Leadership Team

The 95-year-old heart of KLA Laboratories continues to beat strong at every client job site, with every technological advancement, and inside every dedicated employee as Matt O’Bryan, youngest son of Norma and the late Pat O’Bryan, fervently forges innovative new paths with his entire team at the global communications technology company.

Matt began working at KLA in 1984 at age 16 in the shipping and receiving department and became an audio/visual technician after high school graduation. Though Matt had been unsure about his life’s direction, his career path crystallized when his father, then KLA President Pat O’Bryan, passed away suddenly in 1991. His mother, Norma, took over as President and Matt was named Vice President of Operations while still in college, earning his Bachelor of Business Administration from Cleary University in 1992.

Ten years later, in 2002, Matt was promoted to President and CEO as Norma sold her interest in KLA to Matt, her son Donald, and her daughter Mary. As a second-generation owner, Matt began expanding the company’s product and service offerings, and KLA’s annual revenue soared from $2.5 million that year to $11.9 million in 2005.

Matt’s vision and strength as a leader were both solidified when the company’s market share and profits dropped to dangerously low levels as the recession began to hit in 2007. Laser-focused on KLA’s future, the company began selling, engineering, and installing network hardware for the cabling and Wi-Fi networks they built. KLA created a Network Services Division and Network Staging Center and established expertise in cellular in-building wireless Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). These new offerings further expanded and reinforced KLA’s reputation as a leader in technology integration and led to great growth and rising revenues, reaching $40 million in 2022.

At the beginning of 2022, Matt became the sole owner of KLA as Donald and Mary O’Bryan retired from the company after careers of 44 years and 35 years, respectively.

Matt now leads an ever-growing team of approximately 200 employees across North America, and KLA has expanded its reach to provide services globally. Every team member feels a part of the KLA family. Collaboration and the freedom to create, grow, and learn from mistakes are a big part of the corporate culture Matt has continued to strengthen throughout his tenure.

In 2000, Matt was diagnosed and treated for Hairy Cell Leukemia and has been in remission since 2008. Surviving Leukemia inspired Matt to help others. Since 2004, Matt has served as a Trustee on the board of the Michigan Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and has raised over $350,000 to fund research to find a cure for blood cancer.

Matt was honored as one of Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 class in 2007. In 2018, Matt received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award in the Technology category for the Michigan and Northwest Ohio Region.

One of Matt’s personal passions is playing guitar, songwriting, singing, and performing regionally with his country-rock band, The Wrenfields. They have released three critically acclaimed albums of original music, won six Detroit Music Awards, and are releasing their 4th album entitled “The Wrenfields” in July 2023.

Tommy met Matt O’Bryan in 1986 during his sophomore year at Henry Ford College. Tommy was running the men’s golf team tryouts, where Matt was trying out for the men’s golf team. After spending the first part of his career in the golf industry, Tommy joined KLA Laboratories as a Cable Installation Technician in 1993. Tommy grew with the company, moving from an installation field position, to become Purchasing Manager in 1995, and later the Operations Manager in 1999. He was named Vice President and General Manager of KLA in 2005 and was promoted to Vice President and COO in 2016.

Today, Tommy and Matt, President and CEO of KLA, work side by side overseeing every aspect of KLA’s operations, growth, and success, and continuing the long-term relationships built with KLA’s long-standing customers. Tommy works closely with KLA’s directors and management team to ensure efficiency and increased revenue. In addition, he works closely with the finance department, legal, and accounting teams to aid with business expansion plans.

Glen Sutphin joined KLA in 2016 after a successful career with DORMA, including serving as their U.S. division president. At KLA, Glen’s focus is expanding the brand in the Western United States. Working out of KLA West in Las Vegas, Glen provides executive leadership focused on delivering the same level of customer devotion that KLA Laboratories has delivered throughout the Midwest and globally for almost a century. KLA’s focus on western expansion has resulted in the deployment of several significant projects in the west, including MLB stadiums, large conference centers, and high-rise hotel-casinos. As Executive Director and Vice President of Business Development, Glen is integral in creating and maintaining relationships with customers across all KLA offerings.

