Our Team Leaders

Karl Larsen, President / CEO

Karl Larsen brings nearly three decades worth of direct industry experience to the position of President and CEO for Cesco Solutions. As President, Mr. Larsen oversees an experienced and multidisciplinary group of PhD’s, Chemical Engineers, Chemists, Biologists, Scientists, and Sales Professionals.

Mr. Larsen is a graduate of Northwest University, where he holds a degree in Business Management.

Shortly after beginning his business career in technical sales (specialty chemicals for Pulp and Paper, Petrochemical, and Food Plants), Mr. Larsen was promoted to Vice President of Sales for Chemical Services Northwest, where he tripled the size of the company in just three years. In 1992, Mr. Larsen purchased Cesco and the company has grown significantly since then, transforming from a small northwest regional specialty chemical company into an international entity which serves markets across the globe.

Happily married with six children, Mr. Larsen currently resides in Bellingham, Washington.

Paul Aegerter, Vice President

Since joining Cesco Solutions in 1997, Paul Aegerter has earned a well-deserved reputation as a hands-on project manager and innovative thinker.

As Vice President, Mr. Aegerter is able to apply his experience across a range of areas in support of Cesco’s internal and external operations.

Mr. Aegerter received his M.S. degree in Environmental Chemistry, Surface and Colloid Science from Western Washington University. Prior to joining Cesco, he worked in Anadromous Fisheries Habitat Restoration, as a Consultant for Water Resources Consulting, in the Viticulture industry, and as an educator.

Mr. Aegerter’s depth of knowledge and experience as a problem solver for heavy industrial manufacturing has been applied across such industries as Pulp and Paper, Wastewater, Petrochemical, and Food Processing.

Mark Furneaux, Regional Sales Manager / Canada

With a B.S. degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry from the University of Victoria, Mark Furneaux has served as a Forestry Engineer, Mines Inspector, and Forestry Consultant as well as a Laboratory Research Technician for the Government of Canada.

A native of Canada, Mr. Furneaux currently resides in Vancouver, BC.

Mr. Furneaux joined Cesco in 1998, and since then has developed, and applied his expertise across a range of clients and industries. As Regional Sales Manager, Mr. Furneaux is primarily focused on managing operations in Western Canada, in service to the Pulp and Paper, Wastewater, Petrochemical and Food Processing industries.

Jingliang “Jeff” Mao, Project Manager

Jingliang “Jeff” Mao is a research chemist and development specialist for Cesco Solutions, Inc. His areas of professional expertise span the range from applied industrial biotechnology, through practices, procedures, and products which serve the papermaking industry.Dr. Mao received his Ph.D in the field of Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Washington. In addition, he holds two different Master of Science Degrees, one in Paper Science and Engineering (University of Washington), and the other in Chemical Engineering of Forest Products (Beijing Forestry University.)

During his tenure with Cesco, Dr. Mao has distinguished himself as a brilliant innovator, and has established a reputation as a leader in his field. He has authored many articles and papers in recent years, and is a regular and respected presenter at industry and scientific conferences across North America.

Danny Callahan, Gulf Coast Regional Manager

Danny Callahan’s ties to Cesco Solutions, Inc. go back more than 30 years to when he was teenager working alongside his father, Dr. Joe Callahan, the company’s original Technical Director.As he worked his way through college, Mr. Callahan served as a Blender, Service Engineer, and Coordinator before moving into sales for Browning Ferris Industries (BFI).

In the years since, Mr. Callahan has worked in sales and management for several leading chemical companies, where he has been routinely honored with awards and citations for his performance. He has been similarly honored for his civic and community involvement, having most recently received the Wall of Honor Award from his hometown of Sulphur, LA.

In 2005, Mr. Callahan returned “home” to join the Cesco team as Regional Manager for the Gulf Coast region.

Thomas Woodward, Cesco Distributor / Technical Consultant

Thomas Woodward is a nationally-recognized authority on the Pulp and Paper industry and a veteran member of the Cesco team.Mr. Woodward is a published author, respected lecturer, and patent holder. He has also served as a leading research scientist and development manager for a well-known international Pulp and Paper specialty chemical corporation and as Technical Editor for Recycled Paper News.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Mr. Woodward has worked as a consultant and adviser to many leading national firms and government agencies including the US Dept of Agriculture and the US Postal Service. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of CERMA, and has served as a member on various committees associated with the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI).

In addition to his technical affiliation with Cesco Solutions, Mr. Woodward also serves as Director of Technology for EnzChem Associates, a Virginia-based company focused on providing enzyme and specialty chemical applications for the Pulp and Paper industry.

O. Jack Turner, Cesco Distributor / Manager, EnzKem

O. Jack Turner brings more than three decades of experience in strategic planning, management, and market development to the Cesco team.Mr. Turner has served such internationally-recognized corporations as Betz, Calgon and Halliburton, and enjoys a well-earned industry reputation as a dynamic leader and strategist. Complementing his work in the US, Mr. Turner has also directed operations throughout Asia, Latin America and Europe.

A former Eagle scout, Mr. Turner, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Montevallo (Montevallo, AL).

In addition to his active association with Cesco and EnzKem, Mr. Turner currently serves as President of Management Development International, Ltd., a Georgia-based company he formed in 2003.

Mike Klaus, Cesco Distributor / President, Chemcore, Inc.

