Board of Directors

Robert M. Eversole became a director in 2008. Mr. Eversole is a Principal of Stonehenge Partners, Inc., a private investment capital firm and has been continuously employed as such since 2007. Prior to joining Stonehenge Partners, Mr. Eversole spent 22 years with Fifth Third Bank, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Ohio, and additionally served as a Regional President for Fifth Third Bancorp affiliate banks in Western Ohio, Central Florida and Ohio Valley. He also served as a member of the Fifth Third Bancorp Operating Committee. Mr. Eversole currently serves on the board of directors for certain privately-held companies and also serves on the boards of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Dean’s Advisory Council for The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and the Catholic Foundation. Mr. Eversole is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has completed a number of executive education programs.

Mr. Barbour joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc in September 2017 and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Advanced Drainage Systems, Mr. Barbour served in a variety of roles with Emerson Electric Company and its affiliates from 1989 until 2016, including Executive Vice President, Emerson Electric and Business Leader of Emerson Network Power from 2011 to 2016; Group Vice President, Emerson Climate Technologies from 2010 to 2011; President, Emerson Climate Technologies Asia Pacific Division from 2008 to 2010; and President, Emerson Climate Technologies Air Conditioning Division from 2003 to 2008. He has an extensive background in product planning, marketing, sales, engineering and operations around the world. Mr. Barbour serves as a board member for Recreation Unlimited, a not-for-profit organization serving individuals with physical and developmental disabilities through sports, recreation and education. Mr. Barbour earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Anesa T. Chaibi joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in May 2020. Ms. Chaibi has over 30 years of leadership experience across a variety of business functions including manufacturing, operations, sales and marketing, strategy, global sourcing, and Six Sigma Quality. Ms. Chaibi currently serves as an industry advisor in the Industrial and Business Services Group at Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. From 2016 until 2019, she served as the CEO of Optimas Solutions, a private equity-backed, global provider of integrated supply chain solutions and engineering support focused on delivering highly engineered custom fasteners and other "C" Class components to various industries. Prior to Optimas Solutions, Ms. Chaibi served as President and CEO of the Facilities Maintenance segment of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDS), one of the largest industrial distributors in North America. During her decade-long tenure there, Ms. Chaibi transformed the business through a number of acquisitions, integrations, divestitures and a major ERP deployment while at the same time growing the business profitability. Prior to HD Supply, Ms. Chaibi spent 16 years serving as a business leader within several segments of General Electric (NYSE:GE), including Silicones, Plastics, Power Systems, Industrial Systems, Water & Process Technologies and Infrastructure. Additionally, Ms. Chaibi serves on the Board of Directors for Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE:RBC), a global manufacturer of electric motors, mechanical and electrical motion controls, as Director and Chair of the Compensation & Human Resources Committee and served as a Member of the Corporate Governance & Director Affairs. Ms. Chaibi holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University and a Master of Business Administration from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Michael B. Coleman joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in May 2018. Mr. Coleman is an attorney and since 2016 has served as a partner with Ice Miller LLP, practicing in the area of government and public affairs and serving as director of the firm’s business and government strategies. From 2000 to 2015 Mr. Coleman served as Mayor of Columbus, Ohio, the 15th largest city in the United States. Mr. Coleman was the longest-serving mayor in Columbus history and the longest-serving incumbent African-American mayor among major U.S. cities. As Mayor, Mr. Coleman led a city of 825,000 residents and 9,000 employees and was responsible for managing all financial, budgetary and economic development matters and sourcing of private investments in support of urban development initiatives. Prior to serving as Mayor, Mr. Coleman was a partner with the law firm of Schottenstein Zox & Dunn LLP, which combined with Ice Miller in 2012. As an attorney, Mr. Coleman offered legal guidance to regional businesses and real estate developers in key areas, including business law, zoning and securities law. Mr. Coleman also served as City Council President for the City of Columbus, Ohio from 1997 to 1999 and as a member of City Council from 1992 to 1999. Early in his career, Mr. Coleman was an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Ohio. Mr. Coleman earned his law degree from the University of Dayton Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati.

Alexander R. Fischer became a director in 2014. Mr. Fischer has been the President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, an organization of CEOs focused on civic, philanthropic, education and economic development opportunities in Columbus, Ohio since 2009. Prior to his role in the Columbus Partnership, Mr. Fischer worked at Battelle Memorial Institute, a science and technology company, from 2002-2009, where he served as Senior Vice President for Business and Economic Development, Vice President of Commercialization, and Director of Technology Transfer and Economic Development. Mr. Fischer has also worked in the public sector, as Commissioner of Economic Development, Deputy Governor and the Chief of Staff for the State of Tennessee from 1997 to 2002. In the past he has served on the board of directors for a variety of non-profit and not-for profit organizations, and currently serves on the boards of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Experience Columbus, Columbus 2020, and The Ohio State Innovation Foundation. Mr. Fischer graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Economics and Public Administration and also received a Master’s of Science in Urban Planning and Economic Development from the University of Tennessee.

Tanya Fratto became a director in 2013. Ms. Fratto spent 25 years with General Electric prior to her retirement I 2011. From 2000 to 2011, Ms. Fratto served as President and CEO of General Electric’s Superabrasives division, a leading supplier of manufactured diamond, cubic boron nitride and polycrystalline products. Her career at General Electric also included leadership roles in GE Plastics, Corporate Sourcing, GE Appliances and GE Consumer Services. She currently sits on the boards of Boart Longyear, a mining products and services company and Smiths Global Plc, a global technology company.

