Staff

Donald H. Brown
Executive Consultant
203-698-9323
d.brown@cimdata.com

Donald H. Brown has developed and managed over a dozen collaborative research programs and advisory services targeting the leading edge for the implementation and development of distributed technology, and has produced many incisive and in-depth studies. He has advised senior executives, developers, implementers, and investors from large companies and start-ups. Don's clients have ranged from the automotive and aerospace sectors to the leading computer systems companies, as well as applications vendors in design and engineering.

In May, 2011 CPDA was acquired by CIMdata, Inc. Don founded CPDA with the members of D.H. Brown Associates' (DHBA's) PLM group in 2004, upon the sale of DHBA's IT group. Don founded DHBA in 1986 as a research firm serving institutional investors, suppliers, and users of advanced technology. He previously founded Gartner Group's Small Systems Service. In the 1970's, Don was recognized as one of the top three institutional financial analysts covering distributed processing and minicomputers. Don holds an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago.

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Keith Meintjes
Simulation & Analysis Practice Manager
248-891-6434
k.meintjes@cimdata.com

Dr. Keith Meintjes is CIMdata's Simulation & Analysis Practice Manager responsible for strategy and delivery of an expanded set of services and research focused on simulation and analysis technologies and best practices. Keith joins CIMdata from CPDA as an acknowledged expert in these research areas, and in simulation data management. Prior to joining CIMdata / CPDA Keith was responsible for requirements for General Motors' global CAE computing infrastructure, and for strategies to integrate simulation into the vehicle development process. This built on his previous experience at GM Powertrain, where he was one of a team whose mission was to redefine the powertrain engineering development process by deploying 3D design and simulation tools. Keith began his GM career at General Motors Research Laboratories in 1980, where he developed simulation methods for fluid flow and combustion. He has authored numerous publications on CFD methods for combustion simulation, and has two patents for engine design. Keith holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He also holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University.

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Ken Versprille
Executive Consultant
603-424-7992
k.versprille@cimdata.com

Dr. Ken Versprille has amassed over 20 years of experience in the product lifecycle management field, including work in computer-aided engineering, design, manufacturing, and documentation applications. His recent research projects span design collaboration, design automation, evaluations of current CAD/CAM/CAE and visualization technology, and working with manufacturing organizations to plan effective use of technology. Part of the DHBA-to-CPDA team, Ken previously held numerous senior-level technical and managerial positions before coming on board. During his 15 years at Computervision Corporation, he was a lead architect of the CADDS 4 product, and had sole responsibility for the design of Computervision's 3D graphics system. Ken holds a B.S. in mathematics from the University of New Hampshire. He earned both his master's and his Ph.D. in computer science from Syracuse University, where he is recognized for publishing the first description of NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines), the mathematical curve and surface formulation that has become an international standard in CAD and Computer Graphics.

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Rich Wells
Mechatronics Council – Digital Manufacturing
501-279-5251
r.wells@cimdata.com

Rich Wells directs the Digital Manufacturing program for the Mechatronics Council. Prior to joining CIMdata / CPDA Rich was the Math-Based Engineering Leader for Delphi Powertrain Systems. In this role he was the strategic planner and global coordinator for engineering simulation activities and CAD/CAM/CAE at twelve technical centers in North America, Europe, and Asia. As an Engineering Manager at Delphi, Rich acted as a change agent. Rich joined Delphi in 1980, first as part of General Motors and then as part of the independent company. While at Delphi he was selected for numerous awards and published eight papers. He also led the best presentation at CPDA's Spring 2007 workshop jointly sponsored by Georgia Tech, which provided the basis for the subsequent publication titled Managing Variation through the Design Process. Rich took early retirement from Delphi in 2008 to teach at Harding University.

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Corporate

Elyse Brown
Production Editor
203-637-5841
e.brown@cimdata.com

Elyse Brown manages various activities for CIMdata including copy editing, layout, and production services. Core responsibilities include editing and formatting analyst reports, creation "Technology Trends in PLM Update," and managing the annual publication cycle. Elyse joins CIMdata following the acquisition of CPDA in May, 2011. Elyse has been associated with CPDA and its predecessor D.H. Brown Associates since its founding in 1986. Other jobs have included Associate Editor for a series of books on inns, hotels, and B&Bs, and Coordinator of Special Events for a non-profit in the healthcare industry. Elyse has a B.A. in Philosophy from Emory University.

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Cheryl Peck
Marketing Manager
800-573-4756
c.peck@cimdata.com

Cheryl Peck is responsible for CIMdata's marketing and customer support activities. She also manages the annual Product Lifecycle Management Road Map conference. Cheryl joins CIMdata following the acquisition of CPDA in May, 2011. Cheryl has been associated with CPDA and its predecessor D.H. Brown Associates since 1997. Prior to joining the firm she was head of North American Training for NatWest Markets (NatWest) a global financial services concern. Other assignments with NatWest included positions in London, San Francisco, and New York where she managed relationships and structured transactions for NatWest's energy, insurance, and public finance clients.

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Advisors

Kevin C. Craig, Ph.D.
Advisor, Mechatronics Integration of Electronic, Mechanical, and Software Development Efforts
Mechatronics Council

Dr. Kevin Craig joined the faculty of the Marquette University College of Engineering in 2008 as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and as the Robert C. Greenheck Chair in Engineering Design, a $5 million endowed chair. His mission is to integrate discovery learning and multidisciplinary design throughout the entire college, in all years and in all departments. Previously, he spent eighteen years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department and also as the Director of Core Engineering for the School of Engineering. He taught and performed research in the areas of mechatronic system design, control systems, modeling, dynamics, and the study of active materials and their application in design. He developed the Mechatronics Program at RPI, which included an extensive teaching and research laboratory and several senior-undergraduate and graduate-level courses in mechatronics, and graduated 20 Ph.D. students in the area of mechatronics. He received the 2006 RPI School of Engineering Education Excellence Award and the 2006 RPI Trustees' Outstanding Teacher Award. Previously, he worked in industry as a mechanical engineer in the mechanical-nuclear design department of a major engineering firm in New York and taught and received tenure at both the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Hofstra University. He is the author of over thirty refereed journal articles and over fifty refereed conference papers.

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Fred R. Stolfi, Ph.D.
Advisor, Mechatronics Integration of Electronic, Mechanical, and Software Development Efforts
Mechatronics Council

Dr. Fred Stolfi benefits from over twenty-five years of proven experience in all aspects of advanced product development, engineering management, research, analysis, modeling, simulation, design, development and testing. As a Senior Lecturer and Adjunct Associate Professor, Fred currently teaches in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Columbia University where he designed, developed, and teaches a highly rated graduate course in Mechatronics & Embedded Microcomputer Control in an interactive lecture / laboratory format. Previously, he formed ELMETECH (ELectro-MEchanical TECHnology) LLC, an independent engineering consulting firm. Fred served as a Project Leader and Research Scientist for Xerox Corporation from 1988 to 2001. He worked with Philips Electronics beginning in 1979, where he became a Senior Member of the Research Staff. He started his career with SCM Corporation in 1976 where he was a member of the Technical Staff. The holder of nine U.S. and Foreign Patents, Fred has published over thirty papers in the areas of Engineering Design, Mechatronics, Control Systems and Cryogenics.

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