Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Michael Fischer
Chief Executive Officer
Michael's passion is leading our disruptive technology start-up that can rapidly improve the automotive industry. His mission with Project Overlord is to execute an dynamic sales and business development model to promote our products, impact markets, create a monster revenue model and lead Project Overlord to scale to Big B numbers.
David Snider
Chief Operations Officer
Project Overlord’s Senior Executive tasked with overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of Project Overlord’s business. Tasked with providing leadership and strategic vision to the organization. Charges with bringing operational, managerial and administrative procedures, reporting structures and operational controls to the company.
Rich Haddad
Senior Advisor Toll Manufacturing & Government Contracting
Rich is a former executive with Carlisle Corporation, one of the world's largest aftermarket auto parts manufacturers and currently the Director of Business Development for Navistar Defense, with a track record of rapid growth with US and Int'l P&L experience. WIth a focus on customer direct markets - DoD/Gov't & B2B with track record creating markets, market segments, manufacturing and branding new companies. Rich's mission with Project Overlord is to advise on toll manufacturing, global sales and development and partnerships with global, local, state and federal government's for sales of our products. Rich is considered one of the top 10 experts in the world in toll manufacturing and government sales.
Crystal Jeffrey-Alexander
Senior Advisor Automotive OEM Manufacturers
As Project Overlord Systems’s Chief Financial Officer, Crystal brings an enormous range of experience in the automotive world working as the Director and Senior Manager of Volkswagen USA and Audi of America in their consumer and commercial credit divisions, where she led the credit activities for their $32B portfolio for the past 16 years. Her wealth of experience in a global auto manufacturer rising through the ranks from analyst to Director is a true testament to her abilities and what she brings to the Project Overlord team. She doubles as a valued Advisory Board Member on Automotive Manufacturer Relationships.
Michelle Crockett
Senior Advisor Supply Chain & Global Logistics
Michelle is a dynamic leader an Global Operations specialist with significant experience in developing and executing Supply Chain management with 20+ years leading S&OP, manufacturing, operations, distribution, customer service, procurement and supplier management initiatives for consumer products. As the VP of Global Operations of Costa Sunglasses, one of the world's largest suppliers of Eyewear; as well as Senior Director of Distribution for Luxottica, the world's largest eyewear manufacturer; she is experienced in supply chain and operations experience in ECommerce, Retail, Wholesale, and 3PL environments on a global stage. She possesses strong cross-functional leader promoting teamwork and collaboration to drive sustainable process improvements and best practices to deliver cost, service and profitability initiatives.
As an advisor, Michelle advises on Global Supply Chain Operations, Logistics, Strategic Operations Planning, Performance and Growth Management and will support senior management balance short- and long-term needs to move Project Overlord from early growth stages through scaling. In addition to managing financial resources effectively and providing performance reporting, Michelle will help the team to document and execute a disciplined long-term plan to successfully grow. She will encourage collaboration and communication across all production disciplines, helping to define high level goals and the plan to achieve them. She will also work with all teams to identify and resolve competing priorities & dependencies to ensure that teams are focused on moving Project Overlord forward into the global marketplace.
Brenda Barta
Senior Advisor Aftermarket Automotive Sales
Brenda as Michael's partner leads Automotive Software Advisors that helps start-ups and small businesses with Auto delar relationship cultivation that are rapidly improving the automotive industry. Their mission with Project Overlord is to execute an economical sales and business development model to promote our products, impact markets and lead Project Overlord to scale in industry sales. Mike and Brenda have been and are very successful at developing flexible, adaptable, and agile companies like Project Overlord to grow and thrive while navigating our disruption in the automotive industry with our innovative technology with a network of over 25,000+ automotive professional connections at the Dealer, Distribution and Wholesale levels.
