Smart organizations turn to our ERP consulting team to minimize risk, accelerate the selection and implementation process and increase the success and value of ERP. Our ERP consulting team is focused on delivering value to your ERP project.
Jeffrey F. Carr - Managing Partner
Jeff has over 40 years experience helping manufacturing and distribution companies improve their information systems.
He started his career at IBM in the late 1960’s, specializing in mid-range systems for the manufacturing industry. In 1975 Mr. Carr founded Professional Computer Resources (PCR) and directed it to become one of the leading manufacturing software companies in the mid-1980s. After selling the company’s flagship product to Pansophic, PRMS was subsequently acquired by Computer Associates and today has more than 2000 customers.
In 1994, Jeff founded Ultra Corporation to serve the manufacturing industry. Mr. Carr is in demand for his knowledge of the manufacturing software industry. He has led numerous ERP Selection and implementation projects. His organizations have helped nearly 1,200 establishments select and implement new information systems which have earned him a reputation as the leading expert on manufacturing software vendors and their products.
Jeff is a graduate of University of Illinois. His businesses have won numerous awards. He has been a finalist for the KPMG Peat Marwick High Tech Entrepreneur Award and twice has won the Arthur Anderson’s Small Business Award. He is a former member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and Chief Executive Officers (CEO), and a member of the World Presidents Organization (WPO).
George Trudell - Partner Eastern US
George has over 25 years supply chain and technology experience helping midsized manufacturing and distribution companies improve their businesses.
He worked in industry for 15 years as a Corporate Director of Supply Chain, Planning Manager, Strategic Planning and Master Scheduler. And he has worked in consulting for 10 years, from Senior Consultant to Partner at Grant Thornton, McGladrey, and now Ultra Corporation. George has selected and implemented ERP systems at each step in his career leading ERP projects from both perspectives (industry and consulting).
In 2010 George re-joined Ultra, after working for Ultra for 3.5 years in the early 2000’s. In his ten years as an a consultant he has led over 40 ERP Selection and Implementation projects working with all major ERP and CRM vendors including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Infor, QAD, Epicor, IFS, Sage, and Consona. His ability to lead his clients through process change enabled by ERP systems is his strength.
George has his BBA from The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School. He is APICS certified, taught classes and spoken at conferences and dinner meetings, on the topics of Business Process Improvement, ERP Selection and Implementation.
Richard Sides - Principal
Richard has over 20 years technology-related operational experience assisting manufacturing and distribution organizations improving their business processes and supporting information systems.
Mr. Sides experience includes operational responsibilities, management consulting, ERP system implementation as well as serving in a variety of senior executive management roles. Richard’s background includes significant experience in process and discrete manufacturing as well as logistics, distribution and supply chain management.
Richard started his career in 1990 with Kraft Foods and was part of the pioneering efforts to introduce integrated supervisory and process control systems to Kraft’s production lines. He finished up his 6-year career with Kraft by serving as the systems lead on the pilot implementation of Kraft’s Marcam Prism ERP rollout.
In the late 1990’s Richard became APICS certified and moved into management consulting working exclusively with manufacturing and distribution companies. This experience included developing IT strategies; designing production and inventory systems; Implementing business process improvements; and ERP implementation project management. He has also served the role of Senior Vice President of Information Services for a multi-site manufacturing and logistics company where he implemented a more current system infrastructure and corresponding best business practices. Richard has also served as Senior Vice President Manufacturing and Supply Chain for a leading software provider.
Mr. Sides has a BS in Computer Engineering from Lehigh University and an MBA from DePaul University.
Jim Deeter - Principal and Business Development Director
Jim has over 25 years sales and marketing experience working with technology solution providers that assist manufacturing and distribution companies in improving their information systems and business processes.
He began his career in the early 1980’s with NCR focusing on providing mid-range systems to manufacturing and distribution companies. In 1991 Mr. Deeter helped open the Chicago Office for Symix Computer Systems that became a leading ERP manufacturing software supplier to mid-sized companies. In his 10 years at Symix (later purchased by Infor), Jim served in a variety of sales capacities (eventually becoming the Regional Manager) in growing that office to the #1 producer in the company.
Additionally, Jim has also worked in sales and sales management related roles with such industry leading ERP companies as J.D. Edwards, PeopleSoft, and Oracle. He has spent his entire career assisting mid-sized manufacturing organizations, which has given him both industry depth as well as an extensive knowledge of the available solution landscape.
Jim has both a bachelor degree and an MBA degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He also obtained his APICS CPIM certification.
Dave Pruess – Practice Director of Business Intelligence
Dave has over 25 years of experience and knowledge of helping companies to optimize their performance by putting the right information in the right hands of the right people at the right time.
Mr. Pruess started his career at a system integrator where his primary role was to develop integration and interfaces to multiple systems to allow the seamless flow of information. He later joined Cold River Software (CRS) where he headed up support as well as developing customer facing applications to streamline the support function as well as software and update delivery. These systems designed and developed at CRS in the pre-internet era were the precursors to the Help Desk and Automatic Update technologies of today.
