Transportation Industry Advisory Board

The Transportation Industry Advisory Board (TIAB) assists Fallbrook in evaluating product requirements and market opportunities for its NuVinci® DeltaSeries™ products. The members are former executives with significant automotive business and technical experience who serve as impartial advisors. Al Kammerer, a Fallbrook director and formerly Fallbrook's president, serves as the chairman/coordinator for the TIAB.

Rob Beset

Rob Beset is a widely experienced, internationally well-known and highly respected cycling industry executive. He joined the TIAB in October 2014, adding in-depth cycling industry product and market knowledge. Since 2012, he has been the Director/Owner of Plan B Managers, a successful consulting company specializing in strategy, sales, marketing, supply chain support & retail and distribution management. Additionally, Plan B Managers provides interim management and executive search services. An avid cyclist,

Rob began his business career outside of the cycling industry but soon moved to Batavus BV, a Dutch bicycle manufacturer that is part of the Accell Group NV, a Dutch holding company, which owns several major European bicycle manufacturers and is also involved in the production of fitness equipment. At Batavus over a 25 year period, Rob progressed rapidly holding a series of increasingly responsible positions in sales, marketing and general management and acquired both international and extensive acquisition experience. At the time that he left Batavus in 2011, Rob was the Director Batavus-group, which included the Netherlands and five other countries in Northern Europe.

Rob has an extensive educational background with training in sales, marketing, service management, and general business management. He holds a Master of Marketing Strategy from the University of Groningen.

David Cole

David E. Cole, Ph.D. is the Chairman Emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is currently Chairman of AutoHarvest, a web-based intellectual property marketplace. He was formerly Director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT) at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. He has worked extensively on internal combustion engines, vehicle design, and overall automotive industry trends. Dave’s technical and policy consulting experience includes a variety of assignments for industry, labor, and government.

Dave's recent research has focused on strategic issues related to the restructuring of the North American industry and trends in globalization, technology, market factors, and human resource requirements. Dave was formerly a member of the Energy Engineering Board of the National Research Council and the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Pact Select Panel. He is active in SAE and served two terms on the Board of Directors. In February 1986, he was named a fellow of SAE.

 He received his B.S.M.E. and Mathematics, M.S.M.E. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Pascal Henault

Pascal Hénault joined PSA Peugeot Citroen in 1970 as Business development manager for the RAVI, a large super market chain owned by Peugeot. He then spent his entire career with PSA Peugeot Citroën where he held various positions in marketing and product development for the Peugeot brand. In 1983, Pascal became VP parts operation and in 1985, he was appointed President of Peugeot Motors of America, the PSA US subsidiary for importation and distribution of Peugeot and Citroen products. In 1992 Pascal returned to France and served as VP Product Planning for the PSA Automobile Division and in 1996, he became Peugeot Automobiles Executive VP Product and Marketing. From 1998, he held the position of PSA Executive VP Research and Innovation. He was promoted to Executive VP Research and Development and Innovation and joined the PSA Executive Committee in 2007. Pascal retired from PSA at the end of 2009 and became a consultant focused on R§D and innovation management. He is a member of the European chemical firm Rhodia's Scientific Council and senior advisor to SINNOGEN a French consulting firm based in Paris specializing in Innovation management.

He holds an engineering degree from Ecole Centrale Lyon and is a graduate of INSEAD.

Udo Nenning

Udo Nenning has served as President of Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH, Germany, since 2007. Previously, Udo served on the Pierburg's Management Board and was responsible for the Company's sales, marketing, and purchasing activities around the world. Prior to joining Pierburg, Udo spent 18 years at TRW in various management roles, including, most recently, Sales Director for Europe and Asia and head of all marketing worldwide for TRW's Automotive Electronics business. In this role, Udo created a worldwide sales organization with a global customer focus, and established sales offices in Thailand, South Korea, China, Brazil, and Russia.

He holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Munich.

Neil Ressler

Neil Ressler retired from Ford Motor Company in 2001 where he held the position of Vice President for Research and Vehicle Technology and Chief Technology Officer. He was also chairman of Jaguar Racing, Cosworth Racing, Pi, Ford Global Technologies and Ecostar. Neil subsequently returned to Ford for 2.5 years in a consulting role with Product Development and the Ford GT program. Neil is presently involved with a small company, Ethanol Boosting Systems, which is developing a method to increase gasoline engine efficiency by 25-30% thru use of a small amount of ethanol. He has also recently been consulting with the IndyCar Series, assisting in development of a new rules package for 2011 which will be more relevant to the direction being taken by global auto manufacturers in the coming years.

He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

Rudolph A. Schlais Jr.

Rudolph (Rudy) A. Schlais Jr. is Chairman of ASL Management Consulting Company (ASL) and former CEO of General Motors Asia Pacific. He has served as in senior executive roles for China Auto Electronics Group Limited, one of the largest global suppliers of vehicle electrical/electronics distribution systems worldwide Prior to China Auto Electronics Group, Rudy spent more than 42 years in various management roles at General Motors in component and vehicle operations, capped by his role as president and CEO of General Motors Asia Pacific. In that position, he negotiated and led GM’s first Chinese vehicle operations and contributed to GM’s success in capturing market share in the Asia Pacific market. Rudy has recently focused on technology investments, serving as a limited partner of Greenbriar Equity Partners LP, an executive advisory partner of Windpoint Equity LP and an LP and advisor to Key Principal Partner Equity Funds. He formed and serves as chairman of the Shanghai-based ASL Management and Consulting Company, and is a founding general partner and director of ASL Partners, a developing private equity fund focused on global Chinese manufacturing companies.

He is a graduate of Youngstown State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also attended Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck Business School Executive Program. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Youngstown State University.

MaryAnn Wright

MaryAnn Wright, Vice President, Global Technology and Innovation for Johnson Controls Power Solutions, previously served on Fallbrook's Board of Directors from November 2012 to February 2014.  MaryAnn is an industry authority in technology, auto, finance, and operations.  At Johnson Controls Power Solutions, she currently leads the Research and Development organization responsible for establishing Power Solutions technology and innovation roadmap, value chain strategies as well as leading the government relations activities to accelerate the global growth of advanced energy storage systems.

MaryAnn began her career at Ford in 1988, holding a variety of positions in finance, product and business planning, and engineering and subsequently served as Director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs at Ford Motor Company. In this capacity she was responsible for all hybrid, fuel cell and alternative fuel technology development. She also served as Chief Engineer of the 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, the industry's first full hybrid SUV.  In 2005, she led the launch of Ford’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell fleet program.  Prior to joining Johnson Controls, she served as Executive Vice President Engineering, Product Development, Commercial and Program Management for Collins & Aikman Corporation. 

MaryAnn holds a B.A. in Economics and International Studies from the University of Michigan, an M.S. in Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Wayne State University.