About

With a 20-year career spanning construction and retail, Rachelle is a master of project management, scheduling, marketing and sales—all skills that have transitioned readily to an administrative role overseeing material handling systems engineering projects. A Purdue University graduate with a degree in building construction management, Rachelle is the driving force behind all Synergy projects. She coordinates contracts, monitors projects, minds the details, and interfaces with the team to ensure that each design and installation runs as smoothly as possible. Rachelle founded Synergy in 2016.

As Rachelle’s first employee at Synergy (and in life), Steve has two decades of supply chain expertise spanning pre-contract engineering, project management, and control system functional design for both greenfield and retrofit facilities. A mechanical engineering graduate of Purdue University, his design work in retail and e-commerce distribution facilities is informed by extensive data analysis to determine the optimal solution for both process improvements and maximum ROI. Prior to his current role, Steve spent his entire career at another systems integrator serving Fortune 500 retail clients. There, he rose through the ranks from hands-on project design and documentation to upper management. His role at Synergy allows Steve to get back to what he loves: leveraging his extensive, hands-on direct-to-consumer fulfillment center design knowledge to create unique solutions that meet the challenges of today’s retailers and shippers.

Approaching two decades in supply chain and material handling, Matt specializes in process design and engineering of highly sophisticated, automated distribution solutions. His background includes stints creating facilities concepts and auditing safety and compliance for parcel carriers DHL and UPS; designing automated conveyors, sorters, and structural storage systems; and managing multi-million-dollar greenfield and brownfield distribution center construction projects. Most recently he’s transitioned to customer development and project sales. Matt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Northern Kentucky University.

Hired immediately after graduation from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in engineering systems technology, Kyle spent eight years at a systems integrator alongside Steve Sipkovsky. There, as a project manager, he designed and integrated material handling systems for a variety of retail, e-commerce and parcel facilities. Additionally, Kyle is certified in Lean Manufacturing and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. He brought his project management expertise to Synergy in 2019.

With 27 years of experience in material handling systems 3D design and modeling—as well as a veteran of the US Army Reserve—Jerome has held many titles, both formal and informal. Among them, Mechanical and Systems Engineer and Mister Parcel (after creating many of the standard new facility and system designs still deployed by a major international courier delivery company). Additionally, Jerome designed and engineered a complete product line—including unique drawings for more than 550 parts—to enable his company to replace a supplier with in-house manufactured components. As the material handling brands he worked for consolidated via acquisition by ever-larger corporations, Jerome decided he prefers the atmosphere of small business. He joined Synergy in 2018.

With Master and a Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering — focused on sustainable solutions and additive manufacturing — from the University of Louisville, Andrew’s first foray into supply chain spanned three separate, consecutive co-op experiences at GE Electric Appliances. There, he managed both projects and people while creating new manufacturing processes for component fabrication, installing a new assembly line, and coordinating multiple suppliers. Those foundational design and engineering experiences served him well in his first professional role at an automotive manufacturing robotics supplier. Andrew was recruited to join Synergy by long-time friend and colleague Jerome Hull in 2020.

Having earned Associate degrees that combined physics, calculus, and chemistry — and with experience managing restaurants throughout college— Tony began his supply chain career as a system design and integration installer (because he could lift 70 pounds and read blueprints, as well as pass the drug test, he notes). That launched him on a broad-ranging path through nearly three decades of design, implementation, and management of large-scale material handling equipment and high-speed automation systems. With a diverse background that includes welding expertise, sales engineering, project management, technical support, and workforce training and development, Tony is extremely adept at risk mitigation. This allows him to keep projects on-track while surpassing customer expectations.

With a degree in construction engineering technology from East Tennessee State University, Ryan leaped into the world of project management and never looked back. After initially working in the electrical field, he transitioned to supply chain where he’s worked in system integration across a broad range of distribution center projects for nearly a decade. An accomplished wearer of multiple hats, Ryan’s diverse areas of expertise include management of scope, schedule, budget, permits, coordination, communication, installation, reporting, and more for greenfield projects and brownfield upgrades and expansions. He’s also a licensed contractor in the state of Tennessee.

Having enjoyed a decade of retirement after 26 years with a major systems integrator, Gary recently resumed his supply chain career with Synergy. Having worked for just one employer since graduating from the University of North Alabama—with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics—Gary wore many hats as he rose through the ranks. During his two-and-a-half decades at his previous company, Gary held positions as an installer, engineer, project manager, vice president, and president. A colleague of Steve Sipkovsky’s for many years, when Steve called Gary on a Friday and asked him to start the next Monday, he did! In addition to his years of industry experience, Gary brings particular expertise in project management and engineering to Synergy.

With a supply chain career that spans sales, marketing, project management, operations, and human resources, Natalie has worked with engineers and technical professionals across multiple industries and business divisions. After entering the field as a human resources business partner for a Fortune 500, multinational chemical company, she went on to use her skills to start up and build the HR and Operations departments at a small, industrial coatings firm. Under her leadership, the company grew from 30 employees at a single location, to a multi-site organization, with 300-plus staffers. Natalie then moved on to join the sales team of a custom, elevated work platform provider. There, she managed multiple complex projects, connecting extensively with customers who consistently praised her reliable communication and exceptional service. As a highly respected industry expert, MHEDA named Natalie one of its 2021 Women in Industry. She routinely presents at international trade shows, including ProMat and MODEX, and hosts webcasts for MHI. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Natalie holds advanced degrees from Arizona State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and La Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

After completing both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville — which included co-op internships at General Electric and a glass manufacturer — Cody landed in supply chain by way of baggage handling. His first post-grad school job with a global baggage automation company had him designing luggage claim systems for cruise lines and airports across America. He then transitioned into distribution, working at a systems integrator in project design, engineering, and management of major parcel handling system installations. With a diverse skill set that includes expertise designing both small parts and large, end-to-end systems, Cody has a knack for troubleshooting and diagnosing issues of any size. In 2023, while looking for his next challenge, he was recruited to join Synergy by his good friend and colleague Andrew Callahan.