Agent Biographies:

Jack Pfunder
Executive Director / CEO

Jack comes to MRC with a successful senior management background and an exceptional record of contributions in positions requiring P & L responsibility and skilled leadership in operational systems, project management, strategic and business planning, new business development, relationship management and team building.  His broad experience spans a broad spectrum of core competencies that apply to start-ups, turnarounds, and dynamic enterprises in domestic and international markets.  Jack is known to many in the community as the Chairman & CEO of Ani-Motion, Inc., of Bethlehem, PA.  He co-founded Ani-Motion based on patented technologies that use fiber optics to produce lighted, animated displays on flexible and hardened surfaces.  He built the organization from concept through start-up and management, successfully selling the business in late 2003. 

Prior to the Lehigh Valley venture, Jack was President/CEO of MICROCOM, a $25M, 300 employee supplier to the defense and aerospace industries, in Warminster, PA.  He had  full P&L responsibility and reported directly to the Chairman.  Jack’s defense/ electronics career spanned a variety of leadership capacities wherein he functioned as President, Vice President and General Manager with a variety of notable manufacturing firms.  At REMEC, Inc., a developer of electronic-microwave RF components and sub systems for the defense and aerospace industries in San Diego, CA, Jack was a co-founder, Vice President of Operations and General Manager.  At RENAR Industries, a privately owned manufacturing and design company that supplied power systems and precision gears to the aerospace and defense industries in San Diego, CA, Jack served as President / General Manager with profit and loss responsibilities.  The foundation of Jack’s career includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA Degree from the University of Dallas,

Jack serves as the President of the Industrial Resource Center Network and is seated on the following boards:  Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC), Lehigh Valley Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board (LVWIB), National Penn Bank, Manufacturing Group, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Network of Young Professionals, and the Lehigh Nanotech Network. 

Walt Hoffert
Director of Client Services & Marketing

Walt joined MRC in 1989 and has assisted with the implementation of over 1200 engagements that helped companies improve their productivity and quality.  Walt has more than forty years of industrial/manufacturing engineering experience including the areas of project management, incentive systems, group technology, cellular manufacturing, flexible manufacturing systems, total quality management, flow manufacturing, labor standards, statistical process control, capital equipment justification and cost reduction programs.  He held positions of increasing responsibility in industrial/manufacturing engineering management with several medium-sized companies engaged in the manufacturing of electrical motor components, material handling systems and cryogenic refrigeration equipment.  After earning a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a B.S. in Business Administration from Lehigh University, he went on to earn a M.B.A. from Penn State University.

Diane Lewis
Business Development Manager
Diane joined the Manufacturers Resource Center in 1989.  Prior to MRC she owned and operated a small retail business in Allentown, PA and gained knowledge of what it takes for small business to stay competitive.  Diane has expertise in federal and state resources, grants, and educational programs which uniquely qualifies her to  match these resources to manufacturers’ needs.  She advanced her role to Associate Business Solutions Advisor and meets with clients to advise and find solutions to help them improve and grow  their business.  In 2009 she gained national recognition at the NIST MEP Conference and received an award for her personal achievements and special efforts in working with customers.  She has a BA in Business Management and a BS in Marketing from DeSales University. 

Jim Marler
Director of Business Performance & Technology Services

Jim is an innovative, results-oriented manager with extensive experience in all aspects of manufacturing, technology, finance, sales, and product development .  Jim brings a strong background in domestic and international manufacturing and technology, union management and contract strategy, engineering and R&D management,  Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Program Implementations, multi-plant /multi-cultural environments, global sourcing strategies, regulatory and legal compliance, sales growth strategies, debt refinancing, facility consolidations, and mergers and acquisition process management.  Jim’s addition takes MRC’s advisory role straight to the corner office.  He is an excellent addition to bolster the MRC mission  to help form the strategic bridge between our top line and bottom line services.  This strategic focus will help our clients realize the full benefits of next generation business strategies.  Prior to joining MRC, Jim was president and CEO of a large plastics company in New England.  He also served as a board member for many private sector companies and economic development agencies.  He has extensive experience in managing global manufacturing and technical groups, capital management, technology transfer, financial analysis and strategy, and leadership/management mentoring.  Jim has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Delaware. 

