George Solomon - President and Founder

George moved to Oak Ridge in 1980 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Fate brought both George and Dr. Don Santeler, a world renowned vacuum scientist, together on the same project at the Department of Energy’s Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment Plant. As the largest vacuum process ever conceived, this huge government venture was a premier opportunity to learn the art of vacuum science under the guidance of a vacuum expert. All aspects of vacuum technology including pumping systems, leak testing, residual gas analysis, gauge and leak calibration and efficient system design were critical to the successful operation of such an immense vacuum process.

With six invaluable years of experience working at the Oak Ridge facilities, George looked for new opportunities to utilize his knowledge and expertise. With the aid of his co-founder, Mark Boeckmann the two launched VTI in the basement of George’s home in 1986.

The technical experience gained working in the Oak Ridge facilities, was quickly supplemented by real world, hands-on experience of every type ranging from process engineering and product design to sales, finance, purchasing, and human relations.

Today with 21 years of vacuum and business experience, 21 years of marriage to Michelle, and 10 years of fatherhood to daughter Sonja, George is prepared to serve his customers as if they were part of the VTI family.

  Tom Hoge - President

Tom joined Sterling PCU as President in February of 2001. Prior to joining Team PCU, he served as Vice President, US Operations of a $2.5 billion private logistics/transportation company in Chicago. The move came after 13 years, and eight relocations with Eaton Corporation, a global manufacturer of highly engineered products/components, serving the automotive, heavy duty, agriculture and industrial OEM markets.

Tom brings a broad-based leadership background as a result of serving as Business Unit Manager, Division Purchasing Manager, Operations/Product Line Manager, Business Development Manager, and Area Sales Engineer. He holds a BA Economics from Denison University, a BS Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Northeastern University Executive program.

Tom is married with 3 boys and stays active working on his golf game, skiing, and physical fitness.

  Dan Miles - Director of Engineering

Dan is a mechanical engineer who has been around mass spectrometer based leak testing for more than 15 years. After 12 years of involvement in an entrepreneurial air conditioning R&D venture in Atlanta, Dan moved to Oak Ridge and joined VTI in August of 1995. Like George Solomon (VTI’s co-founder), Dan is a native of Western Pennsylvania. (In fact, Dan and George were high school classmates! ) Dan went on to study at Georgia Tech where he earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.

At VTI his responsibilities are primarily in the area of leak test systems where he works with customers from concept through proposal, design, build, installation, training, and support. His experience has been a key to VTI’s emergence as a leading supplier of mass spectrometer based leak testing equipment to the air conditioning industry. Finding cost effective solutions to the "custom" challenges that customers bring to VTI is what motivates Dan and the engineering staff at VTI. Experience and insight come together in the form of innovations that keep VTI at the forefront of the industry.

In 1998, Dan was recognized by the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and certified as NDT Level III in the field of leak testing. As a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Dan has published and presented a number of technical papers. Most recently, he was a participant in a panel discussion at ASHRAE’s 1999 Winter Meeting focused on the state of the art in leak detection equipment.

    Tom Wagner - Senior Account Manager

Tom is currently a Senior Account Manager and has over 32 years experience working at Production Control Units, Inc. Tom started at PCU in March, 1971 as a Co-op student while obtaining his Associate in Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Sinclair Community College. While working in the shop as a mechanical assembler, plumber, electrician and mechanist. Tom learned not only to read prints but also the time required doing various operations in the shop. After receiving his Associate Degree, Tom moved into the Design Department and worked full time developing new machines. He also continued his education at Wright State University in the evenings. Five years later, Tom received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering. At that time, Tom transferred to the Engineering Department, where he put to good use his knowledge and work experience in upgrading & designing new machines. In 1981, Tom transferred once again to the Sales and Service Department. In this department he works personally with customers (Domestic and International) from the quotation stage up through start up and training of complete systems.

Tom has built a solid trust and confidence with his customers during his employment years with the company. Although he has worked in both the Automotive and Appliance Industry over the years, he has currently channeled he energy towards the Appliance Industry worldwide.

    Mark Boeckmann - Chief Scientist

Mark moved to Oak Ridge in 1981 after graduation from Iowa State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Fate brought Mark into the same Vacuum Engineering Support Group as VTI co-founder George Solomon. Mark immediately began to use and develop his skills as a PC programmer automating test equipment and running Monte Carlo simulations of gas flow in vacuum systems. His outstanding ability in mathematics and computer simulations lead to his co-authoring several papers on gas flow in vacuum with Dr. Don Santeler.

In the fall of 1986 Mark grew tried of the frustrations of working on government projects and he jumped ship becoming VTI’s first full time person. George followed shortly thereafter and together they began to build the infrastructure for VTI and its initial products including calibrated leaks and the first PC controlled AERO VAC Mass Spectrometer/RGA. Mark's broad range of knowledge in multiple areas including physics, chemistry, electronics, computers and mathematics, has made him VTI’s technical cornerstone earning him the title of Chief Scientist.

As in most small companies Mark wears many hats. With his patience and knowledge he is capable of communicating well with the brightest PhD about nuclear physics or guiding the more practical operator on the production line through troubleshooting a leak detection system.

   D. Kevin Rogers – Project Management Team Leader

Project manager with experience in management, development, installation and maintenance of projects. Project manager on multiple multi-piece equipment projects. Experienced in both mechanical design and mechanical control system engineering. Experienced in programming different PLC languages. Twenty-five years experience with fluid fill and special process equipment at PCU.

    Christopher Edwards - General Sales Manager

Christopher joined PCU in 1997 as International Account Manager focusing on the Asia Pacific region for both Automotive and Appliance based manufacturing customers. His previous customer experience in Tier 1 power-train manufacturing, medical manufacturing, defense contractors and aerospace manufacturer's proved valuable in this international endeavor. Additional direct experience in a family based business provided invaluable experience in agency based technical sales and service to a multitude of industrial customers. Working with multiple Principals to provide complete turn-key systems via agents, distributors and manufacturer's representatives, Christopher learned to understand and appreciate the "art" of the complex solutions based sale for a given program or project. Continuing his evolution at Sterling PCU, Christopher has recently taken on additional responsibilities as General Sales Manager, Commercial & Industrial with global responsibilities for front-to-back sales and service activities. His international experience in the appliance markets coupled with his domestic automotive and transportation experience provides the foundation for this focused approach.

Christopher graduated from Ball State University in 1988 with a Bachelors of Science degree with majors in business and philosophy. He continues his MBA education today.

    Matthew A Smith - PE PROJECT MANAGER

Project manager with experience in management, development, installation and maintenance of projects. Project manager on multiple multi-piece equipment projects. Nine years' experience in fluid fill equipment, tool presentation, process equipment and mass spectrometer leak test equipment at Sterling PCU.

    Bob Heywood – Vice President, R&D (Retired)


Bob’s professional career with Production Control Units, Inc. spanned 32 years, beginning as a Project Engineer. He assumed corporate responsibility for Engineering in 1990 and until retirement in 2003 focused on development of the key technical capabilities necessary for the company to maintain leadership in the industry.

During his tenure, Bob was involved with the full range of PCU product areas including A/C System Processing, On-Line Fluid Filling, and Product Performance Testing. He has the depth of experience along with a fundamental knowledge of the science and technologies required to engineer, design, and build these systems.

Bob is a Registered Professional Engineer in Ohio and serves as a member of the advisory committee for the Mechanical Engineering Technology department at Dayton’s Sinclair Community College.