FULL BIO – Don Lewis is a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the paper and disposables industry Most recently, he served as the President of Essity’s Professional Hygiene Business Unit, managing a $3 billion portfolio across 153 countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa. His strategic vision and leadership were instrumental in the acquisition of Wausau Paper, propelling Essity to the top global market position. He also pioneered an omnichannel customer management approach and integrated IoT solutions into the product portfolio, driving innovation and customer loyalty. During his 30 years at Essity, Don was committed to sustainability, earning the company accolades like inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and recognition by the UN for his work supporting their sustainable development goals.

In addition to his role in professional hygiene, Don led Essity’s consumer business for the Americas, overseeing significant growth and market expansion. His leadership drove the success of several consumer brands for which he spearheaded strategic acquisitions and investments, including a $220 million greenfield investment in Mexico, enhancing the company’s competitiveness​​.

Before joining Essity in 2002, Don was the Executive Vice President at Encore Paper, a startup based in upstate New York and began his paper career at Fort Howard Paper Company in Green Bay. His early career laid a strong foundation in the industry, which he built upon throughout his subsequent roles.

A graduate of Youngstown State University with an honorary PhD in Business, Don continues to contribute to the professional hygiene market through his roles with Cartess Investments, Don Lewis Consulting and as a member of several boards, including Rev1 Packaging, Sellars Absorbents, and the Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania.

FULL BIO – Jonathan Dyer brings extensive leadership experience in executive management, private equity, entrepreneurship, and board-level strategy, having served in chairmanship roles across multiple industries including paper and packaging, food, healthcare, light manufacturing, and agriculture. For the past nine years, Jonathan has been the President of Green Bay Converting, an affiliate of Flowstone, where he has played a pivotal role in preparing the company for its next stage of growth. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its facilities and equipment, entered new geographic markets, and cultivated key strategic customer relationships.

Prior to his current position, Jonathan served as Executive Vice President of SPG, a leading manufacturer and supplier of packaging products for the foodservice industry, which was acquired by Georgia-Pacific in 2014. Following the sale, Jonathan founded Cartess Investment Partners, an investment firm that continues to maintain a close affiliation with Flowstone. Earlier in his career, Jonathan gained significant experience in investment banking with Bear Stearns and later as a Principal at CIC Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented investments in the food, healthcare, and energy sectors.

A native of Longview, Texas, Jonathan holds a BBA from Texas Christian University and an MBA from The Wharton School. He resides in Dallas with his wife, Lindsey, and their four daughters.

FULL BIO – Denise Vivas is a trailblazing Digital Commerce executive with over two decades of demonstrated success in steering businesses through transformative growth phases. Known for her entrepreneurial spirit and disruptive innovation, Denise has redefined omni-channel sales and marketing landscapes globally, substantially enhancing brand value and market position.

Her tenure at Woodstream Corp led to a significant transformation of eCommerce into a high-growth, profitable channel. At The Hershey Company, she positioned Hershey’s as a leader in the online confectionery market, receiving accolades from Amazon and the Advantage Survey.
Denise continued her career at Essity Professional Hygiene, where she spearheaded the digital transformation for the Tork Brand, achieving remarkable growth and enhanced online market penetration in North America and Europe. Her strategic initiatives significantly improved omni-channel business capabilities and optimized digital shelf presence. Denise’s leadership also focused on future-proofing the workforce, increasing employee engagement, and advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Holding a BA from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello and an MBA from The University of Florida, Denise is based in Philadelphia, where she resides with her family. Her innovative approach and visionary leadership elevate Flowstone’s strategic direction, ensuring enhanced brand, digital capabilities and category management excellence for partners.

FULL BIO – Jack Drankoff serves as EVP, Manufacturing at Flowstone, applying over 20 years of extensive experience in operational management and process optimization to his role. His expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Total Productive Maintenance enhances operational efficiencies and product quality across Flowstone’s supply chains—critical attributes valued by procurement managers striving for reliability and excellence in supplier partnerships.

Under Jack’s leadership, Flowstone delivers transformative improvements in safety protocols, operational cost reduction, and product delivery systems, directly addressing core operational challenges typically faced by our partners.

Before joining Flowstone, Jack held senior management positions with Kimberly-Clark, successfully implementing strategic initiatives that streamlined operations and boosted productivity. Jack holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

FULL BIO – Mike Leemann is a distinguished Sales Leader with over 30 years of experience in the B2B paper industry. He has excelled in numerous executive roles, guiding large sales teams, shaping channel and market strategies, and collaborating within cross-functional teams. Most recently, Mike served as Executive Vice President at Green Bay Converting, Inc. following a 28-year tenure with Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP).

During his career with KCP, Mike held pivotal roles such as Market Development Manager, District Sales Manager, Director of Office Products Channel & Redistribution, Regional Director of Sales, Director of Business Development, and Director of National Accounts. His leadership earned him multiple awards, including several KCP Key Contributor Awards and Region of the Year honors.

Mike is known for his collaborative approach, transparency, and unwavering integrity, consistently achieving ambitious business goals. A graduate of James Madison University College of Business, Mike lives in the Atlanta area with his wife, Sharon, to whom he has been married for 32 years.

FULL BIO – A.J. Tracey is a seasoned finance leader with over 15 years of experience as a private equity investor and strategic CFO. Before his role at Flowstone, A.J. contributed his expertise at Cartess Investment Partners and served as the CFO of Rev1 Holdings, a key player in molded fiber packaging for the food service industry.

His prior roles include significant positions as a Principal at AGR Partners and Vice President at Kainos Capital, where he led investments in prominent agriculture and food companies.

A.J.’s finance career began with foundational roles at Jefferies and CIC Partners, focusing on investment banking and private equity across diverse sectors. He holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management. A.J. is based in Dallas, where he lives with his wife, Angelina, and their two children.

FULL BIO – Stefano is a dynamic leader with over 15 years of experience in the tissue industry, distinguished by a proven track record in driving strategic growth and operational excellence. Throughout his career at Sofidel, Stefano led three major acquisitions that significantly expanded the company’s global reach—including the pivotal launch of Sofidel’s presence in the U.S. market.

After these acquisitions, Stefano played a crucial role in integrating and optimizing the newly acquired plants, further broadening his cross-functional expertise and facilitating a seamless transition into operations leadership. He later managed one of Sofidel’s largest converting plants in the United States, renowned for championing efficiency, innovation, and sustainable results.

Known for his hands-on leadership, sharp strategic mindset, and talent for guiding high-performing teams across both finance and operations, Stefano thrives in complex, fast-paced environments—always focused on empowering people and achieving results.