Glen received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Arts in behavioral pharmacology from Western Michigan University. A musician since college, he performs nationally and frequently opens for Matt O’Bryan’s award-winning band, The Wrenfields.

Julie has spent over twenty years in finance and operations management, with an emphasis on financial reporting and analysis, acquisition integration, project management, and strategic planning to name a few. She obtained a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Finance. She is responsible for KLA’s Finance Leadership Team, process improvement, and financial and managerial reporting. Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.

For over 35 years, Sean Galbraith has honed a highly sophisticated, extremely tactical skill set in the complex accounting and commercial debt restructuring arenas. In 2007, as the former CFO of Aztec Manufacturing and Eclipse Capital Group, he collaborated closely with Matt O’Bryan, then president and COO of KLA Laboratories, in an independent contractor role during difficult economic conditions. In 2010, Sean was named KLA’s CFO. He currently sits on the board of Directors as Treasurer of KLA Laboratories and has served in the role since 2022. He and his team helped navigate the economic challenges presented during the pandemic.

Sean is responsible for KLA’s internal financial reporting and forecasting, long-term strategy, bank financing and oversees a team of talented accounting Directors and Managers who oversee accounts payable and receivable. He is the primary liaison between KLA and its bank, insurance company, and other business partners, steering a team of six, including himself. His vast knowledge, targeted approach, and implementation of a specialized financial software program have been the keys to cementing KLA’s ability to optimize its operations.

Sean received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Albion College in 1989 and has carried a Certified Public Accounting license since 1991.

Nick began working as a Warehouse Manager with KLA Laboratories in 2010, after working as a Statistic Consultant for ESPN on the network’s Stats and Analysis team. Nick was promoted to Operations Manager in 2011 and Director of Operations in 2016. He coordinated the opening of KLA’s Technical Engineering Center in Dearborn, Michigan in 2015, which provided additional space for the company’s expanding services.

In 2020, Nick was promoted to Executive Director of Operations, Planning, and Strategy, and created a plan to implement software to modernize processes and procedures in project management, accounting, purchasing, and labor operations. Nick’s determination to update these processes played a critical role in KLA’s successful transition to remote work during the pandemic and continue to support the KLA hybrid work model.

Promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2023, Nick also oversees KLA locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the recently opened KLA office in Irvine, California. He is responsible for the operational oversight of the company and continued growth and expansion of KLA.

Nick earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 2007 and graduated from Wayne State University in 2019 with a Master of Business Administration.

Andrew worked for McLaren Health care in Human Resources for 10 years focusing on employee and labor relations prior to joining KLA Laboratories. He is the Executive Director of Human Resources at KLA and has been with the company since 2016.As the company’s HR lead, Andrew is responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of KLA’s HR department. He focuses much of his time on the development and implementation of legally compliant and strategic programs and policies designed to support and enhance KLA’s culture and mission.

Andrew attended the University of Michigan Flint and received his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration with minors in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. In his free time, he enjoys being with friends and family and spending time in Northern Michigan.

John joined KLA Laboratories as a Network Support Manager and Network Engineer in 2011. He was promoted to Director of Network Services in March 2016. He leads a team of 36 skilled engineers and support staff that handles Day 1 Network Planning, new and refresh deployments, and Day 2 support. He oversees the maintaining and repairing of network infrastructure at Ford Motor Company’s data centers and business and engineering locations in Michigan, as well as additional sites across North America.

John is certified in Cisco CCNA, CCNA Wireless, CCDA, and CXFS. He proudly serves as a police reserve officer, a role he has fulfilled for the city of Woodhaven, Michigan for the past 20 years.

After a career in management, Tony Verdun shifted paths and joined KLA Laboratories as an Installer Technician in 2001. Working alongside Matt O’Bryan, then president and COO of KLA, Tony was the catalyst behind the creation of the company’s DAS unit. Tony has helped complete complex client projects throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain and India for Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile as well as Ford, GM, and Stellantis. His projects range from major manufacturing sites, stadiums, hospitals, MLB Ball parks, college campuses and many more. He has harnessed a strategic method of deploying voice and data services to mobile devices where service is limited or nonexistent.

