About Us
A PEOPLE COMPANY
A family-owned business for over 60 years, PBE designs, develops and manufactures high-performance absorbent and footwear safety products. From our two manufacturing locations in Northwest Ohio, we market solutions for incontinence and institutional care, as well as specialty absorbent products. PBE strives to create and maintain an exceptional work environment that supports the growth and development of our Associates.
A GREAT PLACE
TO WORK
Associate safety and engagement are at the heart of our business. We are focused on ensuring a workplace that enables PBE Associates to contribute at their highest levels through training, development, teamwork and work-life balance.
MISSION-BASED INNOVATION
Our mission is to be a principle-centered business that uplifts, enlightens and enriches the lives of those we serve, so that they can live more abundantly. We prove this by innovating the highest-performance absorbent and safety products that improve the human condition and elevate our customers’ quality of life.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrew Stocking
President, CEO
Andrew Stocking, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of PBE, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. He joined PBE as the third generation after a career in engineering, technology, nonprofits, and government. At PBE, Andrew is passionate about uplifting the lives of customers through best-in-class products, improving the lives of PBE Associates through innovative and transformative programs and supporting the surrounding community through corporate engagement. He remains is committed to enhancing American manufacturing in the Midwest.
Prior to leading PBE, Andrew held a succession of roles within the federal government, including Senior Advisor for Economics and Energy Security at the Department of Energy and Market Design Economist at the Congressional Budget Office. He worked in both the healthcare unit and microeconomic studies unit. In those roles, Andrew contributed to non-partisan policy debates about a variety of topics, including healthcare reform, energy markets, environmental policy, auction design, trade policy and competition. In recognition of his work on energy security at the Department of Energy, Andrew was awarded the Secretary of Energy’s Honor Award in 2016.
Prior to working for the government, Andrew was Vice President of Business Development for a Silicon Valley web startup. He has been an adjunct professor in Economics at the University of Maryland and is currently an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University in the business school.
Andrew has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, as well as a PhD in Resource Economics from the University of Maryland.
Bob Donelan
Chief Financial Officer
Bob joined PBE in 2021 as the Operations Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2023. He is a champion of driving cost productivity projects for the Company. Bob’s more than 25 years of finance and operations experience has helped us identify opportunities to optimize production initiatives including efficiency, scrap and forecasting.
Prior to joining PBE, Bob served as Chief Financial Officer for U.S. Bridge, a family-owned manufacturer. Prior to that, he was CFO/Director of Operations at Resource Systems (which was later acquired by Cerner Corporation). Bob was a Business Leader and Controller for Owens Corning and began his career with NSG-Pilkington where he held several roles in finance and operations.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from John Carroll University and a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University. Outside of work, Bob enjoys spending time with his wife and their four children and enjoying a variety of outdoor activities.
Melissa Greenlee
VP, Operations & Engineering
Melissa joined PBE in May 2019 as Director of Manufacturing before being promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing and Engineering in June 2020. In 2025, Melissa became the VP of Operations and Engineering, overseeing the daily operations of the Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance and Warehouse departments. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the areas of Operations, Engineering, Product Integration and Continuous Improvement, working for several Fortune 500 companies in the appliance and automotive industries.
Prior to joining Principle Business Enterprises, Melissa enjoyed a 15-year career at Whirlpool Corporation as a strong technical leader. She most recently served as the Director of Technology for the company’s plant based in Findlay, Ohio. Melissa also held a role in Whirlpool’s Central Manufacturing group supporting five North America sites with capital acquisition. In 2019, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) honored Melissa as a recipient of its “STEP Ahead” award. She was one of a select group of women to receive the annual award, which celebrates female leaders in the manufacturing industry. Melissa is the consummate professional, known for her ability to drive exceptional business results while being an extraordinary developer of people.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Toledo and a Master of Industrial Technology and Business from Bowling Green State University. She and her husband have been married for over 15 years and have a blended family of four children. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, health and fitness activities, volunteering in her church and community activities.
