The Team

Comprised of 12 corporate executives and five divisional presidents, Meridian’s highly experienced team is united under a vision to strategically drive the business forward. Meridian’s corporate team works closely with the divisional presidents to create sustainable value for the business through optimization of each portfolio company that Meridian brings into its technology platform.

Since 2018, the corporate team has expanded to include functional leaders to unite the efforts of each business under Meridian’s mission to be the go-to solution provider in the adhesives sector.

C Suite

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Pelton

Chief Operating Officer

Brandon Willis

Chief Financial Officer

Wayne Byrne

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Pelton

  • 25+ years of experience in the specialty chemicals space
  • Holds nine patents and two corporate trade secrets in adhesives, coatings and composites
  • Prior experience as an Operating Executive at Dominus Capital, CEO of Taylor Adhesives, Director of the Americas at Kordsa Global
  • B.S. in Chemistry/Business Management from Gannon University
Chief Operating Officer

Brandon Willis

  • 25+ years of experience within the coatings and adhesives for the automotive and electronics sectors
  • B.S. In Chemistry from University of Southern Indiana, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business

Chief Financial Officer

Wayne Byrne

  • 30+ years of leadership experience in financial and operational roles within the industrial and specialty chemicals market
  • Prior experience at Emerald Performance Materials, Royal Adhesives & Sealants, Quest Specialty Chemicals, Duraline Holdings
  • MBA from the University of Florida, BSBA in Finance from the University of Central Florida

Divisional Presidents

President - Infrastructure Division

T. J. Bland

President - Industrial Flooring Division

Paul Murfin

President - Industrial Product Assembly Division

Andrew Zaremba

President - Industrial Packaging Division

Jerry Stempel

President - Infrastructure Division

T. J. Bland

  • 20+ years of experience in the specified structural adhesives and fastener industry
  • Patent holder in the U.S., EU, China and Taiwan
  • Prior experience as VP of R&D for Stanley Black & Decker, Director of Product Development at Powers Fasteners
  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Mississippi, Licensed Professional Engineer (Civil) from University of the State of New York
President - Industrial Flooring Division

Paul Murfin

  • 30+ years of experience in the Flooring industry
  • Prior experience in both distribution and manufacturing, including at Mohawk, IVC and Armstrong
  • B.A. Hons Business Studies at City of Birmingham University
President - Industrial Product Assembly Division

Andrew Zaremba

  • 12+ years of experience in sealants and adhesives industry
  • B.S. in Finance from Indiana University

President - Industrial Packaging Division

Jerry Stempel

  • 37+ years of leadership experience in the adhesives and coatings sector
  • B.S. in English from Washington University in St. Louis

Functional Management Team

Vice President of Technology

Robert Ddamulira

Vice President of Supply Chain

Mark Ericson

Vice President of Operations

Frank Cesare

Corporate Director of Communications and Marketing

Deanna Disbro

Corporate IT Director

Jeff Roque

Corporate Director of Human Resources

Julie Kirk

Corporate Controller

Brandon Kurtz

Corporate Director of FP&A

Jonathan Baubie

Corporate Commodity Director

Sandra Guastaferro

Corporate Payroll, Benefits & Accounting Manager

Lucy Pollitt

Corporate FP&A Manager

Zach Schindler

Corporate Manager of Enterprise Applications

Sean Skow

HR Coordinator

Angi Finamore

Corporate IT Systems & Data Analyst

Alena Guo

Vice President of Technology

Robert Ddamulira

  • 36+ years of experience in adhesives R&D
  • Holds six U.S., three Canadian, three EU and three Australian patents; as well as 100+ trade secrets
  • Taylor Adhesives (VP of R&D), Chembond Ltd (Manager, R&D)
  • B.S. in Chemistry and Geology from Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Toronto; MBA from University of Tennessee
Vice President of Supply Chain

Mark Ericson

  • 26+ years of industry experience in specialty chemicals and supply chain
  • Prior experience at WR Grace, Sealed Air Corp, Royal Adhesives & Sealants, and Elite Comfort Solutions
  • B.S. from SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  • Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)
Vice President of Operations

Frank Cesare

  • 25+ years of experience in specialty chemical operations and engineering
  • Prior experience at Elementis, Koppers, Ferro, ICI/Croda
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology
Corporate Director of Communications and Marketing

Deanna Disbro

  • 8+ years of experience in corporate public relations, communications and marketing
  • Prior experience at Taylor Adhesives, Life Care Centers of America
  • B.S. in Mass Communication from Southern Adventist University
Corporate IT Director

Jeff Roque

  • 20+ years of experience in Information Technology
  • Prior experience at ACP Oil & Gas Chemicals, CMC Materials, KMG Chemicals, Emerson Automation
  • B.B.A from University of Houston, MBA from Walden University
Corporate Director of Human Resources

Julie Kirk

  • 23+ years of experience in human resources and finance
  • Prior experience at Scuf Gaming International, Berkley Southeast Insurance Group, SA Technologies, Inc., and The Woodbridge Group
  • B.S. in Human Resources from Baker College, Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University
  • PHR, SHRM-CP
Corporate Controller

Brandon Kurtz

  • 14+ years of experience in finance and accounting
  • Prior experience at Schlumberger, Cameron International
  • B.S.B.A in Accountancy and MBA from John Carroll University
  • CPA
Corporate Director of FP&A

Jonathan Baubie

  • 8+ years of experience in accounting and finance
  • Prior experience at Ernst & Young 
  • B.S and M.S. in Accounting from Texas A&M University
  • CPA

Corporate Commodity Director

Sandra Guastaferro

·       16+ years of industry experience in specialty chemicals, supply chain, and distribution packaging

·       Prior experience at Reichhold, Inc., Royal Adhesives & Sealants, H.B. Fuller and IPS, Packaging & Automation

·       B.S. from Fordham University

Corporate Payroll, Benefits & Accounting Manager

Lucy Pollitt

  • 15+ years of experience in accounting, payroll, benefits and HR
  • Prior experience at Three Rivers Community Action, Reichel Foods
  • B.A. in Accounting and Forensic Accounting from Minnesota School of Business

 

Corporate FP&A Manager

Zach Schindler

  • 13+ years of experience in finance and accounting
  • Prior experience at Rosehill Resources, Breitburn Energy Partners, Quantum Resources, and Occidental Petroleum
  • B.B.A.s in Finance, Accounting, and Banking and Financial Institutions from Sam Houston State University
Corporate Manager of Enterprise Applications

Sean Skow

  • 6+ years of experience in enterprise applications
  • Prior experience at OSAS & Process Pro
  • B.A. in Economics & B.S. in Environmental Studies from University of Central Florida
HR Coordinator

Angi Finamore

  • 1+ years of experience in HR
  • BBA in Management from the University of North Georgia 
  • Previous HR experience with Target
Corporate IT Systems & Data Analyst

Alena Guo

  • 2+ years of experience in data analytics and SAP development
  • Prior experience at SAP Hana Studio, PowerBI, R, Python and Javascript, Houston Health Department, and Foxconn Industrial Internet
  • M.S. in Computational Science and Engineering from Rice University and B.S. in Statistics from XiangTan University