Our Team
Collectively, our team members have played key roles in the implementation of well over 1,000 automation projects including performing all aspects of project management, engineering, design and field support. We bring this wealth of experience to bear as a valuable partner to your engineering, operations and maintenance teams:
Robert (Bob) J. Bowser – Director of Automation & Managing Member
Bob has over 24 years of experience in control system project engineering, lead engineering and proposal engineering roles. Bob's expertise encompasses a wide variety of powerplant applications and industrial combustion process applications. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University State College.
Prior to co-founding NOREC Automation, Bob worked with the following companies:
1998 to 2007 Rockwell Automation, Senior Lead Engineer, Industrial Combustion and Power Generation Business
1992 to 1998 Bailey Controls, Project Engineer, Utility and Industrial Steam Applications
1990 to 1991 ETSI, Marketing Manager, Gas and Steam Turbine Applications
1989 to 1990 Bailey Controls, Marketing Manager, Industrial Steam Applications
1985 to 1989 Bailey Controls, Proposal Engineer, Utility and Industrial Steam Applications
Contact Bob at bob.bowser@norecautomation.com
Philip (Phil) L. Resler – Director of Business Operations & Managing Member
Phil's 35+ years of experience includes personally performing and/or managing every engineering and manufacturing task required to successully implement a control system project. Phil's expertise encompasses a wide range of powerplant and industrial combustion applications. Phil is a US Army Vietnam Veteran (1968-1969). He is an active member of North Royalton, Ohio’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and ISA.
Prior to co-founding NOREC Automation, Phil worked with the following companies:
1984 to 2007 Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley Company, Positions Held:
1998 to 2007 Business Manager, Industrial Combustion and Power Generation
1984 to 1998 Program Manager, Project Manager, Hardware Design/Drafting Supervisor, Material Control Supervisor, System Assembly Supervisor, Systems Engineer
1983 to 1984 Controllix Corporation, Sales Engineer, Control Systems
1982 to 1983 L & K Development, Inc., Sales Engineer, Control Systems
1974 to 1981 Envirotech Corporation / Eimco – BSP Bethlehem Corporation,
Controls Engineer, Burner Management and Process Control Systems
1972 to 1974 North American Manufacturing Company, Controls Designer, Burner Management Systems
1970 to 1972 Bartlett-Snow, Controls Designer, Burner Management and Process Control Systems
1969 to 1970 H.K. Ferguson Company, Draftsman, Electrical
1966 to 1969 U.S. Army – Honorable Discharge
1965 to 1966 H.K. Ferguson Company, Draftsman, all engineering disciplines
Contact Phil at phil.resler@norecautomation.com
Michael (Mike) A. Ruscitto – Director of Automation & Managing Member
Mike has over 25 years of experience in a variety of control system project engineering and lead engineering roles. Mike's expertise encompasses a wide range of powerplant applications, industrial combustion applications, and a number of process applications in the pharmaceutical and pulp & paper industries. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Toledo.
Prior to co-founding NOREC Automation, Mike worked with the following companies:
1994 to 2007 Rockwell Automation, Senior Lead Engineer, Industrial Combustion and Power Generation Business
1993 to 1994 Bailey Controls, Project Engineer, Process Applications
1992 to 1993 HA Simons, Lead Project Engineer
1990 to 1992 E & I Controls, Lead Project Engineer, Mead Expansion Project
1984 to 1990 Bailey Controls, Project Engineer, Utility Boiler Applications
Contact Mike at mike.ruscitto@norecautomation.com
Leonard (Len) A. Sterle - Director of Business Development & Managing Member
Len has over 22 years of experience in control system business management, project management and business development. Len's experience includes general management of businesses encompassing a wide variety of process control and discrete automation applications. Len holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Len worked with the following companies:
2005 to 2009 NESCO Resource, VP & General Manager, Engineering & Information Technology Group
1989 to 2005 Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley, Positions Held:
2004 to 2005 Director, Project Solutions Centers
1994 to 2003 Director, Application Solutions / Director, Global Applications
1989 to 1993 Business Manager / Marketing Manager, Industrial Combustion & Power Generation Business
1983 to 1989 Bailey Controls Company, Marketing Manager & Proposal Engineer, Utility & Industrial Steam Applications
Contact Len at len.sterle@norecautomation.com
Mark A. Vargo – Senior Lead Application Specialist
Mark has over 17 years in control system project engineering and hardware engineering / design roles. Mark's expertise encompasses a wide variety of powerplant applications and industrial combustion process applications. Mark holds an Associate of Science in Mechanical Design from Lorain County Community College.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Mark worked with the following companies:
