Michigan, Northern and Southern US District Court, US Supreme Court, Michigan Supreme Court and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Shulman has been engaged in private practice since 1994, and has counseled clients on a wide array of matters, including negligence, both federal and state criminal defense, immigration and business litigation

SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – SIX SIGMA BLACKBELTSALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

Business Development | Sales | Marketing | Production Efficiency | Revenue Growth
• Dedicated professional with 20+ years of experience in management in multiple industries, driving high-performance teams in all aspects of operations to advance key business initiatives.

• Expertise in Sales and Marketing in the automotive industry aimed at market share expansion, business development, cost reduction, and revenue growth.

• Excels at identifying, capturing, and fostering Sales/New Business opportunities with potential customers, maintaining effective business relationships. For example, supervised partnership with Ford, Chrysler, GM, ArcelorMittal, and Alcoa.

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and process/operations improvements.

• Result-oriented team player with the ability to work in multidisciplinary environments and under pressure.• Strategic-thinking, planning, and problem-solving skills in addition to aptitude in designing websites and using different computer software including MS Office and Salesforce.

• Strong verbal/written communication and reporting skills, able to work closely with customers and foster effective and professional relationships.

CORE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Sales/Marketing Analysis Marketing Crisis ManagementTeam Leadership OEM/Tier 1 Account Mgt. Production AnalysisNew Business Development Product Launches Cost ReductionProgram Management Continuous Improvement Lean  Manufacturing

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
B. A. in Business Administration, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1999 CERTIFICATIONSBlack Belt in Six Sigma Concepts/Implementation, University of Michigan CertificationHuman Resources: Benefits & Compensation,Cornell University CertificationKaizen CoordinatorCrestcom Management Training

Education
MUMFORD HIGH SCHOOL DETROIT MI |GRADUATED 1967
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE | 1971 | NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Experience
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT SINCE 1978
Have worked in public accounting with exposure to all functions and workings of many types of organizations including for profit businesses and
non-profit organizations for 49 years.

Robert Garcia President & CEO of VETBUILT, he started his company in 2009 and has grown to a successful Construction, Facility Maintenance and Staffing company. With over 500 employees in Michigan and Puerto Rico, VETBUILT has established itself as an industry Leader for all three Industries. In 2011, the company grew to just under 30 million in Sales from the Commercial and Government business sectors. Notable certifications are; SDVOSB, MMSDC, Detroit HQ & Based, Wayne County and SBE. Mr. Garcia is a native of Southwest Detroit and attended Western H.S. Upon receiving his diploma he enlisted into the United States Marine Corp where he was on active duty in the Infantry and Light Armored Vehicle “LAV” Unit. After active duty he attended Macomb College where he studied Design and Engineering. He has served on numerous community nonprofit boards and received awards for his commitment to Inner City Youth activities for the Metro Detroit area. He served on the Mayor’s City of Detroit Workforce Development Board, Michigan Veteran Round Table as Membership Chair, The Michigan Hispanic Business Alliance, he was featured on Crain’s Detroit Business front page for Hiring Military Veterans and was Crain’s Detroit Top 10 Hispanic Business in 2012 with Sales over $23 million and a one year growth of over 1000%. He is a single Father of two amazing children Esai and Mia Garcia and is a devoted Man of GOD

Office ManagerOffice Manager

• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, Publisher, Power Point and social media platforms.

• Interacts effectively with a diverse, multi-generational population• Leadership and management abilities

• Works well independently as well as in a team environment

EDUCATION  AND CERTIFICATIONS

Oakland Community College, Royal Oak, MI  – (1985, 1991, 1995)

CLEP (Wayne State University) – (2000)

Perry Johnson Registrar, QS 9000 Auditor – (1997) 

• Accounts Receivable/Payable – Keeping all records and reporting to CPA/Treasurer

• Board Meetings/Members – Keeping board members apprised and scheduling board meetings

Todd A. TaylorGraphic Designer Accomplished, highly creative Graphic Designer with extensive experience in illustration, art direction, production and creative design in the marketing and advertising sectors. Able to coordinate and form strong relationships with colleagues and clients at all levels; committed team player with excellent organizational and multitasking skills. Gifted written and verbal communicator. Highly skilled in the creation and execution of complex and innovative graphic presentations, marketing campaigns and material for clients in the highly image-conscious industries. Accustomed to performing in deadline-driven environments, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.

Areas of expertise include…

• Graphic Design

• Project Management

• Creative Direction

• Requirements Gathering

• Marketing

• Advertising

• Content Development

• Social and Digital Media

• Client Relations

• Print Production

• Communication Skills

• Print and Video Design

Professional Experience REAL LIFE 101 SCHOLARSHIP FUND – VP of Digital & Social MediaTroy, MI, October 2016-September 2017

Led full lifecycle creative development and publishing of customized advertising and promotional materials, in addition to maintaining and creating content on company website/social media channels. Created graphic designs for print production and video presentation devices used at promotional events. Filled in the role of IT support and maintained the computer systems and networks of the organization. Performed various tasks such as installing and configuring computer systems, diagnose hardware and software faults and solve technical and applications problems, over the phone or in person.

Paul Edelstein is Founder and CEO of International Consultants, LLC, a full-service boutique marketing and technology company based in Detroit, Michigan. For more than a decade, International Consultants has partnered with numerous healthcare, legal, corporate and non-profit brands to to strengthen their brand and broaden their reach.  Outside of his public and private commitments, Paul Edelstein serves on George Washington University’s Marketing Advisory board and advises faculty on new digital marketing initiatives.

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