Our
Management Team – A Passion for Manufacturing.
M4 Sciences was founded by James
Mann and Brian Gootee in 2005 to further develop and
commercialize advanced technologies in ultra-precision
machining. The TriboMAM™ product emerged at M4
Sciences from research at Purdue University.
James B. Mann, Chief Executive
Officer
James is co-founder of M4 Sciences and responsible
for business vision, strategy and technology management.
Before the foundation of M4 Sciences in 2005, James
had been engaged in academic and industrial research
at Purdue University in manufacturing with emphasis
on ultra-precision machining, nanostructured materials
manufacturing and process engineering. He has been
responsible for project management and technology development
support within the Center for Advanced Manufacturing
and, as a co-principal investigator, he has supported
several active projects at the Purdue University Center
for Materials Processing and Tribology and the Center
for Advanced Manufacturing.
James has held industry leadership
roles in operations and engineering management in
aerospace, automotive, and contract manufacturing
businesses. His background includes precision machining,
missile and solid rocket design, manufacturing and
assembly, aircraft assembly and maintenance, fuel
systems manufacturing and assembly, and diesel engine
manufacturing and assembly. Other previous employments
include: Vice President, Engineering, Showers Group,
Inc., Bloomington, Indiana (2001–2004);
Business Unit Manager, 6σBlackBelt, Cummins,
Inc., Columbus, Indiana (1999–2001); Senior Engineer,
United Airlines, Indianapolis Maintenance Center, Indianapolis,
Indiana (1998–1999); Technical Specialist, Cummins,
Inc. Fuel Systems Business, Columbus, Indiana (1992–1998);
and Associate Engineer, Thiokol Corporation, Composites
Group, Ogden, Utah (1990–1992).
Mr. Mann has authored several
technical and trade publications and directed related
conferences. In addition, he is the inventor of M4
Sciences TriboMAM™ product
and lead author on several patent applications related
to M4 Sciences technologies. He is a "Six-Sigma
Black Belt" with professional certification in
quality management. James received a BSAAE, Purdue
University 1990, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics;
MSE, Purdue University 1994, School of Aeronautics
and Astronautics; and MBA Finance, Indiana University
1998, Kelley School of Business. Also, he is currently
completing a PhD at Purdue University, School of Industrial
Engineering.
Jeffrey A. Bougher,
President and Chief Financial Officer Prior to joining M4 Sciences on a full time basis in 2008, Jeff held a wide range of staff and line roles with the Timken Company and Caterpillar, including Plant Manager and Director of Operations for Timken’s automotive needle bearing facility in Wuxi, China. While in China, Jeff launched the first needle bearing automotive export program to North America and dramatically grew exports to Korea.
Before his move to China, Jeff held the position of Manager Operations Strategy and Decision Support at the Timken Company, where he was responsible for the management and execution of global automotive needle bearing operations strategy. In this role, he developed and led the global rationalization of needle bearing manufacturing capacity. This included consolidation of manufacturing in North America, rationalization of capacity in Western and Central Europe and development of growth plans for Asian needle bearing operations. While at Timken Jeff also launched a major automotive program as a Line Manager in Automotive Package Bearings and was responsible new technology and Asian automotive programs as Program Manager, Global Automotive Program Management.
Jeff has also held a variety of roles from finance through manufacturing research and development, including Investment Banking Associate, Global Industrial Group, with Lehman Brothers, Operations Team Leader for the Caterpillar Technical Center machine shop, Project Manager/Research Engineer at the Caterpillar Technical Center, and Research Engineer/Research Assistant at Purdue University.
Mr. Bougher holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management as well as a Master of Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering. Additionally, he received a BSAAE and MSAAE from Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Brian D. Gootee ,
Vice President, Chief Operations Officer, and Secretary
Before
establishing M4 Sciences, Brian’s
background included extensive experience in personnel
and business management, marketing and product development,
purchasing, logistics and computer integrated systems.
Brian is President and owner of Gray Goat Sports, Inc.,
Indianapolis, Indiana, a commercial/retail business
in cyclery and fitness equipment. He has more than
fifteen years experience in sales management and business
operations, including the following employments: Service
Director, Gilles Fitness, for state of Indiana (3/01-8/04);
Computer Support Administrator, Gilles Fitness, Indianapolis,
Indiana (5/98-8/04); Operations Manager/ Buyer, Gilles
Fitness, Indianapolis, Indiana (5/98-3/01); and General
Manager; The Cyclery, St. Louis, Missouri (5/92-5/98).
Brian co-founded M4 Sciences and is responsible for
strategic operations, and information technology. He
is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis (BA
in Business, 2003) and has been an invited lecturer
for various business courses at U of I.
James B. Mann CEO
Brian
Gootee COO/Vice
President
M4
Sciences Purdue Research Park
1201 Cumberland Ave,
Suite A
W. Lafayette, IN 47906