Our Interim Management & Consulting Team
Interim Independent Consultants
Pete Stamper
Pete is a successful CEO, having led turnarounds of small industrial companies, in the US, Europe, and Canada. Industries include industrial recycling, manufacturing, medical services, and automotive. He has a proven track record of success in marketing, finance, M&A, and lean manufacturing. As the owner of COO Services, he partners with our founder, Bob King, to serve our longstanding and growing client base.
Pete started his career in engineering and then transitioned to general management of small businesses. He draws from nearly a decade of leadership experience with the well-respected Danaher Business System at Danaher and Fortive (NYSE: DHR & FTV), where he had first-hand exposure to best-in-class lean manufacturing, M&A transactions, and global commercial leadership.
Recently Pete has found success implementing these practices to drive growth and turnarounds of independent companies with $10m to $50m in revenue. Most recently, he led a turnaround of an industrial battery recycler and then set it on a 20% annual growth path while becoming the primary recycler for the Pacific Northwest. Previously, Pete led a medical device company, an automotive supplier, and two professional tool manufacturers.
Pete is recognized for setting strong company vision and values to create high-performing cultures that drive change. He has diverse international experience with dual citizenship and multiple languages, having lived and worked in USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
EDUCATION:
Pete holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and both a Masters and Bachelors in Engineering from the University of Michigan.
PERSONAL:
Pete and his wife raised their family in Seattle and enjoy spending their free time in the mountains – skiing, backpacking, and climbing. Pete has served on several local non-profit boards and as a volunteer climbing instructor for The Mountaineers.
Bob King
Bob King is the founder of COO Servies and has been consulting with Mid-Market companies for 20+ years. He is a strong executive leader with over 30 years of experience leading organizations of all sizes. From Fortune 100 companies to $10M privately held concerns.
Prior to starting COO Services, LLC, Bob served as President of a multi-location national manufacturer of office supplies.
In the 1990’s, Bob served in several capacities, for Georgia-Pacific and Unisource Worldwide (or predecessor companies), a then New York Stock Exchange listed, $9B, distribution and logistics company.
Bob currently serves on four Corporate Boards of Directors. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Warm Beach Camp Ministries and is a Board member of Warriors & Quiet Waters, a VSO that serves post 9/11 combat veterans.
As part of his NFP work, Bob is also a coach and faculty member of the Murdock Charitable Trust’s Board leadership & Development Program, which trains NFP Boards.
EDUCATION:
BA in Economics and Political Science (double major) from Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT.
M.B.A. from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Certified Exit Planning Advisor, (CEPA) from the Exit Planning Institute.
Certified Executive Coach.
PERSONAL:
Married for over 40 years, Bob and his wife, Jeannie, have three adult children; and eight grandkids.
He is an avid sportsman who enjoys fly fishing, skiing, hiking, mountain climbing trap shooting, and golf.
He tries to live his life by his 7-F Mission Statement: Faith, Family, Friends, Fun, Fluency, Fitness and Finances.
Paul Abdalla
Paul Abdalla is a strong and passionate leader with over 34 years of experience leading and managing manufacturing operations. Previous experiences include a wide range of manufacturing such as semiconductor fabrication and assembly, electro-mechanical products, electronic devices, metal fabrication, woodworking, and glass/mirror processing.
Paul has had the opportunity to train in Japan while working for Panasonic Corporation of America where he gained a disciplined focus of lean manufacturing including waste reduction, 5S, flow manufacturing, and continuous improvement. With this in mind, Paul is a
hands-on, results oriented management professional that can efficiently blend good business sense and years of proven, practical experience to quickly eliminate unnecessary processes and identify practical improvements in the work area.
Paul’s passion is to put production areas into order and fix what is not working properly using proven Lean methodologies. Typical approaches have been work area transformations by the establishment of flow manufacturing, one-piece builds, value stream mapping, and the incorporation of 5S, which are essential components to decreasing waste and increasing
value to the customer.
