ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTE
Brian Plott
Executive Director
Brian Plott is the current Executive Director taking the role as of March 1 2019 . He brings over 25 years of experience in aftermarket tool and equipment sales, OEM diagnostics, executive-level new business development, and strong relationships across the automotive industry. Brian has held equipment sales management roles with Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, ITW Food Equipment Group, Snap-on Inc./Snap-on Business Solutions, and Bear Automotive Equipment. Most recently Brian held the position of Vice President of Sales – Transportation for DCI Artform/Marmon Group, an automotive marketing firm focused on brand image products, data management, in-dealership digital products, and retail science.
Winston Lee
Managing Director ETI- Europe
Winston has been active in the automotive industry since the early ’90s.
His journey began in the realm of performance tuning, mastering both software and hardware brought his expertise to the Facom Tools Group where he excelled as a design engineer in the diagnostics division of Sykes Pickavant.
In a bold move, Winston acquired Sykes Pickavant Diagnostic Division in 2008, steering the team to groundbreaking contributions in both OEM and aftermarket sectors.
In 2016, Winston orchestrated a successful sale of his business to the Bartec group of companies, where he continued as their Group Technical Director.
A respected Fellow of the Institute of the Motor Industry and a Member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, Winston is passionate about education and advancing best practices in the industry.
We are pleased to welcome Winston to the ETI management team as we grow our footprint in Europe.
Greg Potter
Chief Technology Officer
Greg Potter, Executive Manager from 2014 to 2019, has been actively involved in ETI since 1985, holding many positions within the organization including 3 terms on the Board of Directors, President of the ETI Board of Directors from 2004 – 2006, Technical Manager from 1994 -1997, Scan Tool Group Chairman from 2010 to 2014, as well as serving on various Committees including the Marketing and Program Committees. Potter also received ETI’s highest honor, the “ETI Founders Award”, in 2010 for his outstanding contributions. Greg is now the Chief Technology Officer for the Institute.
charlie gorman
Charlie Gorman, led the Institute from 2003 to 2014. He came from Snap-on Diagnostics where he was the Director of Emissions Programs. He is well known for his volunteer efforts to promote government/industry cooperatives as agencies seek to enforce and manage emissions legislation and regulations. In 1998 he was awarded the prestigious “ETI Founders Award” for rebuilding the Institute’s technical group structure so that it would be better aligned with accepted automotive industry standards and trends.
During his tenure he helped form the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) and served as its Chairman from 2006 to 2010 and again in 2013. He also transformed the ETI TEK-NET Library from a paper based Physical Library to an electronic DVD Library and then to an online library of unique material needed by scan tool companies to build their products.
Jim Lawrence
Donn R. Proven
Donn R. Proven was the first Field Secretary for ETI and joined as a member of Jack Proven’s staff in 1964. He served as overall coordinator of all outside member services, and was the staff member who worked on the creation of the first vertical group. Donn was named Executive Manager of ETI in 1975. We have learned the lessons of the past, we live in the present and our eyes are on the future of the automotive equipment and tool industry.
John A. (Jack) Proven
John A. (Jack) Proven was also a member of the War Production Board, representing the Sterling Tool Products Company, and a founding member of ETI. He left the tool industry in 1959 to form his own association management firm. Following Lynn Woolman’s retirement,Jack was named Executive Manager of ETI in 1964, and he served in that capacity until his death in February 1975.
Lynn F. Woolman
Lynn F. Woolman was a company representative of Allen Electric on the War Production Board and a founding member of the Institute. Upon his retirement from Allen Electric in 1949, he then became the first Executive Manager of the Equipment and Tool Institute and served in that capacity until he retired from that position in 1964 to become an Honorary Committeeman.
