The ARI Team
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Jeff O'Dell
CEO
Jeff is passionate about developing high-performing teams and fostering company cultures; serving as a leader, coach, and mentor at all levels. He has 30 years of experience as a technology executive and has held CEO and Board Member roles in both public and private companies. Jeff served as Chairman and CEO of NASDAQ-traded August Technology; forming strategic global partnerships and marketing, sales, and service channels. Jeff excels in scaling early-stage technology companies; having co-founded and led two startups to successful exits.
Jeff is known for his innovation and trustworthiness with expertise spanning strategic planning, product innovation, and market development. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with experience in software development, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Jeff resides in Minnesota and is passionate about family and faith. His interests include historical and contemporary architecture, aviation, and outdoor activities such as skiing and trail biking.
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Bob Hegger
CCO
Bob is an expert on industrial process analytical measurement technologies. For over 25 years, he has contributed to some of the world's leading analyzer companies. Bob’s extensive experience encompasses management roles in Sales and Marketing, Product and Applications Engineering, and Operations. He has hands-on expertise with multi-component process analytical technologies and discrete instrumentation, including Raman, Mass Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography, FTIR/NIR, O2, Moisture, Flow, Temperature, Pressure, pH, and Conductivity. Throughout his career, he has effectively supported customer needs in over 25 countries.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, and an MBA in Corporate Finance from DePaul University, Chicago. In his spare time Bob likes to road bike. If any additional spare time, you will find him on the golf course.
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Mark Payne
CFO
Mark has spent many of his 35 years on financial and operational aspects of emerging companies. His background and experience has focused on growing businesses across many industries with revenues from $0 to $50 million. He has been the Chief Financial Officer for three public companies (after leading the Initial Public Offerings for ValueVision/Evine, Famous Dave’s BBQ and Redline Performance Products) Mark has also successfully completed secondary offerings and numerous private placements. He is now consulting as a fractional executive to emerging companies to assist in areas including overall strategy and planning, capital formation, projections/budgets/forecasts, cash flow planning, fund raising guidance including messaging and pitch decks.
Mark received his degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota and began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co, leaving as an audit manager.
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Brian Abraham
CTO
Dr. Abraham's career crosses both business and faculty leadership focusing on entrepreneurship and growth. He is most recently a Nichols College faculty member, Case Western Reserve University research fellow, and ProteQ Labs founder. His entrepreneurial career includes purchasing and growing ProteQ for a 10x return in three years, commercializing Michigan State University intellectual property, founding and leading Groveland Capital, President/CEO of Bluefin Robotics, and directing commercialization efforts for Battelle Memorial Institute's National Security Division.
Dr. Abraham serves on multiple boards. He holds degrees in Chemistry and Spanish from Skidmore College, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Tufts University, an MBA from Babson College, and a Ph.D. in Management from Case Western Reserve University. He also completed postdoctoral fellowships at Tufts, the University of Florida, and for the US Army. Brian spends his spare time coaching hockey and family time with his wife and children.
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Tim Walker
VP, Operations & Service
Tim is a highly accomplished manufacturing leader. His hands-on style, 30+ years of experience, and a background in Aerospace Engineering and advanced degrees in Operations and Business, foster the blend of technical and strategic leadership. Tim's specialty is high-tech capital equipment and device manufacturing across industrial, additive manufacturing, semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and automotive sectors. He has successfully built and managed multi-site operations for both large global and start-up enterprises. Tim is known for implementing lean manufacturing and quality systems, driving operational excellence through cross-functional teamwork and continuous improvement, and merging strategic operations with engineering, sales, and business development.
Tim's holds a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Minnesota and dual Master's degrees from the University of St. Thomas. Outside of work, Tim is a "semi-retired" triathlete, cycling instructor, and volunteer, enjoying family time and outdoor activities.
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Brian Groh
Chief BD Officer
Brian is a market development and expansion leader. He brings 40 years of creative business-to-business sales and market development success across IT, software service, and industrial products industries. His expertise is in driving new revenue streams by understanding fundamental market and customer business drivers, developing solutions for specific applications, engaging strategic partnerships, and creatively developing go-to-market approaches.
Brian earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Wisconsin and an MBA (Venture and Finance) from Marquette. Brian and his wife live in the Twin Cities as do his children/spouses and their growing families. He is a self-taught custom furniture maker and is passionate about helping others experience and enjoy outdoor activities.
