Forrest R. Whittaker

Mr. Whittaker was named Chief Executive Officer of Avalign Technologies in January 2007 
and has company-wide responsibility, which includes the four operating divisions of Avalign: German Specialty Instruments, Cases & Trays, Instruments & Implants and Cutting Instruments.
Mr. Whittaker began his career as a sales representative with American Hospital Supply in 1977 and has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Prior positions held by Mr. Whittaker include President and COO, Teleflex Medical, 2003-2006; President, Respiratory Group, Tyco Healthcare, 2000-2003; President and CEO, Paidos Health Management Services, 1993-2000. Prior to his tenure with Paidos, Mr. Whittaker served in a variety of management positions with both Baxter International and American Hospital Supply, including President at the V. Mueller division from 1989-1992. Mr. Whittaker serves as a Board Director for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare.
Mr. Whittaker received an M.B.A. from James Madison University in 1977, and a B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971.

Kim Simonton

Kim Simonton became Chief Financial Officer for Avalign Technologies in July 2017.

Ms. Simonton has extensive experience as a corporate financial executive. She has over 20 years of finance and operations experience across manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses. Prior positions held by Ms. Simonton include Vice President of Finance Global Manufacturing/Operations at CareFusion, Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis at Hospira, and Chief Financial Officer at Surgical Solutions.

Ms. Simonton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI. She has passed the Uniform CPA Examination administered by the Illinois Board of Examiners.

McNeil "Mac" Brown

Mr. Brown was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Avalign Technologies in March 2011. He has global responsibility for sales and marketing efforts for Avalign Orthopaedics.
Mr. Brown has over 30 years’ experience in the healthcare industry having started as a sales representative with American Hospital Supply in 1977. Prior positions held by Mr. Brown include Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ascent Healthcare Solutions, and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Vanguard Medical Concepts. During his tenure at Cardinal Health, Allegiance, Baxter International, and American Hospital Supply Mr. Brown held a variety of sales and management positions.
Mr. Brown received a B.S. degree Cum Laude from Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.

Scott Gareiss

Mr. Gareiss was named Vice President, R&D and Business Development for Avalign Technologies in June 2010. Mr. Gareiss has company-wide responsibility for new product development and engineering services which includes the four operating divisions of Avalign: German Specialty Instruments, Cases & Trays, Instruments & Implants and Cutting Instruments.
Mr. Gareiss has over 15 years of experience in the orthopedic industry, having started as a product development engineer with Zimmer in 1999. Prior positions held by Mr. Gareiss include Senior Director, Professional Services with Symmetry Medical, 2004-2010; Senior Product Development Engineer with Medtronic, 2003-2004, and Zimmer, 1999-2003. Prior to his career in orthopedics, Mr. Gareiss served as an officer in the U.S. Army, 1995-1999.
Mr. Gareiss received his M.B.A. from Ball State University in 2004, and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1995.

Tony O'Neill

Mr. O’Neill was named Senior Vice President of Operations for Avalign Technologies in Febuary 2012. 
Mr. O’Neill has over 25 years’ experience in operations, procurement and materials management. Mr. O'Neill started his career with American Hospital Supply in 1983. His previous positions included Sr. Vice President, Operations, Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Inc., 2002-2011, Vice President, Manufacturing and Purchasing, Allegiance Healthcare Corporation 1998-2001, Director, Manufacturing and Purchasing, 1997-1998. Previously, 1985-1997, Tony fulfilled a variety of manufacturing and purchasing responsibilities at both Baxter International and American Hospital Supply Corporation.
Mr. O’Neill received a B.S. degree, Cum Laude, in Management from Florida State University in 1983.

Paul Rice

Mr. Rice was named Vice President, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for Avalign Technologies in September 2013. Mr. Rice has global responsibility for quality assurance and regulatory affairs for all Avalign Technologies business units.
Mr. Rice has over 30 years management experience in medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Prior to joining Avalign Technologies, Mr. Rice held executive and senior management positions at Stryker, Cardinal Health, Bausch and Lomb, Pharmacia and Upjohn, and Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Rice also was the Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for Ascent Healthcare Solutions. Prior to his career in the healthcare industry, Mr. Rice served as an Officer in the United States Army.
Mr. Rice received a BS degree in Biology and an MBA from California Polytechnic State University.

