Corporate Management
Mark C. Arnold
President & Chief Executive Officer
Mark Arnold is President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since September 2009. Prior to joining GSE, he was Vice President and General Manager at the Lubrizol Corporation. In addition, Mr. Arnold brings to GSE over 15 years experience in the global civil construction markets at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS), the leading manufacturer of polyethylene pipe. His assignments included: VP of International Operations, VP Sales Engineering and Market Development, and Director of Distribution Operations. Prior to ADS, he worked for General Electric. His GE career began in GE's Manufacturing Management Program, and was followed by assignments in GE's Aircraft Engines business as a Process Engineer, Quality Manager, Engine Program Manager, and Manager of Technical Marketing and Sales Engineering.
Mr. Arnold also served in the U.S. Army and is currently a brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Mr. Arnold earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Ohio University, an MBA at Cleveland State University, and a Masters in International Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College.
William F. Lacey
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Bill Lacey joined GSE as its Chief Financial Officer in August 2011. Bill's career spans over 31 years with 10 years of public company CFO leadership experience within the manufacturing and distribution sectors.
Prior to joining GSE, Bill served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Animal health International, Inc. since 2003. Animal Health International is a $685 million in revenue, publicly-listed, distributor of veterinary products based in the DFW area. While with Animal health, Bill completed 7 acquisitions and an initial public offering. Prior to Animal Health, Bill was with Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. as Vice President and CFO. Bill also held CFO positions with Collins Signs, Inc., Pak-Lite, Inc, and RDM Sports Group, Inc. Bill began his finance career with Bethea/National Corporation in Accounting.
Bill grew up in Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Commerce and Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.
Peter McCourt
Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing
Peter McCourt joined GSE as the Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing in July 2010. Mr. McCourt is in charge of leading the company's global sales and marketing efforts, while building and maintaining customer relationships and strategic partnerships.
As a native of the United Kingdom, Mr. McCourt has spent over 20 years in international sales and marketing leadership roles. Most recently as Vice President of Sales for 8 years with ERICO International in Solon, Ohio. Prior to joining ERICO, he was at the Hilti Corporation in Schaan, Liechtenstein for 13 years, and held several major positions as President and General Manager, Director of Sales, Director of Marketing and Product Manager, and Regional Sales Manager. As an employee of global companies who operate in the non-residential construction and civil engineering markets, Mr. McCourt gained exposure to many different business practices and cultures. Mr. McCourt has lived in Scotland, England, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam and the United States.
Jeffery Nigh
Executive Vice President, Global Operations
Jeffery Nigh joined GSE as the Executive Vice President of Global Operations in October 2010. Mr. Nigh is responsible for leading all manufacturing, logistics and purchasing activities worldwide.
He began his career at Union Camp Corporation as a process engineer, and was subsequently promoted to assistant plant manager for a large paper mill, manufacturing engineering manager, and plant manager. After graduating from Harvard, Mr. Nigh joined the global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, in Atlanta. After a successful consulting assignment at Springs Industries, the leading manufacturer of textile home furnishings, he joined Springs as President of its Basic Bedding Division. Mr. Nigh was subsequently promoted to implement a new ERP information system for all of Springs Industries' global manufacturing. Following that multinational assignment, he was subsequently promoted to several senior roles at Springs as Vice President and General Manager of the entire global Bedding business, Executive Vice President of global supply chain and Asian sourcing, President of Utility Bedding, and President of Springs Renewables LLC. He worked at various U.S., Brazil and Asia locations during these assignments.
Mr. Nigh was a national merit scholar and graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, he earned his MBA at Harvard University.
Gregg Taylor
Vice President, Finance
Gregg Taylor joined GSE as the Vice President Chief Accounting Officer in May 2010. Mr. Taylor is responsible for leading all financial reporting, performance analysis, and accounting operations worldwide. Before joining GSE, Mr. Taylor was a business consultant for 4 years at Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting preceded by 11 years at Accenture where he held Senior Director and Partner positions, respectively. Throughout his consulting career, Mr. Taylor served private equity and corporate clients across multiple industries including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, high-tech, and retail. He has held multiple interim Finance leadership positions including CAO for a U.S. waste equipment manufacturer and Corporate Controller for a global energy equipment manufacturer. Mr. Taylor also has extensive finance systems experience having implemented multiple ERP, data warehouse, and business analytic solutions for his clients. Prior to consulting, he worked for 10 years for a large U.S. pharmaceutical distributor where he held Accounting Director, Regional Controller, and Divisional Controller positions.
Mr. Taylor earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a Certified Public Accountant (currently inactive) in the state of Texas.
Edward Zimmel
Vice President, Engineering
Edward Zimmel is Vice President of Engineering. He is responsible for leading the global engineering organization in technical support and plant engineering for all GSE product lines worldwide. Prior to leading GSE's engineering organization, Mr. Zimmel served as Vice President of Engineering and Quality Control for the US products division since 2002. With over 24 years of geosynthetics experience, he has served various roles in engineering and installation management positions since joining GSE in 1986.
Mr. Zimmel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.
