Peter Anthony - President & Chief Executive Officer
When Peter Anthony joined UGN as a sales and marketing manager in 1992, he had a vision. He knew UGN had a great brand name and innovative technologies but it needed to diversify into products that complemented the core business.
Just 10 years later, he took the helm as its chief executive and today the nearly half a billion dollar business has realized that vision and more. One that creates careers --not jobs-- for team members, exceeds customer expectations, and increases shareholder value while creating one of the best suppliers in the industry.
With four manufacturing facilities in the U.S. -- and a fifth in Mexico --a technical office, a research facility, and corporate offices in three additional cities, UGN boasts eight-figure investments into the communities in which they operate. He has led the opening of five new plants and because of that, has created hundreds of jobs throughout the years, even laying claim to major expansions during down economies.
As well as opening new plants and creating new jobs. Peter has initiated the strategic sale of one manufacturing plant to re-engineer the business and provide even more stakeholder value.
His drive to embrace the Toyota Production System as the foundation of the UGN business model has resulted in maximum productivity and efficiency and has allowed the organization to better train team members for longevity.
He hosts take-out lunches in every UGN facility to share financials, discuss where the organization is against goals, and answer team member questions, which fosters a sense of transparency and trust. Team members are always aware of what's going on at all levels. Many times, thoughts or suggestions from the meetings result in changes which make UGN stronger. It's the UGN Way.
His overall strategic planning for acoustic and interior for the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America has allowed him to provide his executive leadership across the entire organization and around the world.
A career like Peter's clearly demonstrates a powerful combination of independent thinking, perseverance, and high standards.
At the heart of his achievements is his ability to maintain strong business relationships, anticipate market changes, experiment with new organizational structures to maximize team member growth and potential, and to always be on the lookout for organizational cost savings, such as sourcing and eradicating bottlenecks.
These all ensure UGN remains a highly profitable enterprise and an industry leader in the delivery of innovative, state-of-the-art automotive products.
Peter is a three-time finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award Midwest and was recognized as one of Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40.
He is a past board member for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and is past-chairman of the board and board member emeritus for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. He also sits on several outside for-profit boards.
He is a member and past-president of the Bluegrass Automotive Manufacturers Association (a Toyota Production System independent forum), a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and a member of Vistage International.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
Steven Hamilton - Chief Financial Officer
Steven joined UGN as a leader with a solid history of creating highly effective global practices and teams that achieve excellence in performance and profitability. He has more than 25 years of experience in finance and business development, including acquisitions, joint ventures, project management, and negotiations.
Prior to joining UGN, Steven was controller for a tier one automotive supplier, where he was responsible for financial reporting, budget development, capital expenditure management, and SOX compliance.
Prior to that, Steven was director of global strategy and business development for a tier one NVH automotive supplier, where he was responsible for identifying, developing, and closing strategic initiatives essential to the growth and profitability of the company. “Steven’s experience in creating highly effective global practices and finance teams that achieve outstanding performance and profitability is extensive,” says Peter Anthony. “His ability to rigorously analyze and establish tools to improve forecasting and budgeting is an asset.”
“It is an honor to take another step with the UGN team,” says Hamilton. “The continued opportunity to achieve results in such a fast-paced, high-growth, and complex work culture remains as fulfilling as ever.”
Grant Meseck - Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Grant joined UGN in 2005 as a business development manager. He has been instrumental in developing marketing penetration strategies for Japanese transplant customers. He has industry experience overseeing technical and commercial matters and leading the development and commercialization of new products. “Grant has been an extremely important member of our team from the very beginning,” says Peter Anthony. “He has an uncanny ability to identify and to assess strategic opportunities which generate the most value and develops long-term value pathways by building relationships founded on trust and integrity.” Grant is responsible for maximizing sales growth through increasing market share. He develops and implements strategic sales objectives, and has final responsibility for the customer.
