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).
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.
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.
Tom Fitzgerald - Practice Director
Mr. Fitzgerald is a Practice Director at Ultra Corporation. He is a 30+ year manufacturing and technology veteran. Half of his experience was being in various line management/change agent roles within automotive, white goods and heating/AC component manufacturing and steel processing industries. The later half of his career has been in the technology (hardware, software, services & outplacement) industry with deep expertise in the areas of technology selection& sales, technology (hardware and software) implementation, business assessment, and project troubleshooting. He has been a progressive, hands-on business consultant and technology solutions implementer providing technology selection, process improvement, and project management and implementation expertise. As Senior Practice Director, he developed implementation methodologies, sold services, and managed all facets of the software and hardware consulting industry. He has been directly involved in numerous hardware and software implementation projects with numerous technology products.
Tom started his career in customer service with an appliance and automotive component manufacture. He has held variety of positions in industry for 15 years as director of customer service, director of materials, director of product planning and sales rep for component manufactures and steel processor. In 1990, Tom moved into the consulting industry and has been consultant, project manager/director, managing principal, senior program delivery manager, and senior practice director for major consulting firms such as Oracle, IBM, Hewlett Packard and EMC. Tom’s industry experience covers the following industries: in Automotive Big 3 & Tier 1/2, White Goods, Metal Processing, CPG, Food & Dairy, Metals, Oil & Gas, High Tech, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Higher Education, Banking, Insurance and Retail markets plus State and Local governmental agencies.
Tom has an undergrad from Purdue University and a Master of Management from Northwestern University– Kellogg Graduate School. He has had APICS CPIM, PM CPM and Customer Service associate CCSE. He is working towards his ITIL and PMP certifications. Tom has worked with multiple ERP systems: Oracle, SAP and Mapics.
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.
Joe Cullen - Business Development Manager
Joe has over 30 years experience in Business Development focused mostly in the manufacturing and distribution software industry.
He began his career in 1979, working for Professional Computer Resources (PCR) in Oak Brook, IL, a leading manufacturing and distribution software company. Joe enjoyed many successful years at PCR, as both a Sales Representative and Sales Manager selling application software to the mid-size market. Joe also helped PCR open their New York office in 1983.
Over the years, Joe has developed much experience and knowledge in the ERP marketplace working with many of the major ERP vendors including SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, Infor, Epicor, IFS, QAD and many others. In the past two years, Joe has rejoined Ultra and is responsible for developing business and consulting opportunities for the Ultra team of partners and consultants.
Joe has a B.S. degree in Business Management from Bowling Green State University, majoring in Production and Inventory Management, 1978 and also an MBA, from Bowling Green, 1979, with a specialization in Information Systems.
Richard Sides - Sr. Consultant
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.
Phil Pitkin – Sr. Consultant
Phil has over 20 years technology-related operational experience in manufacturing and distribution companies. This experience includes operations, strategic planning and business process improvement. He has supplemented this experience with a deep background in technology and systems.
Mr. Pitkin’s industry experience spans operations, management consulting, ERP system implementation project management as well as serving in a variety of senior executive roles. This experience spans both process and discrete manufacturing as well as several industries including automotive, chemicals, and steel.
Phil began his career in manufacturing operations for Hoover Universal, a manufacturer of automotive seating. Additionally, he was a production supervisor at Valdiamant International (industrial diamonds) and Operations Manager at Bimac Inc. (Specialty Chemicals for the Steel Industry). Phil also was Plant Manager for 6 years at Aidco Inc. (Manufacturer of Transmission Test machinery).
Mr. Pitken also has an extensive background as a Senior Consultant with several business-consulting firms including BDO Seidman, Andersen Consulting, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This experience was focused entirely on business process improvement, ERP implementation and business strategy. This includes a deep background in Supply Chain, Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
He has also served the role of Senior Implementation Consultant for a major ERP provider and was responsible for implementing multiple ERP rollouts to mid-market manufacturers.
Phil received his BA from Ohio University and also has an MBA from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is APICS certified at the fellow level (CFPIM) and is also an instructor for these courses.
Connect With Us!