Meet Some of the Team

Mark Shaw, CEO

• Birthday: July 15th
• Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio (Home of the NBA Champs!)
• Where you call “home”: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 1993
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Giving a TED Talk
• Hobbies: Fishing, answering emails at night, some golf, outdoor stuff.
• Something from your bucket list: Catch a 1000+ lb. Marlin, visit an island in the South Pacific, go on a safari.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people I get to work with
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Wilson Harrell, former publisher of INC Magazine was an early influence and taught me some great lessons on marketing, etc. The last eight years or so it has been Hal Resnik, a consultant who has helped with our organization and management training and helped influence some of our bigger decisions.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My wife Dale. She is such a good person, I think it might rub off on me. She is a great moral compass and supporter over all of these crazy years.

Dale Shaw, Vice President of Operations

• Birthday: May 15th
• Birthplace: New York, NY
• Where you call “home”: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 1993
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Ultra-Ever Dry video going viral
• Hobbies: Jogging, reading, tennis, beach, grandkids
• Something from your bucket list: Safari
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Hal Resnick. He has an incredible skill that allows him to help us be a better company.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My faith. It’s the foundation of my life.

Matt Shaw, Executive Vice President

• Birthday: January
• Birthplace: Ponte Vedra, FL
• Where you call “home”: Ponte Vedra, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2010
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Coming into the office back in 2013 when our Ultra-Ever Dry YouTube video went viral with over 1 million views overnight and the chaos/excitement that followed.
• Something from your bucket list: Travel to Ireland (with Mario Cruz)
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The work environment. We have a great group of people and always have to new product to work on, keeping things fresh and interesting.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My dad, Mark Shaw.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents.

Brittani Rey, Executive Assistant

• Birthday: November 18th
• Birthplace: Akron, OH
• Where you call “home”: Saint Augustine, Fl
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2020
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Being a part of a QVC commercial on my first day.
• Hobbies: Enjoying quality time with family and friends, training my German Shepherd, travelling, and decorating our first home.
• Something from your bucket list: To visit Egypt and tour the pyramids.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The culture and the family atmosphere.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My Dad who selflessly worked very hard and long hours growing up to provide for my family. Seeing how his employees and clients cared for and respected him so much outside of work made me strive to have to attain the same values in my professional life.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents and my grandfather.

Tim McGrath, Global Business Development Director

Connect with me on LinkedIn

• Birthday: February 4th
• Birthplace: Jersey
• Where you call “home”: Greenville, SC
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2005
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Gulf Oil Spill craziness…
• Hobbies: Watching the New York Mets (tough existence)
• Something from your bucket list: Take my family on more International trips with me.  It's a big world out there....
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people and the culture…
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My Dad. Really passionate about his business and his customers. Tireless worker…

Sam Bates, Regional Sales Manager (East)

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• Birthday: October 7th
• Birthplace: Darien, CT
• Where you call “home”: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2006
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Getting a live spot on CNN showing our X-Tex Fencing during the Deep Water Horizons Spill.
• Hobbies: Fishing, surfing, paddleboarding, boating, shooting.
• Something from your bucket list: Skydiving.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The People/The Culture; I really enjoy working with everyone here (particularly our fantastic Marketing Team).
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? I would say my Brother Stephen who has run a very successful company for around 25+ years. Seeing how he grew the business and maintains customers.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? I would say, my Father. He taught me the importance of working hard and being a good provider. Also, he was a great communicator and generally well-liked by everyone he dealt with. My Dad also passed along a love for fishing and boating and a love of the outdoors.

Cary Winters, Regional Sales Manager (West)

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• Birthday: June 17th
• Birthplace: Sitka, AK
• Where you call “home”: Seattle, WA
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2012
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Having the whole company throw me a baby shower for our firstborn son. Totally unexpected and shows the family, caring atmosphere at UltraTech. A truly great company.
• Hobbies: Basketball, working out, family life, home and yard work, real estate, investing, boating, traveling
• Something from your bucket list: See the Egyptian Pyramids. Yacht around the Caribbean. Go to a Seahawks Super Bowl
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The freedom to run my business unit how I see fit, but with the support to ensure success. Also, traveling around the western part of the world and seeing cool new places.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Tim McGrath, who recruited me to UltraTech, and has coached me almost every day since. He has been a great mentor and has helped me become a successful sales person and business manager.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My wife. She has made me so much better of a person and helped me realize what’s really important in life.

