Jim Wilson– Board Director, Former CEO, Former Co-Trustee &Chairman
Mr. Wilson has 40 years of experience in design, development and manufacturing of mechanical and optical equipment and instrumentation. Mr. Wilson has supervised technical design and manufacturing personnel groups of 50 people. He has substantial experience in customer contact and marketing. In 1991, Mr. Wilson assumed responsibility of Strand Products when it was a three person company. He went on to negotiate an employee buy out of the founder through an ESOP. Jim retired in 2001 and became the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Wilson currently serves on the Company’s Board of Directors.
In 1960 Mr. Wilson obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo.
Raman Venkat– Board Director
Mr. Venkat has 38 years of broad experience in finance, information systems and mechanical engineering in the aerospace and defense industry. Mr. Venkat is dedicated to promoting the Employee-Ownership in small to mid-size companies. Mr. Venkat has served as President and CEO / CFO at LeFiell Manufacturing for 28 years. Areas of expertise include strategic planning and execution, M&A, promoting ESOP culture, leadership, and employee development.
Mr. Venkat holds an MBA, Finance from the University of California, Irvine, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Madras.
Carroll Barrymore– Board Director
Mr. Barrymore is the sole owner of Barrymore Law Offices in Santa Barbara, CA. For over 40 years he has worked extensively in business law specializing in matters involving contracts, agencies, partnerships and real estate. Mr. Barrymore began his career in Santa Barbara with the County Counsel office and worked extensively with the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission. There after he founded his private practice, and in parallel pursued his passion for education as special counsel at the University of California, Santa Barbara School of Economics where he taught business law for 19 years. Mr. Barrymore has represented various companies and corporations, including trusted counsel to Paul Orfalea during his founding of Kinko’s which began in Isla Vista in 1970.
Mr. Barrymore obtained his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor MI
Wes Prunckle– President & CEO/ Board Chairman / Trustee
Mr. Prunckle has 17 years of comprehensive practice in engineering, strategic management, and financial analysis. His career began as a Mechanical Engineer at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he supported undergraduate department experiments and laboratory research. Mr. Prunckle then migrated to the field of cold spray and helped to develop specialized additive manufacturing equipment through solid-state deposition of nano sized particles. Mr. Prunckle joined Strand Products in 2004 and has previously served as Marketing Manager, Engineering Manager, and Vice President-Engineering.
Mr. Prunckle holds an MBA, Finance from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
John Hottinger– Vice President, Engineering
In 2018 John Hottinger was appointed to the position of Vice President, Engineering at Strand Products, Inc. Since his hire in 2011, John has held positions of increasing responsibility in Business Development, Technical Sales, Engineering, and Quality, and has played a crucial role in cultivating customer partnerships in the Medical, Aerospace, and Defense markets.
John holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Susana Loewe– Vice President, Finance & H.R.
In 2018 Susana Loewe was appointed to the position of Vice President, Finance & Human Resources at Strand Products, Inc. Susana joined Strand early in 2017 and has proven an invaluable member of our team. Susana manages all personnel and financial facets at Strand including Budget and Forecasting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Chart of Accounts, Health Insurance, Accruals, Corporate Taxes and Filings, Lease Contracts, Corporate Insurance Contracts, and maintenance of Employee Handbook and Personnel Files.
Susana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the Universidad de Barcelona.