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Board of Directors

Robert M. Eversole, Chairman of our Board of Directors

Robert M. Eversole became a director in 2008. Mr. Eversole is a Managing Partner 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 Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio, and additionally served as 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 boards of directors for certain privately-held companies. Mr. Eversole previously served on the boards of Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio, Fifth Third Bank, South Florida, United Retirement Plan Consultants, Inc., Red Capital Group, and currently serves in other board representation/observation roles including Davlyn Group and True North Asphalt. Mr. Eversole is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has completed a number of executive education programs.

D. Scott Barbour, Director

D. Scott Barbour joined us as a director, Chief Executive Officer and President in 2017. Mr. Barbour has over 25 years of experience in the industrials sector. From 1989 until 2016, he worked for Emerson Electric, a global technology and engineering company that provides solutions for customers in industrial, residential and commercial markets as President and CEO of its $4.5 billion Network Power business. Mr. Barbour was responsible for managing major multi-million dollar contract negotiations, leading and implementing a global profitability optimization program, expanding Emerson’s geographic footprint, introducing new product lines, and managing the spin-off and subsequent sale of the Network Power business, now Vertiv. During his tenure at Emerson, Mr. Barbour also held several leadership positions including Group Vice President of Emerson Climate Technologies Group, President, Emerson Climate Technologies Asia Pacific Division, and President, Emerson Climate Technologies Air Conditioning Division. In these roles, Mr. Barbour drove significant technology initiatives, increased profitability and led new product development. Mr. Barbour began his career at Colt Industries, where he worked as a product engineer. Mr. Barbour serves on the board of directors of Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions. Mr. Barbour is also a board member of Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun (Recreation Unlimited) a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization serving individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and health concerns. Mr. Barbour received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University and his Master of Business Administration from the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University.

Anesa T. Chaibi, Director

Anesa T. Chaibi became a director in 2020. Ms. Chaibi has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of CoolSys, Inc., a market-leading refrigeration and HVAC service provider since October 2021. Prior to joining CoolSys, Ms. Chaibi served as an industry advisor in the Industrial and Business Services Group with Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that role, Ms. Chaibi was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Optimas OE Solutions, LLC a global provider of integrated supply chain solutions and engineering support, from 2016-2019. Previously, Ms. Chaibi served as President and Chief Executive Officer of HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, a division of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (an industrial supplier), from 2005–2015. Prior to this role, Ms. Chaibi held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility within several business units at General Electric from 1989– 2005. Ms. Chaibi has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University and an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Additionally, Ms. Chaibi is an NACD Board Leadership Fellow. Ms. Chaibi has served as a director of Regal Rexnord Corporation (a global leader in the engineering and manufacturing of industrial powertrain solutions, power transmission components, electric motors and electronic controls, air moving products, and specialty electronics) since 2014.

Michael B. Coleman, Director

Michael B. Coleman became a director in 2018. Mr. Coleman is a partner at Ice Miller and serves as Partner in Charge of the firm's Government Law Group. Mr. Coleman served as Mayor of Columbus, Ohio from 2000 to 2015, the first African-American mayor and the longest-serving mayor in Columbus history. Mr. Coleman’s 25 plus years of experience in public service also includes serving as City Council President for Columbus, Ohio from 1997 to 1999 and as a member of City Council from 1992 to 1999. Prior to his term as Mayor, Mr. Coleman was a partner with the law firm of Schottenstein Zox & Dunn LLP. Mr. Coleman has received numerous national awards and is a frequent public speaker on issues involving economic development, neighborhood revitalization and environmental stewardship. Mr. Coleman has a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Alexander R. Fischer, Director

Alexander R. Fischer became a director in 2014. Mr. Fischer is the founder of Alex R. Fischer and Company, which offers strategic advisory services on corporate strategy, real estate development and economic development. From 2009-2021 he was the President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, an organization of CEOs focused on civic, philanthropic, education, diversity and inclusion and economic development opportunities in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to his role at the Columbus Partnership, Mr. Fischer worked at Battelle Memorial Institute, a science and technology company, from 2002 to 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 boards of directors for a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and currently serves on the boards of Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Chairman), The Ohio State University, White Oak Partners (Valuation Committee), Andelyn Biosciences and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (Treasurer). 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, Director

