Our Leadership Team |
Leading is a job best performed by people with Hum-bition and vision. The quality of a fabric is in the strength of each thread. Meet the threads in the Rite corporate fabric.
Jim Lavoie - Chief Executive Officer
Jim has more than 35 years experience in the management of organizations in both defense and commercial arenas, culminating in the creation of Rite-Solutions in 2000. Previously, Jim worked for Analysis & Technology (A&T) for 20 years, a high technology firm headquartered in North Stonington, CT. It was here that Jim established his leadership style, which can best be described as “forging new paths” as opposed to following the beaten path. In fact, Jim was admired within A&T for his ability to turn conventional wisdom on its ear and to find new, creative, and better ways to conduct business and motivate employees. Jim quickly rose up the corporate ladder to the position of Executive Vice President, and in 1993 his unique leadership style was recognized when he was promoted to the position of President of a wholly-owned subsidiary named Integrated Performance Decisions (IPD). IPD quickly became the cornerstone for innovative and creative thinking within A&T. Prior to A&T, Jim was employed by Electric Boat as an Electronics Technician. He was soon promoted into the training department, and sent to many technical schools where he sharpened his computer engineering competencies. It was during these years in the training department that Jim honed his presentation skills and developed his love of public speaking as well as his ability to provoke and motivate his audience to believe “you can’t think BIG – if you don’t think Different.” One of Jim’s greatest innovations has been the development of a game that is used to provoke the intellectual curiosity and varying perspectives of the employees, to provide everyone in the firm an equal voice in determining tomorrow’s important technologies, and, in short, to “harvest the collective genius” of very bright people. Jim is a visionary who defines the real meaning of leadership by living it every day – just ask the believers at Rite-Solutions.
Jim has a B.S. degree in Electronic Technology.
E-mail: |
jlavoie@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(401) 847-3399 ext 122 |
Joe Marino - President
Joe has over 30 years of experience in technical, financial, and programmatic administration management of large-scale U.S. Navy Surface and Submarine Undersea Warfare programs. Joe is the President of Rite-Solutions which he co-founded with long-time colleague and friend, Jim Lavoie. Joe knows that Rite-Solutions faces tough competition locally, nationally, and abroad. So staying on top—and ahead of the competition—means keeping everyone, employees and management alike, focused on making innovation a top priority. His responsibilities include, among other things, the development and implementation of a sound technical and financial business model that will maintain the company unique culture and sustain aggressive growth for many years to come. To date, the company has been very successful. The vibrant culture is embodied by four simple principals: Have Fun; Make a Little Money; Have a Great Place to Work; and Be Proud of What You Do. Joe had a long and successful career with Analysis & Technology (A&T) starting in 1980. Joe took a position supporting the Naval Undersea System Command (NUWC) in Middletown, RI, among five people assigned to the office, who were given the charter to “grow the operation” with no further guidance and no further interference. One of Joe’s proudest achievements is having been an integral part in growing that operation until its acquisition in 1999. Prior to A&T, he was employed by Electric Boat as an Electrical Engineer.
Joe received an M.B.A. in Management Science from the University of New Haven and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. In 1994, he was selected to attend the Harvard Business School for Management Development for high potential managers.
Email: |
jmarino@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(401) 847-3399 ext 123 |
Chuck Angell - Chief Technology Officer
Chuck has over 24 years of experience as a systems engineer and systems architect in such areas as casino gaming systems, lotteries, and commercial content distribution systems. As Chief Technology Officer, he is responsible for innovation and overseeing the conception, creation, marketing test, and launch of Rite-Solutions products. Representative focus areas include: Rite-Solutions’ GPS Tracking and Monitoring System; all Hasbro Corporation projects concerning secure entertainment, product distribution, and child safety; the cashless account-based gaming system installed for the Oneida Indian Nation at Turning Stone Resort and Casino. Prior to joining Rite-Solutions in 1999, Chuck performed system design, software development, team and staff building, game design, and technical management for GTECH. Chuck is the primary inventor of more than 20 U.S. and international patents.
Chuck holds a B.S. degree in Engineering Services from Dartmouth College.
