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Monday, August 3rd, 2020The “A-Team” Is Back
Monday, August 3rd, 2020Ann Arbor, Michigan – August 3, 2020 Effective today, EOTECH, manufacturer of the original Holographic Weapon Sight, officially separated from L3Harris, and will once again be an agile, independent business that is focused on high tech products and superior service. As part of this strategic new business model Elite Defense®, the powerhouse international distribution company, and HEL TechnologiesTM, developer of cutting-edge optical science, will also fall under the EOTECH umbrella.
To deliver on the promise of this new beginning, EOTECH has reassembled the critical team members that initially built the brand and were critical to EOTECH’s remarkable growth and success. “It was imperative to establish an “A-Team” to grow and restore the EOTECH brand and we were able to fill this team with highly successful industry veterans whose track records speak for themselves”. Said Matt Van Haaren, Chief Executive Officer. “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Some of the new A-Team members include:
Matt “Hannibal” Van Haaren – Chief Executive Officer
Currently Matt is responsible for executive management of Elite Defense, HEL Technologies and I2G Systems and has spent over 20 years in the national security sector. Those black leather gloves get in the way when he’s lighting his cigar, but Matt leaves them on to keep up appearances.
Dean “BA Baracus” Loebig – Chief Technical Officer
Dean joins the team with more than 20 years of experience developing and managing technology, project execution, marketing and product distribution for various cutting-edge brands including L-3 EOTECH and most recently Elite Defense and HEL Technologies. Dean pities the fool who tries to out-tech him.
Dennis “Howling Mad Murdock” Finnegan – President, International Business
Dennis is a US Army veteran and is a founding member of HEL Technologies and President of Elite Defense. Previously, Dennis managed international sales for L-3 EOTECH and brings 15 years experience in holographic technology markets. Dennis is “on permanent vacation” from the veterans hospital so that he can bring EOTech back to the international market.
Ed “Face” Schoppman – President, North American Business
Ed is a US Army veteran and has 20 years in the outdoor industry. Ed’s previous background as VP of Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service at L-3 EOTECH will prove invaluable in taking EOTECH to the next level. Mirrors have been installed throughout the facility so that Ed can check his hair on an ongoing basis.
John “General” Bailey – VP of Marketing
With over 15 of John’s 17 years in the outdoor industry spent at L-3 EOTECH with roles in sales, marketing and product development, John’s background and experience will be a major asset as he leads the marketing and product teams. John loves the smell of holography in the morning.
Lisa “Triple A” Kemp – Director of Branding and Marketing
Lisa brings 20 years of outdoor industry experience working at Freedom Group managing brands such as Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster and DPMS and more recently L-3 EOTECH as Marketing Communication- Brand Manager. Lisa denies that she blackmailed the team into letting her tag along, emphasizing that she’s forgotten more about marketing then the rest of the team knows put together.
Frank “Ashley” Moss – Business Development Manager – Asia and Americas
Frank is a Marine Corps Veteran, and has over 20 years of industry experience, including a highly successful track record in Government, Law Enforcement and Commercial sales within the US and overseas. He demonstrates an extensive knowledge in weapons systems and associated weapon accessories, when he is not narrating old, over-the- top TV shows.
Andy “Dishpan” Gann – Business Development Manager – Europe, Middle East, Africa
Andy has over 20 years of very successful industry experience, including executing sales growth plans through one of EOTECH’s largest European dealers. He has been with Elite Defense since 2016 and brings significant product and market expertise. Andy has a “side hustle” as a special effects expert, which is handy in getting the team out of trouble when they travel together.
Jon “Decker” Meyer – Business Development Manager – Government
Jon is a Marine Corps veteran, and has over 11 years working in the industry, with extensive experience developing products for US & Allied Governments. He has delivered numerous products currently in service with US Special Operations Forces. He refuses to update his uniform to something from this century.
Stay tuned as the new EOTECH disrupts the optics industry! We have big plans and will be delivering cool new products and great customer solutions in the near future.
Mission Ready Announces Appointment of James Marks as Interim CEO, Resignation of Jeffery Schwartz as President and CEO
Thursday, July 30th, 2020VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – JULY 28, 2020 – Mission Ready Solutions Inc. (“Mission Ready” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MRS) announces that, effective August 7, 2020, James A. Marks will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. To facilitate this change, Jeffery L. Schwartz has tendered his resignation as the Company’s President and CEO, effective August 7, 2020, but will remain a member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”).
Mr. Schwartz has served as the Company’s President and CEO since March 2017, during which time he has led the Company to new heights and presided over impressive revenue growth, with 2019 revenues reaching CAD $21.19 million, a 588% increase over the previous year.
“We are forever grateful for Jeff’s devoted and faithful service to the Company and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” states James Marks, a Director of Mission Ready. “It’s now time to transition to a new leader with deep leadership and organizational skills to continue to build and to stabilize the platform.”
