Corporate Biographies
Beatrice Scherer - Member, Board of Directors
Ms. Scherer began her career at Graham-Field over forty-five years ago as an A/R Reconciliation Clerk. She rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Customer Service. Because of her in-depth knowledge of Graham-Field’s customer base, organization, computer systems and product lines, Ms. Scherer was asked to interrupt her retirement to re-join Graham-Field in 2003 as Senior Vice President of Administration. Due to her many contributions during the successful turnaround of Graham-Field, Ms. Scherer was promoted to President/CEO of the Company effective September 2006. Currently, Ms. Scherer serves on GF’s Board of Directors and participates in formulating the Company’s goals and business strategy.
Kenneth Spett - President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Spett has over 30 years of diverse healthcare industry experience in a variety of senior executive, sales and marketing positions. Mr. Spett began his career with Graham-Field in 1983 as Vice President of Operations for Labtron Scientific Corporation and became Corporate Vice President of Marketing when Labtron and Graham-Field merged. He re-joined Graham-Field in July 2003 as Vice President of the Medical/Surgical Division. In 2007, Mr. Spett was promoted to Senior Vice President, with P&L responsibility for Graham-Field’s primary care, acute care, alternate site, specialty markets, and GF’s Rhode Island manufacturing facility. Mr. Spett was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2009 with responsibility for the Medical/Surgical, Homecare, Long Term Care, Consumer and International Strategic Business Units, along with Global Operations and Marketing. In August 2010 he was promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer and in May 2011 to Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Spett possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Queens College in New York.
Cherie Antoniazzi - Senior Vice President, Quality, Regulatory and Risk Management
Cherie Antoniazzi joined Graham-Field in 1996 with its acquisition of the Everest & Jennings companies. In 1997, she was transferred to the Corporate Office where her responsibilities encompassed Labor Relations and Human Resources Management for all of Graham-Field's North American operations. On October 1, 2009, Ms. Antoniazzi assumed the critical responsibility for leading Graham-Field’s 360 Degree Quality Initiative and currently directs the organization’s Quality and Risk Management disciplines. Prior to 1992, she spent eighteen years with the Huffy Corporation in key management positions in its Manufacturing, Operations, Environmental Law and Human Resources functions.
Ivan Bielik - Senior Vice President, Business Analyst
Mr. Bielik brings to Graham-Field, twenty years of experience and knowledge in the Information Technology field. Some of his previous work background included Trading Systems Strategist for United Equities, Manager of Decision Support Systems for Cantor Fitzgerald / eSpeed Inc. and Manager of Information Systems for Margolin Winer & Evens. Mr. Bielik possesses an MBA degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems and is a Licensed CPA.
David Walton - Senior Vice President, Long-Term Care
Mr. Walton has been involved in Long-Term care for approximately twenty years. He began his career as a Territory Sales Representative for Omni Manufacturing in 1986. He then moved into the position of Vice President of Sales for the Omni Division of Basic American Medical Products. Mr. Walton left Basic American Medical in 2001 and accepted a position as General Manager for Healthspace, a healthcare furnishings division of the Ivan Allen Company. Mr. Walton returned to Graham-Field in July of 2003 as Senior Zone Manager and in 2005 was promoted to Vice President. Mr. Walton holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of West Georgia.
Marc Bernstein - Senior Vice President, Consumer Sales
When Graham-Field acquired Lumiscope in January of 2008, Mr. Bernstein was brought on board as Vice President of Sales: Lumiscope. Prior to joining Graham-Field, Mr. Bernstein held the position of President with Lumiscope and possesses a strong background in sales and product development; evidenced by his position as Vice President of Sales at Dazey Home Products and Nelkin Piper International as a Corporate Partner. Mr. Bernstein received an Undergraduate Degree in business from the University of Missouri along with a Masters Degree in Psychology.