Mike Klaus is the President of Chemcore, Inc., a Virginia-based corporation specializing in the production of industrial cleaning solutions, with an emphasis on serving the needs of the Pulp and Paper, Parts Washing, and Food Processing industries.After initially joining Chemcore as a Sales Representative in 1997, Mr. Klaus ascended to the position of company president in less than six years. During his tenure with the firm he has established a corporate culture which emphasizes the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction in every aspect of Chemcore’s dealings.

With a B.A. Degree in Organizational Management from Bluefield College, Mr. Klaus went on to study at Ohio State University, from which he was awarded a Masters of Business Administration Degree.

Over the years, Mr. Klaus has developed a well-deserved reputation for building long-term business relationships based on mutual respect, shared goals, and improving profitability.

Prior to joining Chemcore, Mr. Klaus worked with such industry leaders as Lanier Worldwide and Northwestern Mutual.

Ali Bahrami-Bayeh, Regulatory Affairs Director

Ali Bahrami-Bayeh provides his expertise in regulatory and health and safety compliance interfacing with employees, vendors, clients and government entities.With a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Mr. Bahrami-Bayeh is also able to apply his technical skills across a wide range of areas in support of the Cesco team.

Prior to joining Cesco, Mr. Bahrami-Bayeh worked as an Environmental Compliance Engineer focusing on development and implementation of ISO 14001 and other environmental health and safety related standards.

Dennis Tonkin, Technical Consultant

Dennis Tonkin earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Washington State University. Mr. Tonkin spent 2 years in industrial chemical sales followed by nearly 20 years in sales and sales management with a major industrial water treatment company. During this time, Mr. Tonkin specialized in application of polymers for liquid/solids separation across multiple industries. This led to 9 years with the company’s Technical Service group, providing technical backup, trouble-shooting, project startup/management, and training to the company’s sales staff.Mr. Tonkin has extensive polymer application experience in Pulp/Paper, Recycle Paper, Mining, Municipal, Petrochemical, and Food Processing industries. Mr. Tonkin provides technical support to the sales staff of Cesco Solutions and currently lives in Mt. Vernon, Washington.

Jason Jones, Operations Manager, Baytown, Texas Branch

Jason Jones joined Cesco Solutions after 8 years in the tank and nitrogen industry. Mr. Jones has utilized his experience to manage operations at our Baytown, TX facility.Mr. Jones is originally from Houston, TX. His passion in life is his wife and children. They enjoy playing t-ball and softball together during the baseball season.

Mr. Jones enjoys helping others any way he can and learning new things—especially about the chemical industry.

Mark Eggink, Operations Manager

After attending college in Oregon, Mark Eggink and his wife moved to Washington. They raised their family and have lived in the Bellingham area for 30 years.Mark was employed in operations for 13 years before coming to work at Cesco Solutions.

He has been with the company for over 17 years. He is in charge of the daily operations of the plant. This includes purchasing, receiving and scheduling deliveries. He also oversees and has extensive knowledge of the blending of raw materials into the finished product.

Matt Small, Accounting Manager

Matt Small joined Cesco Solutions after working 10 years for a wood products manufacturer in Accounting and Operations management. Mr. Small received his B.S. in Business Management from Pensacola Christian College and his M.S. in Accounting from Liberty University.Mr. Small enjoys helping others and provides financial and consulting advice for several small and non-profit businesses.

Mr. Small resides in Ferndale, WA with his lovely wife, Emily.

Susan Hofstetter, Accounting/Human Resources Coordinator

Susan joined the Cesco Accounting team in 2007. She graduated cum laude from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration-Finance and a minor in Economics. Susan performs daily accounting duties, company purchasing, and customer service. She is responsible for many Human Resource tasks and is a contributor to the Cesco Newsletter. Susan’s experience, attitude, and professionalism make her a solid asset to the company. She is involved in her community and is a recipient of multiple school district volunteering awards. She and her husband, Bob, have two children, Kellie and Kyle.

Josh LaFountaine, Northwest Regional Sales Manager

Josh LaFountaine began his career blending and manufacturing industrial chemicals with a national chemical provider. Shortly after, Mr. LaFountaine’s curiosity and drive motivated him to pursue a career in sales. With just under a decade of industrial chemical sales and service in a large variety of industries, there aren’t many challenges or projects he hasn’t tackled.Since joining Cesco in 2009, Mr. LaFountaine has developed, and applied his expertise across a range of clients and industries. Mr. LaFountaine is primarily focused on managing operations in Washington and Oregon, in service to the Pulp & Paper, Wastewater, Heavy Industry, and Food Processing industries.

Over the years, Mr. LaFountaine has developed a well-deserved reputation for building long-term business relationships based on mutual respect, shared goals, excellent service, and helping customers improve profitability.

John Fries, Chemical Sales Engineer

JohnFries joined Cesco Solutions after working 9 years in Petrochemical & Oil/Gas industries. While performing both contract work and sales in these industries he put himself through college to provide a better living for his family.  Mr. Fries received his B.S. in General Business from the University of Houston-Clear Lake College and from there he moved in to sales and management roles along the way. John enjoys spending time with his 2 sons and watching them become their own little persons as time passes.  Mr. Fries resides in Seabrook, TX area with his lovely wife, Jacquelyn and two boys.