Bill Davis
Global Customer Service
Bill joined Plasma-Therm® in 2012 as a Special Project Manager, leading cost-control efforts for the VLN product line. He advanced to the role of Operational Excellence Manager, initiating multiple continuous improvement projects and programs that boost efficiency and productivity while enhancing customer satisfaction. Bill has more than 20 years of operations and field service management experience within the semiconductor industry, and he holds a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from ITT Technical Institute.
Eric Stewart
Global Sales
Eric Stewart serves as the Global Sales Director for Plasma-Therm. He is a highly engaged and transformational leader with extensive commercial and operational leadership experience. Eric is recognized for his ability to drive comprehensive growth and success by empowering teams with value-based customer solutions, implementing best-in-class commercial processes, and utilizing metrics-based performance platforms to exceed customer expectations. With experience working in both the US and Europe/UK, Eric brings a unique global perspective to Plasma-Therm. He possesses an entrepreneurial spirit, focuses on constant improvement through metrics, and is committed to understanding customer needs to ensure that his commercial teams deliver value. Eric aspires to be a servant-leader, taking a hands-on approach when needed, and prioritizes talent development, relationship-building, and advocating for his customers and team.
Dwarakanath Geerpuram
Marketing
Dwarakanath joined Plasma-Therm in 2006 as a process engineer and advanced to Process Engineering Manager before taking over as the Director of Product Development. In his current position, he is responsible for all engineering operations at Plasma-Therm. He has more than 15 years of experience in various aspects of semiconductor device fabrication and plasma processing. He has also authored or co-authored 20 publications and a patent. Dwarakanath holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Florida.
Reinhard Benz
Business Development
Reinhard is the Director of Business Development at Plasmatherm. In this role, he leads the development of the company’s go-to-market strategy, including product and technology positioning. He also coordinates market intelligence activities to support Plasma-Therm’s strategy development. With over 35 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, Reinhard has held various senior sales and marketing positions, gaining global experience. He is highly regarded as an industry expert, known for combining business acumen and entrepreneurship with strong technical expertise in semiconductor devices and equipment technologies. With a PhD in semiconductor physics, he focuses on addressing the needs of customers. In his leisure time, Reinhard enjoys skiing and biking and hails from Lindau, Germany.
Thierry Lazerand
Lab-to-Fab Product Line
Thierry Lazerand is currently the Director of Lab to Fab Product Line while also acting as General Manager of Plasma-Therm Europe. He joined Plasma-Therm headquarters in Florida in 2010 following over two decades in various technology and management roles in device manufacturing and capital equipment companies in France and the USA.
In 2019, he made the move to Grenoble, France to take charge of the EMEA branch of Plasma-Therm. His primary objective is to guarantee the successful implementation and execution of plasma-based solutions innovation activity and product management, serving universities and R&D centers worldwide.
Matthew Flynn
Advanced Packaging Product Line
Matthew Flynn is the Business Unit Director of Advanced Packaging Product Line at Plasma-Therm, and leads a team of R&D, Global Product Support, Process Engineering, and Business Development experts focused on maximizing revenue and profitability in the rapidly growing Advanced Packaging market segment. Matthew has over 35 years of semiconductor industry experience and most recently served as the Senior Director of the Vacuum Systems Business Unit at Brooks Automation. Prior to that, Matthew held senior customer facing roles at Eugene Technology, Axcelis, Eaton Semiconductor Equipment, Cherry Semiconductor, and Teledyne Crystalonics. Matthew has a deep understanding of both semiconductor device and equipment technology markets, with a consistent track record of innovative product development, market share gains, and profitability growth. Matthew holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees from the University of South Florida.
Mooraly Suppiah
Quality and Continuous Improvement
As Director of Quality and Continuous Improvement, Suppiah is responsible for the Quality of all PT products and the Quality Systems. Coupled with that, he is responsible for all Lean Manufacturing initiatives, including improvements to business and operational processes at Plasma-Therm. Suppiah joined Plasma-Therm in 2022 and brings 20 years of manufacturing and product development experince from automotive and medical industries. Suppiah holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from Chalmers University, Sweden.
Dan Pace
PVD Product Line
Dan is serving a dual role at Plasma-Therm as Director, PVD Product Line, and Business Development Director for Strategic Accounts at Plasma-Therm, where Dan coordinates our efforts in PVD with strategic accounts worldwide, he is actively involved with the alignment of our products across our global partnership, in Power, Wireless, MEMS, as well as niche, and non-semiconductor markets.
Dan comes to the team with over 30 years industry experience with companies like Genus, Balzers, Unaxis and Evatec. He brings with him experience from backgrounds such as CVD, Ion Implant, and PVD technologies. Dan’s prior positions included Head of Worldwide Customer Support, Managing Director NA, Worldwide Strategic Sales and most recently Dan worked as a Senior Vice President, as well as President of the Board of Directors for Evatec. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology.
Dan’s hobbies include woodworking, hiking, helping others, and just about anything Italian. Dan, splits his time in the states in Pittston, Pennsylvania, and also in Umbria, Italy.
Rick McGonigal
Operations
Rick McGonigal is the Senior Director of Operations at Plasma-Therm. In this role, he leads the operations team, overseeing production planning, manufacturing, procurement, warehousing/logistics, and engineering (mechanical, electrical, systems & controls). With over 25 years of experience, Rick’s most recent position was as the Director of Manufacturing in the medical device industry. He possesses extensive knowledge of cost structures, driving P&L growth, clean room assembly and packaging. Additionally, Rick has experience in leading multi-site manufacturing operations and establishing manufacturing facilities overseas. He holds an undergraduate degree from Kent State University, a graduate degree from the University of South Florida, and True Lean certification from the University of Kentucky, School of Engineering, under the Toyota Production System.
Russ Westerman
Technology Development
Russ joined Plasma-Therm in 1996 and became EVP of Technology Development and a managing partner in January 2009. He oversees all technical operations at Plasma-Therm. Previously he led the R&D efforts as head of product development. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 publications and more than 40 U.S. patents on various aspects of semiconductor processing. Russ holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech, a master’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology.
Abdul Lateef
Chief Executive Officer
Before being named CEO, Abdul started with Plasma-Therm in 1998 as a project manager, leading the PVD product development effort. He advanced through the roles of Applications Lab Manager, Principal Scientist, and head of the Etch Business Unit. In 2009, Abdul drove the management buyout process that re-established the Plasma-Therm brand, accepting his new role as CEO. Under his leadership, Plasma-Therm has completed more than 10 acquisitions and integration projects which have had a favorable impact on the company’s growth and expansion of its product portfolio. Abdul serves on the St. Petersburg College Advisory Committee, and he is a leadership coach at the University of Tampa. He founded the Plasma-Therm Foundation, a nonprofit focused on disaster relief and support. Abdul holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from the University of Florida.