A proven record of working effectively with a team; successes include increased production output, defect reduction, transfer and integration of work groups into Operations, systems development, and training production leaders.
EDUCATION:
Paul earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
PERSONAL:
Married for 32 years, Paul and his wife, Monika, have three sons. The oldest is an electrician, the middle son is a software engineer, and the youngest is a recent college graduate working in finance. Paul is a competitive runner who has set several age group records and has competed in national level running competitions for the past 18 years – achieving two national championships and numerous second place finishes. He also enjoys hiking, skiing, cycling, and is an avid woodworker.
Jason D'Souza
Jason is a two-time President/CEO who has spent his career leading teams through major transitions including business ownership changes, capacity expansions, and commercial programs. He regularly advises small and medium-sized companies and private equity firms on M&A transactions and other strategic initiatives.
Most recently, as CEO, Jason led a middle-market specialty subsidiary of industrial distributor Grainger through strategic evaluation, turnaround, sale, and carve-out to independent private equity ownership.
Prior to Grainger, he spent over a decade growing the North American footprint for Vallourec, a global manufacturer. In executive positions of increasing responsibility, he: managed the acquisition and integration of various sized M&A transactions totaling over $800M; led the engineering, construction, and ongoing operations of a new steel mill with over 200 employees; and launched new products, services, and supply chains into new market segments in the US and Canada.
Jason began his career at Ford Motor Company, which sparked his passion for continual improvement, innovation, and leading complex multi-disciplinary business opportunities for companies of all sizes.
He combines big-picture insight with practical hands-on execution, fostering a collaborative environment where people are empowered to do their best work.
EDUCATION:
BS in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Math, with Honors from University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT.
MS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
MBA from Harvard Business School, Cambridge, MA.
Certified 6-Sigma Black Belt from 6-Sigma Academy.
PERSONAL:
Jason settled in Michigan with his wife and two children after having lived in eight states and two countries earlier in his career. He enjoys scouting with the kids, boating, making music, car culture, travel, and time with friends and family. He is involved with local non-profits focused on education and poverty reduction.
Ron Higgs
Ron Higgs is an Executive and veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry in operations, engineering management, and program management. Ron’s experience ranges from startups to large corporations.
Ron served in the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer, Aerospace Engineer, and Program Manager. In his post-Navy career he has worked as a Business Development Manager, Sales Director, Engineering Manager, Management Consultant, and COO. While in a senior leadership position at a major aircraft manufacturer, Ron served as aircraft delivery operations manager for a $200M military aircraft. He instituted process improvements that reduced aircraft delivery time by 50% in a period of 3 months. In his work as an independent management consultant, he has helped local startups to established global brands. He brings high emotional intelligence and is able to quickly assess situations, identify problems, and drive issues to closure. He has a balanced mix of people, technical, analytical and operations skills and is adept at building and maintaining strong relationships and rapidly gaining influence with stakeholders.
EDUCATION:
BA in Mathematics (Operations Analysis) from United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
MS in Systems Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
Graduate Certificate in Engineering Flight Test from United States Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, MD
PERSONAL:
Ron and his partner Gina live in Kirkland, WA and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Ron considers himself a servant leader and is active in the local community; he is a former president of a local resident’s association and a graduate of the community citizens police academy. He currently serves as the President of the King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees. KCLS is one of the largest library systems in the US with an annual budget in excess of $130M. He also serves as a member of the board of directors for Seafair, which is a multi-week festival in Seattle featuring over 30 sanctioned events that reach more than two-million people.
He enjoys traveling, staying fit, and outdoor activities such as snowboarding and mountain biking. He enjoys good food, wine, and craft beer.
In his daily life Ron focuses on service above self, self-improvement, and making a difference in the lives of others.
Emily Lade
As a management and marketing consultant, Emily helps founders and small businesses clarify their brand strategy, optimize operations, and translate market insights into growth. Skilled in designing comprehensive marketing plans, shaping brand identities, and driving growth across highly regulated and competitive industries, her experience includes marketing niche beverages and CBD-infused skincare products, as well as leading expansion strategies for woman-founded brands.
