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Management Team

From the President

Welcome to the Jacobs Vehicle Systems™ new website! We're thrilled that you're here and hope that you are able to find what you are looking for quickly and efficiently.  We also hope you take the time to learn more about the innovative and value rich solutions we can provide to both OEMs and our end-user customers.

The launch of our new website happens to coincide with our 50th anniversary, which we are celebrating throughout 2011. During the past fifty years our business philosophy has been rooted in core values which have not changed.

•    Building The Best Team
•    Listening To Our Customers
•    Continually Improving Everything That We Do
•    Creating An Environment That Rewards Innovation and Creativity
•    Providing Returns To Our Stakeholders That Outperform Relative To Our Competitors

These core values have served us well in the past, and will guide our decisions and activities going forward as well.

The Journey Continues as we look forward to the next fifty years of striving to deliver exceptional quality and technologically advanced products and services to all of our customers.

On behalf of all of our associates around the world, thank you for your interest in our company and the solutions we provide to the trucking and commercial vehicle industries.  If we can assist you in any way, or if you were unable to find the information you were looking for at our site, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Rob Tykal, President
Jacobs Vehicle Systems


Our Team

Rob Tykal 1

Robert Tykal President

Robert (Rob) Tykal is the President of Jacobs Vehicle Systems. Prior to joining JVS, Rob spent four years as the President and CEO of MTU Drive Shafts LLC, where he led formation and start-up activities in Charleston, SC.

Before MTU, Rob was employed by Detroit Diesel Corporation for 18 years. During Rob’s tenure at DDC, he served as Vice President & General Manager leading the Series 2000 and 4000 business units with $200M in sales.

Rob played a key role in leading international joint development of two new engine families with German partners to enhance their global market. During his 18 years with DD, Rob held various positions of increasing responsibility in Production, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, and General Management.

Rob earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. 

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Keith Burton

Keith Burton Vice President of Global Operations

Keith Burton is the VP of Global Operations at Jacobs. With over 28 years experience in the heavy truck and automotive industry, Keith leads the way in the operations supply management of the North America and China markets.

Prior to joining JVS, Keith was the GM/VP of Manufacturing for HON/HNI managing two manufacturing facilities in Iowa and Kentucky.  Prior to HON Keith had the opportunity to work with SDST and Detroit Diesel.  As the Director of Operations at SDST he led the start-up for Diesel Fuel Injectors in Columbia, South Carolina, a joint venture between International and Siemens.    As an employee of Detroit Diesel for 17 years he held a variety of positions; an IE, SPS Engineer, Supplier Quality Engineer, ME, Maintenance GM, and General Manager for the Series 60 engine machining lines.

Keith received his BS/MS from Indiana University and earned certifications in Lean, Kaizen and Six Sigma Black Belt.

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Joao 1

Joao (John) Cullen Vice President of Engineering

Joao Cullen, Vice President of Engineering, obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Fundacao Armando Alvares Penteado - FAAP, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and his Master’s degree in Naval Engineering at the University of Sao Paulo.

Joao's first job out of school was as a R&D Engineer for Metal Level, one of the world largest piston and bearings manufacturer at the time.

In 1989 he moved with his family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to help Metal Level startup manufacturing plants and engineering centers in the US. Joao then moved on to positions of increased responsibilities at Cummins, Navistar and Ricardo. During his tenure at Navistar, he lived in Germany for a couple of years to lead the development of a new heavy-duty diesel engine for On-Highway truck applications in North America.

More recently, Joao accepted the position of Vice President of Engineering with Jacobs Vehicle Systems, Bloomfield, CT, and moved with his family to Simsbury, CT. Joao is the author of several technical papers and patents. He also served for several years as a member and instructor for the Society of Automotive Engineers. Joao is married and has two children.

 

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Debbie 1

Debra LeMay Vice President, Manufacturing Support

Debra (Debbie) LeMay is the Vice President, Manufacturing Support. Debbie joined the Jacobs Team in 1977 and has held multiple positions, including Manufacturing Manager, KaizenCoordinator, Operations Manager and Director of Manufacturing.

Debbie was part of the Jacobs team during the acquisition by Danaher and was involved in the transition from batch manufacturing to JIT. As part of the team at Jacobs, she helped to start to integrate the Lean Manufacturing tools, which have now evolved into the Danaher Business System.
 
Debbie graduated from Tunxis Community College. She is also a certified DBS Black Belt in Standard Work and 5S.

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Bob Perkins 1

Robert Perkins Vice President, Marketing and Business Development

Robert (Bob) Perkins is Vice President, Marketing and Business Development. Bob joined Jacobs in 1985 as a Product Manager, has held roles of increasing responsibility in the marketing department, and joined the executive staff of Jacobs in 1990.

Much of his career at Jacobs has focused on geographic expansion, leading the efforts to gain new business in Europe, Japan, Korea and China.

In parallel to his marketing and commercial responsibilities, Bob has held Board of Director roles at Jacobs Mexico, JacobsVIE China (JV) and was President of Jacobs Japan. 

Bob earned his B.S. in Finance from Quinnipiac University and an M.S. from the Hartford Graduate Center (now Rensselaer University). 
 

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Chris Mulhall Image

Chris Mulhall Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance

Chris Mulhall has been the Company’s CFO and VP of Finance since joining Jacobs Vehicle Systems in 2010.

Prior to Jacobs, Chris held various positions of increasing responsibility in both Finance and Operations with Danaher, 3M and Cannondale Bicycle Corporation. 

Chris holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and is a CPA. 

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Our Team

Our Story

Although the Jacobs Engine Brake has been on the market since 1961, the need for it was terrifyingly demonstrated to its inventor Clessie L. Cummins, some thirty years earlier. In August of 1931, himself, Ford Moyer, and Dave Evans driving a Cummins diesel powered Indiana truck from New York to Los Angeles...

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