Matrix Technologies, Inc. Names New Shareholders in the Corporation!
Feb 23, 2022
Matrix Technologies, Inc., a Manufacturing Process Design and Automation Engineering firm with its corporate office in Maumee, Ohio, is pleased to announce the addition of new shareholders in the organization. The following people joined the shareholder ranks as of January 31st, 2022.
Each of the following personnel are recognized for their contributions to the success of Matrix Technologies, and their dedication to serving our employees and clients in unique and valuable ways.
Tony Ferguson, Department Manager, Process & Electrical Design
Tony began his career with Matrix as an Associate Engineer in 2011. Since then he has held numerous positions including Engineer, Engineer II, Project Engineer, and Associate Department Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering Technology from the University of Toledo. Prior to Matrix, Tony worked in several customer facing roles bringing over 10 years’ of work experience.
Tony’s career led him through various roles in the Engineering division. Most recently, as the Manager of the Controls Electrical Department for the Maumee Office, Tony has been primarily involved with several of the largest clients for Matrix. Last year alone Tony was responsible for over 120 projects where he served as the account manager for projects totaling over $7.5MM. Tony pioneered our haz-mon safety program which included becoming an integration partner with CMC Industrial Electronics (Ag Growth); a global leader in supplying grain hazard monitoring and grain storage management systems to the grain, feed, and milling industries. Tony is an active member of GEAPS, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, to which he belongs to the Seaway Chapter. Tony is also an active member of AIST, the Association of Iron and Steel Technology, where he is active in two technology committees; Energy & Utilities and Electrical Applications.
Tony is married to Shayla and they have three children with one on the way; Levi, Milo, Rory, and Wini. Tony enjoys spending time with his family and rooting for his favorite football team the Cincinnati Bengals. He also stays active with running and playing volleyball.
Matt Fether, Department Manager, Industrial Systems
Matt began his career with Matrix as an Engineer 1 in 2010. Since then, he has held numerous positions including Engineer II, Project Engineer, Associate Department Manager, and currently as Department Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering Technology from the University of Toledo and a Masters of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. Prior to joining Matrix, Matt worked as a controls engineer for Wauseon Machine and Manufacturing.
Matt has primary experience in executing and managing automation projects across several industries. He is a key resource for projects related to consumer packaged goods clients and Burner Management Systems. He is also heavily involved with managing the relationship with some of our largest clients. Matt plays a key role in quality related activities by participating in several continuous improvement committees. He also assists with preparations and the execution of audits as they are related to Matrix’s CSIA and ISO certifications.
Matt and his wife Heidi have been married for 13 years and have three children; Zoe, Dominic, and Ellie. Matt enjoys spending time with his family at the lake in the summertime and on the ski slopes in the winter. He also enjoys playing golf.
Brandon Grodi, PE, Department Manager, Mechanical & Facilities Design
Brandon began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. as an Associate Engineer in 2005. He has held numerous positions including Engineer, Project Engineer, and Associate Department Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering from The University of Toledo. Brandon is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio, Michigan, California, New Jersey, and Texas. Prior to Matrix, Brandon completed co-ops with Dana Corporation.
Brandon has held positions in multiple technical areas within the Mechanical umbrella. He has successfully led project Technical efforts in Piping, Piping Stress Analysis, Process-Mechanical, Construction Cost Estimating and Process Design. Brandon maintains a healthy Project Management workload while developing relationships with customers across all industries. During his time as Team Leader, ADM and Department Manager, our “Pipe Stress” offering has been rebranded and expanded into full Analytical Services including Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis, Pressure Vessel Design and of course, Pipe Stress Analysis. Brandon, along with his team, has also modernized the Machine Design group and Process-Mechanical group, setting Matrix up for additional growth in these areas. Brandon has played a key role in growing the Mechanical Department from its modest beginnings to its current size.
Brandon is married to his wife Jen, who both enjoy outdoor activities with their children, Addelyn and John. Brandon also enjoys leisure activities such as fishing, off-roading and snow skiing as well as playing ice hockey, volleyball and golf.
Brian Haury, PE, Discipline Manager, Process & Electrical Design
Brian began his career with Matrix Technologies in July of 2006, as an engineer. Since then he has held numerous positions including Project Engineer, Associate Department Manager, and Department Manager. He is a graduate of Case Western with a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio and eight other states.
In his current role, Brian focuses on the technical and quality management aspects of the controls electrical discipline. He has indirect responsibilities to all controls electrical engineers, regardless of office location. He works with other managers in the regions to ensure their employees understand how controls electrical projects should be executed and to ensure the Matrix quality standards are met. He also ensures that training needs are being addressed so managers can confidently staff projects using local resources, ultimately helping growth in the regions.
Brian is a big sports fan. He enjoys biking, hiking, and playing volleyball.
Derrick Himmelberg, PE, Department Manager, Industrial Systems
Derrick began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. right out of college as an Associate Engineer in 2005. He got his start at Matrix from a referral from Rob Goldsmith. Derrick moved to Colorado in 2006 to help start up the remote office in Denver. He has a Bachelor of Science, Bioengineering from The University of Toledo.