EDUCATION:
BA Business Administration (marketing & entrepreneurship), University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Certificate in Accounting, University of Washington
AWARDS:
Emily was the 2013 recipient of the Dr. Nancy M. Danoff “Spirit of Service” Award from the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, recognizing her leadership and anti-racism work in the lactation support industry.
PERSONAL:
Emily is the mom of three adult children and a big baby pitbull. Her free time is spent fostering puppies, kittens, and seniors for local animal rescues, organizing the “Pibble Parade” - a monthly community packwalk, raising backyard chickens, and studying for the CPA exams.
Dean Mingo
Dean brings over 20 years of leadership experience within the Terex Business System at Genie Industries. Throughout his career, he has held multiple Director-level positions across diverse operational functions. With a robust background in Operations Management, Dean has skillfully managed large teams of 300-700+ members in various environments, including Assembly, Paint, Fabrication, Welding, and support groups such as Manufacturing Engineering, Safety, Quality, and Materials.
His notable achievements include establishing and enhancing operational systems using Lean principles such as Standard Work, Daily Management, 6S, and Poka-Yoke. Dean’s leadership extends beyond process improvement; he has successfully supported development of new products and implemented lean systems, resulting in significant gains in productivity, quality, and on-time delivery across multiple plants.
Dean’s expertise isn’t limited to the shop floor. He has also designed and implemented online Lean training courses and led study missions to Toyota and other cutting-edge manufacturing companies in both the U.S. and Japan. These experiences, combined with mentoring from senseis at Shingijutsu Consulting, have provided him with profound insights and practical knowledge in Lean manufacturing.
With a deep understanding of Lean systems and a pragmatic approach to leadership and training, Dean will be an asset to your team. Dean holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:
Machinery Manufacturing: boom, scissor and material lifts, aerial work platforms, telescopic booms, and trailer mounted light towers, Discrete & Repetitive Manufacturing, Build-to-Stock, and Make-to-Order.
LEAN EXPERIENCE:
Building/Installing Problem Solving & Kaizen Cultures, Strategy Deployment, Value Stream Mapping, EBITDA focused operational improvements, Cellular Manufacturing, 6S & Visual Management, Standardized Work, Mistake Proofing (Poka Yoke), Setup Reduction (SMED), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Daily Management Processes, Paced Line Production, Leader Standard Work, Working Capital reduction via Kanban & Pull Based Inventory tools, and Training Within Industry (TWI).
Mike Montgomery
Mike Montgomery is a results-driven executive and transformational leader with a proven record of success as CEO, COO, and CFO across a wide range of industries. With extensive experience in leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning, he has guided organizations from entrepreneurial ventures to $125 million revenue operations. Mike is recognized for driving growth, optimizing performance, and creating cultures of excellence. His leadership style blends strategic vision with a hands on, data-driven approach, consistently galvanizing teams to exceed goals and deliver measurable results. A former investment banker specializing in M&A, he brings financial acumen and analytical rigor to every executive roll leveraging metrics, process discipline, and decisive execution to create lasting enterprise value.
Most recently, as CEO, Mike built and scaled a multi-location RV business serving Washington and Oregon, leading all aspects of strategy, operations, and financial performance. Under his leadership, the company achieved strong growth and operational efficiency, positioning it for a successful sale. Previously, as COO/CFO of the largest workspace solutions provider in the Northwest, Mike managed a $125 million P&L and a team of 500, spearheading infrastructure scalability and revenue growth of more than 50% in one year. His operational model and KPI based governance framework elevated profitability and efficiency while securing $65 million in new long-term contracts with major clients such as Amazon, Boeing, and Starbucks.
Earlier in his career, Mike served as President and CEO of a private equity backed Consumer Products turnaround. He successfully sold the company for a 36% premium over expected value through aggressive sales expansion and operations restructuring. As COO/CFO of a FFE manufacturer to the hospitality industry, Mike doubled revenue within two years by redesigning fulfillment systems, manufacturing processes, engineering alignment with project management, and building a high-performance sales workflow platform.
