Our Mission & Guiding Principles
Our mission is to remain deeply rooted in the critical communications industry for all military, first responders, and public safety heroes. Our four guiding principles: growth, tenacious commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and a keen focus on being customer-centric, continuously drive our efforts to be the best partner for our customers, investment for our shareholders, neighbor in our community and to provide an empowering work environment for our employees.
As an American manufacturer for over 70 years, BK Technologies® advances include a broad new line of leading digital two‑way radio communications compliant with APCO Project 25 specifications. BK Technologies® products are manufactured and distributed worldwide under BK Radio® as the brand name. The Company maintains its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida and can be contacted through its website at www.bktechnologies.com or directly at 1-800-821-2900. The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE American market under the symbol “BKTI”.
Meet The Team
John M. Suzuki
Executive Leadership TeamCEO
John M. Suzuki was appointed as our CEO in July 2021. He previously served as President & CEO of the land mobile radio company, EF Johnson Technologies. John has 35+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry with a proven track record of driving sales growth. Previous experience includes Ericsson and Motorola.
John M. Suzuki
CEO
John M. Suzuki was appointed as our CEO in July 2021. He previously served as President & CEO of the land mobile radio company, EF Johnson Technologies. John has 35+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry with a proven track record of driving sales growth. Previous experience includes Ericsson and Motorola.
Timothy A. Vitou
Executive Leadership TeamPresident
Timothy A. Vitou was appointed as our President effective as of January 17, 2017. He previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing since May 2008. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Sales for Mobility Electronics, Inc., Senior Director of Global Go-To-Market, for Motorola, and General Manager, Americas Region, for Motorola.
Timothy A. Vitou
President
Timothy A. Vitou was appointed as our President effective as of January 17, 2017. He previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing since May 2008. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Sales for Mobility Electronics, Inc., Senior Director of Global Go-To-Market, for Motorola, and General Manager, Americas Region, for Motorola.
William P. Kelly
Executive Leadership TeamExecutive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer & Secretary
William P. Kelly has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since June 1997, and Secretary since June 2000. From October 1995 to June 1997, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of our subsidiary, BK Technologies®. From January 1993 to October 1995, he was the Financial Director of Harris Corp. Semiconductor Sector.
William P. Kelly
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer & Secretary
William P. Kelly has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since June 1997, and Secretary since June 2000. From October 1995 to June 1997, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of our subsidiary, BK Technologies®. From January 1993 to October 1995, he was the Financial Director of Harris Corp. Semiconductor Sector.
Branko Avanic
Executive Leadership TeamChief Technology Officer
Dr. Branko Avanic is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for BK Technologies. Dr. Avanic joined BK in August 2019 bringing to BK over 30 years of leading-edge product development expertise with a prominent manufacturer in the land mobile radio industry. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and owns 29 U.S. Patents. In his role as CTO, Dr. Avanic is responsible for the entirety of BK's engineering activities.
Branko Avanic
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Branko Avanic is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for BK Technologies. Dr. Avanic joined BK in August 2019 bringing to BK over 30 years of leading-edge product development expertise with a prominent manufacturer in the land mobile radio industry. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and owns 29 U.S. Patents. In his role as CTO, Dr. Avanic is responsible for the entirety of BK's engineering activities.
Randy Willis
Executive Leadership TeamChief Operations Officer
Randy Willis joined BK Technologies® (BKTI) in August 2017 as Vice President of Operations, advancing to Chief Operating Officer in March of 2018. Mr. Willis is responsible for leading the organization’s global operational strategy making continuous company wide improvements with the implementation of Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma methodologies. Before joining BK Technologies® he served as President of Target Velocity Consulting, leading public and private firms in productivity improvements.
Randy Willis
Chief Operations Officer
Randy Willis joined BK Technologies® (BKTI) in August 2017 as Vice President of Operations, advancing to Chief Operating Officer in March of 2018. Mr. Willis is responsible for leading the organization’s global operational strategy making continuous company wide improvements with the implementation of Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma methodologies. Before joining BK Technologies® he served as President of Target Velocity Consulting, leading public and private firms in productivity improvements.
