Our company brings many years of experience in the manufacturing and production of internal engine components for both the OEM and automotive aftermarket and is made up of seasoned management, engineering professionals, skilled technicians and machinists expert in areas congruent with TopLine’s  objectives, products and services.

Chet Staron, CEO / President; Principle owner of TopLine Automotive Engineering and the founder of the corporation.  More than 40-years experience in acquisitions, finance, management and development of enterprise level operations related to the transportation industry and OEM supply-chains; serves as a key advisor to several automotive parts manufacturers and renewable energy boards as well as non-profit organizations.  Advocate for ‘hiring the handicap’, a wounded Marine Veteran with distinguished service in Vietnam.

 

David Popp, CTO / VP Manufacturing; BS/ME with technical expertise in machining, metallurgy, TQM/SPC and supply-chain management with over 20-years experience in project engineering for international gas turbine company as well as owner of exclusive automotive race engine machine company and is a leading expert in valve train technology and combustion theory; has responsibility for production, quality control and manufacturing of engine components and parts for TopLine Automotive and HyLift-Johnson.

Edward Plebanek, VP Warehousing; has been with TopLine for more than 25-years and is responsible for all warehouse operations, logistics and information services; dedicated to streamlining client services and order fulfillment protocols-holds a BA in Management.

Bonnie Westerlind, Executive Administrator; Ms. Westerlind has been involved in the automotive parts manufacturing and distribution industry for more than 30-years, starting in high school as a Co-Op student/employee with Sealed Power and promoted to General Office Clerk following graduation; she has executive oversight of product distribution, production quotas, inventory management and logistics and with direct responsibilities for ordering and shipping at HyLift-Johnson.

Paul Plebanek, VP Sales; has been with TopLine group for more than 35-years and is responsible for managing daily sales and CRM for the Company’; well versed in developing and deploying business plans, strategies, marketing campaigns, cataloging and has responsibility for overseeing new product development with the objective of maintaining TopLine Automotive’s position as the leader in the import engine parts marketplace.

John Putz, VP Catalog and Supply-Chain; has been with TopLine for more than 30-years and is responsible for managing inter and intra-company supply-chains for the group as well as creation of part numbering strategies, cataloging and maintaining industry compliance standards- holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois. John is known as “The Source”.

Dave Ewert, Hi-Performance Lifter Specialist; more than 30-years experience in the automotive parts industry and an integral part of the Topline-Hylift management team.