Leadership
Your Performance Team
Valence is led by a team of industry powerhouses in special processing, with decades of exceptional surface technology expertise. Their goal is simple – to provide every customer around the world with best-in-class quality, delivery, and value.

Tracy Glende
Chief Executive Officer
- Over 25 years of aerospace, energy and industrial markets, including special processing experience
- Former CEO of Veritas Steel
- Other Experience: President Aerospace, Defense & Energy at Bodycote Plc.; Vice-President & General Manager at Honeywell Aerospace
- Expertise: executive leadership, global operations, strategic sales and marketing, certified Six Sigma Black Belt

Michele Starrs
President and Chief Operating Officer
- 9 years of aerospace manufacturing experience including forging, machining, and processing
- Former Vice President of PCC Fluid Fittings
- Other Experience: General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Coca Cola Enterprises
- Expertise: operations and supply chain management, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement

Donald Weinstein
Chief Financial Officer
- More than 32 years of executive leadership in multiple industries
- Former Chief Financial Officer at BHI Energy
- Other Experience: CFO and operations executive for multiple private equity and public companies
- Expertise: growing organizations, M&A, turn arounds, accounting, finance, tax, IT, domestic, and international economics

Wynnie Phipps
Vice President Human Resources
- 15 years of Human Resources leadership experience
- Former People + Culture Leader at Oakley, Inc.
- Other Experience: Behr Paint Company, University of Redlands, and Reyes Holdings
- Expertise: HR operations, M&A, organizational development, talent management, employee and community engagement

Tim Mickael
Executive Vice President Corporate Development
- 15 years of aerospace special processing experience
- Former President & CEO of Coast Plating, Inc. and CSL, Inc.
- Other Experience: Partner at The 180 Group and Berggruen Holdings
- Expertise: strategy development, sales and marketing, business development, finance

Chris Grapsas
Vice President Sales and Marketing
- 15 years of engineering, design, and business development experience in the aerospace, power generation, and oil & gas sectors
- Former Head of Business Development for Hixson Metal Finishing
- Other Experience: Calnetix Technologies and Dresser-Rand Company (Siemens)
- Expertise: technical international sales and marketing, sales process implementation, executive leadership and system deployment

Simone Murphy-Fickenworth
Vice President Quality Assurance and Compliance
- 18 years of Quality and Compliance experience in the aerospace industry
- Other experience: Quality Manager- Chrome Plus
- Expertise: Continuous Improvement, Aerospace, Quality Assurance, and Quality Systems

Steve Cooper
Vice President Information Systems
- Over 25 years of experience in Oil and Gas, Manufacturing Automation & Software Industries
- Other experience: IT Director for Honeywell International, other roles in Operations, Information Technology, Quality, & Marketing
- Expertise: Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Led Global organizations and directives