ABOUT US

Curt Henry

Curt is a seasoned business executive with seven years general management experience and over 20 years in domestic and international marketing and sales. In 2000, Curt was chosen to lead the turnaround of a local manufacturing company with struggling product lines. Over the next six years, Curt and his team increased revenues from $9.3 to $16.2 million, improved both profit margins and cashflow significantly, and increased both productivity and product quality. Curt’s leadership resulted in improved employee morale and a significant reduction in personnel turnover.

Curt and his wife, Linda, have been married for 37 years. They have three adult children; Scott, Mark, and Lauren. Living in Greeneville, Tennessee, Curt has been Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, Board Member of Hands on Museum, Board Member of Kiwanis, President of the board for The Capitol Theatre of Greeneville, and a Deacon at his local church.

A graduate of Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Master of Science in Business Administration and Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Curt is passionate about helping local business leaders improve their business results, generate more jobs for the community, and regain balance in their lives.

After 30 years of increasing contributions in publicly held businesses, Curt decided to form his own company to share his experience and knowledge with other private business leaders in the community. In May of 2007, he was awarded an ActionCOACH Business Coaching Franchise where his focus is to help like-minded business owners build their businesses, increase their contribution to the community, and achieve their full business and personal potential. In June of 2012 Curt became part of the Summit Companies joining a team of executive consultants helping businesses in a variety of fields.

Hans Kinner

Highly motivated professional with years of experience in business management, procurement/supply chain, contract development and negotiations, cost avoidance and reduction strategies, Six Sigma Black Belt with P&L responsibility of $500M + and procurement spend of $1B+. Strong strategic planner, problem solver and persuasive leader. Committed to seamlessly managing projects which consistently deliver desired results and contribute to cost savings, earnings and revenue growth. Recognized for consistent success in utilizing focused and timely processes to streamline corporate operations and enhance profit performance.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Collaborative / Innovative Leadership, Global Procurement / Sourcing, Strategic Planning / Execution, Business Management / P&L Responsibilities, Project / Team Lead & Facilitation, Risk Management / Assessment, Budget Planning / Forecasting, Change Leader, Operations Management / Logistics, Mergers / Acquisitions Integration, Lean / Six Sigma Black Belt

Roger Leonard

Roger is a senior advisor to England and Company on projects in the electrical apparatus and utility distribution automation markets. Formerly he was a part time senior instructor at King College for five years where he taught Corporate Finance and Operations Management as well as president and chief operating officer for Electro-Mechanical Corporation, which serves the North American electric utility, mining and construction industries with engineered to order switchgear and dry-type transformer solutions. He is chair of the board of directors for the Wellmont Health System, where he formerly chaired the investment committee and audit and compliance committees. Additionally, he is a past member of the board of directors for the Holston Conference Foundation of the United Methodist Church and has previously chaired its audit committee.

He is past chair of the United Way of Bristol, Crossroads Medical Mission, the Bristol Public Library Board of Trustees and Foundation and the Hands On! Regional Children’s Museum. He holds a BS in Operations Management from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University, a Master of Theological Studies from Duke University and completed Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development.

John Vann

John comes to Summit with over 30 years of experience in business. In 1990, John co-founded Clinical Trial Management Services, Inc. (CTMS) a contract research organization in Bristol, Tennessee, serving as its CEO from 2000-2007. In 2007, CTMS became part of Chiltern, a UK-based CRO, where John served as Executive Vice President for the Americas from 2007 to 2009, responsible for growing and managing the company’s North American presence and also for establishing operations in Argentina and Brazil. From 2009 2011, John served as EVP for Corporate Development, responsible globally for continuing growth and development efforts through strategic relationships and acquisitions,while also overseeing Marketing and Business Development for the $150 million operation.

John holds a BA in Economics from Wake Forest University, where he serves on the University’s Board of Trustees, the College Board of Visitors, and the Advisory Board of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Locally, John is involved on the boards of Citizens Bank, United Way of Bristol, Healing Hands Health Center, Bristol Regional Medical Center, and The Paramount Chamber Players. John also is an Elder of First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, where he is active on the Evangelism and Outreach committee.

John is married to Karen Ottenfeld Vann. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

Michelle Brashears, CPA, CFE, MBA

A Kingsport native, Michelle brings nearly 20 years of experience to Summit. She began her career at a Big Four accounting firm as an auditor serving companies in many different industries, including healthcare, not-for-profit, education, government, trucking, manufacturing, retail, and others. Michelle continued her career as the Financial Reporting Manager and Audit Coordinator of a publicly traded company in Kingsport where she was responsible for quarterly and annual Securities and Exchange Commission reports and all aspects of Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) compliance. Michelle is a liaison between companies and external auditors, helping companies prepare for audits and understand audit requests, resulting in efficient audit procedures. She has extensive experience applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to many different business transactions, including such issues as revenue recognition, corporate restructurings, leases, related party transactions, debt, acquisitions, and more. Michelle has performed various internal audits and written many policies and procedures that are strong in internal controls. She has served on accounting system implementation teams, helping to create charts of accounts, converting data to the new systems, establishing procedures, and performing system testing. Michelle has thoroughly documented accounting system implementations and related internal controls to satisfy audit requirements. She has worked on initial public offerings from both the auditor’s and the company’s perspectives. Michelle has created complex spreadsheets for various financial purposes, including multi-level consolidation, income tax provisions, lease analysis, and much more.

Michelle earned a B.S. in Accounting from Tennessee Technological University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, In Cursu Honorum, and an MBA from Wake Forest University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Michelle lives in Kingsport with her husband, David, and three children. She is an active member of her local church, having taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, AWANA, and Children’s Choir. She actively participates in parent-teacher organizations, a band parent association, Cub Scouts, and has been a Girl Scout Assistant Troop Leader. Between taxiing children to activities, Michelle enjoys nutrition, reading, hiking, camping, and football.

Eric Fields

Eric brings many years of experience working with businesses and not-for-profit organizations to Summit. After working in cost accounting for a manufacturing company throughout college, Eric began his career after graduation in commercial risk management. In 2005, Eric became a Certified Public Accountant and soon after founded the Summit Companies. In addition to working with a wide range of clients at Summit, from start-up companies to municipalities and large corporations, Eric also joined in the faculty of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors in 2008. Since then, Eric has lectured to over a thousand agency managers and risk management professionals across the country. Eric’s professional focus is on assisting organizations with designing and implementing strategic plans both at the organizational and divisional levels.

Eric has a B.A. in Business and Economics from King College, graduating Summa Cum Laude with concentrations in Accounting, Economics and Finance, and International Business and earned his Master’s Degree with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. In addition to being a licensed Certified Public Accountant, Eric has also received his Charter Global Management Accountant, Senior Professional of Human Resources, Certified Risk Manager, Certified Insurance Counselor, Contractor’s Risk and Insurance Specialist, Chartered Work Comp Executive, Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding, Accredited Advisor in Insurance, and Certified Quickbooks Advisor designations.

Eric lives in Bristol with his wife Anita. Locally, Eric has served on the Boards of the Bristol Family YMCA, Bristol United Way, Healing Hands Health Center, and Bristol Rotary club, is a past president of the State of Franklin Track Club, the Bristol Rotary Club and is Executive Director of the Haitian Support Alliance. He also sits on the President’s Roundtable and the Alumni Council at King College. Eric received his Master’s of Arts in Religion from Liberty Theological Seminary and serves as an elder at Grace Bible Church. Eric and Anita are also active in missions to Haiti and nursing home ministry, and enjoy backpacking, running and travel.