Bryson Stephens
Chairman
Bryson has a long history with EBSCO. As the grandson of our founder, Elton B. Stephens, and son of Chairman Emeritus, J.T. Stephens, Bryson was no stranger to dinner conversations filled with sales success stories and entrepreneurial feats. Today, Bryson is Chairman of EBSCO’s Board of Directors, working alongside other Board members to provide strategic direction for the company. In addition to his role as Chairman, Bryson oversees EBSCO Realty Investments, and is a member of the EBSCO Savings and Profit Sharing Trust Administrative Committee. Prior to being elected Chairman, Bryson was Vice-Chairman and Group President over EBSCO Sign Group and Vulcan Industries. Bryson has been a member of EBSCO’s Board of Directors since 2007.
Ken Baker
President, Bailey International
While Ken may be one of the newest members in the EBSCO leadership team, joining through an acquisition in September 2019, he’s no stranger to the world of value-add distribution. His education in electrical engineering combined with his experience in operations enables him to guide the strategic planning, execution, and growth of Bailey International, doing so with a keen understanding of the processes that produce excellent customer service. Ken has worked to create a culture focused on continuous improvement throughout the Bailey organization. As an industry leader in the manufacturing and distribution of hydraulic solutions, Ken is committed to maximizing value for his diverse range of customers in transportation, agriculture, construction, and other mobile hydraulic end markets. That kind of leadership adds a lot of value to EBSCO.
Nathan R. Bouknight
Managing Director, EBSCO Capital
As a leader on the EBSCO Capital team, Nathan’s responsibilities include investment opportunity sourcing and leading transaction execution teams. In addition to his day-to-day activities of identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, negotiating and structuring transactions, and conducting and managing due diligence efforts, Nathan also works closely with portfolio management teams on strategy, long range planning, and the evaluation and execution of organic and acquisitive growth opportunities. Prior to joining EBSCO Capital, Nathan was an investment banker at Harris Williams & Co., a leading middle market investment banking firm, where he assisted clients in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate finance engagements.
Mandy Catrett
Vice President, Finance & Treasury
Mandy joined EBSCO Industries in 2005. During her years with EBSCO, she has held several roles within the Finance and Treasury functions. Most recently, she has served as Manager of Finance and Treasury since 2011. Mandy’s positive attitude and collaborative approach have been hallmarks of her career. As Vice President of Finance & Treasury, she is responsible for EBSCO’s overall cash management, which includes leading the team that manages EBSCO’s debt, bank accounts, bank relationships, foreign exchange and hedging program, cash position and forecasting, investments, and letters of credit.
Michael Chanin
Founder/CEO, Cherry Street Energy
Michael Chanin is the founder and CEO of Cherry Street Energy. Cherry Street is the largest non-utility renewable energy provider in Georgia. Michael founded the business informed by his background in structured financial products and growth-oriented businesses. He started his career at Goldman Sachs’ in the Special Situations Group, ran finance and operations for a San Francisco-based technology company, and has invested in renewable energy markets since 2013. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he received a BA in American studies and history, and the University of Cambridge, where he received a Master in Philosophy in development studies.
Kurt Close
President, Valent Group
Kurt became president of Valent in August of 2021. He leads the organization’s efforts to provide business insurance, employer benefits and personal insurance services to companies and individuals in the Southeast. Kurt came to Valent in 2018 from Travelers Insurance, where he spent 29 years in various leadership roles within the Fortune 500 company. His multiple positions within Travelers include a 10-year stint in Atlanta, but the bulk of his time was spent cultivating relationships in his home state of Alabama, where he led Travelers’ Middle Market practice for Alabama and Mississippi. His experience in business insurance underwriting and carrier markets gives Kurt a unique perspective from which to lead and serve clients. Originally from Sylacauga, Kurt graduated from Samford University with a mathematics degree while playing four years of Varsity Basketball.
Tim Collins
President, EBSCO Information Services
Tim is an excellent example of what’s possible when you focus on customers, operate with a vision and bias for action, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. In 1983, Tim joined EBSCO after the business he co-founded with his step-father, Popular Magazine Review, was acquired. Tim led the way in overseeing the explosive growth that has taken EBSCO Information Services from a niche provider of print indexes in the 1980s to what is today—one of the world’s leading for-fee Internet research services. He guided the Company to strong organic growth, as well as a steady stream of over 60 strategic acquisitions. Tim is currently the President of EBSCO Information Services, EBSCO Industries’ largest business. Tim’s commitment to sustained sales and profit growth continues to drive EBSCO’s success.
David Hobbs
Chief Financial & Investment Officer
With more than two decades of experience spanning commercial banking, investment banking, and private and public market investing, David plays a pivotal role in driving EBSCO’s goal of sustainable long-term growth. He is focused on capital allocation and will evaluate growth opportunities through reinvestment in existing businesses and acquisitions. He is responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial strategy and operations, including accounting, finance, treasury, tax, capital planning, investments, risk management, budgeting and planning, and mergers and acquisitions. Before EBSCO, David was President and Partner of Cook & Bynum Capital Management. After college, he got his start in the banking world, working for a commercial bank and an investment bank, giving him a deep-dive education in corporate finance and experience in debt and equity markets.
