Our People and Advisors
The People of Piston
The Piston Foundation is comprised of many talented and experienced individuals, each with their own skills and insights. Here is a quick look at our management, industry advisors, and ambassadors.
management
Robert Minnick
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Robert is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of taking the “big idea” from a concept to a profitable business. At Chrysler Overseas, Robert created the first extended warranty program for military personnel around the globe. He later founded ComponentGuard, Inc. where he reinvented the carbon paper service contact process, transforming the service into a tangible “blister pack” product.
Jeffrey Mason
President and Chief Operating Officer
Jeff’s own trade-school education helped him to found several businesses, including his marketing agency Hero Design Studio. At Hero, Jeff has helped his clients launch products, build businesses, and lead markets. As a designer, business owner, and entrepreneur, Jeff gained the skills and experience he needs to lead the Piston Foundation as its president and chief operating officer.
Jerry Charlup
Chief Financial Officer
Jerry is a long-time financial executive with experience in both real estate finance and corporate finance. He has been Partner/CFO in several entrepreneurial companies and assists and mentors several growing firms. As CFO, Jerry is responsible for financial management including cash management, accounting, budgeting, and reporting.
Mayo T Smith
Director of Donor Relations
With over thirty years of experience in finance, Mayo is adept at working with institutional and individual clients alike to achieve their financial goals. Lending his expertise to the Piston Foundation as Director of Donor Relations, he has been instrumental in adding institutional structure and processes as we implement our innovative fundraising campaign efforts.
Kent Bain
Director of Piston Academy
Kent’s career began when he opened Automotive Restorations Inc., a venture that became one of the nation’s largest and leading suppliers of restoration and services for the collector car arena. As Director of Piston Academy, Kent brings his invaluable field experience as well as his passion for reawakening respect for hands-on careers.
Karl Maruyama
Creative Director
Karl is an award-winning graphic designer, focusing on non-profit clients and social causes. A lifelong car nut and tinkerer, he understands the need for skilled practitioners and the car restoration crafts they provide. The Piston Foundation is the perfect vehicle to apply his skills to give back to the collector car community he loves.
Maria Homann
Donor Relations Advisor
Maria was selected to launch Ferrari’s North American motorsports operations. She developed the Ferrari Challenge and Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, two of the most prestigious single-make racing series. Maria brings her experience as head of Pure McLaren Motorsports and her current work as U.S. director of Canossa Events North America to the Foundation.
Chris Mason
Special Advisor
A Columbia University graduate and self-taught woodworker, Chris’s craft encompasses just about anything wood. He rekindled his passion for vintage automobiles, building a ’65 Volvo Amazon 122S to race Mexico’s La Carrera Panamericana. He co-founded Driving La Carrera, a vintage rally racing team and media production company, where he is both driver and CEO.
Roger Garbow
Marketing Advisor
Roger Garbow is the founder of Full Throttle Marketing, a Connecticut-based automotive and motorsports marketing and PR firm. He’s worked with some of the world’s most respected automotive brands from Cadillac and Vredestein Tire to the New York International Auto Show.
Fernando J Alva Mirás
Special Advisor
Cars have been a defining feature in Fernando’s life. The mission of the Piston Foundation resonates with him because restoration specialists are so rare. Fernando calls upon his many years experience in the collector car arena and philanthropy to help identify and develop industry partnerships as part of a key factor in the Foundation’s fundraising strategy.
Akash Cheeda
Program Advisor
Akash founded Marc Brunel Recruitment, a specialist recruitment agency working within the collector car and restoration industry with a goal to support other aspiring young talents that keep the industry alive. He offers his expertise in the recruitment industry as the Piston Foundation establishes a recruitment program to support the Piston Academy.
Steve Vaz
Marketing Advisor
Steve has always had a passion for anything car-related. From experiences working at BMW, Bentley, and currently, Alera Group, Steve uses his sales expertise as part of the Piston Foundation’s Volunteer, Scholarship, and Events Committees, playing a vital role in the communication and outreach for all aspects of the scholarship process.
Brad Glassman
Legal
Brad Glassman is an attorney and founding member of Glassman Law. His clients have included automotive and manufacturing industry companies such as Volvo Motor Cars, Sandvik Tooling Group, and Walther Tools. Brad is a typical car ‘nut’ and has owned almost 100 cars. His current collection includes an eclectic group of American cars and trucks and he drives them all.
industry Advisors
- William Harrison Binnie
- Frank Campanale
- Chris Eschenburg
- Chuck Queener
- Harvey Siegel
- Murray Smith
- Roger L. Werner
Ambassadors
- Ed Arango
- Bill Hill
- John Hinds
- Joel Lueb
- Philip Reinhardt
- Russ Rocknak
- Dominic Taylor-Lane
- Alan Ward
Give to What You Love
Make a gift that helps the next generation access the education and training they need to begin a career as a classic car technician. Gifts of any size are appreciated and will be used to fund our scholarship and apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Give to What You Love
Make a gift that helps the next generation access the education and training they need to begin a career as a classic car technician. Gifts of any size are appreciated and will be used to fund our scholarship and apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Subscribe
Sign up for our monthly email with stories, updates, and volunteer opportunities.