Lawrence de la Haba - Senior Vice President, Business Development
Mr. de la Haba returned to Graham-Field in August 1999 as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to rejoining Graham-Field he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Lumex Division of Fuqua Medical Products. Mr. de la Haba started his healthcare career with Lumex in 1982, served as Controller for Hygeia Medical Supply from 1993-1995 and Regional Vice President for the Sulzer Metco division of Sulzer, Inc. He is now responsible for Graham-Field's new business development efforts, specifically the Company’s Made in USA initiative and Strategic Account Program. Mr. de la Haba has a BA in Political Science and an MBA in Marketing from St. John's University in New York City
Kurt Hellman - Senior Vice President Manufacturing Operations (Fond du Lac, WI)
Mr. Hellman joined Graham-Field bed manufacturing division located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in May of 1984 as a Materials Manager. Over his twenty plus years with the Company, Mr. Hellman’s effectiveness has advanced him into his current position. Working together with the Operations team, they have successfully integrated the manufacturing and bed product lines of National Metals Industries, Simmons Healthcare, SSC Medical, Sci-o-tech, Lumex and Smith & Davis. Mr. Hellman holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in both Marketing and Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin. He is also Certified in Production and Inventory Management from APICS.
Lori Kirschner: Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration
Lori Kirschner, currently Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Administration, joined Graham-Field in 2010 as Vice President of Human Resources. Kirschner brings both business and legal expertise to the Human Resources department and has been able to integrate her varied expertise throughout the company. Prior to joining Graham-Field, Kirschner practiced law for several years with business related litigation as her primary focus. She then moved into the world of manufacturing where she held many roles, including ultimately becoming the president of a plastics manufacturing company. Kirschner received her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University.
Nancy Williamson: Vice President, Distribution
Nancy Williamson, Graham-Field’s Vice President of Distribution, joined Smith & Davis in 1984 as a Customer Service Representative. She then joined Everest & Jennings with its acquisition of Smith & Davis, and Graham-Field with the acquisition of Everest & Jennings companies, at which time she was promoted to Distribution Manager of the Hazelwood, MO., Distribution Center, Graham-Field’s largest. Williamson was promoted in 2009 to Vice President of Distribution, where she is responsible for Graham-Field’s distribution network and logistical negotiations.
Dennis Pollyniak: Vice President of Sales, Long Term Care
Dennis Pollyniak, Vice President of Sales for Graham-Field’s Long Term Care Business Unit, works closely with Long Term Care Sales as well as National Accounts. Pollyniak’s’s long history in the healthcare industry — more than four decades — brings extensive experience in Pharmacy operations, Homecare, and Long Term Care. Pollyniak originally joined Basic American Medical Products in 1996 and remained with the company until March 2004, at which time he had Product Management responsibility for Beds, Specialty Seating, and Case Goods, in addition to having Inside Sales responsibilities for certain regions of the U.S. Pollyniak left Graham-Field in March of 2004 to assume a position with NeighborCare Corporation, a Long Term Care Pharmacy Provider based in Baltimore MD, where he was Vice President of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic States. He returned to Graham-Field in Atlanta in February 2007 to assume his current position.
Roy R. Reese: Vice President of Corporate and Strategic Accounts
Roy R. Reese, Vice President of Corporate and Strategic Accounts, returned to Graham-Field in 2003 as Regional Vice President of Sales. Reese began his Graham-Field tenure in 1995 with Lumex, then a division of Fuqua Medical Products and later acquired by Graham-Field, as the Pacific Northwest Sales Representative. He also performed Lumex product training, served on the Sales Advisory Committee, and was promoted to Western Regional Vice President of Sales. Reese commenced his healthcare sales career with Zee Medical, a McKesson Company, in 1992, and also spent 3 years in the technology sector with Merant Inc. a company focused on managing web content and software configuration management. Reese holds a BA in Communication from Ohio State University.
Harvey Cohen: Vice President of Sales, Consumer Division
Harvey Cohen, a twenty-year industry veteran, joined Graham-Field in 2009 as Vice President of Sales for the Consumer Division. After an extensive career in Retail Merchandising and Purchasing, Cohen commenced his Consumer Products sales career in 1984 as National Sales Manager for Dazey Products, then entered the Medical Products field in 1990 as National Sales Manager and Vice President of Sales for Lumiscope, which position he held for more than 17 years. Cohen also served 3 years as Vice President of Consumer Sales for Mabis DuroMed Health Products.