William Hutson
President, Vulcan Industries
After serving in several leadership positions in the United States Army, William understands the importance of effective teamwork and strategic direction—qualities that have helped guide his career in the corporate world. While at Procter & Gamble, he acquired invaluable knowledge of sales and marketing in the retail space. He went on to hold leadership roles in the recreational vehicle industry, gaining further exposure and insight into the development of custom manufactured solutions designed to meet customers’ specific needs. William’s experience in sales and marketing, coupled with his extensive leadership experience, has contributed to the success of Vulcan Industries since he joined the company in 2001. As president of Vulcan Industries, William is focused on VI becoming the partner of choice for customer merchandising and display solutions.
Heather Moore
Vice President, Accounting
Heather has been an integral part of our EBSCO team for more than 30 years. After earning her MBA from Auburn University, she initially joined the EBSCO Accounting team as a Staff Accountant. Her passion for continuous improvement and bias for action are reflected in her dynamic career and success in each position she has held. As Vice President of Accounting, Heather leads a team responsible for the accuracy of financial statements across EBSCO’s diverse and international portfolio. In addition, Heather and her team handle payroll, internal auditing, accounts payable, statutory compliance, as well as reporting for EBSCO’s board and management team.
Robert Nabrzeski
President, All Current Electrical Sales
With over 28 years of management experience, Bob sees it as his responsibility to translate broad operational goals into customer satisfaction and long-term relationships for All Current. In doing so, he has developed a leadership style that effectively balances a pragmatic approach to providing solutions with innovative thinking to meet customer needs. As President and CEO of All Current, Bob believes staying close to day-to-day operations is key to helping his staff support their teams. In addition to overseeing operations, his knowledge of the industry enables him to direct the procurement of All Current inventory. In everything he does, Bob strives to lead by example and uphold All Current’s commitment to providing dependable quality products and superior “Need It Now” customer service.
Tyler Novak
Vice President & General Counsel
As our first in-house lawyer, Tyler oversees all legal matters for EBSCO. And with the diversity of EBSCO businesses, that’s no small task, but she’s up for the challenge. Before joining EBSCO, Tyler worked for some of the region’s leading law firms—representing companies in a vast range of corporate matters including mergers, acquisitions, licensing, contract negotiations, and much more. We are very pleased that she is applying her breadth of experience to EBSCO and helping our many businesses along the way.
Jay Page
Group President, EBSCO Realty
Jay has spent the last two decades involved in real estate acquisitions, planning, development, sales and marketing, strategic planning, and resort/hotel operations. That’s good for us because Jay uses all of those skills as Group President of EBSCO’s Real Estate Division. From land management and commercial construction to commercial and residential development, and multifamily and homebuilding, Jay is setting high expectations for what planned communities and multifamily developments can and should be. Overseeing Alys Beach, EBSCO’s luxury beach community on 30A in Florida’s gulf coast, The Town of Mt Laurel outside of Birmingham, Alabama, and EBSCO Income Properties with locations across the Southeast all fall in Jay’s responsibilities.
Paul Roche
President, Luxor
Delivering customer-centric solutions in people, processes, and products has been the hallmark of Paul’s career success. Having spent more than 20 years in distribution, manufacturing, and technology, he has developed and driven initiatives that have taken the organizations he worked with to be best-in-class. Prior to EBSCO, Paul most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Network Services Company, a Chicago-based international distribution organization. His favorite EBSCO principle is “Invest in People and Cultivate Passion.” With professional experience in everything from picking orders in a warehouse to programming distribution software applications and leading a billion-dollar company’s operations and technology teams, his goal has always been to lead and innovate by focusing on people first.
Robert Schoenvogel
President, PRADCO Outdoor Brands
At EBSCO, we define success in a number of ways, including increasing profit, adding value for customers, and offering opportunities for team members to reach their potential. Robert is an example of those goals in action. Since joining EBSCO in 2006, he’s held several key leadership roles, and in each of those positions Robert has shown how successful teamwork yields profit and satisfied customers. Currently, he’s working to grow our team at PRADCO Outdoor Brands into even stronger leaders in the outdoor industry.
Lisa Silver
President, Publishers’ Warehouse
With over 25 years working in education, Lisa brings vast experience to the table as Vice President of Publishers’ Warehouse. Understanding that a business’ success hinges on the quality of its people, she places emphasis on the development of strong relationships, between both her own team members and external customers. Driven by the challenge of offering solutions to complex problems, Lisa is determined to ensure that Publishers’ Warehouse remains the leading one-stop shop for digital and print textbooks for schools throughout Alabama.
Karla Wiles
Chief Communications Officer, EBSCO Industries Inc. - President, Consumer Subscription Services
While not everyone embraces change, Karla thrives in it, and even likes creating it. She joined EBSCO in 2009 and has supported our focus on continuous improvement since the beginning of her EBSCO career. She has educated our businesses on the importance of the digital space and the role of integrated marketing. Karla’s extensive advertising agency and marketing background taught her the importance of listening to customers and building authentic brands that create connections to grow sales. Her future-forward approach to strategic growth paired with her years of leadership experience allow her to bring both tenure and a fresh perspective to both Consumer Subscription Services and EBSCO Industries overall.
Brian Wilson
Vice President, Corporate Human Resources
Brian represents how drive and a positive attitude can help you write your own success story at EBSCO. Brian began his career at EBSCO in 1992 as a technical writer. Since then, he has worked as a corporate trainer and manager of the training department. Today, Brian isn’t just training our teams on best practices. As the VP of Corporate Human Resources, he is leading by example and ensuring we invest in initiatives that help our teams realize what’s possible, collectively and individually.