Management
Dan Coker, President and CEO
Dan Coker has more than 25 years experience in marketing, new product development, operations and general management in the automotive industry. Mr. Coker was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2003. Prior to becoming President and CEO of Amerigon, Mr. Coker served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing since joining Amerigon in March 1996. Previously, he worked with Arvin Meritor, a $7 billion automotive Tier 1 supplier from 1986 through 1995 as Vice President and General Manager of North American Operations.
Lon E. Bell, Ph.D., President and CEO, BSST LLC
Dr. Bell has served as President of BSST, our research and development subsidiary, since September 2000. Dr. Bell founded Amerigon in 1991 and served as a member of the Board of Directors until 2004. From the Company's foundation, Dr. Bell served as Director of Technology until 2000, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer until 1999, and President until 1997. Previously, Dr. Bell co-founded Technar Incorporated, which developed and manufactured automotive components. He served as Technar's Chairman and President until selling majority ownership to TRW Inc. in 1986. Dr. Bell continued managing Technar, then known as TRW Technar, as its President until 1991. Dr. Bell received a B.S. in mathematics in 1962, a M.S. in rocket propulsion in 1963, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1968 from the California Institute of Technology.
Dan Pace, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Daniel J. Pace has served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing since September 2003. He joined the Company in 1996 as National Sales Manager. Prior to 1996, Mr. Pace was Program Manager at Leckie & Associates, a Michigan based manufacturers' representative agency.
Barry Steele, CFO
Barry Steele has more than 12 years of automotive industry and public accounting experience. Since 1997, Mr. Steele had served in a number of senior financial management positions including Chief Financial Officer for Sterling Heights, MI-based Advanced Accessory Systems, LLC, a global supplier of specialty accessories to the automotive OEM and aftermarket. Prior to that, Steele was with Price Waterhouse LLP. Steele graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, MI earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting.
Jim Mertes, Vice President, Operations
James L. Mertes has served as Vice President of Quality and Operations since 1994. He joined the Company in December 1993 as Vice President of Quality. Prior to 1993, Mr. Mertes was Director of Quality at TRW Sensor Operations, a unit of TRW Inc.
Sandra Grouf, CIO and CFO, BSST LLC
Sandra Grouf has served as Treasurer and Secretary since April 1999. Ms. Grouf served as Chief Financial Officer from November 2001 to January 2003. She joined the Company in March 1998 as Manager of General Accounting and was appointed Corporate Controller in April 1999. Previously she worked with Pro-One Manufacturing Incorporated, a custom motorcycle accessory manufacturer and supplier, from 1994 through 1997, as Corporate Controller and Treasurer.
Board of Directors
Lon E. Bell, Ph.D.
President & CEO, BSST LLC
Francois J. Castaing
Former President of Chrysler International Operations
John M. Devine
Vice Chairman of General Motors Corporation
Daniel R. Coker
President & CEO, Amerigon
Maurice E.P. Gunderson
Venture Partner, CMEA Ventures
Oscar B. Marx, III
Chairman of the Board, Amerigon
James J. Paulsen
Former President, Ford Motor Company, China Operations