1997 to 2008 Rockwell Automation – Applied Systems Engineer, Industrial Combustion & Power Generation Business
1995 to 1997 JH Industries, Twinsburg – Design Engineer
1993 to 1995 Midwest Control Company – Technical Design / Support
1991 to 1993 Centerior Energy (First Energy) – I & C CAD Operator, Fossil Engineering Department
Contact Mark at mark.vargo@norecautomation.com
Kristy J. Valaitis - Senior Application Specialist
Kristy has over 18 years of experience in control system project engineering, lead engineering and technical roles. Kristy's expertise encompasses a wide variety of powerplant applications and industrial combustion process applications. Kristy's holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Akron.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Kristy worked with the following companies:
1994 to 2009 Rockwell Automation, Senior Lead Engineer, Application Engineer, Senior System Engineer, System Engineer, Industrial Combustion & Power Generation Business
1992 to 1994 Babcock & Wilcox, Electrical Controls Engineer
Contact Kristy at kristy.valaitis@norecautomation.com
Bernard B. (Bernie) Hrul - Senior Application Specialist
Bernie has over 40 years in control system project engineering, lead engineering and field engineering roles, and is a leading expert in burner management and flame safety system applications. In addition, Bernie's expertise encompasses a wide variety of powerplant applications and industrial combustion process applications. Bernie has served as Secretary of the NFPA 85 Technical Committee on Multi-Burner Boilers for over 10 years, and has been a member of the committee for over 20 years.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Bernie worked with the following companies:
1988 to 2010 Rockwell Automation – Sr. Project Engineer, Project Manager, Sr. Application Engineer, Industrial Combustion & Power Generation Business
1966 to 1988 Fireye – Application Engineer, System Development Engineer
Contact Bernie at bernie.hrul@norecautomation.com
Joe Pruchinski - Designer - Automation & Control Hardware
Joe possesses strong industrial control panel hardware engineering, design, assembly and testing expertise in a variety of control system hardware platforms. Joe has significant experience with listing and documentation of control panels in accordance with UL508A and CSA requirements, as well as site control panel installation experience. He is currently pursuing a degree in Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technology.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Joe worked with the following companies:
2007 to 2013 Hy-Tech Controls: Electrical Engineering Technician.
Contact Joe at joe.pruchinski@norecautomation.com
David E. (Dave) Lovick - Senior Application Specialist
Dave has over 27 years of experience in control system engineering and technical roles. His expertise encompasses a wide variety of power generation and industrial combustion process applications, including combustion control, burner management, balance-of-plant control and data acquisition. Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from the Electronic Technology Institute in Cleveland,
Ohio.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Dave worked in a variety of roles with ABB Automation / Bailey Controls Company in Wickliffe, Ohio:
1985-1990 Engineering Technician, Distributed
Control Systems
1990-1992 Engineering Technician Supervisor
1992-2002 DCS System Engineer
2002-2012 DCS Senior Engineer
Contact Dave at dave.lovick@norecautomation.com
Steven D (Steve) Severn - Senior Application Specialist
Steve has over 30 years of experience in control system engineering and technical roles. His expertise encompasses a wide variety of power generation and industrial combustion process applications, with particular expertise in burner management systems applications. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Steve enjoyed a 30+ year career at Rockwell Automation, where he held a number of roles including most recently Senior Application Engineer.
Contact Steve at steve.severn@norecautomation.com
Daniel J. (Dan) Boyce - Control System Technologist
Dan has over 16 years of experience in control system HMI graphic and database development and testing roles. His HMI expertise encompasses a wide variety of power generation and industrial process applications.
Prior to joining NOREC Automation, Dan spent 16 years at Elsag Bailey / ABB, where he held a number of roles including most recently Senior Technician.
Contact Dan at dan.boyce@norecautomation.com
Tom Rutherford – Co-founder, Mentor & Friend
(Seated Left to right: Marge Rutherford, Tom Rutherford, Bob Bowser)
Tom lost a battle with cancer in December of 2008. Although he is no longer with us, we strive to maintain the standards of excellence, dedication and integrity Tom exhibited in all aspects of his life.
Rath Dé ort, Tom!