Maintenance Experience. Software Expertise.
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What makes a team great? In addition to leadership, experience, dedication and longevity, we believe that collaboration can make all the difference. Our executive team is made up of talented engineers who don't just bring expertise to the table, but also a willingness to hear concerns and questions. Our product development, client relations, project serves and client support divisions all base their work on what our software users want and need. That's because our software users are the keystone to the gbaMS team. You ask. We deliver.

Don Pinkston, P.E.
President, Chief Executive Officer

As President and CEO, Don is directly involved in the development of the GBA Master Series suite of maintenance management software. Beyond software programming involvement, Don also provides the development team with primary research of current industry trends, assuring that the company’s software products are as beneficial as possible to clients. He also oversees the company’s support efforts and marketing initiatives. With the assistance of the rest of the executive team, Don’s broad interaction with multiple business functions helps keep the company consistent and current across all departments.

Don has more than 20 years of experience in civil engineering, engineering design and study experience, with his primary focus in the municipal market – including sanitary sewer, water distribution, pavements and storm water. Don's experience also includes maintenance management and geographic information systems. Since the inception of the GBA Master Series software suite in 1985, Don has played a vital role in the software’s progress. His development efforts draw from his engineering background, his computer programming experience, and his close relationships to the clients that he has served. Don's experience includes all aspects of project management, from planning and quality control to scheduling and monitoring performance and costs. Don received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1984 and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1981, both from the University of Kansas. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Missouri) and a professional member of the American Public Works Association (APWA).

Jim Graham, P.E.
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, Jim assists with project management and addresses special project needs. Jim oversees all gbaMS Operations Group personnel, and he provides quick response to project staffing needs and schedule demands by allocating additional resources to client projects. In addition, Jim is also responsible for secondary research of current industry trends, providing the development team with insight of how best to direct its attention.

Jim assisted with the launch of gbaMS as an independent firm in 2000, and he was previously (1985-2000) in a management role as an Associate with gbaMS’s former parent firm (George Butler Associates, Inc.).  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1985 from the University of Missouri-Rolla. Jim is a registered Professional Engineer (Missouri and Kansas).

Karen Backues
Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Karen facilitates the financial management of gbaMS. In addition to managing the billing process for software and services, Karen organizes fiscal budgets and determines economic forecasts for the company. Her role also involves providing financial records to investor. Karen also assists in gbaMS staff satisfaction and benefits as the manager of human resources.

Karen joined gbaMS in 2000. She received her Master's degree in Finance from Baker University in 2001. Karen also received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and her Bachelor of Science in Economics from Park University in 1986. Karen is a certified Public Accountant.

Nicole Schmidt, P.E.
Software Development Manager

Supervising future enhancements and product innovations, Nicole manages and designs the direction of software development for gbaMS. In this role, she reviews enhancement requests that clients suggest through implementers, support staff, sales staff and online forums. Nicole oversees product development by prioritizing innovations, delegating how to make enhancements fit with the system architecture, and determining how to provide general software functionality for the clients.

Nicole joined gbaMS 10 years ago as an implementation engineer. Through roles of increasing responsibility, she became Software Development Manager in 2003. She received her Master's in Engineering, Systems Engineering, from the University of Virginia in 2006, and her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1997. Nicole is a registered Professional Engineer (Virginia).

Chris Crupi
West Region Manager

Chris ensures the continued satisfaction and growth of clients with regard to the utilization of GBA Master Series products. Chris conducts periodic “wellness check” visits to clients to identify any issues that gbaMS can address. He also ensures that the GBA Master Series products remain applicable to the client’s evolving needs and facilitate Regional User Group meetings in which software users can network and discuss questions and concerns.

Chris joined gbaMS in 2005 after a five-year tenure as a Regional Account Manager with a vendor of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Strategic Management, in 1995 from California State University in Sacramento.

Joel Knight, P.E.
East Region Manager

As a Regional Manager, Joel maintains the continued satisfaction and growth of clients with regard to the utilization of the GBA Master Series products. Joel conducts periodic “wellness check” visits to clients to identify any issues that gbaMS can address. He also ensures that the GBA Master Series products remain applicable to clients’ evolving needs and facilitates Regional User Group meetings in which software users can network and discuss questions and concerns.

Joel has been with gbaMS since the inception of the firm. He has served in the roles of Regional Manager, Project Manager, and Implementation Engineer. Joel received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1995 from the University of Missouri, and is a registered Professional Engineer (Missouri).

Allison Tuttle, P.E.
Client Accounts Manager

Allison provides meaningful client interaction through mediation and response to inquiries and requests. In addition to maintaining client accounts, Allison assists prospective clients by providing product information and online demonstrations. As the company business representative, Allison ensures that prospective clients gain a comprehensive, in depth understanding of the scope of software and services that gbaMS provides.

During her career with gbaMS – which coincided with the inception of the firm – Allison has progressively served in the roles of Implementation Engineer, Project Manager and Regional Manager. Before joining gbaMS in 2000, Allison was involved in structural engineering design. Allison received her Master's degree in Business Administration in 2000 and her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1995, both from the University of Kansas. She is a registered Professional Engineer (Missouri).
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Phone: 800.492.2468
Fax: 913.341.3128