Larry Nguyen
Larry is a founder and C-level operator who bootstrapped a healthcare technology business, grew it with the team he built into a category leader, sold it to private equity, and was then appointed by the new owners to help lead the combined platform. Industries include healthcare services, medical devices, and industrial B2B distribution. He has a proven track record in commercial strategy, operations, M&A integration, and the ERP and data infrastructure that mid-market companies typically outgrow long before they fix. He works with C.O.O. Services clients on turnarounds, post-acquisition integration, and value creation in the lower middle market.
Larry started his career in technology before founding Summit Imaging in 2006, a healthcare technology company built to serve a highly technical need in a space where the market could not keep up. He recruited and developed the leadership team and technical bench that carried it from nothing to a fifty-person firm at best-in-class margins, earned the industry's first ISO 13485 certification in its category, and cut customer equipment downtime by 95% against the industry norm. Working with his board and advisors, he ran the sale process and closed a highly successful exit to private equity.
The new owners appointed him to help lead the platform he had just sold into, recognizing that its integration and growth depended on the operator who had built one side of it. As SVP of Imaging Technology, Chief Information Officer, Operations Executive, and board member at Solutech, Larry worked alongside the sponsor, the board, and his fellow executives to harmonize the two businesses and drive 5.5X top-line growth through organic gains and three M&A rollups. He led the expansion beyond high-technology imaging devices into highly complex radiotherapy equipment, carrying the same proprietary diagnostic and automated repair model across and proving that the model, not the product category, was the competitive advantage. On the strength of that work, Solutech became the partner of choice to 45 of the top 50 healthcare networks ranked by Becker's Hospital Review, supported by the OEM partnerships and the channel and consulting programs that made a single-source offering possible. Most recently he was co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ngentix, an AI workflow automation venture serving mid-market businesses.
Larry is recognized for simplifying complexity, for building and professionalizing leadership teams that carry the business further than he could alone, and for bringing an owner's mentality to P&L and KPI accountability, the perspective of someone who has signed the front of the paycheck as well as the back. He has been named to the Puget Sound Business Journal's “40 Under 40,” profiled in Healthcare Business Review, and listed in the Inc. 5000 and Seattle Magazine's “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
EDUCATION:
Larry holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems and Corporate Entrepreneurship from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business.
PERSONAL:
Larry and his wife live in Bellevue with their two children and travel together as often as they can, most often to ski or mountain bike as a family. A relentless tinkerer, Larry is usually in the middle of taking something apart and making it better, whether that is a bike, a car, a piece of software, or whatever else has caught his interest. He serves on the board of directors of The Forgotten Children's Fund.
Mike Weishaar
Mike is a Lean transformation leader with decades of experience driving operational excellence across manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, construction, and marine industries.
He began his Lean career at Genie Industries, working under a former Honda executive during a period of growth that scaled the business from approximately $50 million to nearly $1 billion in revenue. He held full P&L responsibility for a major division, overseeing manufacturing, engineering, materials, R&D, and customer service.
Throughout his career, Mike has led Lean transformations at organizations including Boeing, Rendezvous Industries, Glacier Bay, United Marine, and John Black & Associates. His work has reduced lead times from days to hours, increased production output by up to 400%, eliminated material shortages through kanban systems, and delivered complex projects on time, on budget, and without litigation.
In healthcare, Mike co-led the largest Lean transformation ever undertaken—a province-wide redesign of Saskatchewan’s healthcare system. He has trained and certified hundreds of healthcare leaders and professionals and led 3P and Rapid Process Improvement initiatives across clinical, operational, and policy environments. His work has included direct collaboration with the Shingijutsu team in Japan.
Since 2010, Mike has applied Lean principles to large-scale construction projects across the U.S. and Canada, delivering world-class safety, quality, and schedule performance.
While his experience spans many industries, Mike’s passion for Lean remains rooted in his passion for manufacturing, where he believes its impact is most powerful and enduring.
