From Spikes to Engineered Fasteners

Omni-Lite Industries is based in Calgary, Alberta with manufacturing and engineering operations in Cerritos, California and Nashua, New Hampshire. Established in 1992, the company’s first commercial product was an ultra-light weight ceramic composite track spike for running shoes. Since then, Omni-Lite has run fast and far as a company, evolving into a trusted manufacturer of high-performance metal alloy and composite components and fastener systems for the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries.

Our focus today remains on innovation in progressive metal and composite forming. Our engineers have developed patented technologies for transferring products through multi-die machines with segmented tooling. From their efforts, Omni-Lite has proprietary systems capable of hot and cold forming of complex-geometry components with little or no waste during extended runs for high-volume production. Our seasoned team of engineers, tool makers and headermen embrace a culture of mentorship, working with newer employees to pass on the knowledge and skills that define our unique capabilities.

In 2018, Omni-Lite acquired Monzite Corporation, a New Hampshire based manufacturer of microelectronic subcomponents used on aerospace and defense platforms. Omni-Lite is one company with two divisions providing customers with highly engineered components that must perform under rugged conditions.

Omni-Lite Division Leadership

Michael Walker
Vice President
Research & Development
Mike Walker joined Omni-Lite shortly after his graduation from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1993 with a mechanical engineering technology diploma. Mike has expertise and experience in design tooling and cold forging process engineering. He is responsible for all new product implementation and is involved in material science, failure analysis and testing activities. His extensive experience in solving complex cold forging problems contributes significantly to Omni-Lite's success. Mike utilizes 3-D design software and supervises the use of the in-house EDM machine to create crucial tooling components.
Vern Brown
President
Vern Brown joined Omni-Lite in 2014, bringing 37 years of aerospace fastener manufacturing experience, 31 years of which were spent at Arconic. Vern has extensive knowledge of cold and hot forming aerospace alloys with single and multi-die progressive forming equipment. Vern is a proven leader, with strong expertise in operator training, both for domestic production, and in training at an international facility. As President, he is responsible for day-to-day manufacturing operations, including operator training and customer technical support. Vern is key member of Omni-Lite’s new product development team. His extensive experience in aerospace fasteners provides opportunity for business growth and success.

Corporate Leadership

David Robbins
Chief Executive Officer
David Robbins became CEO of Omni-Lite in 2019 to help the company begin a new phase of strategic growth. He is an experienced and successful leader with a track record of growing companies that manufacture high-performance products for the aerospace, defense and advanced industrial markets. He came to Omni-Lite through its acquisition of Monzite, a microelectronics manufacturing firm David co-founded in 2013. Previously he served as CEO of Micronetics, where he advanced from the engineering team to sales and senior management. He became CEO in 2005 and helped grow Micronetics to more than 200 employees. An electrical engineer by training, David has become an effective leader, with a passion for building complex components and delivering results for customers.
Amy Vetrano-Palmer
Chief Financial Officer
Amy Vetrano-Palmer became CFO in May of 2022 when Carl Leaders retired. Amy is a seasoned financial professional that has worked in various capacities and has an extensive background helping companies grow organically and through acquisition. Ms. Vetrano-Palmer was most recently Corporate Controller at Resonetics, a private equity owned company controlled by two firms GTCR and Carlyle. Amy spent 4 years at Resonetics and developed and led the operational finance and reporting functions, was a member of the leadership team and was deeply involved in Resonetics enterprise transformation through the completion and integration of eight add-on acquisitions, which expanded its capabilities to serve its medical device customer base. Prior to Resonetics, Amy held a variety of Controller and Senior Management positions within in the manufacturing industry.

Directors

Patrick Hutchins
Director
Patrick Hutchins currently serves as President of Staco Systems, a manufacturer of Human to Machine Interface solutions for aerospace and military applications. Prior to Staco Systems, he served as Vice President and General Manager for Lisi Aerospace, a leader in forged and machined aerospace fasteners serving all aircraft OEMs worldwide. Patrick also served in executive roles as Chief Operations Officer of Automated Precision Inc., Satellite Division President and Chief Operations Officer of CalAmp Corp. and President and General Manager of Chloride Systems, a division of Philips Lighting.
Chuck Samkoff
Director
Chuck Samkoff is currently Managing Director and Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Cypress Partners LLC, an affiliate of Cypress Associates LLC ("Cypress"). Mr. Samkoff has been in the investment banking industry for over 20 years. From 1998 until joining Cypress in 2004, he was a Managing Director in CIBC World Markets' Mergers and Acquisitions Group overseeing the Defense/Aerospace, Communications and Industrial M&A Groups. Mr. Samkoff joined CIBC World Markets as a senior member of a core team of M&A bankers mandated to build CIBC World Markets' M&A franchise. During his leadership tenure, CIBC World Markets' M&A Group ranked as one of the fastest growing M&A practices on Wall Street. Mr. Samkoff has advised corporate and institutional clients on numerous mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, hostile defenses and corporate restructurings in many sectors, while working with a number of the largest financial private equity and hedge fund firms. The value of these transactions would have an aggregate value in excess of US$70.0 billion.
Roger Dent
Director
Roger Dent is the Chief Executive Officer of Quinsam Capital Corporation and is a director of Quinsam Opportunities I Inc., The Tinley Beverage Company Inc., Deveron UAS Ltd. and ACUITYAds Inc. He also serves as a Director of California Nanotechnologies Corp., a company founded by Omni-Lite in 2005. From 2003 to 2011, he has held various positions including portfolio manager with Matrix Fund Management Inc., where he managed the Matrix Strategic Small Cap Fund and the Matrix Small Companies Fund. He was formerly vice-chairman of one of Canada's largest independent investment dealers and was managing director and deputy manager of research at CIBC World Markets.
Dave Robbins
Chief Executive Officer & Director
David Robbins became CEO of Omni-Lite in 2019 to help the company begin a new phase of strategic growth. He is an experienced and successful leader with a track record of growing companies that manufacture high-performance products for the aerospace, defense and advanced industrial markets. He came to Omni-Lite through its acquisition of Monzite, a microelectronics manufacturing firm David co-founded in 2013. Previously he served as CEO of Micronetics, where he advanced from the engineering team to sales and senior management. He became CEO in 2005 and helped grow Micronetics to more than 200 employees. An electrical engineer by training, David has become an effective leader, with a passion for building complex components and delivering results for customers.
F. Jan Holland,
CA, CPA, ICD.D
Director
For over 35 years, Jan Holland has been a founding partner and a shareholder of many enterprises across Canada. His senior leadership experience comprises the areas of capital markets, stewardship and governance, finance, risk management, business strategy, sales, marketing, brand creation, supply chain development and operations. Jan’s passion for operational transformation and enhanced performance has allowed him to identify niche opportunities to gain a competitive advantage. Thinking creatively, and applying the expertise necessary to develop and implement advanced systems, Jan has led businesses—and progressive, pro-active teams—to maximum growth, reputation and value for all stakeholders. In 2021, Jan spearheaded the formal sale of DP Casting to Omni-Lite Industries Canada, Inc. He was then appointed to the Board of Directors for Omni-Lite.