WestWind Leadership

Roger Messick, Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, Roger Messick provides executive oversight and direction to all WestWind Technologies departments specifically affecting the leadership and day-to-day operations of the company. With more than 25 years of experience in the defense industry, Messick is well-qualified to guarantee that all operations have the proper resources and direction to fulfill current and future contracts.

Richard D. White, Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Richard White brings WestWind an extensive background in implementing and directing financial practices and procedures for the defense industry.

White also has broad and in-depth experience in budget preparation, record keeping and internal and external audit requirements for both defense and manufacturing.

Conway Ellers, Vice President of Business Development

Colonel (Retired U.S. Army) Conway Ellers directs the activities and resources of the Business Development Office in identifying and pursuing business opportunities. His extensive logistics and leadership experience adds significant WestWind capability to support the Warfighter.

Over his 26+ year military career, Ellers commanded aviation maintenance organizations with XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command. His last assignment was the Executive Officer for the Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center at Ft. Monroe, Virginia. He also served as the Assistant Commandant for the Aviation Logistics School at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, where he was responsible for training all U.S. Army and allied nation helicopter mechanics, crew chiefs, and technical inspectors.

Paul Gulbis, Vice President of Engineering

Paul Gulbis leverages over 35 years of professional experience in military and industrial electronic systems to meet the engineering needs of WestWind customers. As a highly-experienced executive manager of engineering operations, he oversees hardware and software development programs including the application of microprocessor-bases and power management technologies to combat vehicle weapon systems.

Ty Copeland, Vice President of Quality & Compliance

As Vice President of Quality and Compliance, Ty Copeland provides executive oversight and direction to all company Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Configuration Management programs and serves as the company’s Management Representative on all matters pertaining to quality. Copeland is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensed Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with more than 18 years of experience in aviation design, maintenance, manufacturing and modification initiatives. Copeland’s extensive background, coupled with his dedication to product safety and legal fitness, ensures WestWind’s compliance to customers’ requirements and expectations.

Bill Reid, Director of Operations

Bill Reid has overall responsibility to plan, direct, supervise and manage WestWind's fiscal and workforce resources for manufacturing and facilities. His broad experience in government, military and aerospace as well as private industry provides exceptional leadership for WestWind's production procurement, subcontractor management, and developing/implementing a strategic commodities approach to material acquisition.

Reid joined the company in January of 2007 as Director of Procurement and led the purchasing department through the successful completion of a CPSR audit.

Gene Sulprizio Director of Programs Gene Sulprizio, Director of Program Management

As Director of Program Management, Gene Sulprizio brings WestWind 38 years of diversified experience. He is responsible for the operations of Company programs and for monitoring Program Managers’ contract performance against schedules, plans and budgets to ensure that a compliant product is delivered to the customer on time and within budget. Sulprizio supervises departmental activities to verify that programs meet all performance requirements as set forth in customer contracts and purchase orders.

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