Jote Taddese
Senior Advisor Data Analytics
Jote brings his experience as an Advisory Board member to help advise on Project Overlord's Data Strategy and help with our technology partners on the implementation of Project Overlord's data driven innovations in the form of our proof-of-concepts (POC) by helping to Project Overlord to form agile and cross-functional teams. His experience is in Analytics, Big Data, POC Design and Implementation, Creating Company Opportunities into Value Streams, Influencing Technology Strategy, and Providing Leadership to a Business's Intelligence Team.
Jote Taddese is one of the top 10 experts in the world in Big Data, Analytics and IOT Enterprise Product Development
Jon Redmond
Senior Advisor Telematics & Retail Analysis
Jon, a former Airborne Ranger, Captain and Company Commander in the US Army, brings a wealth of experience in Automotive Telematics, Automation and Connected Environments from Honeywell Automation, a division of Honeywell; where his core responsibilities included leading a 1,600 FTE marketing team, developing strategy and leading 3 internal start-ups focused on automotive IT, licensing and special government contracts. He has also been a Founder of multiple successful startups as well as leading strategy, customer acquisition, executing operations, and expanding markets, engagements and fundraising across the spectrum of his career.
John Walsh
Senior Advisor Funding
John is an experienced senior business professional with a demonstrated history of leading successful initiatives across strategic planning, consulting, financial services, fundraising and retail. Skilled in Strategy, M&A Negotiations, Business Planning & Optimization, Marketing, Business Development, Team Building, Funding and Market Management. Using his results-driven insights', his wealth of Strategic Planning and his hands-on approach to help guide organizations who need innovative funding solutions he creates connections with the partnerships that actually gets results. John has led multi-billion dollar funding initiatives with Red Ventures & Element Brands.
As a Advisory Board member John brings a plethora of experience in strategic planning, fundraising and global relationships that expands Project Overlord's worldwide reach capabilities.
Tony Jones
Senior Advisor Strategy
Tony Jones in his carer has led global strategy for Best Buy for 17 years amonf many other global Fortune 500 companies and brings his wealth of Strategy expertise to Project Overlord's Advisory Board
Diana Bassett
Senior Advisor PR & Branding
Diana brings her vast experience of Public Relations and Branding to Project Overlord's Advisory Group. Having over 15 years of Public Relations experience and 6 years of Corporate and Celebrity branding experience, she has been responsible for media coverage for Project Overlord from the outset having garnered press coverage from multiple global media outlets such as Bloomberg, CBS, CNN and many more. She has worked for names such as McDonald's, Apple and Disney.
Nick Thorne
Global Sales
Nick Thorne has been involved in international automotive accessory manufacturing and sales specifically with European, North American,and Chinese manufacturers. As the former CEO and co-founder of Manik 4x4, which manufactured its own product line with factories in the US and Mexico. During this period Manik exhibited at the SEMA Show for 20 years remaining active within the organization with one of the owners holding a position on the SEMA Board. Nick developed close relationships with fellow manufacturers and distributors internationally.
With Manik 4x4, then joining Project Overlord to continue his love affair with the US and global aftermarket. Nick currently works part-time for Project Overlord.
Makarand Vairagare
Director of Technology
Makarand has over 15 years of experience in Mobility Solutions focusing Delivery Management and Sales. He has been instrumental in laying and executing right set of Practices and Processes for his associated organizations, helping them reaching global Mobility Industry map. Successfully lead and built efficient and high quality teams delivering profitable businesses from scratch in extremely competitive environments. Passionate, lead from the front, ethical, firm believer in work life balance.
Makarand is focused and works on the Emerging and Innovative Mobile Technologies. Prior to joining Project Overlord, he has overseen the development of 100+ mobile applications & experiences for over 90+ clients in the mobile space working with mobile ISVs, OEMs and Wireless Carriers. Makarand currently works part-time for Project Overlord.
Gary Stills
Investor, Founder, Board Member
Former NFL player for 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Terrence Gaskin
Founder, Board Member, Former CEO
Terrence comes from the insurance industry as a business insurance broker and entrepreneur, he is one of the founders of the company.
Antoinette Gaskin
Founder, Board Member
Antoinette comes from the executive management arena.