Our seasoned team of business and technology executives blend their wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead PURVIS as it delivers custom solutions to complex organizations.

Michael P. Lepanto
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer

A PURVIS co-founder, Michael Lepanto has more than 43 years of industry experience providing products and services to the Department of Defense (DoD) and public sector organizations. Playing a vital role in PURVIS' growth and success, he is credited with helping to establish PURVIS as a leading provider of technology and communications services to the DoD and other non-DoD organizations.

Throughout his tenure at PURVIS, Mr. Lepanto has held various executive positions and has been instrumental in establishing company policy and leading all aspects of the business, including finance, corporate strategy and the technical and financial review of major programs. As a key engineering strategist, he also has extensive experience managing real-time data acquisition and processing systems and has managed a multitude of civilian and military feasibility studies.

Prior to co-founding PURVIS, Mr. Lepanto held various engineering and management positions supporting research for advanced Navy sonar systems, the Pittsburgh Energy Research and Development Administration and the Atomic Research Center.

John T. Desposito
President

John Desposito oversees the management of all operating divisions of the organization and has overall responsibility for finance, personnel, and technical and contract performance issues. He also actively manages the corporate relationship with PURVIS’ major customer, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and plays a strategic role in planning of future FDNY projects.

Since joining PURVIS in 1973, Mr. Desposito has held various executive–level positions and over time has managed five divisions and more than 100 employees nationwide.

Before PURVIS, he held various senior-level production and technical positions and was responsible for the production, fabrication and testing of equipment as well as assisting with installation support, technical problem solving, field service and project maintenance.

Sol Tanne
Co-founder and Director of Corporate Planning

Mr. Tanne is an international and national management consultant veteran with deep business, finance and engineering experience. A PURVIS co-founder, Mr. Tanne was instrumental in raising start-up capital and financing for ongoing operations. In his current role he continues to advise the management team on financial and organizational matters.

During his career, Mr. Tanne co-founded and managed a number of management consultant practices, where he advised his clients on planning for business growth. After serving many of the 500 top corporations from his New York office, he set up an office in Europe. His European firm served clients in Europe, Africa, South America and the Mid and Far East. On his return to the U.S., he was also involved in a venture capital group, was a board member and then vice-chairman of The New York Mercantile Exchange and set up and managed a small investment fund.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Tanne received two patents for devising equipment to load cargo ships more efficiently. He also held senior corporate management positions, serving as chief engineer for an emergency medical equipment company and then general manager of a defense contractor. Mr. Tanne served in the U.S. Navy and has appeared in the Who¹s Who in Finance and Industry.

Stephen P. Massed, CPA
Chief Financial Officer

Stephen Massed is responsible for developing and managing PURVIS' financial strategy and helping to drive the strategic direction of the company.

Mr. Massed is a seasoned financial professional with 30 years of financial and business experience. Prior to joining PURVIS, he was a partner with Sansiveri, Kimball & McNamee LLP (SKM) a public accounting and business consulting firm. In this role, he managed the firm's Newport, R.I. office and handled all phases of accounting, auditing, tax and business consulting. His clients included those in the healthcare, tourism, homeland defense and Internet technology industries, and PURVIS, with whom he worked directly for more than 10 years.

During his time at SKM, Mr. Massed served as a past member of the Healthcare Committee of PFK North American Network, an alliance of leading accounting firms, and is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Jack Heller
Vice President of Operations

Jack Heller oversees PURVIS operations and business development nationwide, and is responsible for managing projects for Department of Defense (DoD) and public sector customers. Mr. Heller plays a key strategic role in strategizing and expanding the company's technology offerings and has overall responsibility for system development and 24/7/365 maintenance of PURVIS customers.

With more than 30 years of industry experience in operational, project, program and contract management for the DoD, U.S. Navy, Public Safety organizations and commercial shipyards, Mr. Heller has an extensive knowledge of submarine and surface ships, test and evaluation exercises, weapon system evaluation and undersea ranges, range systems and emergency management systems.

Prior to joining PURVIS, Mr. Heller served as the operations manager of several defense firms and acted as an independent consultant, providing business strategy and proposal development for the DoD and other government clients. Through this experience, Mr. Heller gained a comprehensive understanding of business development procedures, strategic planning, aquisition processes, and the development of technical and cost proposals.

Sue Craft
Vice President, Corporate Administration and Human Resources

Sue Craft is responsible for providing overall administrative and Human Resource leadership and strategy to ensure PURVIS operates efficiently and attracts and retains a valuable workforce. As a member of the leadership team, she also plays a key role in business process development and system enhancements.

In her administrative capacity, Ms. Craft oversees PURVIS involvement and issues with financial institutions, insurances and facilities. On the HR side, she leads HR operations nationwide and is involved with the daily responsibilities of the PURVIS retirement and ESOP plans, along with all employee benefit plans.

Ms. Craft joined PURVIS in 1983 and has held increasing levels of administrative and HR responsibility over the last 25 years, working closely with all levels of corporate and operational management.