Derrick has primary experience managing projects that involve the design, documentation, programming, installation, and validation of control systems for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Located in our Colorado office, Derrick focuses primarily on this industry, but supports all clients in that region. Over his career with Matrix, Derrick has helped grow the Denver office into what it is today, and looks forward to the manufacturing growth in the region.
Derrick is married to Katie and they have two children: Daxter and Archer. Derrick enjoys all sorts of outside activities that Colorado has to offer.
Jon Lockie, PE, Department Manager, Mechanical & Facilities Design
Jon began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. in 2009 as a co-op. He has held several positions at Matrix including Associated Engineer, Engineer, Project Engineer, and Associate Department Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toledo. Jon is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Prior to Matrix, Jon worked at the Defiance County Engineers and for Pruden Millwrights.
Through his tenure, Jon has served as lead technical engineer for several major projects, project manager for numerous multi-discipline projects, and department manager, responsible for development and sustainability of the Facilities Department. His strong focus on client relationships has led to continued growth with some of our largest and newest clients. Additionally, Jon has been instrumental in developing and marketing our field service offerings, including 3D laser scanning and ground penetrating radar scanning.
Jon is married to Katie and they have four children; Liam, Adelyn, Caleb, and Evan. Jon enjoys spending time with his family, riding his motorcycle, and working on home renovations.
Kevin Overmyer, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing
Kevin Overmyer started his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. in June 2016. Kevin has an MBA in management consulting from Heidelberg University and a Bachelor of Business Administration. Kevin has served in sales, business advisory, management consulting, process improvement, and manufacturing engineering leadership roles for over 20 years. Kevin has worked closely with small and medium sized organizations providing consulting and business advisory services for over ten years identifying solutions to his client’s business challenges. Kevin’s experience in business process improvement and management, enables him to help Matrix Technologies clients improve their businesses through the projects the team executes for them. Prior to Matrix, Kevin worked at Daimler Chrysler, Gilmore,
Jasion & Mahler, as well as a consultant to large firms PWC and Ernst and Young.
Since Kevin joined Matrix, his focus was developing clients in the Southeast region and has steadily grown the market including adding our new office in Peachtree City, GA. He has played a key role in landing and expanding multiple key clients in that region and around the country. Kevin invests in himself with continuing education through formal programs and through mentors that he meets with regularly. He has also invested in many internal relationships at Matrix, to build understanding and trust among the operations, project management and sales teams. Kevin is a Carolinas Chapter Member for the Institute of Management Consultants, USA and will be pursuing the (CMC) Certified Management Consultant certification later this year.
Kevin is married to Nicole and have two children; Chloe and Samuel. Kevin enjoys cooking, instrumental music, working on home projects and anything outdoors with the family.
Nick Blachins, Senior Construction Manager
Nick began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. as a Construction Manager in July of 2006. He has held multiple roles in the Construction Management group and is the Senior Construction Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to Matrix, Nick started his career at the HJ Heinz Company, Portion Pac, Division for 5 years. He then transitioned to ConAgra Food corporate Engineering for 10 years. He spent a year with Hershey Foods corporate Engineering, then spent 4 years with Smithfield Foods as a Plant Engineer in Cincinnati to get back to Ohio before joining Matrix.
Nick’s career at Matrix started on a $7mm EPC project for a new salsa line then developed an EPC project with another food manufacturer for NH3 HVAC for $11mm project. There were also complete new Hydro cooker system for $15mm, developed a new manufacturing center for $32mm and another new facility for $34mm. He completed several other projects for many of our largest clients including the fastest cream soup line in the world. He recently completed to buildout of a facility for spirits manufacturing in southern Indiana totaling over $100 mm.
Nick lives in Dayton Ohio with his girlfriend, Heidi and her two boys, Aidan and Landon. They enjoy traveling and boating. When the border opens, they plan on spending summers at their cabin in Canada.
Ed Born, Senior Consultant, Industrial Systems
Ed began working with Matrix in January, 1999. He has a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He began working as an associate engineer and worked through the ranks as an engineer, senior engineer and to his present position of senior consultant.
Ed has worked for long term clients providing a wide range of services for food clients such as filling lines, packaging lines, aseptic lines, blending lines, hydrostatic cookers, flour systems; and aggregate clients with complete plant upgrades in their great lakes region crushing, screening and lake-freighter loading operations.
Ed enjoys home remodeling projects, cooking, wine making, reading, camping and spending time with his family.
Mike Dunstan, Associate Technology Manager, Industrial Systems
Mike began his career at Matrix Technologies in March 2004 as a Programmer. Mike has held several positions including Engineer/Engineer 2, Senior Consultant, and most recently Senior Consultant (Team Leader). Prior to joining Matrix he worked at Campbell Soup as a co-op and Fanuc Robotics as an installation engineer. Mike graduated with Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University.
Mike has executed successful projects for many of our clients but his primary focus has been with one of our largest long-term partners, as well as serving as technical lead on many others. Mike stays engaged in nearly all our key client’s proposal and project activities. Mike has been a mentor to many of our younger engineers both in the general controls sense and specific to this client. Mike is very detail oriented paying attention to the smallest detail while maintaining a clear view of the bigger picture, ensuring successful projects and success for our clients. Mike was also a member of our IS Best Practices committee.