Christine Mayernik
Business Development Manager

Christine has 18 years of manufacturing experience, including implementing ISO 9000.  She is considered a change agent for manufacturing improvements and has a wide range of organizational development skills.  She is an expert in designing HR systems that foster High Performance Work Teams and results improvement, as well as implementing large-scale culture change initiatives. She has many attributes that complement MRC’s host of Lean and  Business Growth Services.  Her hands-on manufacturing experience and vast knowledge of state and federal grants available to manufacturers are an excellent addition to the MRC mission.  Prior to joining MRC, Christine was a Quality Systems and Organizational Development Manager at Highwood USA in Tamaqua, PA.  Christine is experienced in developing and delivering numerous technical and soft skills training courses.  For many years Christine moved through the ranks at Air Products and Chemicals in a variety of roles that included Quality Assurance Manager, Statistical Process Control Coordinator, and Statistician.  Christine holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Cedar Crest College and an M.S. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from NTU.  She is also a graduate of the Iacocca/MRC Manufacturing Leadership Institute and recently earned her Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.  

Cynthia Miller
BGS Professional Business Advisor

Prior to joining MRC, Cindy worked as Director of Market Development in Physician and Hospital Network Development with Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she was employed for nine years. Cindy also worked as a Marketing Manager with Precision Medical, Inc., Northampton, Pennsylvania, where she was employed for six years.  Earlier employment positions include sales and office management in manufacturing and education environments. Cindy’s wide range of management, marketing and sales skills compliments MRC’s host of business growth services. Her medical and hospital industries experience is an excellent addition to the MRC mission.  As an experienced and successful management/marketing executive, Cindy’s record includes significant contributions to her employers, including developing profitable new/start-up businesses, directing multi-faceted projects, leading sales/marketing efforts, and successfully launching new products to achieve corporate objectives.    Cindy holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Shippensburg University and an MBA in Marketing and Health Care from Wilkes University.

Nancee Noderer
Chief Financial Officer & Director of HR

Prior to joining MRC, Nancee was with Cedar Crest College for four years where she served as Director of Business Services/Controller.  Earlier in her career, she served as financial/operations analyst and general ledger accountant and also has previous experience in the financial area of manufacturing firms.  Nancee brings diverse and extensive experience to MRC.  She oversees accounting, human resources, marketing, information systems, grants, contract management and the MRC Loan Fund.  Nancee holds an MBA from Lehigh University and BS in Management from West Chester University. 

Ron Williams
Information Systems Manager

Ron  jointed MRC in 1997. Ron is responsible for all network, PC-related issues including hardware installation oversight/maintenance, software installation/maintenance, security issues and user problem intervention.  He has experience as a network operator of Legacy, IBM and HP mini mainframes and Novel Servers.  Since joining MRC, Ron gained certification in Visual Fox Pro Programming, Front Page 98/2000, Windows NT Administration, Supporting Windows NT 4.0/2003, Supporting Windows 95/98/2002, and Creating and Managing an IIS 4.0 Web Server.  He Administers our CRM Saleslogix Database/SQL package.  Also, he has experience with Exchange Servers utilizing the Outlook Clients Software.  Prior to joining MRC, Ron was Senior Computer/Network Operator for the Lehigh University Computing Center and Stanley Storage Systems.  He has an Associates degree in Data Processing Technology from Lehigh Carbon Community College

Mike Withka
Senior Strategy Manager

Mike joined MRC in 2001 as a Lean Manufacturing Consultant and currently oversees the MRC’s Lean Enterprise Program.  Mike has over 20 years of manufacturing experience within various industries including roles as operations director, manager, supervisor, production engineer and internal consultant.  Mike’s areas of focus include production system design, strategic lean transformations, team coaching, leadership mentoring, training program design, and training workshop facilitator.  Mike is certified as a Greenbelt through the Institute of Industrial Engineers and as a Professional Trainer through Langevin Training Services.  Mike also has earned an A.S. degree in Engineering Science at Middlesex County Community College in Edison, New Jersey and both B.S. and M.S degrees in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey.  Mike is currently enrolled in the M.B.A. program    at DeSales University in Allentown, Pennsylvania.