150 Years of Engineering Thermal Solutions

Leadership Team

Engineering-Led. Customer-Driven. Experienced leaders in thermal engineering, manufacturing, and global operations — driving the engineering-first culture behind every API solution.

• Chief Executive Officer

  Bud Hittie

  Bud has nearly 35 years of experience scaling global manufacturing businesses, most recently as President and CEO of INNIO Waukesha Gas Engines, formerly part of GE Distributed Power. His career spans leadership roles at Xylem, Kinetek/Nidec, Danaher, and General Electric, giving him deep expertise in operations, supply chain, and commercial growth. At API, he is driving a focused strategy to accelerate growth momentum, enhance product innovation, and strengthen the company's position as a world-class heat transfer solutions provider. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a proud alum of Purdue University.

• Chief Financial Officer

  Chip Avery

  Chip brings over 30 years of financial leadership across industrial, manufacturing, and distribution sectors, with deep expertise in strategic planning, M&A, capital markets, and financial reporting. He has previously served as CFO at Power Solutions International, FreightCar America, and Federal Signal Corporation, focusing on building the financial discipline and strategic rigor that supports long-term profitable growth and positions the company for value creation. He holds an MBA with high honors in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelors degree with highest distinction from Ferris State University.

• SVP & General Manager, TTP/GT/Airtech

  AL Mejia

  Al is a results-driven executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across industrial manufacturing, including roles at Johnson Controls, Actuant, Rexnord, and Pentair, where he consistently delivered profitable growth and operational transformation. As SVP & GM over API's Thermal Transfer Products, General Thermodynamics, and Airtech business units, Al oversees a broad and strategically vital portfolio with global reach. He holds degrees from La Universidad del Notre in Colombia, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

• VP & General Manager, Basco Schmidt

  Tom Pinchuk

  Tom has built his career on driving financial performance and commercial growth across industrial manufacturing businesses. His background includes leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker and Atkore International, where he honed skills in competitive strategy, cross-selling, and market expansion. As VP & GM of Basco Schmidt at API, Tom leads one of the company's most recognized shell-and-tube heat exchanger brands, serving customers across oil & gas, industrial, and power generation markets. He has an engineering degree from McGill University and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business.

• SVP & General Manager, API Suzhou

  Greg Smietanski

  Greg has 30+ years of domestic and international operational, sales, and restructuring experience across automotive, fluid power, Industrial, compressor & dryer, and construction & specialty vehicle markets. His career includes leadership roles at Dana Corp., Quinton Hazell Ltd., EuroPower and Fluid Routing Solutions, where he developed deep global market knowledge and proven ability to right-size and grow businesses across complex, multi-geography environments, making him a strong commercial and operational leader for API Suzhou, China. He holds a BSBA in Accounting from Ohio Northern University and an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

• Managing Director, API Schmidt-Bretten

  Philippe Widemann

  Philippe leads API's flagship European manufacturing hub in Bretten, Germany, home to the Schmidt brand since 1879. He has extensive prior experience in global manufacturing and industrial refrigeration, holding executive roles across both Europe and Asia at Linde Refrigeration AG and Carrier Commercial Refrigeration. API Schmidt-Bretten is a critical hub for plate heat exchanger design and manufacturing, serving industrial, power, and process markets worldwide. Philippe's leadership of this heritage site is central to API's ability to deliver world-class thermal solutions to European and global customers. He studied International Business at the Weller School of Management.

• VP, Corporate Development & Strategy

  Daniel Herrmann

  Daniel brings nearly 25 years of experience driving growth, transformation, and commercial excellence. He was most recently an Operating Partner at Platinum Equity, where he partnered with management teams to unlock revenue growth and drive value creation across middle market portfolio companies. Prior to that, he launched a product strategy function and led customer experience at NCR, and advised B2B companies on growth at Monitor Deloitte. At API, he leads organic and inorganic growth strategy, with a focus on expanding into priority markets and improving commercial execution. He is building a scalable sales and marketing infrastructure to support sustained growth. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.

• VP, Projects & Operations

  Carrie Jacobson

  Carrie brings 40+ years of experience in contract manufacturing across metal fabrication and heat transfer. She has held progressive leadership roles spanning Quality Assurance, Engineering, Operations, Lean Manufacturing, and Project Management. In her most recent positions, Carrie has led global operational excellence initiatives, strengthened management operating systems, and developed project planning tools to drive growth and execution across multi-site organizations. Her expertise in Lean Six Sigma, APQP/PPAP, ISO/IATF systems, and cross-functional leadership positions her as a key partner in ensuring API delivers reliably for complex, high-stakes customers worldwide.

• VP, Human Resources

  Theresa Jensen

  Theresa is a SHRM-SCP and SPHR certified HR executive with over 25 years of experience building high-performing, people-centered organizations across global manufacturing environments. Before joining API, she held HR leadership roles at Giesecke+Devrient, Valid USA, and Auto Truck Group, where she led talent strategy, employee relations, and organizational development across multi-country operations. Her commitment to building strong workplace cultures is a competitive advantage in API's ability to scale and perform for customers and investors. She holds a HR Management AAS from Waubonsee and is continuing her studies at University of Phoenix in Organizational Management.

• CIO / VP of Technology

  Mina Abdelkodous

  Mina has over 25 years of digital and technology experience and thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, with prior experience at Microsoft, RightPoint Consulting, Scholle Corporation, and Midwest Operating Engineers IT Services. He is recognized for leading ERP transformations and deploying AI-driven organizational intelligence frameworks that deliver measurable productivity gains for industrial companies. His forward-thinking approach to enterprise technology positions API as a digitally capable partner for customers requiring precision, reliability, and innovation. He has a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Masters in IT Management from Illinois Institute of Technology.