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Leadership
Jerry Byrne
President & CEO, DFB Group
The DFB team is headed by Jerry Byrne. Jerry is a recognized entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience building companies from the ground up. Jerry has established several successful Newfoundland and Labrador companies, including SEA Systems Limited and its affiliates, Glamox Canada Limited, Navalco Canada Limited and Cantech Systems Limited. He also launched several companies in the United States, where he lived for 7 years. Jerry has extensive experience in the areas of budgeting, materials selection, sub-contracting, joint ventures, strategic alliance formation, operations and best practices.
As President and CEO of the DFB Group, Jerry plays a key role in business development. Under his leadership, revenues have increased by more than 6,000 percent. He also presided over a dramatic turn around in the company's health and safety record. For the past three years, Jerry has been named a Top 50 CEO by Atlantic Business Magazine, and is a past winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at both the provincial and regional levels. Jerry is a well-recognized figure in the local oil and gas industry and is the immediate Past Chair of the Newfoundland & Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association (NOIA).
Jim Buckingham
Vice President, Quality, Health, Safety & Environment, DFB Group
Jim Buckingham joined the DFB team in February 2008. He was a Quality Manager at Penney Ozark and has also taught at the Marine Institute's Offshore Safety and Survival Centre. Jim holds an engineering degree in naval architecture and ocean engineering from Memorial University. Like others at the DFB Group, Jim comes from an entrepreneurial background. He has owned a number of businesses and was a manufacturing representative for GEC Alstom for electrical switchgear, mechanical systems and electric motors.
When he's not ensuring the DFB Group has one of the best QHS&E records in the industry, Jim is dedicating his free time to building an indoor soccer facility which will attract youth from all over the province.
Sean Power
Vice President, Business Development, DFB Group
President, GEC Installations Inc.
Sean Power brings more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and contract management to his dual roles as Vice President of Business Development for the DFB Group and President of GEC Installations Inc. Sean joined the DFB Group in 2003 as President of Orphan Industries Limited. Under his leadership, Orphan secured its first multi-million dollar contract to manufacture Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) for Oceaneering International, Inc., the world's largest operator of remotely operated vehicles for use by the oil and gas industry. He then assumed the reigns of GEC Installations, presiding over the DFB Group's expansion into western Canada. Soon after its launch, GEC Installations was employing hundreds of trades people in the Alberta oilsands.
From 1989 to 2003, Sean was President of Steelcor Manufacturing Corporation, where he managed contracts for large aerospace contractors, including General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics. Sean's industry knowledge, business development experience and professionalism have proven invaluable to the DFB Group's growth.
Jason Fudge
Chief Financial Officer, DFB Group
President, Orphan Industries
As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Jason Fudge's responsibilities include overseeing the DFB Group's financial planning and reporting processes, developing financial models to evaluate and select high-yielding business opportunities, and liaising with external banking and investment partners to secure capital for strategy execution. Jason supports corporate planning and makes financial and strategic recommendations to the Board of Directors. Since joining the DFB Group in 2003, he has developed specialized skills in the areas of financial modeling, business planning, and mergers / acquisitions.
Prior to joining the DFB Group, Jason worked as a Senior Manager and Analyst with Telepix Imaging Inc. where he helped firms with advocacy, profile, marketing, export and systems. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University and a Masters of Business Administration from Dalhousie University.
Glenn Byrne
Vice President, Operations, DFB Group
President, D.F. Barnes Limited
Glenn Byrne has been with the DFB Group for more than 20 years. He is a Journeyman Machinist by trade and has dedicated enormous time and talent to shaping the DFB Group into what it is today. As Vice President of Operations, Glenn oversees project goals and coordinates utilization of equipment, materials and labour. Glenn provides guidance to project managers in the areas of delivery, quality, safety and cost targets. A familiar and trusted face to customers and a skilled negotiator, Glenn is a critical part of the DFB Group's marketing and business development team.
Sean McCarthy
Vice President, Corporate Development, DFB Group
In his role as Vice President of Corporate Development for the DFB Group, Sean McCarthy works across all operational functions to find and implement improvements that simplify processes, while delivering more value to customers and improving company performance. As Operations Director for Orphan Industries Limited, he implemented the principles of lean manufacturing, resulting in cost savings and improved delivery on customer expectations. Sean's efforts have paid off nicely. Orphan Industries was the 2007 recipient of the BDC Canadian Innovation Award for Productivity Improvement.
Prior to the DFB Group, Sean served as Regional Vice President with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME). At CME, Sean worked directly with firms to train and coach towards lean, continuous improvement and best practice adoption. As Vice President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of CME, he helped firms with advocacy, profile, marketing, export and systems.
Hilary Hynes
Vice President, Human Resources, DFB Group
As Vice President of Human Resources, Hilary Hynes is responsible for the operations of the various HR functions, including strategic HR planning, recruitment, employee training and development, classifications and employee relations. Hilary has solid experience in these areas through her work with a number of organizations, including Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation, Memorial University and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Hilary's background has provided her with valuable experience in human resources, as well as the opportunity to work with various positions in the construction industry.
Hilary completed a Master of Business Administration (2004) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) (2001) at Memorial University with a concentration in Human Resources and Employee Relations. Hilary is a member of the Human Resources Professionals of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Art Garland
Vice-President, Business Development
Orphan Industries Limited
Art Garland joined the DFB Group executive team in 2006 and became President of Orphan Industries Limited in 2007. At Orphan, Art has continued the phenomenal growth rate started by his predecessor, Sean Power. Besides guiding strategy development and execution, Art has overall responsibility for international sales, contract management and strategic alliance negotiation. Under Art's leadership, Orphan Industries has secured additional contracts for Launch and Recovery Systems and has diversified its range of manufacturing solutions.
Art has more than 30 years of experience in international marketing, sales and business development. Along with DFB Group President & CEO Jerry Byrne, Art launched SEA Systems Limited in 1984. As President of SEA Systems, Art grew the control and automation solutions provider to $40 million in revenue and expanded it into Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. His enviable record of business success recently netted him a finalist position at the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In addition to his business savvy, we can honestly say - Art's just a darn nice guy!
Alex Corbett
Operations Manager
Extreme East Rigging Services Ltd.
Alex Corbett has more than 30 years of experience in the rigging and lifting business. He has spent the past 15 years building companies from the ground up and has been active in the growth of several small businesses, including Newfoundland Sling Limited, CFM Rigging and Industrial Sales Limited, and most recently, Extreme East Rigging Services. Well respected by clients and partners, Alex has been instrumental to the continued success of Extreme East, where has been Operations Manager since 2005. From 2003 to 2005, he was Owner/Operator of Extreme East. Alex has been in a management role with the company since it was founded in 1994 at Arnold's Cove during the early stages of the Hibernia project.