Mike is married to Janice and have two children; Emily and Henry. Mike and family enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. Mike also enjoys designing and printing 3D parts for use around the house.
Jeff Harrow, Senior Consultant, Industrial Systems
Jeff began his career with Matrix as an Engineer in 2004. Since then he has held the positions of Engineer, Project Engineer, and Senior Consultant. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Trine University. Before Jeff came to Matrix, he worked for Johns Manville in Defiance.
Jeff’s career has primarily focused on honing his technical skills. That has led to him being one of Matrix’s SMEs for Drive and Motion Control Systems. Jeff has been involved in countless projects with a large number of key clients throughout the years, and many of these clients ask for Jeff by name.
Jeff is a huge OSU Football fan and enjoys gardening, woodworking, boating, fishing, hunting and anything else that involves the outdoors.
Tom Lycans, Senior Consultant (Team Leader), Industrial Systems
Tom began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. as an engineer in 1997. He has held numerous positions including Engineer, Senior Engineer, and more recently Senior Consultant. He has a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering from The University of Toledo. Prior to Matrix, Tom worked as an automation engineer with a conveyor and lift systems OEM.
Tom has experience designing, developing, and deploying industrial control systems, as well as ICS networks and computing systems for the food/beverage, chemical, discrete, metals, and pharmaceutical industries. While at Matrix Tom has worked for nearly every major Matrix client. Tom has been instrumental in working with clients to build the client relationships and secure multi-million dollar projects. Additionally, Tom has also helped build Matrix internal virtual development systems for 20 years, and was a founding member of the Manufacturing Systems Infrastructure MSI group.
Rob Matejewski, PE, Senior Consultant, Industrial Systems
Rob was hired as an Engineer in September of 1994. He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in the Control and Electronics disciplines from Michigan Technological University. Prior to Matrix, he work at Libbey-Owens-Ford (now Pilkington North America) in Rossford, OH.
Rob has worked in the Industrial Systems Division in a number of industries, primarily Metals, Manufacturing and Food & Beverage. Through numerous projects, Rob has built strong relationships many of our most important clients. Areas of particular experience include filling systems, food sterilization, furnace control and burner management. Notable projects include Blast Furnace control system replacement, Basic Oxygen Furnace control system replacement and a series of Filler control system replacements.
Rob has been married to his high-school sweetheart, Jennifer, for over 8 years. He lives with his Wire Fox Terrier and enjoy antiquing and estate sale shopping.
Tim Murphy, Senior Consultant, Industrial Systems
Tim began his career with Matrix Technologies, Inc. in 2007 working in the mechanical engineering division as a piping designer. During the course of completing designs for small maintenance and major capital installations, Tim began managing projects for Matrix within in the mechanical division based on relationships developed with management, maintenance, and operations personnel at a local refinery client. This culminated in being Matrix’s client sponsor for a $14MM refinery upgrade program.
Currently, Tim is a Senior Consultant in the Project Delivery Department and manages all aspects of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects, including reviews of design activities, cost estimating, and project budgets and schedules. Tim is a very effective client sponsor and account manager for a number of clients, and develops strong relationships wherever he goes. Prior to coming to Matrix, Tim gained the bulk of his estimating, project and construction management experience working for commercial, service and industrial mechanical contractors in the Metro Detroit area.
Tim and his wife Cindi have been married for 37 years and reside in LaSalle, MI. They have three boys, Christian, Wesley and Kelly and two grandchildren, DeClan and Avadell. Tim enjoys serving with Cindi in the music and discipleship ministries at Compelled Church in Temperance, MI.
Long Term Stability
“The addition of new shareholders in Matrix Technologies is a very important event for our company, our employees, and our customers,” said David Blaida, President and CEO of
Matrix Technologies. “As our organization matures and grows, it is important to maintain our corporate culture, provide seamless management transitions and continue the level of customer service that our customers have come to expect.”
Each of the new shareholders has a long history of providing great value to our clients through their technical knowledge and project management skills. Becoming a shareholder in the organization is recognition of these contributions.
About Matrix Technologies, Inc.
Matrix Technologies, Inc. is a full-service resource for automation and information control systems, process and facilities engineering, and Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) supplier for industrial manufacturers. Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio near Toledo, Matrix has regional offices in Atlanta, GA, Cincinnati, OH, Denver, CO, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, KS and Minneapolis, MN.
Founded in 1980, Matrix celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020. The company has annual revenues exceeding $65 million and a staff of over 300. Matrix is the four-time winner of the System Integrator of the Year Award from Control Engineering magazine (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020) and is a member of the Control Engineering System Integrator Hall of Fame.
Matrix has in-depth expertise in several diverse industries, including food, beverage, oil, gas, chemical, pharmaceutical/biotech, metals, mining, aggregates, and consumer packaged goods. The company has completed thousands of successful projects for manufacturers in 45 countries and more than 85% of its projects are repeat engagements with satisfied customers.
Matrix is a founding and certified member of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) and has an ISO 9001-2015 certified compliant quality system.
< Back