Ron Myotte - Chief Operating Officer
Ron Myotte joined UGN in 2005 as director of purchasing and has more than 25 years of experience in the automotive supply sector. During his tenure with UGN, Ron has taken on additional functional responsibilities including purchasing, materials, quality, and program management. Ron spent eight years in procurement roles with Lear Corporation, a fortune 200 company. During his tenure, he was commodity manager for plastics, resins, fasteners, carpet, and acoustics. In this role, he achieved significant cost reductions, quality improvements, and supply optimization results. He worked with Alcoa Fujikura Limited for 10 years in progressive procurement and program launch/management roles. Ron attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He earned a bachelor of business administration from Alma (Michigan) College. He also has his certified purchasing manager designation, Six Sigma black belt certification, and has represented UGN in the Bluegrass Automotive Manufacturers Association (a Toyota Production System independent forum). Ron has a passion for excellence and executing value added solutions in all aspects of product and organizational processes.
Emmanuel Reymond - Vice President of Product Development
As the Vice President of Product Development for UGN, Emmanuel Reymond is responsible for strategic planning across Product Lines. With his team he supports programs all along development, leads NVH and design activities, as well as Product & Process validation, leads cost reductions actions, and ensures strong customer technical contact. He has more than 20 years of experience in product development, and is best known for his ability to drive significant technological advancements and market innovation aligned with business goals.
Emmanuel joined UGN in 2010 as a Product Engineering Manager, managing product lifecycle from design and prototyping through validation, engineering, launch, promotion, and adoption into customer accounts.
Before UGN, Emmanuel worked with Autoneum in France, where he was technical sales manager for Japanese and Korean transplants in Europe. Prior to that he worked for Nihon Tokushu Toryo (Nittoku) in Japan as technical liaison manager. Altogether, he has spent almost 20 years within the Autoneum-Nittoku-UGN alliance.
Emmanuel has an undergraduate degree in engineering, materials and physics, from INSA Lyon, and earned his MBA from the Paris School of Business.
Kelli Hillgoth - Vice President of Human Resource
Kelli Hillgoth brings over 13 years of Human Resources experience to her role as the Vice President of Human Resources at UGN, Inc. Guided by a commitment to people-centric management and unwavering compliance, Kelli places a strong emphasis on fostering respectful and mutually beneficial relationships between employers and team members.
Kelli's approach to HR Leadership is centered on enhancing the human experience in the workplace for all team members. Her personal mission as an HR professional is to prioritize equal opportunity in all HR interactions and decisions. Her vision extends beyond just leading routine HR functions, aiming to shape workplaces characterized by consistency, fairness, trust, positivity, and collaboration. Kelli is dedicated to cultivating a company culture at UGN where team members feel empowered to be their authentic selves and contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.
As a strategic member of the Executive Committee, Kelli plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall direction and management of the business. Her strategic acumen is combined with a hands-on leadership style, reflected in her ability to drive employee engagement, talent acquisition, performance management, organizational development, diversity & inclusion, and total rewards. As a SHRM-SCP and PHR certified professional, she brings a wealth of skills and knowledge that are complemented by her bachelor’s degree in Communications from Aurora University.
Kelli's educational background, professional certifications, and extensive HR experience converge to form a unique skill set that she leverages to create positive and productive workplace cultures. Her leadership style is a blend of strategic foresight and hands-on involvement, making her an influential figure in the field of Human Resources.
Pranav Singh - Vice President of Purchasing
Pranav Singh is an experienced professional who joined UGN in 2006. Over the years, he has progressed through various roles within the company. Currently, he holds the position of Vice President of Purchasing.
Pranav's journey at UGN began as a packaging intern, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge about UGN's packaging processes and requirements. Then he transitioned into the raw material purchasing team, where he played a crucial role in sourcing and procuring the necessary materials for UGN's operations. He now has overall purchasing responsibilities for all direct and indirect purchases at UGN.
Throughout his tenure, Pranav has developed and demonstrated a deep understanding of UGN's products along with the critical supply chain requirements. He actively collaborates with the product development team to localize and commoditize products, which has resulted in long-term improvements and savings for the company. This ability to identify opportunities for product development and cost optimization demonstrates his strategic mindset and dedication to the company's success.
Pranav's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, with a specialization in Electrical Engineering, from Purdue University Northwest. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a general focus, further enhancing his expertise in business and management principles.
With his comprehensive knowledge of UGN's operations, strong supplier relationships, and passion for product development, Pranav continues to contribute significantly to the strong culture and stability of UGN.
