Our Team
Don Roberts
Founder/Principal
I’m Don Roberts, Founder and Principal, and I bring over 40 years of experience in systems integration throughout Canada and around the world. I’m passionate about helping integrators grow, navigate change, and embrace industry best practices. As a board member for several companies and a certified CSIA business auditor, I work closely with teams across the globe to improve their operations and achieve certification.
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Earlier in my career, I led one of Canada’s largest control system integration companies and served on advisory councils for organizations like Allen-Bradley, Digital Equipment, and the University of Waterloo. I regularly speak at conferences, support CSIA, and have been honored to judge Control Engineering’s System Integrator of the Year awards for many years. I also enjoy helping with mergers and acquisitions and providing executive coaching to company leaders, including facilitating peer groups for top firms in the industry.
I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Waterloo and completed the Richard Ivey Executive Management Program. Based in Ontario, Canada, I love spending relaxing weekends in the Muskokas.
Brian Mullen
Senior Management Consultant
I am Brian Mullen, an independent management consultant with over 30 years of hands-on experience in control systems integration. Earlier in my career, I held leadership roles at one of Canada’s top integration firms, and since 2000, I have worked with integrators worldwide at all stages of growth. I genuinely enjoy helping teams strengthen their management, plan for scale, and build better internal processes using industry best practices.
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Since 2001, I have served as an auditor for the CSIA Certification Program and remain an active member of the CSIA Best Practices Committee, where I help shape the standards and audit process for the industry. Today, I consult with Exotek, sharing strategic and practical guidance with the systems integration community. I was honored to receive the prestigious 2025 Charlie Bergman “Remember Me” Award for my leadership, contributions, and dedication to the profession.
I am a licensed Professional Engineer with an engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, and I am based in Ontario, Canada.
Jack Barber
Partner/Senior Management Consultant
I’m Jack Barber, an independent management consultant with more than 30 years of experience at NI (now part of Emerson). Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping build and expand NI’s global system integration business, collaborating closely with partners all over the world. As NI’s Partner Program Manager, I truly enjoyed working alongside teams to learn about their operations, share practical business insights, and support their growth.
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During my last seven years at NI, I played a foundational role in creating NI’s Global Services organization, teaming up with colleagues to deliver solutions for some of our biggest customers. I also implemented and led the NI Project Support team, which helped ensure that project management ran smoothly so engineers could focus on their technical work.
I believe that strong business skills are key to helping partners succeed, which motivated me to join Exotek. I continue to enjoy supporting system integrators as they grow, assisting teams with best practices, strategic planning, business operations, and peer group leadership. As a certified Myers-Briggs professional, I also help clients get to know themselves and build strong, effective teams.
I earned my BSEE from the University of Texas and am based in Austin, Texas. When I’m not working, my family and I love to unwind together at our cabin in Colorado.
Jeff Miller
Senior Management Consultant
I’m Jeff Miller, an independent management consultant with 25 years of experience leading the Project Management Office (PMO) for Interstates, Inc., a major systems integrator (SI). I also have 15 years of experience in the Power Systems industry, where I served as a Client Services Manager, Project Manager, and Operations Manager. At Interstates, I had the opportunity to work with an outstanding project management team to build and grow the PMO, supporting our company as we expanded from a close-knit group of 30 to a thriving team of 300.
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During my time at Interstates, I was fortunate to help develop the systems, tools, templates, and methodologies that led us to our first CSIA certification in 2003, and I guided our team through seven additional successful certification audits. For more than 20 years, I’ve been involved with the CSIA Best Practices Committee, including over six years as the committee leader. I also served on the CSIA Board of Directors for eight years, where I took on responsibilities as Director of Finance and Board Chair. In addition, I enjoy teaching as an adjunct professor at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, where I lead two courses in the Project Management minor within the business program.
Now, as part of the Exotek team, I facilitate Project Management peer groups and Leadership Development Programs. I really enjoy sharing my passion for project management and helping guide and empower the next generation of SI leaders.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from South Dakota State University and live near Sioux Falls, SD with my wife of more than 40 years. We also love spending time in Edmond, OK with our son and his family.
Joe Snyder
Senior Management Consultant
I’m Joe Snyder, and my career has been rooted in business management and operations, with a strong focus on staff development and leadership in people-oriented industries. I’ve had the privilege of designing and implementing programs that help nurture talent at every level—from interns to senior engineers and managers. I truly believe in growing both people and organizations by combining professional development opportunities with strategic partnerships, all while ensuring sound financial stewardship and advancing my teams’ capabilities. By leveraging tools like CSIA audits, I’ve worked collaboratively to drive ongoing organizational improvements, achieving successful outcomes and supporting everyone’s advancement along the way.
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After serving as a paratrooper with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, I earned my EET degree from Penn State University. I was honored to receive the Penn State Alumni Fellow award and continue to stay connected with the university as a consultant for the School of Engineering advisory board and the Electrical Engineering Technology Industry Advancement Committee.
I spend most of my time in Erie, PA, but I also enjoy visiting my children and grandchildren in Cleveland, OH, and relaxing at my home in St. Croix, USVI. As an avid SCUBA instructor, I love traveling the world for underwater photography and regularly volunteer with teen diver programs.
Penny Wright
Senior Manager – Marketing and Operations
I’m Penny Wright, a senior manager overseeing marketing and operations at Exotek. With more than 25 years of experience in alliances, partnerships, and channel business, I excel at leading global partner programs, centers of excellence, operations, and partner relationship management. My expertise spans marketing strategy and execution, organizing corporate and partner events, and driving both partner and sales enablement. During my 20-year career at NI (now part of Emerson), I worked closely with industry leaders like Jack Barber, Don Roberts, and NI partners to drive strategic sales, marketing, and operational initiatives, playing a pivotal role in achieving key business outcomes. At Exotek, I focus on identifying and facilitating opportunities that empower our SI clients to strengthen their business practices and processes.
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While at NI, I joined the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP), where I became an active member, guest speaker, and volunteer. I’m proud to have earned my Certificate of Achievement in Alliance Management (CA-AM), which further strengthened my credentials. In 2021, I launched my own consulting firm, helping organizations optimize their partnering strategies, methodologies, and operating models. From 2022 to 2024, I led program and business development for ASAP conferences and virtual education, working full-time to advance alliance best practices.
I’m a native Texan and love sharing my passion for Austin with my husband of 27 years, our two young adult daughters, and a menagerie of rescue animals. I attended the University of Texas and am an accomplished musician and vocalist, most recently serving and leading worship ministries. In my free time, I enjoy restoring and upcycling antiques and family heirlooms, and I regularly volunteer for local charities supporting those in need and advocating for animal welfare.