A classic car enthusiast, Tony enjoys restoring and cruising in his 1934 Ford Coupe and 1940 Chevrolet. He resides in South Rockwood, Michigan with his wife and daughters.

Walt joined KLA Laboratories in 2015 as a Project Manager after a 28-year career as an estimator, technician, and project manager with Clover Electric Inc. and Motor City Electric. Walt was promoted to Director of Infrastructure in 2016 and currently oversees seven project managers. He reviews all proposal estimates as well as the financials over the course of completing jobs for every KLA client. Whatever the customer’s industry, from automotive to sports and entertainment, outstanding service, open communication, and honesty are of paramount importance to Walt. He appreciates the supportive, family-focused environment at KLA.

Walt plays hockey and has completed 13 full, 26.2-mile marathons. He has an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts from Macomb County Community College and is working on his Bachelor of Arts degree in public affairs from Wayne State University.

John started working at KLA as an intern between his junior and senior year of college. After graduation, John started working with KLA full-time and is now the Director of Audio/Visual Productions. He leads a team of ten technicians that provide design and installation services for all types of professional audio, video, and lighting systems. He also leads the team in providing A/V Event Production services for events of all sizes. The group has received multiple awards from Michigan Meetings + Events Magazine as part of their “Best of” awards for their AV and Event Production work.

John graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications. He has a passion for music; and enjoys playing, mixing, and experiencing live entertainment and concerts. His other interests include golf, snowboarding, hockey, and traveling.

Art spent a majority of his career in the A/V industry. Prior to joining KLA, he had his own company that specialized in A/V systems consulting, engineering, and project management with an emphasis on sports and entertainment. He has certifications in CTS, Crestron, and Extron, among many others. Working with high-profile clients, such as the Rose Bowl, The Forum, Disneyland, and LAFC Stadium, he has a depth of experience successfully managing large, complex sports and entertainment projects.

Art joined KLA in 2022 as Director of A/V Technologies. In his role, he is responsible for developing and expanding KLA’s A/V specialty group, including crew expansion/development and vendor/supplier management. He is also responsible for expanding KLA’s A/V presence in the sports and entertainment industry.

Art attended Schoolcraft Community College and Eastern Michigan University for Music Education. He also attended Lancaster Community College in California to study General Construction. Art enjoys spending time with his wife and family. He plays ice hockey when he is in Michigan and is an avid musician and runner.

Prior to joining KLA in 2022, Craig spent over 30 years in the sports & entertainment, automotive, and energy industries. He had worked for companies like Olympia Entertainment, Ford, GM, Verizon, and Franklin Energy. He maintained a friendship with the O’Bryan family after meeting them during his time as Director of Operations for Tiger Stadium. In June 2022, Craig was brought on as Senior Director of Business Development for KLA Laboratories. He is responsible for building stronger relationships with existing key clients, especially those with a large presence or headquarters in Michigan. He provides strategic account management from opportunity, development, proposal, negotiations, and full project life cycle to ensure high-quality delivery.

Craig graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science, with a focus on Sports Management. He enjoys golfing traveling in the winter with his wife and friends, and spending time with his two grandsons.

Prior to joining KLA Laboratories in 2018, Kelly spent several years in the retail industry. She moved back to the metro-Detroit area in 2018 and joined KLA Laboratories as an Administrative Assistant. After a couple of months at KLA, she was quickly promoted to Marketing Coordinator. In 2023, she was promoted to Director of Marketing. Kelly is responsible for all forms of print and digital media at KLA including managing KLA’s social media and website, and creating content for presentations, brochures, and advertisements. Kelly coordinates several KLA events, including the company’s annual golf outing benefiting the LLS.