James E. Gilley
Executive Leadership TeamChief Scientist
James E. Gilley has been our Chief Scientist Officer and Vice President since June 30, 2008. From September 1995 to June 2008, he served as Chief Scientist of Transcrypt International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFL, Inc., a provider of secure wireless technologies primarily for the homeland security marketplace. Mr. Gilley received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree, Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska.
James E. Gilley
Chief Scientist
James E. Gilley has been our Chief Scientist Officer and Vice President since June 30, 2008. From September 1995 to June 2008, he served as Chief Scientist of Transcrypt International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFL, Inc., a provider of secure wireless technologies primarily for the homeland security marketplace. Mr. Gilley received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree, Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska.
Board Of Directors
John M. Suzuki
Board Of DirectorsDirector
John M. Suzuki was appointed as our CEO in July 2021. He previously served as President & CEO of the land mobile radio company, EF Johnson Technologies. John has 35+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry with a proven track record of driving sales growth. Previous experience includes Ericsson and Motorola.
John M. Suzuki
Director
John M. Suzuki was appointed as our CEO in July 2021. He previously served as President & CEO of the land mobile radio company, EF Johnson Technologies. John has 35+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry with a proven track record of driving sales growth. Previous experience includes Ericsson and Motorola.
D. Kyle Cerminara
Board Of DirectorsDirector
D. Kyle Cerminara was appointed to the board of directors in July 2015 and as Chairman in March 2017. Mr. Cerminara is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for Ballantyne Strong, Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the cinema, retail, financial and government markets. Mr. Cerminara assumed responsibilities as Chairman of the Board of Ballantyne Strong in May 2015 and as Chief Executive Officer in November 2015.
D. Kyle Cerminara
Director
D. Kyle Cerminara was appointed to the board of directors in July 2015 and as Chairman in March 2017. Mr. Cerminara is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for Ballantyne Strong, Inc., a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the cinema, retail, financial and government markets. Mr. Cerminara assumed responsibilities as Chairman of the Board of Ballantyne Strong in May 2015 and as Chief Executive Officer in November 2015.
Michael R. Dill
Board Of DirectorsDirector
Michael R. Dill was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Dill has served as President of the Aerospace, Power Generation and General Industrial divisions at AFGlobal Corporation, a privatelyheld, integrated technology and manufacturing company, since 2014.
Michael R. Dill
Director
Michael R. Dill was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Dill has served as President of the Aerospace, Power Generation and General Industrial divisions at AFGlobal Corporation, a privatelyheld, integrated technology and manufacturing company, since 2014.
Charles T. Lanktree
Board Of DirectorsDirector
Charles T. Lanktree was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Lanktree has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eggland’s Best, LLC, a joint venture between Eggland’s Best, Inc. and Land O’Lakes, Inc. distributing nationally branded eggs, since 2012.
Charles T. Lanktree
Director
Charles T. Lanktree was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Lanktree has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eggland’s Best, LLC, a joint venture between Eggland’s Best, Inc. and Land O’Lakes, Inc. distributing nationally branded eggs, since 2012.
General E. Gray Payne
Board Of DirectorsChairman
General E. Gray Payne was appointed to the board of directors in January 2017. General Payne served as Senior Vice President of The Columbia Group (“TCG”), since September 2010 to September 2017, where he has been responsible for managing the Marine Corps Programs Division (since September 2010) and the Navy Programs Division (since October 2013), with combined annual revenue of approximately $30 million.
General E. Gray Payne
Chairman
General E. Gray Payne was appointed to the board of directors in January 2017. General Payne served as Senior Vice President of The Columbia Group (“TCG”), since September 2010 to September 2017, where he has been responsible for managing the Marine Corps Programs Division (since September 2010) and the Navy Programs Division (since October 2013), with combined annual revenue of approximately $30 million.
John W. Struble
Board Of DirectorsBoard Member
John W. Struble was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Struble has served as Chief Financial Officer of IntraPac International Corporation, a manufacturing company owned by private equity investment firm Onex Corporation (TSE: ONEX), since December 2013, where he is responsible for the finance, information technology and human resources functions.
John W. Struble
Board Member
John W. Struble was appointed to the board of directors in March 2017. Mr. Struble has served as Chief Financial Officer of IntraPac International Corporation, a manufacturing company owned by private equity investment firm Onex Corporation (TSE: ONEX), since December 2013, where he is responsible for the finance, information technology and human resources functions.