Kelly S. Gast joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. as a director in 2022. Ms. Gast is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer for Bayer Crop Science, a division of Bayer AG, a multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Prior to her current role, Ms. Gast served as the Vice President of Commercial Finance for Monsanto Company from 2011 to 2018. Previously, Ms. Gast held a variety of roles in increasing responsibility within several business units at Monsanto Company, beginning in 1995. Ms. Gast has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and received a certified public accountant certificate.

M.A. (Mark) Haney became a director in 2014. Mr. Haney retired in December 2011 from Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, a chemical producer, where he served as Executive Vice President of Olefins and Polyolefins from January 2001 until his retirement. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Haney served as Senior Vice President, Specialties, Aromatics and Styrenics. He also served as Vice President of Polyethylene and President of Performance Pipe. Prior to Chevron, Mr. Haney served in numerous roles at Phillips Petroleum company including business manager for Advanced Plastics, plant manager of Phillips Driscopipe and plant manager of the K-Resin plant, President of P66 Propane Company, Phillips Woods Cross business general manager and President of Driscopipe. Mr. Haney currently serves on the board of directors of Phillips 66 Partners LP. Mr. Haney attended West Texas University and majored in Chemistry.

Ross M. Jones joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in May 2018. Mr. Jones has worked in private equity for over 25 years. Since 2000, Mr. Jones has been a Managing Director of Berkshire Partners LLC, a Boston-based private investment firm, and has represented the firm’s interests in numerous portfolio companies. Mr. Jones is or has been a director of a number of Berkshire portfolio companies, including former board positions on public companies Carters Inc. (Lead Director, Nominating/Governance and Compensation Committees) and Bare Escentuals Inc. (Chairman, Nominating/Governance Committee), as well as current or former board positions on private companies Asurion Corp., Melissa & Doug and Torres Unidas. Mr. Jones first joined Berkshire in 1993. Prior to his position at Berkshire, Mr. Jones worked at Bain & Co. and in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Jones received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Carl A. Nelson Jr. became a director in 2016. Mr. Nelson worked for Arthur Andersen for 31 years and served as an audit partner and led the audit practice in the Columbus, OH office. Following the creation of Andersen Consulting, Mr. Nelson led the effort to establish the consulting practice within Arthur Andersen and became the Managing Partner of the Columbus, OH office and led the firm’s consulting services for the product industry in the United States. Mr. Nelson is an Independent Director for Worthington Industries, where he has been the audit committee chair since 2004 and a member of the executive committee and also serves on the board of Star Leasing. In addition, Mr. Nelson is an independent business consultant working with companies on strategic planning, acquisitions, financial matters and executive coaching. He has also taught in the MBA and executive programs at The Ohio State University and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State. Mr. Nelson received his Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin. He is a CPA and a member of The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa became a director in 2019. Mr. Perez de la Mesa was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pool Corporation from 2001 until 2018, from 1999 to 2001 he served as the President and Chief Operating Officer. Pool Corporation is global wholesale distributor of swimming pool equipment, parts and supplies, and related outdoor living products. Prior to joining Pool Corporation, he worked at Watsco, Inc. from 1994 to 1999, Fresh Del Monte Produce B.V. from 1987 to 1994, International Business Machines Corporation from 1982 to 1987, and Sea-Land Service Inc./R.J. Reynolds Inc. from 1977 to 1982. Mr. Perez de la Mesa is a director of Pool Corporation, Hamilton HoldCo, LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of the Reece Group, a leading distributor of plumbing, waterworks and HVAC-R products in Australia and New Zealand, and AEA TCB Holdings LP, a distributor of glass and plastic rigid packaging in North America. He served on ARC Document Solutions, Inc.’s board of directors from 2004 until 2018. Mr. Perez de la Mesa holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration from St. John’s University.

Anil Seetharam joined Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. in 2021. Mr. Seetharam has over 20 years of leadership experience throughout the financial industry. He currently serves as Managing Director of Berkshire Partners LLC (“Berkshire”) and Stockbridge Investors (“Stockbridge”), the public equities business of Berkshire Partners. Mr. Seetharam joined Stockbridge in February 2007 and became a Managing Director in December 2014. Prior to joining Stockbridge in 2007, Mr. Seetharam was previously a private equity associate at Berkshire Partners, a business analyst at McKinsey & Co., and a vice president at Reservoir Capital. Mr. Seetharam received a B.S. from The School of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Joe Chlapaty joined ADS in 1980 and served as Chairman of our Board of Directors from 2008 until his retirement in 2017. Mr. Chlapaty has served as a director since 1988, President from 1994 until 2017 and Chief Executive Officer from 2004 until 2017. From 1980 to 1994, Mr. Chlapaty served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining us, Mr. Chlapaty served as Corporate Accounting Manager, Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer for Lindberg Corporation and prior to that was with Arthur Andersen, LLP. Mr. Chlapaty serves on the advisory board of Fifth Third Bank of Columbus, and is also a member or former member of several not-for profit boards, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital, KIPP Journey Academy, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, the University of Dubuque and Marietta College. Mr. Chlapaty holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Dubuque and an MBA from DePaul University.