Our exceptional team of executives, each a standout in their respective credentials, bringing together diverse expertise, visionary leadership, and innovative thinking. Their cohesive approach forms an unstoppable powerhouse that propels JST Power’s success. With a deep commitment and a relentless pursuit of excellence, they steer JST towards groundbreaking solutions, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation and impact in the industry.
Eugenia is the co-founder and President of JST Power Equipment. She has over 40 years of experience in the electrical industry spanning a broad range of roles, including engineering, sales and marketing, and leadership.
An entrepreneur at heart, Eugenia began her career as a design engineer for power plants before founding JST in 1993. Having witnessed the rapid development of the power industry firsthand, Eugenia is motivated to create solutions for the 21st century grid infrastructure and commercial industry.
Eugenia is based in Central Florida and spends her free time outdoors.
Matt Polk is the current EVP & General Manager steering the course at JST Power Equipment, a thriving enterprise specializing in providing critical power solutions to a diverse clientele across industries like Wind, Solar, BESS, Utility, and more.
Prior to joining JST, Matt’s expertise spans pivotal roles at industry giants like Eaton Corporation and ABB Inc., honing his skills in product development, marketing, sales, and business expansion. Under his dynamic guidance, JST thrives, continually evolving its product and service portfolio to meet the demands of a swiftly evolving marketplace, solidifying its position as a leader in cutting-edge power systems.
Prior to his career in the electrical industry, Matt’s naval service aboard submarines honed his skills, backed by a Mathematics degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from the University of Central Florida.
Mark A. Smith, the Vice President of Operations, brings over three decades of expertise in diverse manufacturing, specializing in electrical distribution equipment production. His background began while serving in the Army’s 82nd Airborne, where his leadership training started as an NCO. Mark has honed his skills in leadership, discipline, and strategic thinking, which he seamlessly applies to his responsibilities at JST. His scope of responsibilities spans HR, HSE, Operations, Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Quality, and Production, where he adeptly aligns the company’s objectives, consistently achieving stretch goals in safety, revenue growth, and quality through a continuous improvement mindset.
Mark’s operations career started as an hourly employee with Westinghouse, moving into Supervision with Eaton Electrical, followed by pivotal roles as Operations Manager with ABB, where the Team not only surpassed EBIT targets and achieved positive Operating Cash Flow (OCF), but also maintained an impeccable safety record. While at Eaton Electrical in Fayetteville, NC, Mark streamlined Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) production, implemented lean processes, and drove substantial enhancements in efficiency and customer satisfaction, setting monthly/yearly output and productivity records at Eaton & ABB that still stand to this day.
Paul Cairney has a distinguished 30-year career in senior leadership capacity in various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, product development, renewable energy, and power plant engineering.Paul is also a Veteran of HM Royal Air Force and holds degrees in both Industrial Engineering and in Supply & Logistics Management.
Before joining JST, Paul held prominent positions, including Chief Operating Officer of four prior companies in technology development, construction and renewable energy.Paul has also lead his own consulting firm since 2014, specializing in investor due diligence, turnarounds, manufacturing optimization, technology commercialization, and waste-to-energy projects.This innovative spirit is evident as a co-inventor of four US Patents in Gasification Reactor technologies and in revitalizing several companies from near-closure to significant growth.
With a global impact integrating ISO standards, Lean principles, and successful ventures in steel, aluminum, wastewater treatment, military solutions, and oil & gas, Paul embodies innovation and operational excellence, consistently driving success across international markets.Paul also brings entrepreneurial drive as a Board Member to worthwhile local charities, fighting for racial injustice, at trouble youth and youth career mentoring.
COMING SOON
COMING SOON
Ignacio Castro is the Plant Manager at JST Power Equipment in Nogales, Mexico, a leading provider of Transformers Equipment to a diverse clientele spanning Wind, Critical Power, Utility, Construction, and Industry sectors. JST is recognized for delivering reliable power systems that ensure the safe and consistent operations of businesses within its target markets. In his role Ignacio is committed to aligning the company with current and future customer needs, fostering a safe, effective, and amicable work environment. Leveraging over 30 years of leadership experience in the Manufacturing industry, Ignacio demonstrates a versatile skill set gained through roles such as Engineering Manager, Director of Quality, and Plant Manager at esteemed companies, including Otis Elevators.
Ignacio’s expertise extends beyond traditional manufacturing, as he excels in adapting to changing customer requirements swiftly and effectively. His commitment to satisfying customer needs has been a driving force behind JST’s success. Notably, Ignacio’s leadership has contributed to the company’s standing as a trusted provider of world-class solutions to its valued customers. His background includes a degree in Industrial and Electronics Engineering, an MS in Quality and Productivity in Mexico, and an MBA in Finance from De Sales University in Pennsylvania, USA. With this combination Ignacio’s impact extends to JST’s manufacturing space and revenue, where under his guidance, the company has experienced a threefold increase in both aspects.
Trey E. Smith currently serves as the Director of Transformers at JST Power Equipment, where he plays a pivotal role in leading the company’s flagship transformer product lines. His extensive expertise encompasses dry type, oil-filled pad-mounted, and small power transformers, making him an invaluable asset to the team.