E-mail: |
cangell@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(401) 847-3399 ext 118 |
Juergen Keil - Director of Enterprise Programs
Juergen has over 45 years of professional experience in DoD/Navy programs and project management and warfare analysis. He has extensive experience in operational system employment, the development of advanced concepts and concepts of operations, and the conduct of warfare and systems analysis. He has served on the staff of an operational command and has developed operational guidelines for most major submarine and surface ship sonar systems. He established the first Submarine Sonar Analysis Department at NUWC and led sonar systems performance assessments, future requirements definition, and benefits tradeoff analysis for all major submarine sonar development efforts. He examined interdependencies between sonar and other shipboard systems to achieve the best overall ship mission effectiveness. During his tenure as Head of the Warfare Analysis Department at NUWC, he led efforts that supported the modernization and technology development strategies for all major attack submarine classes. As Executive Director of NUWC, Newport, Juergen was heavily involved in the review and execution of all programs in the organization. Juergen has extensively published technical reports documenting his efforts. At Rite-Solutions, Juergen continues to support a variety of Navy and DoD industry customers in the areas of concept development, warfare analysis, and investment strategy development while directing all aspects of Corporate Development, as well as the company’s Enterprise Programs.
Juergen possesses a B.A. degree in Physics from Brown University.
Email: |
jkeil@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(401) 847-3399 ext 135 |
Ken Haner - VP of Business Management
Ken was named Vice President of Business Management in 2010, providing management oversight of business planning, execution, reporting and analysis, while also serving the role of Senior Technical Representative for most Federal contracts. Previously, he supported Business Development and Operations Management for DoD market segments. Ken joined Rite-Solutions in 2004 as a Senior Program Manager supporting the establishment, organization and operation of a Life Cycle Engineering Services group focused on training and logistics. Ken enlisted in the Navy in 1975 and spent his entire career in the submarine service including commissioning two Trident SSBN platforms. After leaving the Navy, he joined Analysis & Technology as an Operations Analyst supporting the tactical development, employment and fleet training for new development submarine systems. He rose through progressively increasing positions of responsibility to become the Connecticut Operations Director. After Anteon acquired A&T in 2000, Ken was appointed to lead the New England engineering services as part of the Engineering and Information Technology Group.
Ken has authored dozens of Naval Warfare Publications and is an active member of The Navy League, NDIA, and NCMA. He was awarded a Bachelors degree in Business from Hamilton University.
E-mail: |
khaner@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(860) 599-1938 ext 207 |
Ozzie Watterson - Director of Engineering Excellence
Ozzie has over 42 years of engineering experience with over 25 years of assignments in Major (ACAT I) Program Management and Systems Engineering, and is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)-certified under Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering (SPRDE). He is currently the Vice President of Engineering Excellence for Rite-Solutions and has been instrumental in assembly and managing an organization comprised of some of the top engineering talent and experienced technical personnel from industry and the Undersea Warfare Community. He has held Technical Program Management responsibilities for major submarine combat system programs, including TRIDENT, Submarine Advanced Combat System (AN/BSY-1) and SEAWOLF, AN/BSY-2 Combat System. Ozzie served as Director of Submarine Combat System Programs Office for the last 7 years of his Civil Service career. As Director of SCS Program Office, Ozzie oversaw major Combat System and Submarine acquisition programs including SEAWOLF, VIRGINIA, Fleet Modernization, Towed Systems, and Towed Array Handling Depot. He has led numerous major program and strategic planning efforts in support of Program Customers within the Navy including numerous Program Assessments, Acquisition Review Teams, Blue Ribbon Panels, Red Team Reviews, Independent Review Teams, and Independent Validation and Verification teams. Ozzie has been personally involved with every major U.S. submarine combat system and submarine acquisition program over the last thirty-five years. Ozzie was also responsible for the initiation of Strategic Assistance for Coalition Partners and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Programs at NUWC in support of PEOSUB.
Ozzie received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.
Email: |
owatterson@rite-solutions.com |
Phone: |
(401) 847-3399 ext 142 |