Ann Hertzfeld
VP, Brand & Product Strategy
Ann joined PBE in 2016 as Customer Relations Manager on the Marketing team. She quickly tapped into her marketing skills and migrated into the role of Senior Manager of Marketing and Customer Service and then became Director of Marketing in 2018. In 2022, Ann shifted her focus toward customers service and R&D as she transitioned into a new role as Vice President of R&D and Customer Experience. In 2025, Ann returned to her marketing focus to lead Product Management, Customer Service & Logistics, Marketing and Private Label as the VP of Brand and Product Strategy.
Ann has spent over 20 years supporting consumer-branded organizations, their products and their customers. Prior to joining PBE, Ann worked with Calphalon, a part of Newell Brands for 13 years, in various customer-focused roles. She was a brand champion and supported customer needs, working closely with the operation teams to continuously improve the consumer and associate experience. Prior to leaving Calphalon, she served as Human Resources Manager over multiple sites.
Ann graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. Outside of PBE, Ann is a mom to five children. She enjoys spending time outside, especially swimming in the summer months. She’s dedicated to her family and enjoys watching them excel in their extracurricular activities.
Karen Stigall
VP, People & Culture
Karen joined PBE’s Senior Leadership Team in 2024 as the Vice President of People and Culture. Karen brings expertise in employee engagement, coaching and culture, with a focus on connecting talent strategies to business objectives. She is responsible for talent acquisition strategy, Associate resources and engagement, benefits, learning and development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and human resources (HR) leadership in support of PBE’s mission and vision.
Karen has spent more than 20 years in HR leadership roles. She previously worked for Root Inc. (now Accenture), a strategy activation consultancy, where she was integral in building the HR function from the ground up, establishing HR programs and systems, enhancing culture and evolving HR partnership with the business. In her most recent role as Vice President of People and Culture, she guided the company through multiple transitions while focused on employee experience and company values.
Karen graduated from The University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources. She resides locally with her husband and two children. In her personal time, Karen can be found with a book, practicing yoga, spending time on the water and serving her community as a board member for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio.
Angie Williams
VP, Sales & Strategic Growth
Angie joined PBE in 2018 as Vice President of Marketing and was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2023. With a management consulting background, Angie’s marketing methodology is rooted in aligning associate and customer experiences to achieve business outcomes. In 2025, Angie refocused her leadership solely on sales strategy as the VP of Sales and Strategic Growth.
Prior to joining Principle Business Enterprises, Angie was the Senior Director of Product Success and Brand Strategy at Pepperjam, formerly part of eBay. There, she was accountable for guiding company communications and product development during continuous transformation. While working as a marketing leader for Gap International, a management consulting firm specializing in breakthrough performance, Angie helped build the marketing and creative systems that increased the company’s brand awareness.
Angie graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BA in Visual Communication Technology and recently moved back to the area from Philadelphia, PA. When Angie is not working, she’s spending time with her husband and two boys, playing golf or cooking.
Justine Hoffman
VP, Operational Excellence
Justine joined PBE in September 2019 as Production Manager and quickly advanced to Senior Manager of Operations. She later served as Director of Operational Excellence before being promoted to Vice President of Operational Excellence in 2025.
With over 17 years of experience spanning Operations, Engineering, Continuous Improvement, Human Resources and New Product Introduction, Justine brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of driving organizational success. Prior to joining PBE, she spent 11 years at Whirlpool Corporation, where she established herself as a strong operations leader.
Her leadership style is rooted in a passion for people, manufacturing and process optimization, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
Justine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University. She and her husband are proud parents of twin daughters. Outside of work, Justine enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, watching sports and staying active.
Javier Cuadrado
VP, Research & Development and Gelok
Joining the company in 2025, Javier (Javi) is PBE’s Vice President of R&D and Gelok. He has over 15 years of hands-on experience at Fortune 500 companies having previously worked at Procter & Gamble and most recently, Owens Corning, where he held multiple leadership roles in R&D and talent development.