Cynthia Counts: Vice President of Homecare Sales and Marketing
Cynthia Counts joined Graham Field in 2007 as a Senior Product Manager, where she has developed the latest product innovations leading to growth of the Homecare SBU. Counts was promoted in 2009 to Director of Homecare Sales and Marketing, where she is responsible for the Homecare SBU sales and marketing strategy, driving business growth through identification of market trends/opportunities, and product management. She has more than six years of experience in the medical and marketing fields. In 2008, Counts earned Graham-Field’s Employee of the Year award. Prior to joining Graham-Field, she was Product Manager for Coloplast, a leading manufacturer of ostomy and continence medical devices. Counts holds a Bachelor's degree from Auburn University in Marketing and International Business.
Scott Lerner: Director of Information Technology
Mr. Scott Lerner, Director of Information Technology, joined Graham-Field in 2003. With more than two decades of experience in information technology, spanning start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Lerner is responsible for every aspect of technology for Graham-Field. He has led several strategic enterprise-wide initiatives resulting in lower costs, more efficient processes, and increased sales. In 2008, Microsoft recognized Lerner’s success with a case study detailing Graham-Field’s strategic implementation of business intelligence strategies and development of an innovative customer service and e-commerce platform to fuel company growth. Lerner has successfully guided Graham-Field’s website and e-commerce development, which since their inception have seen explosive use and growth. Lerner earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Management Information Systems from Georgia State University.
Carla Franklin: Director of Credit and Collections
Carla Franklin, Director of Credit and Collections, joined Medapex, a regional distributor of HME products, in July 1997 as Credit Manager, and became the Southeastern Credit Manager for Graham-Field in 1998 with its acquisition of Medapex. Franklin has assisted Graham-Field with the integration of several acquisitions, and her experience in the HME market has served Graham-Field’s successful navigation of several major healthcare reimbursement initiatives. In 2000, Franklin became Director of Financial Services, in which crucial role she facilitated Graham-Field’s expansion into the Homecare Market. In 2002 Franklin became the Director of Credit and Collections and completely restructured the department to reflect the needs of the Company’s three strategic business units. Prior to joining Medapex, Franklin was Accounts Receivable Manager for Graybar Electric for seven years and Office Manager for Southern Ideal prior to that time. Franklin has more than 20 years of accounts receivable, credit and financing experience and has been an active member of industry-wide credit and collections forums. She holds a BA Degree from Emmanuel College in Royston, GA, which she attended on a full basketball scholarship.
Linda Peterson: Chemist / Operations Manager, Graham-Field Bandage
Linda Peterson, Chemist and Operations Manager of Graham-Field Bandage, joined Graham-Field in 2002 as a laboratory chemist, and was promoted to her present position in 2004. Under Peterson’s guidance the Bandage facility, which produces Unna Boot Bandages and Silver Nitrate Applicators, received ISO 13485 certification in 2007. Prior to joining Graham-Field, Peterson managed the Quality Control laboratory at Dennison Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured a variety of drugs, veterinary products, and cosmetics. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Simmons College and has also completed a Master’s Degree in Teaching Chemistry. Peterson is a part-time adjunct faculty member of Rhode Island College.
Dan Grieco: Corporate Creative Director
Dan Grieco, now serving as Graham-Field’s Corporate Creative Director for nearly ten years, is responsible for all aspects of Graham-Field’s corporate identity, including image branding, packaging, multimedia advertising, sales and promotional materials, annual reports, posters, and trade show design and orchestration. Grieco brings more than four decades’ experience providing direction of graphic design, photography, copywriting, marketing strategy, and broadcast production of television and radio campaigns for corporations and advertising agencies. Previous to joining Graham-Field, his positions included Vice President and Creative Director of Wemmers Consulting Group and Senior Art Director of J. Walter Thompson/Atlanta. Grieco has won more than 40 national and international awards including 3 Clio, 14 Addy and 2 Andy awards. He holds a BFA in Advertising Design, Illustration and Photography from Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, Newark, New Jersey.
