Meet The Team

Greg Bernabei - Chief Executive Officer

Greg Bernabei is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Revitalizing Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Michigan’s economic vitality through a product led stimuli.

Mr. Bernabei has lived a storied career in the automotive industry culminating nearly twenty years with Ford Motor Company as Engineering Manager in the clay development studios. Always demonstrating a flare for entrepreneurialism, Greg has led two major start-up groups within the blue oval, building one of them, the Vehicle Personalization Engineering team, from one person (he was the lone engineer at startup), to seventy people.

Greg has authored and published two books: Changing Lanes: An Automotive Mystery (December 2007) and, Changing Times: Transform your life in 4 easy steps using the Triangle of Change (April 2009). The novel and the nonfiction share the premise of learning how to improve and resolve through proactive change management. Greg founded in March 2007, the Enterprise for Mobile Media Authors (EMMA Publications), to publish his books, and since then has also published other author’s books.

Greg teaches through his latest publication, how to use change as an ally. Using proven techniques based on his Triangle of Change, Mr. Bernabei works with businesses, teams, and individuals, to attain challenging goals by looking closely at products, people, processes, and performance / technologies.

Born and raised Downriver Detroit, Greg began working paper routes at twelve, pumping gas at fourteen, turning lathes at sixteen, and stamping truck body panels at eighteen. He’s punched in on all shifts – days, afternoons, and midnights, and in all kinds of areas – at the footings of the Ambassador Bridge, on a desolate corner at Metropolitan airport, in high-tech software and virtual reality computer labs, and as of late, in some really posh corporate offices. He’s earned a Bachelor degree in Physics and Mathematics from Albion College, a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Industrial & Operational Engineering from Wayne State University.

Mr. Bernabei started Revitalizing Michigan in March 2009 to share his experiences in change management and his successes in entrepreneurship, to improve our nation’s critical commerce. Through five entrepreneurial business sectors, “Rev Michigan” publishes new authors, does research and product development for the government, universities, and small businesses, processes donations, pursues broadcast agencies and media production, and leads business development through commerce and trade consortiums. “We believe that Michigan’s legacy strengths in engineering and manufacturing is the key to our nation’s economic turnaround.” Revitalizing Michigan’s five interdependent business sectors work to commercialize new product believing that the Model T of the 21st century is on some entrepreneurs mind. “We elevate innovative concepts and using good ole’ fashion Yankee ingenuity, get them onto the design board, into the engineering lab, and rolling down the assembly line.”

Robert McTavish - Executive Vice President Business Development

Robert McTavish is Executive Vice President Business Development and a member of the Board of Directors at Revitalizing Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Michigan’s economic vitality through a product led stimuli.

Robert McTavish is a business development executive with over 15 years experience in sales and marketing roles, within the software and technology industry. His experience includes ground level start-up organizations and early stage companies.

Robert’s business career is a classic example of being able to achieve the American dream. His business career started on the assembly line at Ford motor Company and progressed through a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, eventually leading to General Motors. Robert leveraged the tuition assistance program to pursue his undergraduate degree from Lawrence Technological University what helped further his career. His sales and business development career began almost 20 years ago and progressed through multiple software companies. His roles included direct sales, sales management, and marketing responsibilities. Robert also founded Star-Tech Ventures, Inc. which is an outsourced business development service and sales advisory consulting firm. In addition to his business career Robert is also a military veteran, spending several years in the United States Coast Guard.

Karen Montgomery - Executive Vice President Finance

Karen Montgomery is Executive Vice President Finance and a member of the Board of Directors at Revitalizing Michigan, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving Michigan’s economic vitality through a product-led stimuli.

Karen is a career changer who has 25+years of experience working in the legal, banking and public accounting fields. Karen started her career with Dickinson, Wright as a legal assistant working with lawyers defending clients against product liability claims, moved to Chicago and worked for Kirkland & Ellis as a Human Resources Manager, then as a portfolio assistant on the trading desk in Private Banking at JP Morgan Chase. After a 5-year transitional period spent starting a family, Karen returned to school to pursue an Accounting degree while working part-time at a small public accounting firm where she prepares month-end financial statements for small business clients and federal and state income tax returns for individuals.

Karen has an AA Business from Henry Ford Community College, and is currently completing coursework at Madonna University to prepare for the CPA examination.

Mike Pizzo - Executive Vice President Technology

Michael Pizzo is Executive Vice President of Technology and a member of the Board of Directors at Revitalizing Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Michigan’s economic vitality through a product-led stimuli.

Michael is an Information Technology professional with over 20 years experience in Project Management and Systems Development. He has spent 15 years at Ford Motor Company developing and supporting a number of different systems at Ford. On his first assignment at Ford he was part of the team which designed, developed and implemented Ford’s global Analytical Warranty System (AWS). Michael also spent over three years in Ford’s General Auditors Office where he designed and implemented the Corrective Action Website (CAW) to support the Sarbanes Oxley reporting requirements. While on special assignment to the Firestone Tire Team, Michael created a database to fulfill Ford’s reporting requirements to NHTSA. The data was strategic in identifying ownership of issues and validating integrity of Ford Explorer vehicles. Michael also supported a number of different Engineering Systems at Ford.

Michael’s career began at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) where he was a computer operator and programmer supporting General Motor’s Production Scheduling and Inventory Control system for over three years.

Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University. He has been a volunteer for over 30 years at Little League Baseball’s Junior League World Series.

The Revitalizing Michigan Team