Dave joined Ultra in 1996 as a Senior Consultant where he focused on implementing and providing Business Intelligence Solutions ranging from high-level strategy formulation to the eventual implementation and maintainability of these solutions. He has assisted over 30+ companies with multiple locations, ERP systems, and information sources to help them consolidate and provide key management reporting information.
Mr. Pruess earned his BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He has studied microprocessor design, compiler construction, operating system design as well as the various communication and networking protocols. This extensive knowledge in fundamental computer technologies provides a unique perspective and ability to diagnose issues in complex system implementations.
Dave Saunders – Senior Consultant
Dave has over 25 years of business experience helping mid-sized and large manufacturing and distribution companies improve their operations and the underlying business processes.
Mr. Saunders has extensive experience in Information Technology plus he also combines a strong background deep in assisting organizations improve their efficiencies through more effectively utilizing people, processes and technology. His background combines depth in both operational responsibilities and management consulting and has provided him with a depth of knowledge of many industries and process areas.
Dave began his career with Kraft Foods and spent 10 years working extensively in distribution, logistics as well as sales and operations planning. He had various responsibilities at Kraft, the final being a Distribution Center Manager.
Additional experience includes Manager of Logistics and Planning for a global electrical supplier, Director of Business Processes at a major international manufacturer of tape and other adhesive products, as well as serving as Director of IT Governance for a $19B global leader in consumer and industrial products.
Mr. Saunders has a BS in Computer in Management from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Dave also received a Management Business degree from IESA Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Dennis Gilhooley Jr. – Senior Consultant
Mr. Gilhooley has over 15 years of experience in business process improvement, management consulting, ERP implementation, lean manufacturing, project management, portfolio management, sales management, education and technology training, supply chain management, and project management. He has implemented growth strategies and innovative technology solutions for clients in private and public sectors.
He was vice president of a precision manufacturer, managing all aspects of business management and company operations including strategic planning, staffing, new business development, communications, marketing, competitive positioning, and client management. Mr. Gilhooley lead the company through a successful ERP implementation helping to increase sales by 80% while leading a lean manufacturing initiative which increased employee productivity by 45%.
As a management consultant in the Public Sector Operations Supply Chain Management service area with PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Global Business Services, Mr. Gilhooley was part of a team that managed a $500M IT Portfolio for the US Transportation Command. He provided strategic sourcing best practices for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), managed web-based procurement for the DLA, helped develop the mission-critical DLA Enterprise Portal and provided business process improvement strategies for the US Navy Network Centric Innovation Center.
Mr. Gilhooley has a BBA in Marketing from Loyola University, Chicago and a M.Ed. (Computer Science) from DePaul University. He is APICS – CSCP certified, PMI – PMP certified and an IBM trained Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Gary McGregor – Senior Consultant
Gary has over 30 years of business experience helping manufacturing and distribution companies improve their operations and the underlying business processes with considerable experience in implementing lean principles both as a consultant and industry practitioner.
Mr. McGregor couples deep backgrounds in engineering, manufacturing operations, as well as implementing business process continuous improvement programs in a variety of manufacturing operations. He has specific industry experience in the production of heavy equipment, aerospace and defense contracts, consumer products, plastics and electronics.
Gary began his career in engineering and was promoted to the Division Manager of Industrial Engineering at General Dynamics. He also spent 5 years at Case Corporation as the Manager of Assembly Strategy where he introduced the framework for the use of lean techniques into the Case worldwide manufacturing operations (over 26 plants). Additional positions include working as Director of Manufacturing Operations, Director of Production, and Lean Manufacturing Manager where he was responsible for implementing business process improvements for a variety of manufacturing organizations in diverse industries.
Mr. McGregor also has deep experience working for consulting organizations focused specifically on implementing business process improvements in a wide variety of industries and has served as a Vice President of Consulting Operations. Additionally Gary has experience teaching manufacturing and business process improvement techniques at the college level and is also a regular speaker in manufacturing symposiums on topics related to Lean Manufacturing and Business Process Improvement.
Mr. McGregor has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Toledo University and an MBA from the University of Dayton and is a Registered Professional Engineer.
Jeff Stevens – Senior Consultant
Mr. Stevens has 18-years of related experience focused on business process improvement, supply chain management and production and inventory control.
Jeff began his career in industry as a Director of Production/Inventory Planning for Imperial Home Décor Group, a major manufacturer of residential and commercial wall coverings, developing forecasts and planning production for 5 manufacturing plants and a distribution facility. He also was Manager of Demand Planning for a $2.5B producer of electronic connectors where he was instrumental in implementing a new planning tool and procedures.
Mr. Stevens has also managed and headed up supply-chain consulting practices at Experio, Headstrong and SAP focused on streamlining supply chain operations through the implementation of technology and improved business processes.
Additionally, Jeff also has spent several years engaged as a Business Development Executive developing, growing and managing industry consulting practices.
Jeff has his B.A. in Business from the University of Cincinnati and is certified Ollie Wight Sales & Operations Planning and Project Management.
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