Tanya D. Fratto became a director in 2013. Prior to that, Ms. Fratto spent over 30 years with global industrial companies and private equity. She was Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Innovations, Inc., a world-leading manufacturer of industrial diamonds and cubic boron nitride used in oil and gas, infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries. In addition, she enjoyed a successful 20-year career with General Electric. Her experience has ranged from profit and loss ownership, product management and operations, to Six Sigma and supply chain management, spending time in GE Aerospace, GE Plastics, Corporate Sourcing, GE Appliances, and GE Consumer Service. Ms. Fratto holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Alabama. She currently sits on the board of Smiths Global Plc, a global technology company; Mondi Group Plc, an international paper and packaging company; and Ashtead Group Plc, an international equipment rental company.

Kelly Gast, Director

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, Director

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 2011 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 joining Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Mr. Haney held numerous management positions with Phillips Petroleum Company. Mr. Haney attended West Texas University and majored in chemistry.

Ross M. Jones, Director

Ross M. Jones became a director in 2018. Mr. Jones, a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners since 2000, has over 25 years of private equity experience. During Mr. Jones’ career at Berkshire, he has worked with many companies across a wide range of industries, including advising the Company over a 10- year period prior to its public offering. His prior board experience also includes serving as Chairman of the Board and Nominating & Governance Committee at Bare Escentuals, Inc. and serving as Lead Director and Chairman of the Nominating & Governance and Compensation Committees at Carter’s, Inc., as well as current or former board positions on private companies Asurion Corp., CrossFit, LLC, Melissa & Doug and Torres Unidas. Before joining Berkshire Partners, Mr. Jones worked at a start-up merchant bank, Bain & Co. and in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Jones has a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Carl A. Nelson, Director

Carl A. Nelson was appointed as a director on August 4, 2016. Mr. Nelson serves on the board of Worthington Industries, a $3 billion diversified metal processing company, where he has been the audit committee chair since 2004 and a member of the executive committee. Mr. Nelson became a director of ADS in 2016 and chairs the Compensation Committee. Mr. Nelson served on the board of Star Leasing Company, a $115 million ESOP owned company that leases semi trailers through nine facilities across seven states. His term of service on that board ended on March 19, 2018. Prior to his retirement in 2002 after 31 years of service, Mr. Nelson was a partner with Arthur Andersen, LLP, where he served as Managing Partner of the Columbus, Ohio office and was the leader of the firm’s consulting services for the products industry in the United States. Mr. Nelson has taught in the MBA and executive education programs at The Ohio State University and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Mr. Nelson received his B.S. in Accounting from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin and is a Certified Public Accountant (retired).

Manuel J. Perez de la Mesa, Director

Manuel J. “Manny” Perez de la Mesa became a director in 2019. Mr. Perez de la Mesa was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pool Corporation (NASDAQ “POOL”) from 2001 until his retirement in 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. He now serves as Vice Chairman on the board of directors. Prior to leading Pool Corporation, he gained extensive general, financial and operations management experience with a number of companies, including Watsco, Inc., Fresh Del Monte Produce B.V., International Business Machines Corp., and Sea-Land Service Inc./R.J. Reynolds, Inc. Mr. Perez de la Mesa is also Lead Director of BCPE Empire Topco, Inc., the parent company of Imperial Dade; Lead Director of BCPE Ulysses Investor L.P., the parent company of USLBM; Chairman of Bution Holdings 1, LLC, the parent company of ORS Medco; and a board member of Hamilton HoldCo, LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of the Reece Ltd. (“REH.AX”). 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, a Master of Business Administration from St. John's University (NY), was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, and also was a Certified Management Accountant.

Anil Seetharam, Director

Anil Seetharam became a director in 2021. Mr. Seetharam is a Managing Director of Berkshire Partners LLC (“Berkshire”) and Stockbridge Partners LLC (“Stockbridge”), a specialized investment group affiliated with Berkshire focused on marketable securities. Mr. Seetharam joined Stockbridge in February 2007 as a member of the Stockbridge investment team and became a Managing Director in December 2014. Prior to joining Stockbridge in 2007, Mr. Seetharam was previously an associate at Berkshire, a business analyst at McKinsey & Co., a consulting firm, and a vice president at Reservoir Capital, an investment firm.

Joe Chlapaty, Chairman Emeritus

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.