Executive Management Team
With a shared commitment to growth, innovation and continued excellence at Chatsworth Products (CPI), the Executive Management Team leads by example. The combined executive experience, guidance and knowledge of CPI leadership ensures the successful operations of day-to-day business, as well as laying the foundation for future success.
Michael Custer
President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Custer oversees the direction and management of CPI globally. Additionally, he is the Chief Executive Team Member, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. Mike is responsible for ensuring the company continues its growth in the global IT market and maintains the core value of “Delighting the Customer” with CPI’s products and services.
In his previous role at CPI, Mike was Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. He additionally had oversight of International Operations, Supply Chain and Quality. Mike had company-wide responsibility for sales and marketing efforts, including sales force, marketing communications, sales-marketing operations, customer service and technology-expert consulting teams.
Mike also held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing after serving as CPI’s Vice President of New Business Development.
Mike first joined CPI in November 1996 as General Manager of the Chatsworth, California operating unit, where he led and managed all business functions at the facility.
His 30+ years of executive management experience include serving as President and CEO of Sumo Products Group, a manufacturer of high-end consumer electronics, and serving as President and CFO of Califone International, Inc., a manufacturer of audiovisual products.
Mike started his career as a Research and Development Engineer in the consumer electronics industry, working for the Marantz Company, where he eventually became Vice President of Product Development.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix.
Melissa Aleman
Chief Human Resources Officer
Melissa Aleman is responsible for global Human Resources services including workforce planning, human resources policy development, performance and compensation management, supporting the organization in securing talent that will lead CPI into the future, and fostering CPI’s ownership culture of shared risks and rewards. Melissa’s expertise in employee relations, coaching and organizational development is key to CPI's organizational health. She is also a member of the CPI ESOP Board of Trustees.
Melissa joined CPI’s Georgetown, Texas, team in 2010 as a Human Resources manager. In 2015 she was promoted to Director of Human Resources to assume companywide Human Resources oversight. Prior to CPI, she spent 19 years at Cypress Semiconductor, in Round Rock, Texas where she held various Human Resources leadership positions. Melissa began her career as a Consumer Affairs advocate for Exxon Company, in Houston.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Human Resources from Park University as well as professional certifications from both the Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management. She is a member of the Williamson County HR Management Association, the Society for Human Resources Management and the Central Texas Compensation and Benefits Association.
Kim Beach
Chief Information Officer
As the Chief Information Officer (CIO), Kim Beach is responsible for the Information Technology (IT) growth and strategic development of the company, supporting the evolution of CPI's business model. She defines both strategic and tactical IT plans and is responsible for the successful completion of organizational objectives and company-wide systems integration.
Kim joined CPI in 1995 as Customer Service Manager and rapidly advanced, holding various positions in Sales and Marketing Operations including pricing, quotations, contracts and channel programs. In 2010, Kim led a cross-functional team implementing a new company-wide ERP system. Kim moved into the IT Department as Senior Director and successfully led the day to day operations of the IT staff. Today, she manages the entire Information System Operations Team, facilitating communication between staff, management, vendors and other technology resources to make certain that systems meet the needs of the business.
Prior to joining CPI, Kim was a Sales Administration Manager for Photo Research, a manufacturer of precision instruments that measure light and color for automotive and aerospace customers. Kim managed a world-wide sales representative network and participated in various TQM certification initiatives. Kim started her career in the Telecommunications industry, holding various positions at Pacific Bell, including planning of central office digital switching technology and deployment of fiber facilities in Southern California.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University Los Angeles.
Ted Behrens
Executive Vice President of Global Engineering, Product Management & Marketing
Ted Behrens is responsible for strategy, product management, engineering development and marketing efforts for all CPI global product platforms. Ted leads the teams responsible for bringing quality and innovative solutions to CPI’s valued customers. These teams include Engineering, Product Management and Marketing.
Prior to being appointed to this position, Ted successfully served as CPI’s Director of Product Management. In this position he supervised CPI’s product management across all product lines to ensure the company offered the highest quality and most innovative solution sets.
In addition to his extensive data center and product development experience, Ted provides comprehensive product sales assistance and leads new market identification projects and product positioning. Ted carries this experience over to also serve as one of CPI’s expert speakers, presenting at various events to educate attendees about power and infrastructure management solutions.
Before joining CPI, Ted was the Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of Epicenter, Inc. (acquired by CPI in 2009), a leading provider of data center infrastructure management tools to the enterprise and managed services market. Prior to founding Epicenter, Ted served as Vice President of Sales for Carrera Computers, a manufacturer of Alpha-based servers and workstations.
Ted received a BSEE from Bucknell University.
Michael McCallion
Senior Vice President of Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics
Michael (Mickey) McCallion is responsible for the day-to-day activities related to manufacturing, quality, process engineering, process development, supply chain and logistics in CPI’s facilities.
Mickey has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing, having held several leadership positions. Drawing upon his engineering, Six Sigma, and lean manufacturing background, Mickey brings a multi-facet approach to operations management.
Prior to joining CPI, Mickey held senior positions with SMTEK Ireland and Seagate Hard Drives in his home country of Northern Ireland. He was also Vice President of Qual-Pro, Vice President of Cal-Comp USA and Director of Global Operations with CTS EMS.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Organization Leadership from California Lutheran College, a higher diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a post graduate certificate in Management from University of Ulster, Jordanstown and post graduate diplomas from Queens University, Belfast.
Jeff Steen
Executive Vice President of Global Sales
Jeff Steen is responsible for company-wide leadership and coordination of all sales strategies, plans, and programs. Jeff directly leads the Global Sales organization across the six key regions of the world: United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific. He develops sales and channel strategies to further improve CPI’s product line penetration, expansion of customer base and product market share.
Jeff has held various sales positions within the organization since joining the company in February 1996. His roles include: Regional Sales Manager – Western Region, National Account Manager, Area Sales Director - Southeast and Director of Sales. Jeff’s most recent position as Area Vice President – Corporate & Strategic Accounts, included leading CPI’s corporate partnerships with their distribution network and managing teams further pursuing key global accounts.
Prior to joining CPI, Jeff held a regional sales position with Valcom, Inc. for 8+ years and held an Account Executive sales position with US West Cellular earlier in his career.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Iowa State University.
Larry Varblow
Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Larry Varblow is responsible for the development and administration of company-wide accounting systems, practices, controls and procedures, as well as financial reporting and planning, risk management, treasury, taxation and ESOP administration.
Larry has been with CPI since its inception in 1991. He has held the roles of Corporate Secretary and Treasurer, in addition to managing acquisitions and financing for all CPI domestic locations.
Prior to joining CPI, Larry worked for the Dracon Division of Harris Corporation (CPI’s predecessor company), where he managed accounts and finance functions, as well as was involved in the transitional acquisition and employee buyout process that created and established CPI and its ESOP accreditation.
Larry holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from California State University Northridge. He is also a company resident expert in ESOP administration.