During his career, Javi has delivered hundreds of millions in revenue growth through new products and technologies. Javi is also the founder of Get Coaching to Grow, a consulting practice that helps R&D executives transform their organizations into growth engines using his proprietary R&D Engine Framework.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carol Stocking
Vice-Chairman
PBE
The daughter of Lee and Jim Mitchell, Carol grew up alongside PBE and later became the second-generation owner of the Company. As the Company found its niche as a source of fall-prevention footwear, Carol was a full-time mom, serving her family as chief educator and homemaker. Her entrepreneurial instincts were reignited when she rejoined the company in 2000 with a full-time focus on graphic design, creating a people-centered workplace environment and project leadership.
Carol was a central driver and key decision-maker in managing three major expansions of the Company’s headquarters, earning the respect of architects and construction teams for her vision, energy and creativity. Her work earned the Company accolades for its person-centered thoughtfulness. In addition, Carol served as an integral member of PBE’s Marketing department for over 18 years, utilizing her keen sense of presentation to support the team’s promotional and sales efforts.
In 2010, Carol was named Co-CEO along with husband, Chuck Stocking, as a further indication of her leadership and understanding of the business and markets that the Company serves. In recognition of their entrepreneurial accomplishments, Carol and Chuck were awarded the 2017 Entrepreneurs of the Year for Michigan and Northwest Ohio by Ernst and Young. Upon retiring in 2020, Carol began serving as Vice Chairman of the PBE Board of Directors. Carol holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design from Michigan State University.
Chuck Stocking
Chairman
PBE
Chuck joined PBE in 1975 to assist the Company’s founders, Lee and Jim Mitchell, in the reorganization and construction of its first office and manufacturing plant in Wood County, Ohio. Over the next several years, Chuck played an integral role in the growth of the Company’s product lines from its single-product focus to a range of products and an emphasis on pioneering work in the field of absorbent technologies.
By the mid-1980s, Chuck became Principal in the strategic planning and turn-around consulting firm of Yocum Consulting Services; however, he returned to PBE in 1994 upon request to lead the Company’s restructuring. He took over the role of President following the Mitchells’ retirement, overseeing the addition of several key functional leaders and the development of an Advisory Board and Operating Board of Directors. Under Chuck’s leadership, the Company grew its manufacturing footprint through major investments in product development and new manufacturing capacity. After his wife, Carol Stocking, rejoined PBE and was designated as CEO, Chuck joined her as Co-CEO. Following retirement in 2020, Chuck began serving as Chairman of the PBE Board of Directors.
Chuck is actively engaged in domestic and international public service work through leadership positions in an array of organizations, most notably, Rotary International. Chuck grew up in North Central Illinois, graduated from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Andrew Stocking
President, CEO
PBE
Andrew Stocking, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of PBE, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. He joined PBE as the third generation after a career in engineering, technology, nonprofits, and government. At PBE, Andrew is passionate about uplifting the lives of customers through best-in-class products, improving the lives of PBE Associates through innovative and transformative programs and supporting the surrounding community through corporate engagement. He remains is committed to enhancing American manufacturing in the Midwest.
Prior to leading PBE, Andrew held a succession of roles within the federal government, including Senior Advisor for Economics and Energy Security at the Department of Energy and Market Design Economist at the Congressional Budget Office. He worked in both the healthcare unit and microeconomic studies unit. In those roles, Andrew contributed to non-partisan policy debates about a variety of topics, including healthcare reform, energy markets, environmental policy, auction design, trade policy and competition. In recognition of his work on energy security at the Department of Energy, Andrew was awarded the Secretary of Energy’s Honor Award in 2016.
Prior to working for the government, Andrew was Vice President of Business Development for a Silicon Valley web startup. He has been an adjunct professor in Economics at the University of Maryland and is currently an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University in the business school.
Andrew has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, as well as a PhD in Resource Economics from the University of Maryland.
