Leadership and Sales Teams
Leadership Team
Robert W. Montler – Chairman & CEO
Robert (Bob) Montler has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Lee Industries since 1985. He joined Lee Industries in 1978 as Controller and served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President from 1981 – 1985. Prior to joining Lee Industries in 1978, Mr. Montler was Financial Officer at a local plant of Gulf & Western Industries where he advanced to a staff position as a Small Business Specialist. He also worked as Staff Accountant at Young, Oakes, Brown & Co., CPAs. Mr. Montler currently serves as Director of UPMC, Director of UPMC Altoona, and Director of CNB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CCNE). Mr. Montler graduated from Bishop Guilfoyle High School in 1969, prior to attending Saint Francis University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Joshua T. Montler – President and CFO/COO
Joshua (Josh) Montler joined Lee Industries in February, 2008. He was appointed president in 2016 after serving as vice president of finance and operations for six years. His specialties include corporate finance and treasury, general and cost accounting, operations management, lean manufacturing, and employee relations. Mr. Montler holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Saint Francis University. He is also an academy graduate of the Valley Forge Military Academy & College.
Gregory A. Wharton – Vice President of Sales
Gregory (Greg) Wharton joined Lee Industries in 1977, after graduating from Penn State University. He started in the Engineering/Estimating Department, then progressed through roles as Purchasing Agent, Materials Manager, and then relocated to New York as Regional Sales Manager. He returned to corporate headquarters in 1992 as Vice President of Sales. Greg currently serves on several non-profit boards.
Sales Team
Tim “TJ” Knob, Jr. – Applications Engineering Manager, Process Systems and Equipment
Timothy “TJ” Knob, Jr. joined Lee Industries, Inc. in 2002 in purchasing/expediting, later moving into the applications engineering department where he served as a senior applications engineer. He is currently the applications engineering manager for Lee Industries, Inc.
Drawing on his experience as a senior applications engineer, he is responsible for responding to all incoming correspondence on proposal requests, orders, and technical inquiries. Knob performs process and equipment design based on product applications in accordance with customer requirements through application data and specifications.
He works collectively with the customer to meet their specific needs. As a member of the Lee Industries team, he upholds the integrity to their specialties and provides support for quality initiatives, certifications, and customer satisfaction.
Knob holds a Master of Business Administration degree from St. Francis University, where he developed managerial knowledge and skills in areas such as market and financial analyses, human relations and team building, organizational behavior, economic analysis, communication, accounting, decision-making, and strategic planning. He is a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma (National Scholastic Honor Society). He is also a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business with a focus in finance and marketing. He obtained experience in this program by understanding the underpinnings of core business disciplines, notably management, marketing, finance, and logistics. He is also a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association.
He is a member of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), the world’s largest not-for-profit association dedicated to educating and advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals and their industry. Founded in 1980, ISPE serves 25,000 members in 90 countries.
He currently resides in Altoona, PA, with his wife and two sons. His interests include traveling, live music, spending time outdoors fishing and camping, and attending sporting events.
Michael Dogal – Senior Account Executive - Process Systems and Equipment
Michael Dogal joined Lee Industries, Inc. in 2015. He was promoted to Senior Account Executive – Process Systems and Equipment in 2022. Drawing on his prior experience as a Senior Applications Engineer, he is responsible for assisting customers with their technical inquiries and helping them with their process systems and equipment selection. Dogal works with the end users to perform process and equipment design, based on customer product applications and requirements. He is responsible for managing customer projects from the initial communication through installation and during customer’s operation.
He holds a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton, where he learned to apply the principles of the sciences, economics, and human relations to develop new products and processes, as well as design, build, and supervise facilities that convert raw materials into useful products and services. This technical foundation has enabled him to assist his customers in both designing process equipment for their facilities and troubleshooting problems that arise at the various plants. Dogal has continued to deepen his engineering knowledge by attending Penn State University part time to complete his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.
He resides in Dallas, Texas and enjoys spending his free time traveling, attending sporting events, coaching youth sports, and reading.
Jordan Dambeck – Senior Applications Engineer
Jordan Dambeck joined Lee Industries, Inc. in 2018. He was promoted to the role of Applications Engineer in 2020, following his tenure in the purchasing and estimating departments. In this role, he is responsible for all incoming correspondence, including proposal requests, orders, and technical inquiries.
Dambeck works with the end users to perform process and equipment design based on customer product applications and requirements. He is responsible for managing customer projects from initial communication through installation, and then throughout the customer’s operation cycle.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering from Penn State University. There he learned to apply current methods and technology to develop, design, operate, and manage electro-mechanical systems. This technical foundation has enabled him to assist his customers in both designing process equipment for their facilities and troubleshooting problems that arise.
He resides in Altoona, PA and enjoys spending his free time traveling, attending concerts, snowmobiling, and fishing.
Marie Eckels – Senior Applications Engineer
Marie Eckels joined Lee Industries, Inc. in 2012 as an Applications Engineer. In 2020, she moved into the estimating department as a Developmental Engineer, and in 2022, she was promoted to Senior Applications Engineer.
As a Senior Applications Engineer, she works with potential and existing customers to specify processing equipment for their applications. Day-to-day actions include writing proposals, facilitating new orders, answering customer technical questions or concerns regarding existing or new equipment, managing in-house projects, and ensuring order shipment and successful installation and start-up. She also performs heat transfer calculations, lab testing, and factory acceptance testing as needed.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. There she learned a thorough base in mathematics, physical science, engineering science, laboratory, design, and communication skills. This foundation has enabled her to help her customers in designing process equipment for their facilities and troubleshooting problems.
She resides in Altoona, PA, and enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends, cooking, gardening, and traveling.
Andrew Potopa, Applications Engineer
Andrew Potopa joined Lee Industries, Inc. in 2024 as an Applications Engineer. In this role, he collaborates with customers and senior applications engineers to assist customers in developing designs for vessels that meet their specific processing requirements. Andrew assists both current and new customers by addressing technical questions related to current or new equipment.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering and Chemistry from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. There he acquired a variety of problem-solving skills. These skills have enabled him to help customers in troubleshooting problems and designing new processing equipment.
Andrew resides in Altoona, PA. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, golfing, and exploring new restaurants and breweries.
John Weaver – Fluid Transfer, Parts and Service Manager
John Weaver is the Manager for the Fluid Transfer, Parts and Service Divisions of Lee Industries, Inc. He has been with Lee Industries since 1990 and has held various positions within the company in the areas of sales, estimating and engineering.
Weaver is responsible for the marketing and sales of Lee Fluid Transfer, which manufactures the highest quality, stainless steel, sanitary ball valves. The standard line of sanitary ball valves is both 3A Sanitary Certified and is USDA accepted, and they were the first sanitary ball valve to be 3A certified. He specializes in working with vessel manufacturers, and is knowledgeable in sanitary ball valve applications (manual or automated), and specialty valves such as jacketed, clean in place (C.I.P) and aseptic. He also manages all aspects of the replacement parts and field service divisions for the company.
He is a graduate of Triangle Institute of Technology with an Associate Degree in Architectural Design Technologies, and attended Penn State University, completing classes in Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of ISPE (International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers); PMCA (An International Association of Confectioners); 3-A Sanitary Standards Organization; and FCIA (Fine Chocolate Industry Association).
Weaver resides in Clearfield, Pa., and is married with three children. He enjoys vinyl record collecting, playing guitar, golfing and fishing.