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Jonathan Engbrecht
Dir., Product Management
Jonathan is a strategic thinker, engineer, and business professional. He has spent nearly twenty years in numerous for profit and nonprofit endeavors, with many years spent as an engineer, mostly in research and development. He holds two degrees in electrical engineering, including a bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota and a master's from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a passionate problem solver, drawing on his broad experience and training in content creation, engineering, and business. This includes systems design, software development and architecture, R&D, requirements analysis, sales, marketing, web design, project management, and product management. Additionally, he has experience in other endeavors like book writing, speaking, mentoring, facilities management, and content development.
His greatest passion over the years has been mentoring young leaders in faith, vocation, and life. On a personal note, Jonathan also enjoys sports, music, the outdoors, superhero films, and searching for amazing food and beverage experiences!
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Craig James
MGR., MFG. & Customer Service
Craig delivers a unique blend of rich technology background and personalized professional service. Craig has made significant contributions to ARI’s core analyzer technology; having built, calibrated, tested, qualified, and serviced over 100 RLGA analyzers. Beyond the factory, he works with both suppliers and customers to ensure success. His manufacturing expertise spans smart-cart and precision polishing systems. His experience also includes front-line service for residential satellite network systems.
Craig graduated from Dunwoody College of Technology with an Associates degree in Electronics Technology and has been with ARI for 15 years. He resides in Shakopee, Minnesota and enjoys an active family-oriented lifestyle including skiing, inline skating, and gaming. Craig is also committed to community service, regularly volunteering with his family at Feed My Starving Children and other organizations.
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Melanie Dewolfe
Administrative Director
Melanie has cross-functional business operations experience including human resources, finance, accounting, sales, marketing, and legal. At ARI, Melanie applies her excellent communication and organizational skills to project manage and support functional areas of the company.
Melanie comes with many years of experience from being a sales and marketing manager, product manager and running her own business for over 15 years while raising a family. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in communications.
Melanie and her husband enjoy spending family time with their two kids. She has a love for the outdoors at their cabin, boating, hiking, biking, gardening and traveling on road trips.
Board of Directors
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BRENT SHELTON
Chairman of The Board
Brent brings breadth of experience to ARI’s Board of Directors with operational background development, marketing, and M&A in organizations ranging from start-ups to large strategics. He has more than 25 years of integrative activities and perspectives from a highly successful Medtronic organization. This includes product development engineering roles, including Core Team Leader for major development programs, new therapy research and development, upstream and downstream marketing, Patent Review Board, and mergers & acquisitions. Additionally, Brent has been in leaderships positions in several start-ups, including a clinical-stage start-up developing implantable device therapy, where his responsibilities included for Development, Clinical and Regulatory, and start-ups in augmented reality and other areas of electrophysiology. Brent has also led two small seed-stage companies as CEO.
Brent co-founded Twin Cities Angels, a successful entrepreneurial-minded seed fund. He also served on multiple boards, being a part of highly successful exits. Brent earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, minor in cardiovascular physiology from the University of Minnesota, and a dual-MBA from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, as well as an IBHRE degree from the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners in Electrophysiology, a subspeciality of Cardiology.
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BRAD LEHRMAN
Board Member
Brad joined the ARI Board because of his success in Start-ups, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Finance, and Corporate Law. Brad is a retired partner at the Minneapolis law firm Soffer Lehrman Law Group (www.sofferlaw.com), where he practiced corporate finance and venture law. He founded Portage Capital, a business and venture capital consulting firm, and Portage Equity Investments, managing two early-stage venture funds that invested in 25 Midwest tech companies.
With extensive experience as an attorney, advisor, investor, and board member, Lehrman has dedicated his career to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. His legal, financial, and collaborative skills provide valuable support to CEOs and boards. His unique blend of legal expertise, corporate finance savvy and collaboration skills create a “get it done, high integrity” profile for CEOs and fellow Board members.
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Jeff O'dell
Board Member
Jeff is passionate about developing high-performing teams and fostering company cultures; serving as a leader, coach, and mentor at all levels. He has 30 years of experience as a technology executive and has held CEO and Board Member roles in both public and private companies. Jeff served as Chairman and CEO of NASDAQ-traded August Technology; forming strategic global partnerships and marketing, sales, and service channels. Jeff excels in scaling early-stage technology companies; having co-founded and led two startups to successful exits.
Jeff is known for his innovation and trustworthiness with expertise spanning strategic planning, product innovation, and market development. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with experience in software development, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Jeff resides in Minnesota and is passionate about family and faith. His interests include historical and contemporary architecture, aviation, and outdoor activities such as skiing and trail biking.