Kindra Roberts, Regional Sales Manager (Midwest)

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• Birthday: May 25
• Birthplace: Peoria, IL
• Where you call “home”: Milwaukee, WI
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2019
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: I haven’t been here for more than a week yet, so I would say being hired 😉
• Something from your bucket list: I would love to go to Mount Everest
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: So far, I would have to say the welcoming environment, it is evident everyone loves what they do at UltraTech.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My father, he passed away in 2002. He lived life large and I carry his spirit with me in everything I do.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My husband, he is the yin to my yang; we go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Duffy Loftus, Regional Sales Manager (Northeast)

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• Birthday: August 11
• Birthplace: Bridgeport, CT
• Where you call “home”: Portsmouth, RI
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2019
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: To Date... Tearing my Achilles
• Hobbies: Work, Golf
• Something from your bucket list: Go to the Masters, Have a vacation home in Ireland
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The People!!
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Two personal and professional friends I worked with the past 6 years.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My son Finn and my daughter Charlotte. They have changed my life in the best way I could ever imagine.

Nick La Mar, Regional Sales Manager (Gulf Coast)

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• Birthday: April 18, 1986
• Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA
• Where you call “home”: Fort Worth, TX
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2020
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: During my onboarding process I had the pleasure of attending a work anniversary party for Matt Clancy and I witnessed how much UltraTech truly cares for their employees and how that value is passed on to the customers we serve.
• Hobbies: Spending time with my beautiful wife and pups, Cycling, Cooking, Camping, and Gardening
• Something from your bucket list: Going to Greece with my wife Shannon
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: I absolutely love waking up everyday and putting on an “UltraTech” shirt! I have the pleasure of working with an amazing team who inspire me to work hard and challenge me to grow both professionally and personally.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My biggest influence in business would have to be my father. My father taught me the meaning of hard work and perseverance and I am extremely grateful for his love and support.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My wife Shannon is by far the greatest influence in life. She has stuck with me through thick and thin and she continues to help me be the man God has intended me to be.

Matt Clancy, Business Development Manager, Advanced Technologies

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• Birthday: December 26th
• Birthplace: Worcester, MA
• Where you call “home”: St Johns, FL and Worcester, MA
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2010
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: The UltraTech Global Summit in 2014 – Lots of work and an incredible experience.
• Hobbies: Watching sports, golfing, brewing beer, listening to classic rock records, spending time with my family at baseball games, and at dance and piano recitals.
• Something from your bucket list: We make a Family Bucket List each year, but if I had to pick the one I look forward to the most, it would be to watch a SpaceX Rocket Launch in person with the family.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people and the team. It sounds cliché, but we really do function as a family. When you feel like you work in a family, it makes all the hard work and extra hours worth it, because its all done to help make the company more successful.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Harold Resnick, my business mentor. Hal taught me many things, but most importantly my ability to manage people and projects at a high level. Hal helped me refine my business and sales acumen, leading to my role change from Engineering to Business Development.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My brother, Mike. He was my best friend, and the most successful, yet grounded, person I know. I miss him every day, and I work hard to make him proud.

Mario Cruz, Marketing Director

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• Birthday: December 31st
• Birthplace: Dunedin, FL
• Where you call “home”: St. Augustine, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 1995
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Being nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Hand Modeling in a Superhydrophobic Coating Video".
• Something from your bucket list: Isle of Man TT
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people. The things I do are a lot of fun too but I love being surrounded by a team with great attitudes and who love to laugh.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Mark Shaw and Tad Heyman, the founders of UltraTech.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents. I've fought it all of my life but the fact of the matter is, I've become my mother.