Before joining JST, Trey honed his skills at prominent companies like ABB Inc. and Hitachi Energy, as well as Powersmiths International Inc. His diverse background in product line management, marketing, sales, and new product development equips him to drive the strategic growth of the transformer segment. In his current role, he organizes and leads his marketing teams, leveraging his in-depth knowledge of transformer technology, market dynamics, team approach and competitive landscapes.
Trey’s journey began on the baseball field at Concord University, where he balanced a successful athletic career with earning degrees in Business Administration and Marketing. His commitment to ongoing learning in business and organizational development has prepared him for future leadership opportunities across various roles in the industry.
Responsible for our activities in the European market for JST Europe, Rene oversees the development and delivery of value propositions, driving growth in the region. Notably, Rene has secured significant agreements in the offshore wind segment, generated new business in solar developments, and taken our unit substation product offering to market.
Previously, Rene held various roles in a near 10-year career at Hitachi Energy, including global business development and senior sales positions. He managed multimillion-dollar budgets, coordinated sales activities for high voltage technology, and secured framework agreements with clients ranging from large industrial to turnkey substation contractors and renewable energy companies.
Rene holds a Master of Science degree from FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics & Management, Frankfurt and a Bachelor of Engineering from Baden-Wuerttemberg Corporate State University, Mannheim. His academic achievements include co-authorship of publications for engineering associations, conference white papers, and various presenting roles at technical seminars.
Actively engaged in volunteering, Rene contributes to the expatriate and international community through InterNations, assisting other global minds in navigating their way when moving to or from abroad. Additionally, his commitment to youth development is evident through his involvement as a youth karate trainer, where he helps young people balance their strengths with responsibility, teaching them self-defense.
Jeanne Li is the Director of Strategy and Business Development at JST Power Equipment, where she focuses on M&A, new business opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Prior to joining JST, Jeanne was a venture investor at Fifth Wall, focusing on early and growth stage climate technology companies in the energy storage, hydrogen and construction sectors. Jeanne is passionate about helping start-up companies grow from pre-revenue through to IPO, and hopes to bring some of that experience in her new role to help JST expand into adjacent, fast growing sectors in the climate tech space. She began her investing career at Angeleno Group in Los Angeles, where she also invested in similar sectors. Jeanne began her career as an investment banking analyst at BNP Paribas in the Energy and Natural Resources group, where she advised on private and public capital raises for multinational corporations.
Jeanne grew up in Englewood, NJ and currently splits her time between New York City and Lake Mary, Florida. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Financial Economics and also holds an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering from UCL in London.
Jeffrey Tu is Vice President of Finance at JST Power Equipment, Inc. Since the early 2000s, Jeffrey has had a long-standing relationship as a shareholder of the prior US-listed company. He facilitated the transition from JST’s long-term headquarters in New Jersey to our current headquarters in Lake Mary, Florida. Jeffrey graduated from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University with a double major in Finance and International Business. Prior to joining JST, Jeffrey held roles within the buy-side segment of the financial sectors. After 10+ years in financial services, Jeffrey pivoted and got his start in power solutions with AUO’s Energy Business with a focus on the MENA region.
Jeffrey grew up in the Tri-State area and currently splits his time between Houston, TX and Lake Mary, FL.
David Onuscheck has been working closely with JST Power Equipment since April 2024. While assisting JST with all legal matters, he has been focusing on various contractual and corporate matters helping JST meet its robust growth targets.
David has practiced law for over forty years with the majority of his work experience at ABB. David worked at ABB’s Power T&D Company for twenty years and with the last six years serving as the General Counsel. Dave was then promoted to the role of General Counsel of all of ABB’s businesses in the America’s Region and held that position for ten years. Dave retired from ABB in 2021 and started his own legal consulting firm focusing on manufacturing companies like JST Power Equipment.
Cyara Matos-Velazquez is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) with over 20 years of experience across all facets of Human Resources, Operations Management, and Customer Service. She began her career in hospitality with the InterContinental Hotels Group, where she developed expertise in employee relations, talent management, and operational efficiency.
Her career has since expanded into senior and executive leadership in real estate, construction, and Professional Employer Organizations (P.E.O.), where she applied her HR knowledge to diverse industries. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Cyara is skilled at navigating cross-cultural environments, enhancing team collaboration, and driving strategic HR initiatives.
With a passion for fostering positive work cultures, Cyara brings her extensive experience and dedication to excellence to the JST family. Her PHR certification underscores her commitment to staying at the forefront of HR practices and delivering impactful results.
David Lasher is the driving force behind switchgear products in the Americas as Product Line Manager at JST Power Equipment. Leading a dynamic, highly skilled team, David delivers cutting-edge solutions in AIS and GIS switchgear, and outdoor substation-style circuit breakers, ensuring customers stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.
Before joining JST, David spent an impressive 25 years with ABB Inc., where he spearheaded transformative projects across manufacturing, marketing, product management, and business transformation, leaving a lasting impact at every level. His leadership journey also spans the medical manufacturing and aviation industries, bringing a diverse and innovative perspective to his work.
David’s story began in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 10 years, honing his leadership and technical skills. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Central Florida and has pursued advanced studies in Organization Leadership, Business Administration, and more recently Artificial Intelligence, equipping him to lead with vision and precision in the world of electrical solutions.