PNA Leadership Team
Dalton Blackwell – Chief Operations Officer
Dalton Blackwell was named Chief Operations Officer of Plasan North America and Plasan Carbon Composites in December 2020. Responsible for all aspects of fiscal operations including manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, and planning.
During the past 18 years, Dalton has supported Plasan at both Plasan North America and Plasan Carbon Composites. In positions ranging from VP, GM, and President.
Before joining Plasan North America, Dalton was Vice-President/General Manager at Plasan Carbon Composites, Vice-President of Automotive Operations at Vermont Composites, and spent twelve years at General Motors as an Advance Launch Supplier Quality Engineer.
During his career with Plasan, some assignments included composite materials for the Corvette, Viper, and other high-end performance vehicles while in the automotive division. While at Plasan North America, Dalton was responsible for several military vehicles including the MATV.
Brett Maki – Vice President of Business Development & Programs
Brett Maki is a distinguished leader in the metal fabrication industry, known for his exceptional knowledge, experience, and dedication. With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing sales and operations, he has made significant contributions to the field as a Partner in a metal forming business with over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Brett holds a bachelor’s Degree from Northwood University and serves as Vice President of Business Development at Plasan North America, Inc. He oversees the DoD and commercial program management in this role and has a proven track record of driving growth and profitability.
Brett is not only known for his expertise in building and maintaining strategic partnerships and key supplier relationships, but also for his exceptional leadership qualities. He is deeply committed to the well-being and success of his team and manufacturing employees and is highly regarded for his caring and supportive leadership style. Under his guidance, the team at Plasan North America has flourished, delivering high-quality solutions to clients across multiple sectors. With his unwavering dedication to excellence and commitment to his team, Brett Maki stands out as a true leader in the industry.
Lisa Thorsen – Vice President of Human Resources
Lisa Thorsen has over 15 years of experience in increasing responsibility and complexity of human resources, leading her to join Plasan North America in 2018. Lisa is an invaluable resource to the organization, enhancing its performance management capabilities and bringing a level of strategic thinking to the human aspects of the company.
Prior to joining PNA, Lisa was the Human Resources Manager for Plasan Carbon Composites, where she led the organization through several integration activities, including a rapid expansion, community and culture building initiatives, systems implementation, and benefits strategy. As Director of Human Resources, Lisa’s position encompasses both Plasan Carbon Composites and Plasan North America, streamlining human resources functions and positioning both companies for organizational success.
Lisa has a bachelor’s in Business Management from Grand Valley State University.
Matt Lewandowski – Director of Operations
Throughout Matt’s 30-year journey, he has consistently exhibited a relentless commitment to operational excellence. Known for surpassing industry standards, he has led teams to implement strategies that optimize efficiency, boost productivity, and foster sustainable growth. Matt’s strategic vision aligns seamlessly with PNA’s organizational goals, contributing to the overall success of our ventures.
As Matt leverages his extensive experience, expertise, and academic foundation from the University of Michigan, he eagerly anticipates new challenges and opportunities to make enduring contributions to organizations seeking a seasoned professional with a proven history of operational excellence and improvement.
Joan Beickman – Director of Finance
Joan has been with Plasan North America for 13 years as the Controller and is currently responsible for all Defense and Commercial business finances and operational support of our Oracle system.
Since being with Plasan, Joan has supported the Finance department as the Cost Manager, the Finance/Purchasing/Order Management lead for our Oracle e-business suite implementation, and Controller.
Joan has a bachelor’s in Accountancy from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and a Master’s in Business Administration.