Michael Turner, Digital Marketing Manager

• Birthday: June 14th (Flag Day!)
• Birthplace: Sarasota, FL
• Where you call “home”: Tallahassee, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2016
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: First Christmas party. Finally got to meet the team (I work remotely) and felt very appreciated.
• Hobbies: Jeeps!, PC gaming, photography, blogging, making, breaking, and fixing things in the garage.
• Something from your bucket list: Jeepin' in Moab and/or the Rubicon Trail.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people. Everyone is super-nice and very smart with lots of fellow comedian wannabes.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Col, John J. Morrissey. Mr. Morrissey hired me to work at his popular Tallahassee auto shop while I was in high school and, after a few years, sold the business to me on the back of a napkin through generous financing. John taught me about real work. Hard work. And earning my way. Lessons that have shaped my other entrepreneurial ventures, my career, and how I manage both projects and people.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My father. He passed when I was 19—just as I was taking over the aforementioned business—but left me with plenty of wisdom from his journey as a young street cop, an undercover agent in the mafia days, and chief at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Sonja Day, Project Manager

• Birthday: August 28th
• Birthplace: Wisconsin
• Where you call “home”: Elm Grove, WI. I consider Jacksonville “home,” too.
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2013
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: My first day. I was in culture shock – the atmosphere was that welcoming.
• Hobbies: Anything outdoors. Baking. Reading.
• Something from your bucket list: I’d love to hike the Inca Trail.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people!
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? You know, I’m not sure. There have been so many. You take away positives from some, and what not to do from others. It takes a village, I suppose.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My sister. She’s one of those people you just always look up to. No matter what she does, she manages to push you to do your best, too, without intending to do so.

Courtney Kucera, Customer Service Manager

• Birthday: August 13th
• Birthplace: Whittier, California
• Where you call “home”: Vidalia, GA
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2014
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Being voted Employee of the Month after only 4 months of working here. I felt honored that my peers felt I was doing that well for me to earn that title that month.
• Hobbies: Reading and the occasional art project
• Something from your bucket list: I want to go on an African Safari.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The culture. It is a very family-oriented atmosphere and I love that.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My aunt Nancy has been my biggest influence in business. She has been very successful in her career and is now the VP of Operations of the company she works for. She has always encouraged me to look at multiple options and to never give up on what I am striving for.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My mother has been my biggest influence in life. She raised 4 children on her own and did everything she could to ensure that we had a great upbringing. Throughout my life, I have watched her work hard and that in turn instilled in me a determination to have the same work ethic.

Taylor White, Customer Service Representative, Certified Product Specialist - Ultra-S3

• Birthday: September 6th
• Birthplace: Laramie, WY
• Where you call “home”: Wyoming
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2013
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: When I first colored my hair teal and Mark came up to me and said that he liked my hair color but was sad that he couldn’t do it now because I’d already cornered the teal color.
• Hobbies: Going to Jags games, traveling, reading, recreational skeet shooting, working out
• Something from your bucket list: Tour Europe to visit historically significant locations and photograph the amazing architecture found in their cities
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The relaxed environment. Everyone is willing to help anyone who needs it from setting up/tearing down company lunches to assistance with quotes and other projects. We’re all a big family and at the end of the day, we have each other’s backs.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My dad because he taught me my work ethic and to become a person that everyone around you knows that they can depend on.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My brother and sister because without them and their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The three of us have been through a lot and we’ve always been there to support each other, encourage each other, and even provide a kick in the butt when needed. We all know that at the end of the day, we love each other and we will always stick together.

Ryan Pulaski, Customer Service Representative, Certified Product Specialist - Ultra-HydroKleen

• Birthday: February 9^th
• Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
• Where you call “home”: Jacksonville
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2017
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Receiving the Track Panda
• Hobbies: Playing guitar, going to the zoo, Universal Studios, and traveling.
• Something from your bucket list: Climb Devils Tower with my dad, visit a large number of countries, skydive, and run with bulls.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The people I get to work with
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Working for a company that invests in their employees and pushes you to be better every day.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My dad has done everything from starting an air conditioning company at 14 to becoming a doctor and running three hospitals. He has taught me everything I know and is the man I hope to be one day.

Tiffany Jackson, Customer Service Representative

• Birthday: March 12^th
• Birthplace: Tillamook, Oregon
• Where you call “home”: Netarts, Oregon but I live in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2019
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: My first day, a big change from what I have done before but I already felt like I belonged here!
• Hobbies: Baking, needlepoint crafts, exploring craft breweries, and napping.
• Something from your bucket list: I’d love to visit Japan during the Cherry Blossom festival.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The environment, everyone is helpful and great to work with.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My former sales manager Nancy. She taught me that one sale doesn’t make you a great sales person, it is the repeat customers who are loyal to you that make you a great sales person.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My mother. She always pushes forward no matter what life throws at her. No matter the time I can call her and she is there with a word of encouragement, advice, and an open ear. She is my best friend.

