Management Team

Chris McNiffe, Chief Executive Officer

Chris McNiffe brings 30 years of semiconductor industry experience to his role as CEO of Truesense Imaging. He became CEO following Platinum Equity’s purchase of the Image Sensor Solutions (ISS) business from Eastman Kodak Company in November 2011. Prior to that date, Chris was the General Manager of ISS from 2004 and its VP of Sales and Marketing beginning in 2000. Under Chris’ leadership, ISS completed its successful transition into a global, customer-focused provider of high performance image sensors. Chris led the business team that drove the divestiture activity from Kodak and the transition processes necessary to establish Truesense Imaging as a successful independent corporation.

Prior to joining Kodak in February of 2000, Chris held sales and marketing executive positions with 8x8, Inc., and NCR Microelectronics over a 16-year period while living in Silicon Valley.  Chris began his career designing custom and semi-custom ICs while working as an engineer at the RCA Solid State division in Somerville, NJ.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University.

Rachel Kielon, CPA, Chief Financial Officer

Rachel Kielon is responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, and treasury at Truesense Imaging, and oversees the Purchasing organization for the business.

Prior to joining Truesense Imaging, Rachel worked in a variety of financial and operational roles at Birds Eye Foods and PAETEC Holding Corp where she gained broad experience in acquisition integration, financial reporting, internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and controls, and investor relations.

Rachel holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology, as well as a B.A. in Economics and Management from Niagara University.

Dr. David Nichols, Director of Research and Development

Dave Nichols is the Director of Research and Development, and manages Product Engineering and Test Engineering teams.  He is responsible for image sensor technology development, commercialization, product engineering, and test engineering.

Dave joined the image sensor development group within the Research Labs of Eastman Kodak Company in 1981.  He has held various leadership and management positions in image sensor research and development, as well as in process and product engineering during the group’s transformation from an image sensor R&D effort to a successful stand-alone business.

Dave received his B. S. degree with majors in both physics and mathematics from State University of New York, College at Fredonia, and earned M. S. and Ph. D. degrees in physics from Purdue University.  Dave has 28 US patents and co-authored over 45 publications, presentations, and technical reports.

Antonio Ciccarelli, Director, Worldwide Marketing

Antonio Ciccarelli serves as Director of Worldwide Marketing for Truesense Imaging, with responsibility for strategic business planning, product and technology roadmap definition, product and business communications, and branding activities.  Antonio was first appointed to this position in 2009 as part of the Image Sensor Solutions business of Eastman Kodak Company.

Antonio joined Kodak in 1989 as an Image Sensor Designer, and has held a number of different positions in the business including Product Engineer, Project Manager, Integration Manager, Product Line Manager, and CCD Marketing Manager.

Antonio has earned both master and bachelor degrees in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.  He has been a member of the IEEE since 1989, holds 7 US patents, and has co-authored several papers in the image sensor field.

Gloria Putnam, Director, Worldwide Sales and Applications Engineering

Gloria Putnam leads Truesense Imaging’s worldwide team of business development managers, the field and factory applications engineers, as well as the customer service department.  Gloria joined the business in November of 2000 as one of its first applications engineers and since has successfully built a worldwide team of imaging experts who deliver an unparalleled level of service to Truesense Imaging’s customers.

Gloria previously worked to develop custom CCD sensors as a characterization engineer at PixelVision Advanced Sensors in Huntington Beach, CA; and supported the design of remote sensing instrumentation as an optical systems engineer at Orbital Sciences Corporation in Pomona, CA.  She holds B.S. degrees in both mathematics and physics and an M.S. degree in physics, all from the California State University system.

Michael Miller, Operations Director

Michael Miller manages all manufacturing operations for Truesense Imaging – including process development, wafer manufacturing, and device product builds from raw silicon to finished product – and also serves as Site Manager for the Truesense Imaging manufacturing facility. In these capacities, Michael is responsible for strategic planning and administration of production activities, including manufacturing engineering, wafer fabrication, assembly, test, equipment maintenance, facility maintenance and Truesense Imaging’s capital equipment acquisitions.

Prior to joining Truesense Imaging, Michael held several positions in Kodak’s Image Sensor Solutions business ranging from Manufacturing Operations Manager, with responsibility for Wafer Fabrication, Assembly and Package Test groups, to CCD Business Unit Manager, with P&L responsibility for the CCD business within ISS.

Before joining Kodak, Michael served as Vice President and General Manager of California Micro Devices, Arizona Division where he directed the firm’s manufacturing, R&D, purchasing, supply chain and human resource groups. He has also served as manufacturing operation director at Cypress Semiconductor in San Jose, California, as well as in various positions with Intel Corporation, General Instrument Corporation, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) ranging from employee relation to manufacturing management.

Wes Micket, Director, Strategy and Business Development

Wes Micket is responsible for major strategic growth initiatives for Truesense Imaging, and has been instrumental in designing and implementing the business management processes used by the organization.

Prior to joining the image sensor business in 2006, Wes held several senior positions at Kodak including Director of Strategy for Display and Components, Operations Manager for the Kodak Picture Network, Manager of World Wide Strategy for Office Imaging, and and Business Manager for the US&C Region of Office Imaging. Wes has worked in design engineering, service, sales operations, business management, and research, as well as in planning.

Wes earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Gannon University, an MSEE from Rochester Institute of Techonology and an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester’s Simon School.

rICHARD sCHUMACHER, Director, Quality Assurance and Supply chain

Rick Schumacher serves as the Quality Assurance and Supply Chain Director for Truesense Imaging.  In this capacity, Rick has overall responsibility for customer and supplier quality, Truesense Imaging’s quality system, and its forecasting, planning, delivery, and inventory systems.  In addition, Rick provides technical support for Truesense’s lean manufacturing initiatives.

Karen Gagie, Manager of Human Resources

Karen Gagie leads the Human Resources Department with oversight of payroll, benefits, compensation, staffing, performance management and professional development.  Prior to joining Truesense Imaging, Karen led the HR Department at St. John Fisher College for 10 years where she developed HR policies and procedures and provided consultation in all HR practice areas.  Karen helped build the HR Department and led the HR Services organization for 3 years at Harris Interactive Inc. in Rochester, and also worked for Eastman Kodak Company for 13 years where she began her career in Human Resources serving a variety of clients in her role as HR generalist.

Karen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Development from Roberts Wesleyan College.