Gary Fromm

Mr. Fromm was promoted to Vice President of Operations for Cases & Trays in June 2013. Mr. Fromm has responsibility for the Cases & Trays operating division of Avalign Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Fromm has over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. Mr. Fromm joined Avalign as the Director of Engineering in 2010 for the Cases & Trays operating division and was appointed Director of Operations and Engineering for Cases & Trays in June 2012. Prior to joining Cases & Trays he held the position of General Manager, Dunigan Medical, 2008-2010. Mr. Fromm began his Medical Device Career with Boston Scientific Corporation, 1993-2008, where he held Management positions in Operations, Engineering and Quality.
Mr. Fromm received a B.S. degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Rick Link

Mr. Link was named Vice President of Operations for Instruments & Implants in July 2009. Mr. Link has responsibility for the Instruments & Implants operating division of Avalign Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Link has over 20 years of operations experience with the last 12 years in the contract manufacturing environment serving the medical device industry. Mr. Link started his career with Roadway Express as an Industrial Engineer in 1991. Prior positions held by Mr. Link include Director of Operations, GammaStar Medical Systems, 2008-2009; General Manager, Norman Noble, Inc., 2005-2008; General Manager, Accellent, Inc., 2000-2005, and Director of Operations, Evenflo Company, Inc., 1994-2000.
Mr. Link received his B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the Ohio State University in 1990.

Dave Cummings

Mr. Cummings was named Vice President of Operations for Cutting Instruments in May 2015. Mr. Cummings has responsibility for the Cutting Instruments operating division of Avalign Technologies, Inc.

Mr. Cummings has over 30 years of experience in engineering, operations, and plant management. Mr. Cummings started his career with Superior Essex, a multi-billion dollar worldwide manufacturer of wire, cable, and accessory products, in 1984 as an Engineer. He also had several roles in engineering, plant management, and multi-plant management before serving as Senior Vice President of Operations for Superior Essex where he managed 12 facilities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, and China. Most recently, Mr. Cummings ran his own business, Cummings Production Machining from 2009 - 2014.  

Dave holds a BSME from Purdue University and an MBA from Notre Dame.

Manfred Klingel

Manfred Klingel was appointed to President of the Avalign German Specialty Instruments Division in February 2016. Mr. Klingel has overall global responsibility for all aspects of GSI including our operations in Tuttlingen, Germany and Schaumburg, Illinois.

Over the past 25 years, Mr. Klingel has accumulated a vast array of business experiences and accomplishments. He is a seasoned executive who has continuously spearheaded the productions of superior results across multiple industries and work environments. Prior to joining the Avalign team, Mr. Klingel held significant positions of leadership with a multitude of leading global corporations including Carl Zeiss Group, Prysmian SpA, and Pirelli SpA.

Eric Graham

Eric Graham was appointed to Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Avalign German Specialty Instruments Division in February 2016. Mr. Graham has overall responsibility for development and execution of all programs and activities related to serving our GSI customer bases of surgical instrument distributions and orthopaedic OEMs

Mr. Graham has a proven track record of accomplishments. He has over 19 years of experience in the medical device industry, having served in a broad set of sales and marketing roles with several medical device market leaders including Stryker Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, and Medtronic, Inc.

Ed Cantey

Ed Cantey was named Vice President of Process Engineering for Avalign Technologies, Inc. in January 2017. Mr. Cantey works with the Operations team to develop standard processes and to drive process improvements.

Mr. Cantey has over 30 years of experience in medical device manufacturing, having held positions in engineering, production, purchasing, plant management and multi platn management at companies including Baxter, Allegiance, and Cardinal. He also served as Vice President of Research & Development and Operations Engineering at Ascent Healthcare. Most recently, Mr. Cantey worked as a consulting General Manager for private equity owned businesses in Pennsylvania and Tijuana, Mexico.

Mr. Cantey received his B.S. in Industrial Technology and Management from Western Carolina University. He also has extensive training in Lean concepts.

Our Vision is to be THE high performance medical device contract supplier by exceeding customer expectations through collaborative engineering services, consistent manufacturing excellence and comprehensive quality systems that deliver fast, reliable, cost effective product systems, and service.

Our Mission is to improve patient outcomes by providing “best in class” medical device products to our OEM customers through our superior design and manufacturing services.


Our Core Values of Dignity/Respect, Responsibility, Integrity and Customer centric approach guide us each day in our work with our customers, and employees.