Meet our Team of Experts
Mark Savarese - CTO
Mark is an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator in the field of natural ingredient solutions. He is best known for founding PowderPure, a pioneering company specializing in innovative dehydration technology that preserves the full nutritional profile and flavor of natural foods. Under his leadership, PowderPure developed unique methods to convert fresh produce into highly concentrated powders, offering clean and pure ingredient solutions to the food and beverage industry.
Mark successfully grew PowderPure, demonstrating expertise in product development, operations, and strategic market positioning. His efforts culminated in the acquisition of PowderPure by International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition solutions. This acquisition underscores Mark's ability to identify market needs and create valuable solutions that align with industry demands.
With a background in both the technical and business sides of product innovation, Mark has a proven track record of scaling operations, leading technology-driven growth, and achieving successful exits through strategic acquisitions. His work continues to have a lasting impact on the natural ingredients industry, emphasizing purity, quality, and sustainability.
Peter F. Kruchoski - President
Peter F. Kruchoski is a seasoned Project Manager, Project Engineer and business leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence in the manufacturing, product development, and construction industries. His career is distinguished by his role in scaling a small rigid polyurethane manufacturer to a leading supplier for the Canadian oil sands sector, boosting annual revenue from $8 million to over $100 million. Peter has successfully managed capital projects ranging from $10,000 to $8 million, consistently delivering on time and within budget.
Previously Peter was a co-owner of Highmark Design and Construction, a startup specializing in Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction, where he has led the business from inception to over $1.2 million in annual revenue. His expertise encompasses all facets of construction management, financial oversight, and technical leadership.
His previous roles include Mechanical Engineer at Insitu Inc. (a Boeing company), where he ensured manufacturability and sustained engineering of unmanned aircraft systems, and Vice President at Copper State Specialties, where he spearheaded strategic sales initiatives in the mining sector. He has also excelled in technical leadership positions, serving as a Director of Research and Facilities Engineer, where he implemented ISO 9000:2010 and Six Sigma strategies, increasing plant capacity and optimizing operational processes.
Peter holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Bachelor's degree in Automotive Engineering from Minnesota State University. He is a co-inventor of a patented Lining Measurement System for fluid handling and has published in technical journals, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing engineering excellence.
William Parkki - Director of Engineering
With 20 years of experience, William is a highly accomplished project leader and senior manager, renowned for his expertise in managing complex projects, engineering departments, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and IT systems. His impressive track record spans four countries, where he has consistently demonstrated the ability to efficiently identify and resolve technical issues in manufacturing operations and business units.
Throughout his career, William has successfully led numerous domestic and international projects, leveraging his diverse expertise in project management, engineering and construction, and operations management. Specifically, his project management skills have been applied to the implementation of new technologies, rework of existing assets, new installations, and full facility build-outs. Additionally, his engineering and construction expertise encompasses plant operations, construction management, process design, environmental and safety engineering, regulatory compliance, and consulting. He has also designed, started up, commissioned, and operated various manufacturing processes and facilities.
William's key areas of expertise include project analysis, where he has examined schedule delays, disruptions, and accelerations, as well as scope responsibility, change orders, contract reviews, costs, productivity, and inefficiency. He is well-versed in implementation, having managed the design, fabrication, commissioning, and operation of new product lines and equipment. Furthermore, William has drafted, negotiated, and administered various contracts and financial instruments, and has conducted regulatory audits, including ISO 14001, SQF III, and CFR 111. He has also designed corporate-wide project governance programs, prepared work scopes, managed scopes, and analyzed construction procedures.
The highlights of William's career include leading projects in four countries, and driving successful outcomes through his technical expertise and strategic leadership. He has provided services to a diverse range of clients, including owners, contractors, and customers across the manufacturing, engineering, and construction industries. Notably, William has performed project analyzes across all project lifecycle stages, from conception to maintenance.
Ted Skipper - Operations and Production Manager
Ted Skipper is a seasoned manufacturing expert with over four decades of experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge in production management, process optimization, and hands-on machine shop operations. His educational background includes an Associate's Degree in Machine Shop Technology, a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Communications, and a Master’s in Business Administration, equipping him with both technical expertise and business acumen.
Ted’s career began at Boeing, where he spent 15 years developing his skills in various roles, including Machinist, Lead Machinist, Manufacturing Engineer, and CNC Programmer. During his tenure, he contributed to critical projects such as the 777 aircraft and V22 Osprey helicopter, helping set up production lines and optimize processes. This diverse experience allowed him to master CNC programming for new parts and implement process improvements, laying the groundwork for his future leadership in manufacturing.
