Management

Jim Scholhamer, Chief Executive Officer

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Before joining UCT as Chief Executive Officer, Jim Scholhamer was Corporate Vice President and General Manager at Applied Materials Inc. in the Applied Global Services Group from 2010 to 2014, and the Display and Glass Products Groups from 2006 to 2010. During his tenure, Mr. Scholhamer played a critical role in improving the company’s execution in the 200mm semiconductor and display markets. In 2008, he headed display manufacturing and operations when the group successfully delivered on $1B revenue -- the most significant ramp-up in the group’s history. He also led the display group to capitalize on industry trends like OLED and touch screens for tablets, computers and smartphones.

Prior to his time at Applied Materials, Mr. Scholhamer was Chief Technical Officer and Chief Operational Officer of Applied Films Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Sheri Savage, Chief Financial Officer

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Sheri Savage has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 7, 2016. Ms. Savage joined the company as the Senior Director of Finance in April 2009. Before joining UCT, Ms. Savage served at Credence Systems Corporation as Corporate Controller and Vice President of Finance and as Director of Internal Audit. Prior to Credence Systems, Ms. Savage held various accounting and finance roles at Protiviti and KLA-Tencor Corporation. Ms. Savage also served as Manager, Business Process Risk Accounting at Arthur Anderson LLP.

Ms. Savage holds a B.S. in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis.

Bill Bentinck, President, Services Division

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Bill Bentinck joined UCT in April 2019 and is President of our Services Division. Mr. Bentinck brings extensive knowledge of the semiconductor industry to our management team, including the development of products and services, and Integrated Device Manufacturer customer collaboration and management. Before joining UCT, Mr. Bentinck served in senior and executive management roles in equipment manufacturing companies, including Lam Research, Novellus Systems, AIXTRON and Eugenus.

Mr. Bentinck holds an M.S. in Engineering with a focus on Material Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Chris Cook, President, Products Divison

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Chris Cook joined UCT as President of our Products Division in April 2022. Mr. Cook’s track record includes 25 years of successful leadership and general management with semiconductor and electronic systems companies, including Renesas Technologies, Infineon Technologies, Flex, and Cypress Semiconductor. With these companies, Mr. Cook and his teams drove profitable growth by developing valuable technologies and products, optimizing global operations, and solving tough problems in ways that built lasting trust with customers. In addition, he has led numerous strategic initiatives to scale and improve customer experience, employee engagement, and financial performance via the digital transformation of processes and services. Mr. Cook holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Technology from Purdue University and completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School.

Jeff McKibben, Chief Information Officer

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Jeff McKibben joined UCT in 2021 as the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Mr. McKibben possesses over 30 years’ experience managing IT in large, global high-tech manufacturing companies and has extensive experience with international M&A, product development, supply chain complexity, sales and marketing innovation, program management and building organizational competency. Prior to joining UCT, Jeff was CIO at ON Semiconductor, a $6 billion global manufacturer driving innovation in energy efficient electronics. He previously held a range of roles at Hewlett Packard in global IT management, consulting, and enterprise program management.

Mr. McKibben holds an M.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona and a B.S. in Humanities and International Relations cum laude from Georgetown University.

Jamie Palfrey, Chief Human Resources Officer

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Jamie Palfrey is the Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Palfrey has spent more than 25 years leading global HR teams in over 40 countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Before joining UCT, Ms. Palfrey served in executive and senior management roles in technology companies, including Shape Technologies Group, FEI Company, Lam Research and ConocoPhillips. She brings a strong and diverse background with a passion for strategic talent acquisition, global compensation/benefits and total rewards programs, organizational design, development, succession planning and employee relations.

Ms. Palfrey holds a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Occupational Training and Development/Instructional Design from the University of Louisville and a B.S. in Business from Portland State University.

Board of Directors

Clarence L. Granger

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Clarence L. Granger has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2002 and as our Chairman since October 2006. Beginning in 1996, Mr. Granger served in multiple roles within the company including Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Operations, culminating with 12 years as UCT’s Chief Executive Officer. Before joining UCT, Mr. Granger held executive management roles at Seagate Technology, HMT Technology and Xidex, including holding the position of Chief Executive Officer for HMT Technology from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Granger has a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.

Mr. Granger brings to the Board of Directors his thorough knowledge of UCT’s business, strategy, people, operations, competition and financial position. Mr. Granger provides recognized executive leadership and vision in addition to a global network of customer, industry and government relationships.

Jim Scholhamer, Chief Executive Officer

Portrait

Before joining UCT as Chief Executive Officer, Jim Scholhamer was Corporate Vice President and General Manager at Applied Materials Inc. in the Applied Global Services Group from 2010 to 2014, and the Display and Glass Products Groups from 2006 to 2010. During his tenure, Mr. Scholhamer played a critical role in improving the company’s execution in the 200mm semiconductor and display markets. In 2008, he headed display manufacturing and operations when the group successfully delivered on $1B revenue -- the most significant ramp-up in the group’s history. In addition, he led the display group to capitalize on industry trends like OLED and touch screens for tablets, computers and smartphones.

Prior to his time at Applied Materials, Mr. Scholhamer was Chief Technical Officer and Chief Operational Officer of Applied Films Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Michigan.

