Irv Groat
Irv Groat
President, Co-Owner
President, Co-Owner
Education
Education
BS, Electrical Engineering – Capitol College
BS, Electrical Engineering – Capitol College
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
30+ years in electronic components distribution, beginning in 1994.
Has led Chesapeake for the past 15 years, guiding the company through evolving technologies and customer needs across the Mid-Atlantic.
Extensive background as a Field Sales Engineer with distributors and rep firms, covering MD, VA, PA, NJ, and NC.
Earlier career as a Design Engineer focused on RF power amplifiers, receiver front ends, microwave cavity sources, RF/microwave passives, power supplies, analog signal processing, and microcontroller-based circuits.
Irv’s leadership, technical expertise, and long-standing customer relationships have been central to Chesapeake’s growth and reputation in the industry.
30+ years in electronic components distribution, beginning in 1994.
Has led Chesapeake for the past 15 years, guiding the company through evolving technologies and customer needs across the Mid-Atlantic.
Extensive background as a Field Sales Engineer with distributors and rep firms, covering MD, VA, PA, NJ, and NC.
Earlier career as a Design Engineer focused on RF power amplifiers, receiver front ends, microwave cavity sources, RF/microwave passives, power supplies, analog signal processing, and microcontroller-based circuits.
Irv’s leadership, technical expertise, and long-standing customer relationships have been central to Chesapeake’s growth and reputation in the industry.
Paul Leo
Paul Leo
Vice President, Co-Owner
Vice President, Co-Owner
Education
Education
BS, Engineering/Business – University of Maryland
BS, Engineering/Business – University of Maryland
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
VP of Business Development for a regional manufacturers’ representative firm, supporting customers for 3 years.
Director of Business Development at Cobham, overseeing seven Microwave Business Units, and previously Business Development Manager for Antenna Products.
Key Account Manager and International Sales Director at K&L Microwave, focused on components and subsystems.
Business Development Director at Spectrum Microwave (API), with responsibility for components and subsystems.
Paul also serves as an advisor to Chesapeake, leveraging his decades of experience to guide business development strategy and customer engagement.
VP of Business Development for a regional manufacturers’ representative firm, supporting customers for 3 years.
Director of Business Development at Cobham, overseeing seven Microwave Business Units, and previously Business Development Manager for Antenna Products.
Key Account Manager and International Sales Director at K&L Microwave, focused on components and subsystems.
Business Development Director at Spectrum Microwave (API), with responsibility for components and subsystems.
Paul also serves as an advisor to Chesapeake, leveraging his decades of experience to guide business development strategy and customer engagement.
Bernadette Rawlins
Bernadette Rawlins
PA & NJ Strategic Account Manager
PA & NJ Strategic Account Manager
Education
Education
BS, Business (Marketing) - Temple University
BS, Business (Marketing) - Temple University
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
15 years in Sales & Business Development with Cobham/CDES (antennas & RF modules, Lansdale, PA).
Extensive experience in Business Development and Business Capture, with a strong record of supporting customers in the RF and defense industries.
Bernadette’s background and expertise will be instrumental in driving business growth and customer expansion throughout the PA & NJ territory.
15 years in Sales & Business Development with Cobham/CDES (antennas & RF modules, Lansdale, PA).
Extensive experience in Business Development and Business Capture, with a strong record of supporting customers in the RF and defense industries.
Bernadette’s background and expertise will be instrumental in driving business growth and customer expansion throughout the PA & NJ territory.
Corey Thomas
Corey Thomas
DC & VA Strategic Account Manager
DC & VA Strategic Account Manager
Education
Education
BS, Consumer Studies (Sales) – Virginia Tech
BS, Consumer Studies (Sales) – Virginia Tech
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
Began career by starting, building, and successfully selling a franchise while a student in college.
Spent the past two years in Sales and Business Development for a VC-backed financial-management CRM software manufacturer.
Corey’s attention to customer support, high energy, and entrepreneurial spirit are instrumental to our growth in the DC & Virginia territory.
Began career by starting, building, and successfully selling a franchise while a student in college.
Spent the past two years in Sales and Business Development for a VC-backed financial-management CRM software manufacturer.
Corey’s attention to customer support, high energy, and entrepreneurial spirit are instrumental to our growth in the DC & Virginia territory.
Melissa Quail
Melissa Quail
Inside Sales
Inside Sales
Education
Education
Wor-Wic Community College
Wor-Wic Community College
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
Melissa brings strong experience in database management, CRM, and customer support to her role at Chesapeake Advanced Technologies.
Currently focused on utilizing and improving Chesapeake’s new customer database system, while also supporting social media and other outreach activities across the territory.
Melissa serves as the principal support liaison for factories and customers, ensuring smooth communication and responsive support.
With a background as an Operations Manager and skills in budgeting, process improvement, and CRM, Melissa contributes to both the efficiency of internal operations and the satisfaction of Chesapeake’s customers.
Melissa brings strong experience in database management, CRM, and customer support to her role at Chesapeake Advanced Technologies.
Currently focused on utilizing and improving Chesapeake’s new customer database system, while also supporting social media and other outreach activities across the territory.
Melissa serves as the principal support liaison for factories and customers, ensuring smooth communication and responsive support.
With a background as an Operations Manager and skills in budgeting, process improvement, and CRM, Melissa contributes to both the efficiency of internal operations and the satisfaction of Chesapeake’s customers.
