President

Ken Terrell

Kenneth Terrell has, in many ways, spent his professional life building T5. From the moment he left college and started out in business, Ken found his gift was in bringing together great teams of professionals and leading them to grow both personally and collectively as they placed innovation and client satisfaction as consistent goals. In 1996, Ken began his entrepreneurial path with his first business. In 2002, it was acquired by a larger company that tasked Ken with overseeing the integration of his company into the new company. One of the primary tasks was assisting with implementing a PDA base software program for the sales division.

In 2006, Ken was able to incorporate his lifelong interest in machinery by moving into industrial sales. As a sub-rep for PPE, Ken sold PDMA, SDT Easy Laser, DMSI, DFT, KPM, Sick and other products. Ken was trained and certified in the reliability equipment aspect of the field and went on to help implement this new technology in multiple locations.

In 2014, Kenneth branched off from PPE and launched his new venture, T5 Group, LLC focusing on DMSI implementation across the United States as well as a DMSI REP which territory runs from North Carolina to Maine. Ken has clients that run the gamut from small businesses to large companies and that provided him with an opportunity to understand the unique challenges of different plants.

VP of Business Development

Philip Westmoreland

Philip Westmoreland came to T5 Group after 22 years with Lorentzen & Wettre USA/ABB. During his time with L&W he achieved the position of President of the US subsidiary. He held this position for 9 years and oversaw the doubling in the annual revenue over this period. During this period L&W impacted the paper industry positively through the automation of paper mill laboratories. The number of automated laboratories in the US grew from just a relative few to over a 100.

Prior to his time as President of L&W Philip spent 7 years as Director of Service Operations. During this time he developed the service business from a cost center to a profit center while revenue increased by 20 times. Service revenue continued to grow substantially during the time he was President of L&W

After the purchase of L&W by ABB Philip spent 6 years working to help successfully integrate L&W into the ABB organization. Prior to his time with L&W/ABB Philip was a Regional Service Director for Motorola Information Systems Group (formerly Codex). In this position Philip managed 25 employees in a growing business in the southeast US. Prior to his 15 years with Motorola, Philip served for 5 ½ years in the US Army.

Philip studied at the University of Mississippi. He holds a Bachelors in Management and a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management from Kennesaw State University. He has been married to Jeanne Westmoreland for 29 years. He has 3 grown children and 1 Step Daughter. He is also a grandfather. His favorite thing to do is spend time with grandkids.

VP of Engineering, Reliability, and Technology

Ed Speed

Ed Speed has 35 years in the pulp and paper industry, and 30 years of experience in reliability engineering with a heavy emphasis in root cause analysis and correction, predictive maintenance, equipment inspections, precision practices, and asset class management.

A graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina, Ed brings significant experience in project management, operations management, quality assurance, and safety, as well as experience in the pulp and paper, mining and manufacturing, pharmaceutical, corrugated container, and textile industries.

Ed holds certifications in SMRP Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP), VA ISO Category II, and UE Ultrasound Level I

VP of Operations

Ed Melton

Ed was born in Waycross, Georgia and attended Ware County High School. While at Ware County he was a member of the Math Team, It’s Academic Team, the Yearbook Staff and received the “Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow” award in the 1973 graduating class.

Sponsored by Gilman Paper Company in St. Mary’s, Georgia, Ed received a scholarship to NC State University from the Pulp and Paper Foundation. Ed spent each summer working for Gilman Paper in operations on the paper machine, quality controls as a tester and sample runner and in Maintenance assisting with daily scheduling. In 1977 Ed graduated with a BS degree from NC State in Pulp and Paper Technology. In 2003 Ed received an MBA from Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg).

Upon graduation from NC State, Ed began working for Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville, South Carolina as a Management Trainee. His positions at Sonoco were Production Assistant in Hartsville, Quality Control supervisor in Munroe Falls, Ohio, shift supervisor and Production Superintendent in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

In 1986 Ed joined The Newark Group as Plant manager of Natick Paperboard in Natick, Massachusetts. Ed’s time with the Newark Group included two years as Production Manager at Haverhill Paperboard in Haverhill, Massachusetts and General Manager at Newark Boxboard in Newark, New Jersey.

Ed continued at Newark Boxboard until 1999 when he left to return south taking the position of General Manager at RockTenn’s Lynchburg facility. In 2000 RockTenn entered a joint venture with Lafarge Corporation to produce gypsum facing paper for Lafarge wallboard plants in the United States. The project required converting a multi-ply cylinder board machine to a two-ply Fourdrinier along with upgrades to stock prep, pressing, and drying. Ed was involved with the conversion, start-up and continued operation of the plant until retiring from WestRock (RockTenn) in May of 2018.

Retirement was short-lived and in September of 2018 he began his current role with the T5 Group as VP of operations with focus on consistency controls and engineering services.

Director of Project Management

Michael Amendola

Michael Amendola was born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Willoughby South High School. After graduation Michael moved to Lynchburg, Virginia where he attended and graduated from Liberty University.

While in college, Michael joined and served in United States Marine Corps reserves and graduated boot camp at Parris Island. His MOS was combat engineer, and he obtained the enlisted rank of E-4 and was a fire team leader. Michael was also a certified APOBS instructor during his time of service.

Michael joined T5Group in 2018 as a Project Manager. He has managed DMSI implementation projects in Paper Mills, Oil Refineries, and Natural Gas Plants. Projects have included route development and implementation for Operations, Maintenance, Lubrication, and Safety/Environmental. Michael’s focus is a client focused and solution-based approach to the facility’s needs.

With T5 Group, you always have the support and expertise of our team, even after your foundational system has been implemented.

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