Meet Our Team
Dan Lerch
Director of Operations
Senior Certified Structured Problem Solving Coach and Trainer
Dan Lerch joined the Pendaran team in February 2010 with an anchor of professional experiences in marketing and sales. His path included direct sales, system contract sales, consulting, budgeting, contract negotiations, event development/implementation, as well as logistics’ execution serving multiple healthcare organizations. In each of his positions, Dan leveraged his strong problem solving skills to impact business results while always focusing on the customer.
Deanna Russell
Certified Structured Problem Solving Coach
Deanna Russell spent the bulk of her career as a civilian employee of the Department of the Navy at the Fleet Readiness Center East in North Carolina, recently retiring with 33 years of service. During the final 17 years of her career, she was actively engaged in Continuous Process Improvement efforts. She played an active role as a Master Black Belt, teaching Lean, Theory of Constraints and Six Sigma tools and methodologies, facilitating strategic planning sessions, and leading and coaching improvement projects throughout the facility. In 2019, Deanna was the first government employee to attain certification as a Pendaran Structured Problem Solving Coach.
John Mantey
Certified Structured Problem Solving Coach
John Mantey has spent the bulk of his career with Ford Motor Company and component parts supplier Visteon, recently retiring as a senior executive. During John’s 30+ years of manufacturing operations leadership he had roles of increasing responsibility in manufacturing engineering, program management and plant operations. He worked primarily in high precision manufacturing operations for automatic transmission and chassis components. This included international service in Germany for three years as a plant manager before the Visteon spin-off in 2000. John built on his international experience as Director for the global steering business for Visteon and was responsible for product design and manufacturing operations in Europe and South America.
Greg Peters
Certified Structured Problem Solving Coach
Greg Peters is an entrepreneur by nature, having successfully started and run two businesses. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1991, with a Masters in Software Engineering and continued to work at UM for an additional 16 years. In 1994, while working at UM he started his first business as a Web developer, which he continued full time after he left the University in 2007.
In late 2009, his focus shifted from programming and computer networks to business development and human networks. He now works with sales teams, executives, and front line staff to help them improve business networking and professional relationship development practices so they can build stronger connections in the community and industry to build their reputation and their bottom line.
Jim McAlpine
Lead Software Developer
Jim has spent his 30+ year career on the continually changing, cutting edge of software and IT in the manufacturing industry.
Specific areas of development and application include Research, Electronics, Advance Plant Systems, Finance Systems and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development. He is expert in the creation of simulation systems for manufacturing environments, with his most recent product being the Pendaran, Inc. Virtual Workplace.
Nacim Ruintan-Tehrani
Graphic Designer
Nacim Ruintan-Tehrani joined Pendaran, Inc. in 2007 with a resourceful background and strong records of success in the competitive arena of design. Her solid education and effective work experience provided all the academic motivation and artistic inspiration that so far have paved the path for her long journey in this profession. She uses her many artistic and organizational skills to provide Pendaran and its clients with original graphic design, marketing materials and a creative approach to product delivery and development.
Jay Sennett
Team Member
Jay Sennett brings to us fifteen years of forward-facing customer service and logistics and operations experience. He has worked at the University of Michigan for 15 years.
He is an award-winning writer, publisher and film/video maker.
He graduated with a BA and an MA from the University of Southern California.
He works with the Pendaran Delivery Team in various administrative roles and with the marketing team, creating and managing Pendaran's interactive media content.
Emeritus Team Members
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Tom Erbach
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Tom Eucker, PhD
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Ron Pierce
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Ali Ozbeki, PhD
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Mary E. Thomas
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Euge Greenstein, PhD