Paul Sander, Engineering Manager

• Birthday: July 22
• Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA
• Where you call “home”: Wisconsin and Florida are now tied for where I would call home.
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2013
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Shortly after I started, it was incredible watching Mario and Michael get splashed with 5 gallons of mud for the 2^nd Ultra-Ever Dry viral video.
• Hobbies: Hiking, biking, music, being outdoors
• Something from your bucket list: Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, hiking Machu Picchu, visiting the Galapagos. Ride in a rocket going into space…if it is affordable and possible for the public.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The awesome people. During my interview, Mark said that one of the greatest benefits of working here was the free candy…
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? I learn so much here at UltraTech, each day, and have from year to year so far. My mother-in-law and father-in-law have/had very successful careers in business, and I have learned a ton from them, too.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents, my wife, her parents, and church.

Gerardo "Gerry" Estrada, Electrical Engineer

• Birthday: February 15^th
• Birthplace: Monterrey, Mexico.
• Where you call “home”: St. Johns, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2018
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: The 2018 UltraTech Christmas Party, fun, enjoyable, feels like family in USA.
• Hobbies: Kids soccer, NFL football, grill all summer, enjoy time with family and friends.
• Something from your bucket list: Visit Australia, Italia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.
• Favorite things about UltraTech: Chaos is embraced
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My manager in GE Transportation Raymond Schlaufman, he taught me during rough times how to work with projects on a steady motion without deviating focus from the project
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents taught me and are a big part of what I am right now but my wife Isis Espinosa is my biggest supporter, my 4x4 gearbox of life.

Beth O'Connell, Purchasing Coordinator

• Birthday: Feb.1st
• Birthplace: Kalamazoo, MI
• Where you call “home”: Saint Augustine, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2018
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Learning how caring and dedicated this company is to its customers and employees.
• Hobbies: Collecting shark teeth, painting, visiting zoos, aquariums, and museums with my family.
• Something from your bucket list: To go diving for Megalodon teeth.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: The fun family atmosphere.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? My brother has been a positive example of what never giving up on your dreams can bring you.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My family, they have been a source of sound advice, positive support, and unconditional love.

Kindal Dent, Purchasing Clerk, Certified Product Specialist - Ultra-Track Pans

• Birthday: August 31st
• Birthplace: Jacksonville, FL
• Where you call “home”: Jacksonville, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2015
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: The Christmas party
• Hobbies: I love going to concerts and playing with my pug.
• Something from your bucket list: Road tripping across the US.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: How everyone gets along so well.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Working for a company that invests in its employees.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? People who always have a good attitude.

Laurie Brochu, Finance Director

• Birthday: January 2nd
• Birthplace: Sanford, Maine
• Where you call “home”: St. Augustine, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2017
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: Scavenger Hunt at the Town Center – followed by dinner and looking at our pics – so much fun!
• Hobbies: Scrapbooking, cross-stitching, car shows (love Mustangs!) and road trips
• Something from your bucket list: A trip to Venice, Italy
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? Dan Nickerson, a coworker, and CPA at my first accounting job at Macpage in Portland, Maine. He took me under his wing and patiently taught me the ropes of auditing. I would not be where I am today without him.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? My parents who have been married for over 50 years and have always been my biggest supporters no matter where I land.

Ashley Khader, Accounting Specialist

• Birthday: June 13th
• Birthplace: Brunswick, Maine
• Where you call “home”: Jacksonville, FL
• Year you started at UltraTech: 2020
• Most memorable moment at UltraTech: The baby shower that was thrown for Brittani. So nice to see work for a company that supports their employees so generously.
• Hobbies: Singing, watching NFL football (GO TITANS!), reading, playing pool, partaking in brewery beverages.
• Something from your bucket list: Visit Ireland.
• Favorite thing about UltraTech: It feels like a family.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in business? A previous Manager of mine, Jamie, who saw more potential in me than I saw in myself and gave me opportunities I never would have thought, at the time, to ask for myself. She helped me realize my worth.
• Who/what has been your biggest influence in life? Becoming a mom. There’s nothing harder yet more rewarding that completely shapes and flips your life upside down like parenting.