Kelly graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a major in Marketing. She enjoys living in downtown Detroit, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Amelia has over 30 years of business, financial, and accounting experience. She previously worked in the steel industry for 24 years. In September 2018, Amelia joined KLA Laboratories as the Accounting Manager. As an essential part of the Accounting Team, she is responsible for developing department standards and processes, as well as tracking, monitoring, and evaluating day-to-day accounting functions and activities within the company. She also maintains relationships with KLA’s vendors and customers.

Amelia studied accounting at Michigan State University. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and is an avid reader.

Prior to joining KLA Laboratories, Amanda worked as a buyer in the retail industry. She always had a passion for purchasing and joined KLA’s purchasing department in 2017. She is now the Purchasing Supervisor at KLA, where she oversees the ordering of materials and equipment while maintaining lasting relationships with KLA’s vendors.

Amanda graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and a Bachelor of Science in Retailing. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, snowboarding, volleyball, and traveling.

Ali earned a degree in Mathematics from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. After moving to the United States, he enrolled in the Cisco Academy at Henry Ford College where he earned his CCNA and CCNP. In 2009, he joined KLA Laboratories as an Intern and is now a Lead Technical Manager.

Ali has implemented Cisco Systems upgrades and surveys for Ford Motor Company, including migration to Cisco IPTel phone systems. He has worked with General Motors, Michigan Motion Pictures, Bed Bath and Beyond, Law360 and Market Strategies. He also assisted AAA Life Insurance to become PCI compliant while supporting their day-to-day operations from routing and switching, to VOIP and MPLS. Ali managed and supported work at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with their network/wireless, as well as Little Caesars Arena.

More recently, Ali worked with the Texas Rangers in Dallas, TX to create a network RFI, evaluate network vendors, and help the team decide on a network solution. He led the effort at the newly built Globe Life Field for the network architecture, design, and implementation of their new Aruba network. He also worked with Cisco to support their Early Field Testing (EFT) on their DNASPACES platform, conducting and testing use cases such as Way Finding, asset tracking, and firehose with a third-party partner. He has also led the effort at Michigan Central District for the Cisco SD-ACCESS architecture, design, and implementation. Ali supports multiple other projects at KLA, Lumen, and Ford Motor Company.

Ali lives in Dearborn, MI with his family and enjoys taekwondo, football, soccer, volleyball and keeping up with Cisco, Aruba, and other technical innovations.

Mike has spent nearly twenty years working in manufacturing environments, with technical experience in the design, implementation, and ongoing support of machine control systems. It was during this time he realized the potential of expanding these systems and the benefits of allowing them to communicate with each other and various enterprise systems. Mike began his career at KLA Laboratories in 2010 as a Network Engineer and is now Manager of Advanced Technology Solutions. He has worked successfully with advanced routing and switching, WiFi, and the Internet of Things/OT for customers in various industries such as enterprise, sports & entertainment, financial, and manufacturing.

Mike earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech University and later attended Cisco Networking Academy at Henry Ford College, where he expanded on his knowledge at CCNA and CCNP levels. He has mentored several of his colleagues and continues to foster growth within KLA.

Alawi has over 12 years of experience in Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS). He designs systems for stadiums, airports, high-rise buildings, manufacturing plants, etc. His work includes designs for Ford Field, Comerica Park, Firekeepers Casino, University of Michigan hospital, and more. Before joining KLA Laboratories, he was a Customer Engineer at Ford Motor Company through a third-party contractor. He joined KLA in 2012 and is now a Principal RF Engineer. He is responsible for the design, commissioning, optimization, and analysis of data for Distributed Antenna Systems. He validates and ensures carrier/enterprise KPIs are met. He also helps Project Managers with RFP’s and is a second eye for the designers.

Alawi was born and raised in Yemen. He has a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and is iBwave Level 3 Certified. He is a handyman and enjoys working around the house.

Charone has over 15 years of experience in the Human Resources field, as well as experience in manufacturing and operations. She joined KLA in 2018 and is the Human Resource and Payroll Coordinator for the company. The family culture and team environment were exactly what she was looking for in an employer and what ultimately drew her to KLA. Charone is responsible for weekly payroll processing, benefit administration, leave of absence, and assisting with the daily functions of the Human Resource department.

