Kevin Wald, CEO RITALKA, INC.
Kevin was born in Rapid City and raised in Pierre, South Dakota. Growing up, he operated backhoes, front end loaders, forklifts, volumetric concrete trucks, and many types of construction and agriculture machinery.
Beginning his college career at the University of Minnesota-Morris, Kevin found the most important item a university could provide him, his wife of 36 years. This marriage has resulted with three children, a daughter and a son in-law, and 6 grandkids. Transferring to the “Main U” the following year, and graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1985 with a BS Degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics.
Upon graduation Kevin began his technical career in Los Angeles with the premier Aerospace company, TRW. Working for the next 5 years on ballistic missiles for land and submarine launch platforms. While at TRW, Kevin was most fortunate to work with the founders of the “Systems Engineering Processes”. Although technology advancements were important, nothing was more engrained than the importance of engineering development processes. As they said in the 90’s, speed is life, and Kevin has dedicated his career toward fast pace development of very advanced equipment.
Upon departing from the Aerospace industry, Kevin worked on asphalt, and then on agriculture equipment. Developments included feedback control loop systems, custom built circuits and programmed with C++, spraying hot asphalt and spreading fertilizer via GPS links and specific application maps.
After completing an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Kevin began his Contract Engineering and Manufacturing business in 1997. Based in west central Minnesota, from a humble beginning, Kevin and his wife now own 10 rural businesses, with nearly 300 employees, spread across 3 states, and covered by 750,000 square feet under roof. A fully integrated capability allows Kevin’s companies to achieve his life long goal of “fast pace development” of engineering and manufacturing projects.
To date, Kevin has his finger prints on more than 200,000 self-propelled vehicles in the market. Many with advanced automation, controls, electric over hydraulics powered by diesel technologies. Today Kevin’s company’s have projects under development on four continents, and his personal database of names include CEO’s, Senior Management, and Industry Leaders in multiple industries spread across the globe.
Dave Gelhar, Executive Director
David joined SpecSys, Inc. in 1999, when we were just a group of 5! David’s role in the early years focused on building a manufacturing operation that supported our customers with prototype services to complement our Engineering Services. As the company grew, so did the need for robust systems and processes that would allow for successful management and execution complex projects. Much of the systems & processes we use today have their origins in what was set-up 20 years ago. David served as President of SpecSys, Inc. from spring of 2006 through fall of 2017. Currently, David’s role of Director of Sales & Marketing has him much more outward focused on client and business development.
Prior to SpecSys, Inc. David held positions in both Product Development and Sales and Marketing for Tyler Industries / CASE IH. In this role David was part of a small team working to transfer technologies used in agriculture equipment to maintenance equipment used by airports and DOT’s. Upon modest growth and successful product refinement, this product line was eventually spun out and sold by CASE IH.
David attended the University of North Dakota where he studied Industrial Technology and Engineering.
Jon Wald, Concrete Mixer Product Manager
Jon is a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Jon joins us with 30 years of experience from United Engineers and Constructors where he started as a mechanical engineer and held many roles in his time with them, including time spent in project management. He has also served on the board of directors for Columbine Federal Credit Union and Gas Processing Association.
Jon and his wife have four teenage children with one in college and the other three not far behind. He enjoys traveling, golf, fishing and spending time with his family.
Mark Jaspersen, Concrete Mixer Sales Manager
Mark is a graduate of Moorhead State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Business Administration.
Mark has been with SpecSys since April of 2013. His first role was in operations with the SpecSys team based out of our Granite Falls location and then project management with the RVI group in Redwood Falls. In January of 2015, he moved over to the Account Management. Prior to his career with SpecSys he spent five years working in the banking industry as a loan officer and from 1992 to 2004 he worked as General Manager of a convenience store chain and in 2004 he purchased ten convenience stores and operated them until the spring of 2013.
In his free time, he enjoys golfing adventures throughout the Midwest with his friends, smoking a brisket or pork shoulder.
