Jennifer L. Slater has served as President and CEO of STRATTEC since July 2024. With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Ms. Slater is recognized as a transformative leader with extensive experience in engineering, finance, sales and product strategy.
Previously, she was EVP and General Manager at Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST), overseeing a global business segment with full P&L responsibility of the Performance Sensing Segment. At Clarios, LLC, she led global efforts to address the growing demand for vehicle electrification and autonomy. In this role, she was responsible for the Original Equipment customers and for developing and executing global new product strategies for the entire product life cycle, including Aftermarket. Earlier in her career, she held key positions at Johnson Controls International plc, including Vice President of Finance, Power Solutions.
Ms. Slater earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master of Business Administration from Walsh College. Her achievements include receiving the 2017 STEP Ahead Award from the Manufacturing Institute, which recognizes Women in Manufacturing, and was named to the 2025 Wisconsin Titan 100, which recognizes the top 100 CEOs and C-level executives in Wisconsin She has been a board member of Valvoline (NYSE: VVV) since 2022. In January 2025, she joined the MEMA OE Suppliers Board, a vehicle supplier industry association.
Matthew Pauli joined STRATTEC as Senior Vice President and CFO in November 2024. With over 24 years of financial expertise, he previously served as Executive Advisor and CFO of CentroMotion, a global manufacturer of highly engineered products serving the transportation, agriculture, construction equipment and other industrial markets. There he oversaw global finance, tax, treasury, accounting, IT, and legal operations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pauli held senior finance roles at Enerpac (NYSE: EPAC), including Corporate Controller/Chief Accounting Officer, and VP Finance.
Mr. Pauli started his career at Ernst & Young and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration – Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Chey Becker-Varto joined STRATTEC as Chief Commercial Officer in November 2024. She previously served as Chief Commercial Officer at Vayan Group, where she doubled the sales pipeline, implemented more sophisticated customer relationship management systems, and modernized revenue operations. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Clarios, JD Norman Industries, and GST AutoLeather, driving growth, enhancing procurement strategies, and optimizing organizational processes. She began her career at Lear Corporation where she advanced through roles of increasing responsibility.
Ms. Becker-Varto holds a Masters in Information Management & Communications from Walsh College and a dual Bachelor of Science in International Business & Spanish from Central Michigan University, including study abroad in Mexico.
James Denis has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Strattec since December 2025. With more than 20 years of experience supporting public companies, Mr. Denis is recognized as a strategic legal leader with expertise in corporate governance, securities matters, litigation, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
In his current role, he leads Strattec’s legal function, overseeing legal strategy, corporate governance, compliance, and risk management. He works closely with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to support strong governance practices while advancing the company’s strategic and operational objectives. Mr. Denis also advises cross-functional teams across sales, operations and finance, bringing a practical, business-focused approach to complex legal and regulatory matters.
Prior to joining Strattec, Mr. Denis served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Counsel at Enerpac Tool Group, where he led the company’s global legal and compliance organization and advised the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors. Earlier in his tenure at Enerpac and its predecessor Actuant Corporation, he held several senior legal leadership roles, including Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Regional General Counsel for the Americas and APAC, as well as Global Litigation Counsel. Additionally, he was a Partner at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren earlier in his career.
Mr. Denis earned a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from St. Norbert College.
Linda Redmann became Chief People Officer at STRATTEC in November 2024. Her career spans leadership roles at organizations such as Korn Ferry, Bolder HR, and Zimmer Biomet, where she guided cultural transformations, organizational design, and M&A integration to support business growth. She has also supported strategic HR initiatives during the IPO transition at SomaLogic.
Ms. Redmann earned a Masters of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago and Bachelor of Business Administration from Tiffin University.
Aaron Byrne has served as Vice President of Operations at Strattec since July 2025. With extensive experience in manufacturing and operational leadership, Mr. Byrne is recognized as a results-driven leader with deep expertise in operations management, supply chain performance, and continuous improvement within the automotive industry.
In his current role, he leads Strattec’s global operations organization, overseeing manufacturing, operational performance, and the execution of initiatives designed to improve efficiency, quality, and delivery across the company’s production network. He plays a key role in advancing operational excellence while supporting Strattec’s strategic objectives and customer commitments.
