Mitchell Shauf

Mitchell was a Vice President/Loan Officer for the First State Bank of Gainesville, Texas from 1984 to 1996.

In 1997, Mitchell entered the plastics manufacturing industry serving as President and General Manager of PNA, an extrusion company, and its subsidiary Advanced Pedestals, Inc., a rotational molding company. Both companies are located a Gainesville, Texas. He served in this capacity through 2002.

Before joining Eastman Industries, Mitchell and his wife Karen owned and operated two small businesses in Gainesville, Texas.

Mitchell has been active in the community serving on the board of directors for the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Cooke County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Cooke County, Optimist Club and the GISD Educational Foundation.

Mitchell joined Eastman as a Partner in 2004.

John K Rayburn

Upon Graduating from University of Mississippi with a BA degree, John began his business career as a commercial lending officer for a leading financial institution headquartered in Memphis, TN. Several years later, John returned to his home and assumed the day to day management of the family business. During the next three years, John positioned the company for sale allowing his father to retire after a serious illness.

Moving to California, John began a new career with Phillips Industries, a major warehouse distribution company serving the automotive and truck OEM and after-markets. Earning several prestigious awards for marketing and product development, John moved up the management ladder. His marketing career was nationally acknowledged in winning the award sponsored by a national industry magazine as one of the “Top 20 Sale - Marketing People within the U.S.” John’s most recent position with Phillips was as the National Sales Manager responsible for sales and marketing within the US, Canada and Mexico.

John earned an MBA degree from West Coast University with a concentration in Finance. Now living in Dallas, John joined Eastman as a Partner in Summer of 2005.


Tommy Davis

Tommy is an advisor and consultant to Eastman. Tommy was formerly President and CEO of Champ Industries, a Mergers and Acquisitions company headquartered in Houston, Texas. During his tenure, Tommy oversaw the company’s growth from $50 million in sales to in excess of $300 million by 2001. Tommy has extensive experience in operations, manufacturing and distribution. In 2001, Champ was sold to ABC Supply, the industry’s largest competitor, and Tommy resigned after a six-month transition period.

Today, Tommy is an Associate with Eastman Industries and continues to be actively involved in acquisitions. He brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience that has proved to be invaluable.

Tommy joined Eastman as an Associate in 2001.

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA OFFICE

Richard (Rick) Neill

In 1970 Rick went to work for an old friend who was struggling to get a business going in the distribution of truck parts. In 1972 they formed a partnership and began Phillips Industries, a manufacturer of wire and cable and related electrical products for the heavy duty trucking industry.

Phillips Industries grew to become a world wide major supplier to the trucking industry and a major contributor as the industry converted from "the electrical to the electronic" era. Phillips developed a number of products and held a number of patents in this area as it grew to a $60 million multinational company.

During his tenure at Phillips, Rick performed a number of functions in the organization as the company grew, primarily in the sales and marketing area. He was a major contributor to the purchase of two companies and folding them into the Phillips family. For the last 10 years, he held the position of Executive Vice President. In addition to his duties at Phillips, Rick was actively involved in Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, Council of Fleet Specialists and The American Trucking Association.

Rick joined Eastman as a Partner in 2002.

Nate Shelton

Nate is an advisor and consultant to Eastman. He has over 30 years experience in the automotive/truck OEM and after-market industries. Nate has served in several capacities from National Sales Manager to Chief Executive Officer/President of some of the most successful companies in the industry, including companies such as: Hooker Headers, V.D.O. Instruments and K&N Engineering. During the past several years Nate has served as SEMA’S Chairman of the Board and has won the P.W.A Person of the Year Award, SEMA Person of the Year Award and led K&N to SEMA’s first four-time recipient of P.W.A.’s prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Award.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA OFFICE

Theodore (Ted) Knudsen

Ted has over 31 years of experience in the Commercial Banking business. He was primarily involved in Corporated Lending to all sizes and industries throughout the country. Ted was a major loan underwriter for several large (up to $1 billion in revenue) Alabama corporations.

In addition to his banking background, Ted has manufacturing experience. For 6 years he was General Manager of several manufacturing plants in Southern California, Houston and Birmingham. The largest business segment was fabrication of high performance plastics, including machining, molding and extrusion. Ted was also involved in the manufacture of valves for the fluid sealing industry.

Ted joined Eastman as a Partner in 2003.

©2005
Eastman Industries, Ltd.