Leadership

Senior Management Team

		Michael Savage, CEO & Co-Founder Mike Savage has 24 years experience in business management, finance, logistics, manufacturing, operations, and engineering. He has successfully launched and developed several companies throughout his career and, prior to founding Fitness EM, was founder and CEO of Savage Fitness, Inc., a fitness accessory manufacturing company. He has held management positions at two Fortune 500 technology companies (Quantum Corp. and Digital Equipment Corp.) and was responsible for the implementation of several global manufacturing business models. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. He is an active member of several industry organizations and associations.

		Donna Savage, President & Co-Founder Donna Savage has over 20 years experience in sales, product marketing, graphic design and retail package development at consumer product companies. Previously, Donna was President of Savage Fitness, Inc., a fitness equipment manufacturing company. She aggressively managed all sales & marketing efforts for the company, transforming them from a 1992 start-up into the industry leader in their product category. Over the past 11 years, she has pioneered Fitness EM’s effort to develop a line of strength training products exclusively for women. Her vision has transitioned into a line of fitness products custom-designed and engineered for women.

		Robert Bostwick, EVP Sales & Co-Founder Bob Bostwick has over 33 years experience in product development, marketing, merchandising & selling sporting goods products at the national account level. The vast majority of his time in the industry was spent with Spalding as the National Account Manager. In 1998, he was personally responsible for over $100 million in wholesale sales for Spalding. Bob is the only person in the history of Spalding to be named Salesman of the Year on six different occasions. As a result of his successes, Spalding implemented his sales model with all of their National Account sales force. He is widely recognized among the top echelon of sales & marketing people in the sporting goods industry.

		Jack Lacey, General Manager Jack Lacey has over 29 years of general management experience leading recognized, worldwide, branded companies in the sports and leisure products fields. As GM or CEO, his vast experiences in the fields of marketing, operations, finance and business law have led to significant divisional or corporate turnaround performances in companies such as Spalding Sports WW, International EZ-Up and Zodiac S.A.. He has served on many corporate, association and community-affiliated boards. He was elected as Vice Chairman of the Sporting Goods Mfrs Assoc., has been appointed to a US Department of Commerce ISAC, the Economic Re-development Council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Holyoke Community College Foundation and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Strategic Planning Summit.

		Kathy O’Connell Johnson, Vice President, Marketing & Branding Kathy Johnson has 29 years of experience in the fitness and athletic industry. She has had experience in buying, merchandising, product marketing, brand marketing, strategic planning, grass roots marketing and partnership marketing. Prior to joining Fitness EM, Kathy spent 14 years at Reebok International where she focused on product development, program development and all facets of marketing to the women’s sports, fitness and children’s market. At Reebok she launched several new innovative products and workout programs and developed and managed several strategic partnerships including the American Heart Association, Westin Hotels, 24 Hour Fitness and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She has been with Fitness EM for 5 years and has held several sales and marketing positions.

		John Jaszek, Vice President Product Development & Sourcing John Jaszek has over 24 years of Operations and Sales experience in the Sporting Goods industry having worked primarily for Spalding Sports Worldwide. John was instrumental in leading Spalding’s outsourcing and product development efforts in 1980—1990. In this role he managed worldwide purchases in excess of $100 million and inventory of $60 million. In addition he has extensive experience in International Marketing and Sales for the General Sporting Goods business with business dealings in over 40 countries. In his work at Fitness EM for the past 5 years, he has been responsible for heading up the Company’s product development and sourcing efforts.

		Victor Bonneville, Vice President, Operations & Logistics Victor Bonneville has over 24 years of experience in global purchasing, logistics and operations. Victor came to Fitness EM after spending five years as a Logistics Manager and International Analyst at Staples, where he was responsible for the warehouse activities supplying over 1,200 retail stores. Prior to Staples, he spent five years with New England Pottery as a Purchasing and Inventory Control Manager, and eight years with Metalor USA Refining Corporation as a Production and Inventory Control Manager. He is a graduate of Northeastern University and Rhode Island Community College.

		Michael Carota, CFO Mike Carota has 30 years of financial and operational experience focusing on start-up, turnaround and growth stage private businesses. Prior to joining Fitness EM, Mike founded and built Performance Polymers, Inc. from a business plan to $170M in revenue. He developed strong management teams including CFO, VP Sales and COO, and successfully sold the business providing founders and venture partners a respective 60% and 21% compounded return on investment. He has been instrumental in raising venture financing, negotiating and managing bank credit lines from in excess of $35M and turning around failing companies. Mike has also participated in setting policies as a North American Board member (publicly traded UK Company) in acquiring, divesting and restructuring the groups’ fourteen U.S. companies.

		Steve Sandler, VP of Sales Steven Sandler has over 25 years of sales, marketing, and licensing experience in industries including pets, toys, sporting goods, and home decor. He has worked in many channels of distribution including big box retailers (Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Target and K-mart), specialty (pet, toy, sporting goods, and electronics) drug, grocery, warehouse clubs, and international markets. Steven has long-standing, professional relationships with traditional mass-market accounts. He has negotiated successful licensing deals with such mega brands as Disney, Major League Baseball, Marvel Entertainment, Universal Studios, and M&M Mars. Steven spent more than 10 years working for Hasbro, the largest toy company in the world.