Jeffery Schwartz, President and CEO of Mission Ready, states “Its has been a pleasure and truly an honor to help build Mission Ready to the point its at today. It is with mixed emotions that I step aside as President and CEO. I will certainly miss the great folks I’ve had the pleasure of working so closely with during the past 3 years but I am also very much looking forward to spending more time with my immediate and extended family. As for the Company’s future, I have full confidence in my fellow directors to identify an excellent candidate to lead the Company forward at this exciting and opportune time.”
Since joining the Company’s Board in June 2018, Major General (Retired) James A. Marks has contributed immeasurable value to Mission Ready, lending extraordinary insights and expertise gained throughout 30 years of service with the United States Army. General Marks served in the United States Army holding every command position from infantry platoon leader to commanding general and was the senior intelligence officer during the LA Riots, in the Balkans, Korea, Iraq. He is an Honor Graduate of the US Army’s Ranger School and a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. General Marks has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and a Master of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.
Additionally, the Company announces that it has granted incentive stock options (the “Options”), pursuant to its stock option plan (the “Plan”), for a total of 400,000 common shares of the Company, to a director and officer of the Company. The Options, subject to the terms of the Plan and the corresponding option agreement, are exercisable at a price of CAD $0.15 per share for a period of up to five years.
SOLGW – Origins
Thursday, July 30th, 2020McHenry Introduces Bipartisan American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act – Widens Berry Amendment Across Departments
Thursday, July 30th, 2020Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), joined Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) to introduce the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act. This bipartisan legislation will help end the United States’ reliance on Chinese-made personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure that hospitals and frontline healthcare workers have access to a plentiful supply of high-quality American made PPE.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it painfully clear that the United States has failed its hospitals and frontline healthcare workers because of our over-reliance on Chinese-made PPE,” said Congressman McHenry. “By returning production of PPE to the United States, we will address the concerns raised by the current crisis while also incentivizing future investments in high quality PPE made by American companies, ensuring the long-term protection of our hospitals and frontline healthcare workers. I am glad to partner with Representative Pascrell to introduce a bipartisan bill that does just that.”
“The ongoing pandemic has exposed America’s over-reliance on personal protective equipment made in other countries. In a cruel twist of irony we are especially dependent on medical supplies made in China, where COVID-19 originated and whose totalitarian secrecy deepened the world crisis,” said Congressman Pascrell. “Our reliance on non-American-made PPE has crippled our response to COVID from the start. Even as we continue to fight the virus, we must use this painful lesson to change our behavior now. Our bipartisan American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act will ensure we are investing in the best tools in the world at our disposal by making our own PPE right here in America. Encouraging production of medical supplies within our borders will ultimately help our economy, create jobs, ensure higher-grade equipment, and most important save American lives. This cannot wait until the next pandemic.”
“The U.S. textile industry would like to sincerely thank Congressman McHenry and Congressman Pascrell for introducing the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act, a bill we believe will create strong domestic procurement rules to incentivize investment and the onshoring of critical medical textiles,” said National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas. “Re-creating the successful domestic purchasing rules found in the Berry Amendment for all federal PPE purchases will not only help our country reduce its overreliance on China for PPE but also provide longer term support for our domestic supply chain that has supplied hundreds of millions of urgently needed items including face masks, isolation gowns and other needed PPE to frontline health care workers.”
“The American manufacturers who comprise the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC) applaud the leadership of Congressman McHenry and Congressman Pascrell, demonstrated by their introduction of the American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act,” said David Costello, Executive Director of the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC). “This thoughtful legislation recognizes that a 100% American PPE supply chain is a matter of our national security and that ending reliance on unreliable, foreign made products is essential to ensure the health and safety of our nation. Our members are already investing their time and energy bolstering their domestic PPE capability and we look forward to working with Mr. McHenry and Mr. Pascrell to see this bill become law. “
Background: The American PPE Supply Chain Integrity Act implements the Berry Amendment standard of “100 percent of a product that is grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States” for the purchas of personal protective equipment (PPE) by Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also resets the contract level for the Berry Amendment from $250,000 to $150,000 to ensure more PPE is made in America.
NDIA Joins Associations in Call for Funding, Extension of Section 3610 in CARES Act
Wednesday, July 29th, 2020ARLINGTON, VA – The National Defense Industrial Association, along with seven industry associations representing thousands of government contractors, sent a letter July 24 to congressional leadership that urges funding and an extension to Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Section 3610 authorized reimbursement of extraordinary and unanticipated government contractor costs arising from COVID-19. The authority for this provision is set to expire on Sept. 30, and funding has yet to be provided. As contractors continue to face the “ready state” workforce sustainment challenges that justified the enactment of 3610, the signing associations maintain that an extension and appropriation is necessary to support the continuity of government operations in the new fiscal year.
As companies across the defense industrial base continue adjusting to the changes brought on by the global pandemic, extending and funding 3610 is needed to support readiness and modernization across the Defense Department. The complete letter is available here.
Chris Carlberg Joins Everest.com as Vice President of Business Development
Friday, July 24th, 2020The Woodlands, Texas – July 27, 2020 – Everest.com, the shooting sports and outdoor gear industry’s first customer-centric, community-driven, multi-merchant marketplace today announced the hiring of Chris Carlberg as Vice President of Business Development.
