Company Overview Company News Download Brochure

DENNIS R. RICCIO

Mr. Riccio founded Tailwinds, Inc. in 2007, and serves as the company’s President, CEO and Chairman. With over 30 years experience in the technology sector, particularly in the semiconductor industry, Dennis brings significant experience in overseeing global operations while successfully managing the demands of both private and publicly-held enterprises.

Prior to forming Tailwinds, he was President, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Metron Technology N.V. where, after successfully repositioning the company
and raising its performance metrics, he partnered in the favorable sale and integration of Metron to Applied Materials. Previously, Dennis served in senior executive management
positions with Asyst Technologies, Novellus Systems and Applied Materials, pioneering models for global account management and customer support that have become
industry standards, directing teams of 300 people or more, and consistently driving increased revenues.

An entrepreneur, in 1985 Riccio founded Three-Five Semiconductor, which achieved sales in excess of $200 million and listed as an NYSE company. Earlier, he spent 12 years in sales and marketing management positions with Eaton Semiconductor Equipment, Fairchild and Motorola.

Mr. Riccio earned a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Arizona.

DOUGLAS J. McCUTCHEON

With more than 30 years in finance for high technology, including 23 years in executive level management, Mr. McCutcheon serves as Tailwinds’ Chief Financial Officer and a Founding Director. He brings an extensive background in all phases of financial management in public and private companies, and a substantial, diverse record of achievement in restructuring, developing and growing corporate business models and financial operations.

Most recently, Doug was EVP and Chief Financial Officer for Nanometrics, where he successfully engineered key acquisitions to provide the company with significant growth in a short period of time. Prior to that, as CFO at Metron Technology N.V., he raised critical funding, expanded banking relationships and negotiated the successful acquisition of the company by Applied Materials. McCutcheon also served for five years as CFO at Asyst Technologies, implementing an aggressive acquisition strategy, improving profitability and building a global financial services organization. His prior experience includes senior finance management positions with Cadence Design Systems, more than nine years with medical systems maker, Diasonics and with Memorex Corporation.

Mr. McCutcheon earned an MBA from U.C.-Berkeley and an undergraduate degree in physics from Stanford University. He also served as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine service and is a Vietnam veteran.

ROBERT F. FOSTER, Ph.D.

As Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Technical Officer at Tailwinds, Dr. Foster is responsible for Tailwinds’ equipment operations and services unit. He also oversees technology selection and development including IP and patent positions and assessment of advanced technology trends. With more than 20 years in the semiconductor equipment business, over 6 years in various medical and biomedical ventures, and experience in both technology and business management roles, he brings uncommon technical depth and leadership perspective to Tailwinds.

Since 2000, Dr. Foster has worked in the biochemistry sector, concentrating on the physical and mental effects of aging and other chronic physiological conditions. He cofounded Renasci, Inc., developing diagnostics and procedures for tissue regeneration and repair, and, in a joint collaboration with SMI Manufacturing, a natural and organic consumer product manufacturer, developed a line of advanced health supplements.

Earlier, Foster spent two years as President of Tokyo Electron Limited’s (TEL) TELArizona subsidiary, after engineering the 1998 acquisition by TEL of Materials Research Corporation (MRC), which was then a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation. Prior to that, he was MRC’s CEO for two years, successfully returning the company to profitability after major losses. Dr. Foster’s earlier assignments included Director of Technology at Drytek Inc., Director of Process Technology at Varian Inc. and Applied Materials.

Dr. Foster received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University and was a National Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow at Stanford University.

GEORGE KOZLOSKI

Mr. Kozloski is Vice President of North America Customer Operations, responsible for all Tailwinds’ customer operations and channel development activities in the U.S. and Canada. He brings to Tailwinds more than 30 years experience in engineering, marketing, sales and sales management with semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies.

Prior to joining Tailwinds, George was Global Account Manager at Metron Technology, joining from Asyst Technologies where he had been Director of OEM Accounts. Earlier, he held positions with Motorola, Fairchild, Xicor, Three-Five Semiconductor and Cypress Semiconductor.

Mr. Kozloski holds a BSEE from California State University, Pomona.