David T. Ibnale

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David ibnAle has served as a director of the UCT Board since November 2002. Mr. ibnAle is a Founding and Managing Partner of Advance Venture Partners LLC. He has over 20 years of experience as an investor in small and mid-sized growth companies in the technology, media and communications sectors. Before co-founding AVP in 2014, Mr. ibnAle was a Managing Partner of Augusta Columbia Capital Group from 2011 to 2013, and a Managing Director of TPG Growth, the growth equity and middle-market investment platform of TPG, from 2008 to 2011. Prior to joining TPG Growth, he was an investment professional and a Partner at Francisco Partners from 1999 to 2008. He began his investing career at Summit Partners. Mr. ibnAle has served on the Boards of Directors of a number of public and private technology companies. Currently, he serves on the Boards of Above Average Productions, Hytrust, Nativo, Unified and UrbanSitter. Mr. ibnAle holds a B.A. in Public Policy, an M.A. in International Development Policy from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Mr. ibnAle provides the Board of Directors with expertise in corporate finance, accounting and strategy. Through his experience, Mr. ibnAle brings a thorough understanding of business management, including investment, corporate strategy and M&A to UCT’s growth initiatives.

Emily Liggett

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Emily Liggett has served as a director of the UCT Board since May 2014. Ms. Liggett is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Liggett Advisors, a strategy/implementation consulting business. Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer of NovaTorque, a company she joined in March 2009, and has 30 years of experience as an engineer, technology entrepreneur and corporate executive. Previously, Ms. Liggett was CEO of Apexon, CEO of Capstone Turbine and CEO of Elo TouchSystems. Before these roles, she held assignments in sales, marketing, operations and general management at Raychem Corporation, including GM of the Raychem Telecommunications Division. She has had several international experiences, working in Switzerland with EPFL, Australia with McKinsey, Japan with TouchPanel Systems and Belgium with the European Community Task Force for Industrial Innovation. Ms. Liggett has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an M.S. degree in Manufacturing Systems and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Thomas T. Edman

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Thomas T. Edman joined the UCT Board in June 2015. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of TTM Technologies Inc. and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2004. Mr. Edman previously served as Chairman and as a board member of FlexTech and the American Electronics Association. Mr. Edman held multiple management roles at Applied Materials Inc. including Group Vice President and General Manager of the AKT Display Business Group and Corporate Vice President of Corporate Business Development. Before that he served as President and CEO of Applied Films Corporation from 1998 until Applied Materials’ acquisition in 2006. Mr. Edman has also served as General Manager of the High Performance Materials Division of Marubeni Specialty Chemicals Inc. Mr. Edman holds a B.A. in East Asian Studies (Japan) from Yale University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Edman brings to the Board of Directors his business acumen and experience in the technology industry, having served in numerous senior executive roles with sizeable technology companies, including as CEO of a public company. Mr. Edman also has extensive experience in Asia and with compensation-related matters.

Barbara V. Scherer

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Barbara V. Scherer joined the UCT Board in June 2015. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of NETGEAR Inc. and ANSYS Inc. She served as a director of Keithley Instruments Inc. from 2004 until its acquisition in 2010. She has experience serving on the boards of non-profit organizations. Currently, Ms. Scherer is a private investor. Ms. Scherer was Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Plantronics Inc., from 1998 to 2012. She was responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial management as well as information technology, legal and investor relations. Before Plantronics, Ms. Scherer held executive management positions spanning 11 years in the disk drive industry, was an associate with The Boston Consulting Group and was a member of the corporate finance team at ARCO. Ms. Scherer received a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her M.B.A. from the School of Management at Yale University.

With a career spanning more than 30 years including 25 years in senior financial leadership roles in the technology industry, Ms. Scherer provides the company with practical and strategic insight into complex financial reporting and management issues as well as significant operational expertise.

Ernest E. Maddock

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Ernest E. Maddock has served as a director of the UCT Board since June 2018. Mr. Maddock retired from Micron Technology in 2018, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Micron, Mr. Maddock held leadership positions at multiple global companies, including Riverbed Technology, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was additionally responsible for worldwide operations and information technology. Prior to Riverbed, he spent 15 years at Lam Research Corporation, rising to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. His previous roles at Lam included Vice President, Customer Support Business Group, Group Vice President and Senior Vice President of Global Operations. Mr. Maddock holds a B.S. in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Georgia State University.

Mr. Maddock brings to the Board significant experience in business, operations and finance. His knowledge of the critical drivers across the semiconductor ecosystem will bring valuable guidance to executing UCT’s growth strategy in this exciting market.

Jackie Seto

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Jackie Seto has served as a director of the UCT Board since January 2020. She is currently Principle at Side People Consulting and is a board member for both the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and Mastersranking.com. Ms. Seto spent 22 years at Lam Research, where she advanced to be Group Vice President and General Manager of the Clean Business Unit. During her tenure there, her responsibilities included leading the Refurbished Products Group and Emerging Businesses.

Ms. Seto provides the Board with extensive experience in product and business strategy and marketing. Her knowledge of the semiconductor value chain will help UCT capitalize on growth opportunities within these markets.