As Vice President of Sales at Walther Arms, Chris dramatically increased stocking dealer and helped create the industry-first “Try Before You Buy” 30-day money back guarantee, which produced significant category growth. Prior to Walther, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Guns.com, and held the post of Director of Business Development at Bill Hicks & Co. LTD.
Bill Voss, CEO and founder of Everest.com, states, “Chris’ experience and relationships across the firearms and outdoor sporting goods industries are top-notch and we believe he will be an incredible resource in our efforts to broaden the Everest marketplace and best serve our customers.”
With Carlberg’s expertise in pioneering new revenue sources and his adaptability in changing markets, Chris will lead the business development efforts for the new e-commerce marketplace including engaging brands, manufacturers and retail partners, forming new synergistic relationships across all Everest programs and managing the company’s internal sales team.
“The culture here at Everest is face-paced, modern, and definitely FUN,” says Carlberg. “I feel truly blessed to lead the team towards building our community of like-minded retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers across our great country. I am ecstatic for what Everest has in store for our industry.”
For more information on Everest, visit the website at www.everest.com.
Luxemburg-based Finance Company Compagnie du Développement de l’Eau Acquires Majority Stake in Germany’s Heckler & Koch
Thursday, July 23rd, 2020Last week, Heckler & Koch announced that Compagnie du Développement de l’Eau, a finance company based in Luxembourg has acquired a majority stake in H&K.
Here is the announcement machine translated from the German original. Please excuse any syntax issues.
Luxembourg financial holding company CDE takes over a majority stake in the traditional weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch
17.07.2020
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has given the Compagnie de Développement de l’Eau (CDE) approval to acquire a majority stake in H&K AG. New majority shareholder supports economic recovery and thus guarantees long-term stability. CDE stands by locations and the “Green Country Strategy” and wants to expand Heckler & Koch’s technology leadership.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) approved the shareholder Compagnie de Développement de l’Eau (CDE) S.A., Luxembourg, to acquire a majority stake in H&K AG on July 15, 2020. The board of H&K AG was informed today that the CDE owns a majority stake in H&K AG.
The CEO of H&K AG, Dr. Jens Bodo Koch says: “We are very interested in clear and stable ownership. With a financially strong, long-term oriented majority owner like CDE, the economic stability of H&K is now guaranteed sustainably. The consolidation course started in 2018 can now be continued consistently. ”
After years of losses, H&K again achieved a profit of EUR 1.6 million in the past year. With a view to the first half of 2020, the Management Board expects a further increase in sales and an improvement in earnings.
900 future-proof and innovative jobs
H&K expressly welcomes the fact that continuity, stability and expansion of the technology leadership of the Oberndorf company enjoy special priority for CDE and that the new majority shareholder supports investments in production and development capacities in Germany in this context. “With CDE’s commitment, a good 900 future-proof and innovative jobs have been secured in Oberndorf,” says CEO Jens Bodo Koch.
CDE has been a H&K shareholder for five years and expressly supports the company’s “Green Country Strategy”. After that, the company only supplies democratic countries, which belong in particular to NATO and / or the EU, and are treated as equal to NATO. It is one of H&K’s corporate principles that weapons belong in the right hands. For H&K, these are soldiers and police officers in democratic countries, who ensure the security and integrity of citizens. They deserve the best equipment for their indispensable and often challenging hard work.
Continuation of the growth and innovation course
With the new majority owner, H&K can continue the growth and innovation course embarked on by the board. The success of this course is already visible. In 2019, the operating profit before taxes (EBITDA) was 30.3 million euros (12.6% of sales), 63 percent higher than in 2018 (18.6 million euros or 8.4% of sales) ). After a successful first half of the year, H&K expects to see profitable growth in 2020 despite the corona pandemic due to its sustainable business policy.
H&K’s return to the profit zone can be attributed on the one hand to a cost reduction program and a significant increase in production efficiency, and on the other to an agreement with the workforce to contribute to the consolidation of the company through additional work while at the same time reducing wages.
The positive development made it possible for H&K to put together an investment package worth 25 million euros, which has been used to modernize production and improve the infrastructure since July 2019 until next year. The company is now operationally profitable enough to manage investments like this from its own cash flow.
The overall outlook for the next few years is also positive. H&K was able to record record orders for the second year in a row. In the current year, the company has started delivering 2,000 medium-range weapons to the Hessian police to protect citizens in the event of terror and amok cases. Also this year, the Bundeswehr special forces will launch the new G95K (HK 416 A7) assault rifle from H&K. This weapon replaces the G36K, which also comes from Oberndorf. H&K’s latest success is the start of delivery of just over 6,000 M110A1 (Squad Designated Marksman Rifle / Rifle Scope / SDMR) precision rifles to the US Army.
We want people to be able to live safely. Our products are designed to protect people in liberal, democratic countries from threats and violence. Heckler & Koch is the leading manufacturer of handguns for the NATO and EU countries and is proud that its assault rifles are standard equipment for many European armed and security forces.