John C. Bray: National Sales Manager, Medical - Surgical Products
John C. Bray, National Sales Manager, Medical - Surgical Products, joined Graham-Field in 2009. Bray, a sixteen-year industry veteran, manages field-based and inside sales teams serving Hospital, Rehab, Ambulatory Surgery, Physician, and Dialysis markets, as well as key corporate accounts. Bray served previously with Alere, Inc. as an Account Executive, and for ten years with Cardinal Health as Sales Representative, Business Implementation Manager, and Region Sales Manager. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University.
Katie Johnson: Director of Customer Service and Technical Support
Katie Johnson, Director of Customer Service and Technical Support began her career with Graham-Field in 2001 as a member of the Customer Service team. Johnson was quickly promoted to Customer Service Representative in charge of Corporate Accounts, and in 2006, promoted again to Manager of Graham-Field’s Customer Service and Technical Support teams. In 2011, Johnson received another promotion to her current position. Johnson was recognized in 2007 as Graham-Field’s Employee of the Year. Johnson graduated with honors from Georgia State University.
John Flores: Technical Support Supervisor
John Flores joined Everest & Jennings, at that time in West Los Angeles, California, in 1980. He devoted his first ten years with E&J to the position of Quality Control Inspector for every department from Raw Material to Final Assembly, and later served in Wheelchair Line Assembly, where he was ultimately promoted to Line Leader. Flores subsequently served as Customer Service Representative, then Technical Support Representative, in which position he joined Graham-Field with its acquisition of Everest & Jennings. Flores, now responsible for Technical Support of Graham-Field’s entire extensive line of products, was promoted to his present position in 2006.
Ryan Walter: National Sales Manager, Homecare
Ryan Walter, Graham-Field's National Sales Manager for Homecare, is responsible for the strategic sales growth of Graham-Field's key national and regional Homecare accounts. Walter also serves as Graham-Field’s Mexico sales and distribution partner and the Graham-Field corporate liaison for Homecare buying group affiliations. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Nancy Prossick: Marketing Manager, Long Term Care
Nancy Prossick serves as the Long Term Care Marketing Manager, with responsibility for LTC beds, furnishings, design services, pressure management, and patient lifts. She has been very involved in transitioning specialty seating recliner production from overseas back to the USA. Prossick has had prior career product management roles at Coloplast, where she was responsible for disposable incontinence products; launching the mastectomy product line; moisturizers and barriers for incontinent skin; and managing and facilitating the skin care focus groups for customer retention, relationship building, and product development. At Hill-Rom, she managed headwalls and accessories in the architectural division. At DocuSys, she was the Marketing Manager for critical care products. She is a graduate of the University of Florida.
Ryan Howe: Product Manager, Bath Safety Products
Ryan Howe, Product Manager of Bath Safety Products, joined Graham-Field in 2010 with more than ten years experience in product strategy and marketing for a large FTSE 100 UK Corporation, as well as privately held US companies. Knowledgeable in product management and marketing, Howe had previously been responsible for managing B2B product lines with revenues ranging from $1 million to over $40 million. His passion is helping the business he serves to be successful by bringing top-quality products to market. Howe holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Evansville.
Veronica Lee: Product Manager, Medical - Surgical Products
Veronica Lee, Medical-Surgical Product Manager, joined Graham-Field in 2011. Lee's versatile background includes experience in chemical processing, mining equipment marketing, oil sands processing development, medical device product development engineering, product management, and quality systems. She has held positions as Regional Marketing Manager for Fresenius Medical Care Asia Pacific; Research engineer for Fresenius Medical Care North America; and Manufacturing Engineer for Baxter Healthcare. Lee is a Certified Internal ISO Auditor and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt. She earned her master’s degree in Polymer Synthesis from the Georgia Institute of Technology.