Prior to joining Strattec, Mr. Byrne served as Chief Production Officer at SK Battery America, where he led large-scale production operations supporting electric vehicle battery manufacturing. Earlier, he held senior leadership roles at Clarios and Johnson Controls, including Executive Director of Business Expansion, Quality and Launch Systems and Director of OE Operations for the U.S., where he led operational teams, supported major product launches and drove improvements in manufacturing performance and supply chain execution.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Byrne served as Director of Operations at Medtec Ambulance Corporation, where he led manufacturing operations for specialty vehicle production.
Mr. Byrne earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University.
Richard P. Messina has been STRATTEC’s Vice President and CTO since June 2023. Previously, he served in dual leadership roles as VP of Global Engineering and Purchasing and VP of Global Sales and Access Control Products Engineering. He joined the company in 2008 as the Vice President of STRATTEC Power Access Prior to STRATTEC, Mr. Messina was the Chief Engineer of Delphi Power Products and held several leadership roles within Delphi.
Mr. Messina earned a Masters of Business Administration from Oakland University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University.
Chad Ormsbee has served as Vice President, Head of Innovation at Strattec Security Corporation since October 2025. With more than 25 years of experience in the automotive and mobility technology sectors, Mr. Ormsbee is widely recognized for his leadership in engineering excellence, product innovation, and strategic business growth.
In his current role, he leads the development and execution of Strattec’s product roadmap strategy across the organization. He is responsible for advancing engineering strategy, strengthening customer collaboration, and driving innovation that supports Strattec’s long‑term growth and competitive positioning.
Prior to joining Strattec, Mr. Ormsbee spent 25 years with Bosch USA, where he held progressive leadership roles spanning engineering, innovation, and global business development. Most recently, he served in Global Innovation and Business Development, supporting emerging technology initiatives and strategic growth opportunities. He led the creation of customer-aligned strategies, supported global revenue opportunities, and championed cross-functional collaboration across technical, legal, and commercial teams.
Earlier in his tenure, he led innovation efforts focused on market research, product promotion, and technology development to meet evolving customer and mobility demands. He facilitated global program wins and led initiatives that improved customer engagement and organizational alignment. He also served as Engineering Manager for Gasoline Systems Powertrain North America, where he oversaw CAE modeling, engineering development methods, and rapid prototype production.
Nick Petouhoff has served as Vice President of Engineering at Strattec since February 2026. With more than three decades of experience in the global automotive industry, Mr. Petouhoff is recognized as an innovative engineering leader with extensive expertise in product development, portfolio strategy, and technology innovation.
In his current role, he leads Strattec’s global engineering organization, overseeing the design, development, validation, and launch of products and technologies across the company’s portfolio. He is responsible for advancing engineering strategy, strengthening customer collaboration, and driving innovation to support Strattec’s product roadmap and long-term growth.
Prior to joining Strattec, Mr. Petouhoff served as Executive Director of Global Engineering and Advanced Development at JoysonQuin Automotive Systems, where he led engineering teams across North America and Europe through the full product lifecycle, from ideation and innovation through development, validation and launch. He also briefly served as Interim President for JoysonQuin North America. Earlier in his career, he held senior engineering and innovation leadership roles at Adient and Johnson Controls, leading global advanced product development and innovation initiatives while working closely with OEM customers and strategic partners.
Mr. Petouhoff holds more than ten patents and has contributed to several industry-first product collaborations within the automotive and aerospace sectors. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University.
Leonard Roelant has served as Vice President, Head of Transformation at Strattec since March 2026. With more than three decades of experience in the global automotive supply industry, Mr. Roelant is recognized as a strategic leader with extensive experience in profitable growth, operational excellence, enterprise transformation, and program management.
In his current role, he leads enterprise-wide operational transformation initiatives and oversees the operating systems that balance the delivery of quarterly results with the execution of Strattec’s strategic priorities. He is responsible for strengthening the company’s Program Management Organization and guiding the development and execution of program management processes and capabilities across the business. Mr. Roelant also supports strategic growth initiatives, including both organic expansion and the evaluation of potential inorganic opportunities.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Roelant held senior leadership roles across the global automotive supply industry, including positions at Johnson Controls, Woodbridge Group and ABC Technologies. In these roles, he led global teams across commercial, program management and strategic transformation functions, working closely with major OEM customers to drive performance, operational improvement, and business growth.
Mr. Roelant earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in International Management from Walsh College.