Charone attained her Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Human Resource Management from Baker College. In her free time, she loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends, and regularly attends church service.

John joined KLA Laboratories in 2014 after a career at National Semiconductor and Decisions, Inc. as a Partner of the company’s proprietary logistics arm. He started working with KLA Laboratories as a Wireless In-Building Project Manager. Now a Senior Client Manager, John’s primary focus is on overseeing Distributed Antenna System (DAS) integrations for Corewell Health.

John is a Michigan native and a graduate of the National Institute of Technology with accreditations through Madonna University’s Bachelor of Science and Engineering program. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, recording, and performing original music with the group The Wrenfields.

Andy’s audio career began in 1995 while working with his dad during high school. After high school, he attended Western Michigan University. While in college, he was the head Sound Engineer for the Jazz Department and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Management. After college, he worked for several A/V companies as a freelancer before joining another A/V company as their Rental Manager for 12 years.

Andy had worked for KLA Laboratories before and knew several employees in the A/V group. He had previously been sub-contracted by KLA for the Detroit Music Awards as the Lighting Director. He made KLA his home in 2018 and is the Manager of Audio/Visual Productions. He oversees the A/V and Event Production technicians, is responsible for all lighting projects, and assists with installation designs for audio, video, and lighting. He has his level 1 and 2 certifications in both QSC Q-SYS and Dante Audio.

Andy enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, woodworking, and photography. He is always excited to tell people about KLA and their history.

Kyle joined the KLA team in October of 2011 as a Network Engineer, having previously worked as a Customer Engineer at Ford Motor Company. In his current role, he is responsible for pre-sales engineering, solution design, implementation, and client support initiatives. Kyle studied at Henry Ford College and the Cisco Networking Academy. He is a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE #58072) and is also certified in Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology.

Throughout his career, Kyle has orchestrated numerous system migrations and integrations in a wide array of industries, including manufacturing, education, sports and entertainment, and most notably hospitality. He led the deployment of a groundbreaking Corning GPON LAN solution at Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, showcasing his skills in cutting-edge technology implementation.

Kyle finds joy in nurturing his growing family, having recently welcomed their second child. Outside of work and family life, he enjoys ice hockey and golfing in Northern Michigan during the summer months.

After a 28-year career in education, which included teaching at several large public school districts and serving as a Director of UAW-Ford CDC, Laura decided to change career paths and began working at KLA Las Vegas. She had been acquainted with the O’Bryan family since the 1970s and decided to make the move after seeing the multitude of employees who enjoyed working at the company. At KLA, she works closely with executive team members to provide support and perform a variety of administrative duties for KLA’s Las Vegas office. She also assists the Marketing and Public Relations departments to manage KLA’s brand.

Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Houston Baptist University and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Houston. She enjoys living in Las Vegas and visiting her friends and family in Michigan.

After working in a variety of positions, including Client Coordinator, Account Manager, Business Development, and Talent Acquisition Specialist, Mollie found her true passion in recruiting and Human Resources. In October 2021, Mollie joined KLA Laboratories as an HR Recruiter. In her position, she is responsible for implementing a full cycle recruiting strategy to attract a diverse pool of qualified and highly engaged talent. She also assists the Human Resources department with various HR duties, including recruiting, event planning, onboarding, job posting, and administrative support.

Mollie studied at Schoolcraft College. She enjoys traveling, camping, seeing live music, and spending time with her family.

Shawn started his career in the low voltage communication industry at the age of 18, joining IBEW Local 58 as an Installer. He earned manufacturing specialty certifications while working his way to Technician status. One day in 2006, he picked up a job call at Local 58 for July shutdown work at KLA and never left. Shawn was a foreman on several projects and became a Project Manager in 2010. In his role as Project Manager, he is responsible for quoting and managing timelines, financials, and manpower. He enjoys golfing, being in the woods, going up north, and traveling to resort destinations.