DRIFIRE'S Management Team

L. Gene Cone
President

Recognized worldwide as one of the most innovative, entrepreneurial and successful business leaders in the textile industry, with over 26 years of diversified, multi-functional senior-level executive management experience, L. Gene Cone has led entries into new domestic and international markets at divisions of Fortune 500 companies and mid-sized companies, expanded and developed new products and markets, and defined and led acquisitions, turnarounds, restructurings and international sourcing strategies. In addition to his proven skills as a strategic planner, partnerships expert, sales and marketing innovator, and operations veteran who has streamlined multiple organizations, Mr. Cone has a proven record of strong financial management that has significantly improved the bottom-line performance of the companies with which he has worked during his long career of achievement.

Before joining DRIFIRE, Mr. Cone was President and Chief Executive Officer of Johnston Industries, Inc., a $230 million, 2100-employee Company with 11 domestic manufacturing and distribution locations and international sales to over 25 countries. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Cone was President and Chief Executive Officer of American Fiber & Finishing, Inc., a $75 million diversified textile manufacturer. Mr. Cone’s other previous positions include: General Manager and Division President at Spring Industries, Inc. where he led the start-up of a new Protective Fabrics business; President and Founder of Miltex Textiles, Inc, a major military textiles consultancy; Vice President and General Manager at Burlington Industries, Inc.; and, General Manager, and Division President of Burlington Military Fabrics Division, where he led the start-up of a very successful business supplying textile products to the US military, Federal and State government agencies, and numerous governments around the world. Earlier he held positions in sales management, plant management, business development management, and process engineering management at Burlington Industries Fabrics Division, Industrial Division-Kernersville Finishing Plant, Burlington Formed Fabrics Division, and Burlington Corporation.

Mr. Cone, who from 1971 to 1975 served with the United States Air Force in Computer Operations Management, holds a BS degree in engineering from the University of Florida and an MS Management degree from LaSalle University.

Jacqueline Stise
Vice President, Supply Chain Systems

Jacqueline Stise, a seasoned professional with twenty-plus years’ senior management experience in supplier sourcing; production facilities development, launch and expansion; off-shoring initiatives; and, product development management joined DRIFIRE in 2007 as Vice President, Supply Chain Systems. To this position, she brings a distinguished track record of proven results in dramatically increasing revenues and profits and an extensive set of highly specialized skills in global sourcing, import/export compliance, international supplier relations, quality assurance/SPC systems and overall supply chain management expertise.

Previously, for five years, she was Vice President of Global Manufacturing for Calderon Textiles where she led the establishment of a new division for the company. For 12 years prior to that, Ms. Stise was with Best Manufacturing, where from 1994 to 2001 she served as Director of Manufacturing, overseeing a team of 15 and total production supervisory staff of 150 at multiple global manufacturing facilities dedicated to the cost-effective, timely and profitable delivery of a product generating $125 million in annual revenues.

Earlier, Ms. Stise was Vice President, Perry Ellis America Men’s Division for Perry Ellis International; Product Development Manager-Manufacturing Manager for Society Brand Industries/PL Industries/MSI; and, Product Manager at Garon, Inc.

Robert W. Hines, Jr
Vice President, Product Development

Robert W. Hines brings to his role as Vice President of Product Development at DRIFIRE some seventeen years of domestic and international experience in textile product development, quality, and manufacturing. This broad experience spanning these three key disciplines that drive successful new products from concept to a high-quality market offering, distinguishes Mr. Hines as one of the few senior level professionals in the textile industry whose product development visions are informed by a balanced and first-hand understanding of how to achieve the best quality outcomes, evaluate and secure the best manufacturing and fabric sources, and how to help identify systems, processes, technologies and preferred methods for maximum new product quality, profitability, and market acceptance.

For six years prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hines was with Johnston Textiles, Inc., a $70M diversified fabric manufacturer where he rose from Technical Manager to Director of Quality, Director of Technical Services, and ultimately to Director of Manufacturing responsible for three manufacturing plants, product development, quality, and the marketing and management of Johnston’s Textest textile testing business. Prior to that, for two years, Mr. Hines was with Burlington Industries where he directed the training of 860 technical and salaried weavers, achieving double digit improvements in quality and six-figure reductions in cost. Mr. Hines extensive career in the textile industry also includes six years with Johnston Industries, Inc., a $230M diversified fabric manufacturer, and two years with Pharr Yarns, Inc., a $241M manufacturer and marketer of yarns. While at Johnston Industries, Mr. Hines led the team responsible for the selection and start-up of a $21M plant modernization and expansion project. At Pharr Yarns he managed yarn manufacturing operations.

Mr. Hines has a Master’s Degree in Textile Technology from the Institute of Textile Technology and a BS Degree in Business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of the American Society for Testing and materials International and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.

Tracy E. Linton
Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales

Tracy E. Linton joins DRIFIRE as Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales following a nearly 15-year career in senior executive sales positions with leading global apparel companies with significant protective clothing product lines. Most recently, for five years with Aramak Uniform Services, which provides uniform rental and leasing services to more than 400,000 customer accounts nationwide from over 228 service locations and distribution centers across the United States, Mr. Linton rose from National Account Executive and National Sales Manager to Director of Sales - Protective Apparel Sales and to Vice President of Sales - Protective Apparel.

Earlier in his career, for three years between 1994 and 1996, Mr. Linton was Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service for Bulwark Protective Apparel and their Bulwark FR brand of protective clothing. While in this role he was an integral member of Bulwark’s internal executive team which secured the company’s acquisition by VF Corporation, a $7 billion-plus apparel company with a diverse, international portfolio of brands and products that reach consumers worldwide. Following the acquisition, Mr. Linton remained with VF Corporation as Director of Sales for the Bulwark FR brand. In this role, he had overall protective apparel revenue growth responsibility, drove key branding initiatives, and implemented an international expansion for product sales in the Middle East, South and Central America, and Europe.

Mr. Linton, who earned a BBA degree in Marketing from Texas Tech University and an MBA degree in International Management at the University of Dallas, remains active within a number of trade associations and industry specific safety organizations. He is currently a voting member within the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) electrical section which provides a voice in the development of consensus standards focused on electrical safe work-practices. He also remains active in the Edison Electrical Institute’s safety and health group.

Shawn Patrick Connor
Vice President, Military Markets

A long-experienced global military business segment specialist with extensive knowledge of textiles for military apparel systems, Shawn Patrick Connor joins DRIFIRE as Vice President, Military Markets, from his previous position as General Manager for the Global Military Business Unit of Nobel Fiber Technologies. While at Nobel Fiber Technologies for three years, where he was recruited to target national accounts and was later named Director of Sales, Mr. Connor helped lead double digit sales growth for the company. Prior to this, Mr. Connor was employed by Donaldson Company, Incorporated, an industry leader in the manufacture of filter media and software. In this role he was instrumental in the company’s double digit sales growth for eight consecutive years.

With a total of more than 20 years experience in high level sales, marketing, and operations positions in which he has led sales increases of at least 30% to 40% for a diverse range of organizations, including Government Access Incorporated, Mr. Connor’s background includes filtration, instrumentation, automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical, semiconductor, and distribution systems.

A graduate of the College of Communication from The Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, Mr. Connor has for the past eight years been an active member of the American Apparel and Footwear Association.