In 2000, Ted founded S3 Manufacturing, an AS9100 and ISO9001 certified machine shop. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a small operation into a supplier for companies like Raytheon Aircraft, Warn Industries, and ECS Case. His ability to produce specialized equipment, including automating Raytheon’s sheet metal line and manufacturing replacement parts for the TriMet Max trains, demonstrated his capability in handling complex projects across various industries, such as Aerospace, Transportation, Medical, Agricultural, and Recreation.
Ted’s expertise lies in managing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from design and prototyping to final production and assembly. He has a proven track record of identifying the most efficient manufacturing processes, coordinating with suppliers for Just-In-Time sub-assembly integration, and ensuring optimal resource utilization. His strong problem-solving skills and focus on streamlining operations have resulted in cost-effective production and reliable quality control.
He is adept at developing production workflows, managing budgets, and tracking key performance metrics to ensure continuous improvement. Ted’s hands-on approach allows him to contribute directly to assembly and prototype creation, while his leadership skills enable him to oversee complex projects and manage teams effectively. His ability to balance strategic planning with practical execution makes him a versatile asset, capable of stepping into any role necessary as a company grows.
Ted is comfortable providing on-site support, training personnel, and adapting to new challenges, reflecting his commitment to delivering high-quality results in any manufacturing environment. With his extensive experience and dedication to excellence, Ted Skipper stands out as a leader who can drive efficiency, innovation, and success in the competitive world of manufacturing.
Dan Goral - Director of Sales & Marketing
Dan Goral has built a distinguished career in the flavor and fragrance industry, specializing in innovative food ingredients and advanced drying technologies. With a background in chemistry and psychology from the University of Illinois, Dan’s entrepreneurial journey began with a biotechnology instrumentation company serving Ivy League institutions and Fortune 500 companies.
His passion for food innovation led him to the industrial ingredient sector, where he managed global sourcing and marketing for anchovy-based ingredients, a critical component in nearly all commercial Caesar salad dressings across North America. His expertise in sauces and ingredients later took him to a leadership role with a Hong Kong-based global food company, where he managed Western U.S. sales and led a pioneering effort to dry culinary sauces into powder.
Dan’s deep knowledge of dehydration technologies—including drum drying, spray drying, and freeze drying—ultimately led him to PowderPure, where he discovered its revolutionary Radiant Zone Drying process. Unlike conventional methods, this technology retained the color, flavor, and nutritional integrity of food ingredients, setting a new industry standard.
As Sales Manager and later Director of Business Development at PowderPure, Dan played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s market presence and forging strategic partnerships. His efforts directly contributed to the successful acquisition of PowderPure by International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), further cementing his influence in the flavor and fragrance industry.
Mark Hamachek - Advisory Board
Mark Hamachek is a seasoned executive and investor with over two decades of experience spanning private equity, venture capital, and startup operations. Mark's diverse background includes roles at multinational corporations such as Amazon.com, IBM, and Boston Scientific, as well as leadership positions in entrepreneurial ventures like Remote Medical International and LvlUp. He is the founder of H Group, an investment and new venture development firm, and co-founder of System Ventures, a seed-stage technology venture fund. Beyond his professional endeavors, Mark is passionate about contemporary art, modern architecture, and boating in the Pacific Northwest. He contributes to the community as a mentor at the University of Washington’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship and as a board member of the Lee Pesky Learning Center. Mark holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in Geosciences from Williams College.
Carrie Decker - Technical Advisor
Carrie A. Decker, ND, MSBME, MSME, has a broad background in diverse areas of engineering, medicine, and the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to becoming a naturopathic doctor, Carrie was an engineer and obtained graduate degrees in biomedical and mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively. Her master’s research focused on the use of infrared radiation to measure thin film thickness in various applications and led to the award of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding for ongoing study.
Carrie’s engineering career included several years at Boeing, where she developed ultrasound and thermography inspection techniques for the 787 composite airframe. She is co-author of a patent utilizing a novel application of ultrasound for porosity inspection and she authored official repair inspection documents, created training programs for engineers and technicians, and led feasibility studies on cutting-edge phased array ultrasound systems. Carrie also brings with her a background in engineering design, analysis, and testing from employment at Caterpillar and John Deere.
Driven by a desire to apply her analytical skills to human health, Carrie pursued a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine, where she graduated cum laude. After practicing medicine initially, Carrie transitioned this skill set to the dietary supplement industry where she was involved with product development, scientific communications, medical education, and regulatory activities. She further broadened her capacities in communications, education, and regulatory working with a variety of orphan drugs and pharmaceutical companies from small startups to Pfizer in the field of medical communications.