Who We Are
© Copyright Lawrence Merchandising 2010
3500 Holly Ln. N Suite 10,
Plymouth, MN 55447
(800) 328-3967

Executive Team

Stephen Birke - President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Birke joined the Company as President and CEO in October 2009. He has over 38 years of senior executive and board member experience. A veteran of Target Corporation, Mr. Birke served as vice president and general merchandise manager, where he played a key role in defining Target’s merchandising strategy. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, leadership, product development, marketing, operation, P&L management and vendor/client relationship. Prior to his appointment as President and CEO, Mr. Birke served on the board of directors for Lawrence Merchandising. He also served as Interim President and CEO of Wireless Ronin Technologies where he is a member of their board of directors. In addition, he was founder and President of Birch Tree International, LLC., a retail consulting company. Mr. Birke is currently board chairman of the Bell Museum – University of Minnesota. Mr. Birke has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

 

Cindy Sattler - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Sattler joined the company in October 2008. She has 24 years of manufacturing, retail and service industry experience. Ms. Sattler’s expertise includes finance and accounting, mergers and acquisitions, treasury, risk management, software system implementations and general management of marketing, IT, Human Resources, public and investor relations. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Sattler was the Chief Administrative Officer for HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary. She also held leadership positions with Polaris Industries, Alliant Techsystems and Honeywell. Ms. Sattler has a B.S.B.A in accounting from the University of North Dakota, Masters Degree from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota and is an active CPA.

 

Janet Voltaggio - Vice President of Account Management

Ms. Voltaggio joined the Company in June 1984. She has 25 years of retail, sales, project management and business development experience. Ms. Voltaggio’s expertise includes visual merchandising, project implementation and execution, interfacing with corporate buyers and divisional managers to coordinate and execute optimal sales plans, building and managing national sales efforts and overseeing all aspects of client services, including primary responsibility for the Target account and all services and projects within this retailer. Ms. Voltaggio graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work/Psychology.

 
 

Josh Kinkeade - Vice President Controller and IT

Mr. Kinkeade joined the Company in November 2009. He has 14 years of manufacturing, retail, and service industry experience. Mr. Kinkeade’s expertise includes finance and accounting, planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, software system implementations, and operations and business intelligence technology. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Kinkeade was a senior manager at eCapital Advisors, an Enterprise Performance Management consulting firm. Mr. Kinkeade has a B.S in accounting from Gustavus Adolphus College and is an active CPA.

 
 

Joel Nelson - Vice President Business Development

Mr. Nelson joined the Company in November 2009. He has 20 years of sales and marketing, business development, and organizational development experience. Mr. Nelson’s expertise includes high level sales, executive leadership, strategic planning, business consulting and development, organizational development and national management. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Nelson was a President at Intentional Financial Solutions and a President at HomeServices Insurance of America. Mr. Nelson has a B.A in business administration from Augustana College and a Masters of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota

 

Tom Endicott - Director of Business Development

Mr. Endicott joined the Company in February 2007. He has 29 years of retail merchandising and management experience. Mr. Endicott spent over 15 years in store and merchandising management with Osco Drug, Inc and Venture Stores. During the next 12 years he has served as the Director of National Accounts for Prism Retail Services and as Director of Client Services and Retail Operations with ProSet Merchandising, a division of Crossmark Sales and Marketing. Mr. Endicott has extensive leadership skills in program expansion and business development within the MSO industry. Mr. Endicott has a B.S in Marketing from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale.

 

Sue Schmidt - Director of Human Resources

Ms. Schmidt joined the company in October 1999. She has spent the past 10 years developing the Recruitment and Human Resources Department at Lawrence Merchandising. The team specializes in a unique recruitment model in order to handle the high volume staffing and employee relations with remote employees. Prior to joining the Company, she was a HR Generalist as well as an intern in the staffing industry. Ms. Schmidt has a B.S. in Applied Psychology and Business Management from St. Cloud State University and is a certified Senior Human Resources Professional.