Corporate Leadership

Management and Consultant Team:

  Greg Fisher, President & CEO

Founder and chief strategist for Fisher Coachworks, Greg’s 20-year career as president of FisherUnitech has afforded him a unique perspective of Detroit’s transportation industry.  Before managing the growth cycle at Fisher/Unitech, he learned the ropes in the automotive field as an application engineer with Applicon, and later with Intergraph Corporation in Huntsville. Prior to forming FisherUnitech, Greg broadened his systems engineering background through a 5-year tenure with Electronic Data Systems which included international management experience at the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Japan.  Greg is an active member of YPO and holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of San Diego.

  Bruce Emmons, Chief Technology Officer

For more than 20 years, Bruce has been on the forefront of vehicle engineering; as the founder of Autokinetics he lead advanced engineering consulting projects for Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors.  Beginning in 2001, Bruce’s primary focus has been the development of the advanced technology bus under DOE funding, including associated intellectual property. Bruce has an extensive background in finite element analysis and he has used that expertise as the basis for many innovative designs that have been awarded both US and international patents.  Bruce’s career includes engineering roles at Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, as well as hydrodynamics and aerodynamics research at OMC and Wright-Patterson AFB respectively. Bruce holds an Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati.

  Griffin Burgh, Chief Operating Officer

With 25 years of business management experience, Griffin brings both start-up and large-company leadership skills to Fisher Coachworks. In a diverse career that includes software development, information publishing, electric vehicle prototyping, and primary research in lithium battery technology, his unique skill set brings a seasoned executive background to Fisher Coachworks.  As a pioneering technologist with a strong background in alternative energy systems, Griffin recently co-authored Energizing Our Future which analyzes emerging alternative energy sources and applications in considerable detail.  Griffin is a YPO alumnus and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah.

  John VanAlstyne, VP Marketing

As VP Marketing, John’s broad marketing and sales background, advanced vehicle technologies know-how and experience growing businesses will be uniquely applied.  John joined Fisher from Ricardo Plc where he was Group Marketing Officer and Vice President of Business Development, Marketing and Strategy for the US operations.  In his marketing role, he coordinated world-wide marketing programs, led brand building initiatives as well as strategic development of new service offerings and new markets.  Earlier at Freudenberg-NOK, he held general management roles focused on new business start-ups and senior sales & marketing leadership roles.  John holds an MBA with honors from Michigan State University’s Advanced Management Program and a Marketing degree from Western Michigan University.

  Rick Hrdlicka , Financial Consultant

Rick brings 22 years of experience in operational, finance/accounting, sales and marketing, and the integration of corporate cultures.  Past roles and responsibilities include; mManaged a division of a publicly owned company; developed and managed all financial functions; taken the accounting responsibilities from a reporting function to an effective management tool to improve operation.  Rick has also supported a number of operational functions: participated in negotiations, due diligence, closing, and integration of acquisitions; completed Business Plans; participated in the successful raise of new equity and has experience in complex debt/refinanceing negotiatons.

James Franz, Manufacturing Consultant

James has over 22 years of manufacturing experience and was trained as a Production Engineer by Toyota in Japan, subsequently working at NUMMI then in Georgetown, Kentucky.  He then went to Ford to apply his lean knowledge beginning in Production Engineering.  He was sent to Ford of Australia for 3 years and had success with lean in stamping, assembly, casting, and powertrain plants.  He then became a lean advisor in Powertrain for global alignment of lean practices.  He left Ford and is working with companies in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia on lean product and process development.  He is currently Director of Operations at the Toyota Way Academy, the consulting company founded by Dr. Jeffrey Liker, author of The Toyota Way.  He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in engineering from General Motors Institute and the University of Michigan.