Patrick M. Harlow
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

Patrick Harlow joined CONTECH in March 1999 following a 21-year career with industrial giant Ingersoll-Rand Company. Harlow began his career with Ingersoll-Rand as a sales representative in the Washington, DC area and progressed though the ranks of sales and marketing management before being named Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific Operations for Ingersoll-Rand’s Construction and Mining Group. Immediately prior to joining CONTECH, Harlow served as Vice President and General Manager of the Worldwide Drilling Solutions Divisions of Ingersoll-Rand. He holds a BA in Business Management from Loyola College and a MA in Business Management from Central Michigan University.

Ronald C. Keating
President, Chief Operating Officer

Keating comes to CONTECH from Kennametal Inc. where he was President of its Metalworking Solutions and Services Group. Prior to that, Keating held other leadership positions at Kennametal and was responsible for many businesses globally including the energy, mining and construction groups. Prior to that, Keating began his career at Ingersoll-Rand where he spent nine years and was a General Manager. Keating holds a BS degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Jeffrey  S. Lee
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Lee joined CONTECH from Kennametal Inc. At Kennametal, he was CFO of its $1.7 billion Metalworking Solutions and Services Group. Lee maintained global financial responsibility for 41 manufacturing plants, 10,000 employees and 350 finance professionals including CFOs in India, Switzerland, Singapore and the Americas. Prior to that, Lee held several financial positions at Eaton Corporation, most recently Operations Controller for its $1.3 billion aerospace business. Lee holds a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Utah, and an MBA from Duke University.

Michael  M. Rafi
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative and Development Officer

Michael Rafi joined CONTECH following a distinguished career with the Oshkosh Corporation where he was Vice President and General Manager of the Caterpillar Alliance Group, a global business in the JLG division. Prior to that, Rafi held a variety of leadership positions in business development, legal and strategic planning. Prior to JLG, Mike practiced law at the law firm of Church & Houff in Baltimore, MD. Rafi holds a B.A. degree from Loyola College, a J.D. from Catholic University Law School, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. .

Joseph A. Cutillo
President, CONTECH Drainage Solutions

Joe Cutillo joined CONTECH in October of 2005 as Senior Vice President–Operations.  Cutillo came to CONTECH from Ingersoll-Rand, where he spent 10 years in key manufacturing and supply chain management roles including Vice President–Manufacturing and Vice President–Service and Contracting. Prior to joining Ingersoll-Rand, Cutillo worked for GE’s Aerospace, Aircraft Engines, and Lighting divisions in various operations and engineering roles.  He is a graduate of Northeastern University with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Thomas P. Slabe
President, CONTECH Earth Stabilization Solutions

Slabe joined CONTECH in 2006 as Vice President of Marketing for the Stormwater Division and was a significant contributor to the development and execution of the Stormwater business strategy and functional organization. Slabe has diverse sales and marketing experience previously serving as Director of Strategic Account Management and Marketing/Product Management at Dayton Superior Corporation. Prior to that, he was Director of Corporate and Strategic Accounts at SIP Corporation. Slabe holds BBA and MBA degrees from Cleveland State University. 

Richard G. Stepien
President, CONTECH Stormwater Solutions

Rick Stepien joined CONTECH as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Development in 2002. Before joining CONTECH, Stepien spent 18 years at GE in a variety of domestic and worldwide sales and marketing positions. His most recent position at GE was Global Commercial Director–Engineered Styrenic Resins, where he was responsible for over $1 billion in business.  Stepien received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1985 and his MBA from the UniversityMichigan in 1990.

Steve R. Spanagel
President, CONTECH Sales

Steve Spanagel has served as CONTECH Regional Vice President–Atlantic Region since 2003.  Previously, he was Vice President of Keystone Retaining Walls, a CONTECH company. Spanagel’s career with CONTECH has spanned two decades and several corporate and regional posts. His first assignment with the company was in 1985 as an Assistant Sales Engineer in Topeka, KS.  Spanagel holds a BSCE degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Rebecca Appenzeller
Vice President, Legal

Appenzeller joined CONTECH in 2005 from AK Steel Corporation. In addition to her position as Corporate Counsel at AK Steel, she previously served as chief legal counsel for Emery Worldwide Airlines and The Standard Register Co. and held other legal roles with the predecessors of U.S. Bancorp and AT&T Ohio. Appenzeller has also represented a number of corporate clients and public entities as a corporate attorney with the law firm Sebaly, Shillito & Dyer in Dayton, OH, and as a labor and employment attorney with the law firm Mulcahy & Wherry, S.C. in Milwaukee, WI. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a BA in History from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.

Brenda Harmon
Vice President, Human Resources

Harmon brings 25 years of human resources, corporate governance, and communications experience to CONTECH. Previously, she served as Vice President – Human Resources & Corporate Secretary for AK Steel Corporation where, reporting to the Chairman & CEO, she provided functional leadership to the 10,000-employee organization in addition to her Board responsibilities. Her early career experience also includes Copeland Corporation, an Emerson Company. Harmon graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a BSBA and holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Jeannette Kipina
Vice President, Corporate Compliance

Kipina is responsible for CONTECH corporate compliance including risk management and insurance. In addition, Kipina oversees the internal audit function ensuring best practices are performed throughout the company. Kipina has more than 10 years experience managing internal audit functions. Prior to joining CONTECH, Kipina was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation where she developed and implemented an internal audit program for its business process outsourcing division. Kipina holds a BS degree from Portland State University.

Michael Crawford
Vice President, Financial Operations

Crawford oversees the CONTECH team of finance managers and analysts and has responsibility for corporate financial planning, reporting and analysis. Prior to joining CONTECH, Crawford spent more than 20 years with the General Electric Company, most recently as Manager of Finance for the CFM56 engine business of GE Aircraft Engines. Crawford holds a BS degree from Xavier University.

Charles C. Marzullo
Vice President, Business Development

Marzullo joined CONTECH in 2000 after 24 years with the Ingersoll-Rand Company. During his extensive career at Ingersoll-Rand, he served as Vice President of Business Development, Chairman of Ingersoll-Rand China, as well as Managing Director of Ingersoll-Rand Japan. Marzullo holds a BSME degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA from Columbia University.