Ocular’s Board of Directors
Thomas O. Hicks, Chairman of the Board, Chairman, Hicks Holdings
Thomas O. Hicks is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hicks Holdings LLC, a Dallas-based family office that owns and manages the Thomas and Cinda Hicks Family’s sports, real estate, corporate assets, and investments. Previously, Mr. Hicks co-founded, and was Chairman from 1989 through 2004 of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Inc., a nationally prominent private equity firm specializing in leveraged acquisitions. During Mr. Hicks’s tenure as Chairman, HMTF successfully raised over $12 billion of private equity funds, consummated over $50 billion of leveraged acquisitions, and was one of the world’s most active private investment firms. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Hicks was Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Hicks & Haas, a Dallas-based private equity firm. The successful acquisitions of HMTF and Hicks & Haas included AMFM Inc., A&W Brands, Inc., Berg Electronics, Inc., Dr Pepper/Seven Up Companies, International Home Foods, Life Partners Group, Pinnacle Foods, Sybron International, and Yell Group plc, among others.
Mr. Hicks graduated with an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1970 and a BBA from the University of Texas in 1968. He is also a past recipient of the University of Texas’ Distinguished Alumnus Award, and has served several years as a Distinguished Guest Lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Phil Spivey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ocular
Mr. Spivey joined Ocular as President and Chief Executive Officer in March of 2009. Prior to joining the Ocular team he was most recently part of the executive team that successfully positioned the Motorola Embedded Communications Computing Group for sale to Emerson Network Power. He brings over 25 years of experience in the global technology industry, including prior executive roles at Motorola directing product and services based business units as well as leading global manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, sales and marketing functions. Prior to Motorola, Mr. Spivey held management roles in the electronics distribution and software industries.
Joseph B. Armes, Chief Operating Officer, Hicks Holdings
Joseph B. Armes has served as Chief Operating Officer of Hicks Holdings since inception. From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Armes held several positions, including executive vice president and general counsel from 1998 to 2001 and chief financial officer from 2001 to 2005, of Southwest Sports Group (currently known as HSG), a holding company for various Hicks-owned sports teams, including Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers and the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Armes served as executive vice president and general counsel of Suiza Foods Corporation (currently known as Dean Foods Company), a New York Stock Exchange-listed food company. Mr. Armes served as vice president and general counsel of The Morningstar Group Inc., a Nasdaq-listed, HMTF-owned food company, from 1996 until its merger with Suiza Foods in 1997. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Armes practiced law with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. Mr Armes currently serves on the board of directors of Ocular LCD, Inc., and as President/CEO and Director of Hicks Acquisition Company I, Inc. (ASE: TOH). Mr. Armes received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 1983, a Master of Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 1984, and a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in 1991.
Christina Weaver Vest, Managing Director, Hicks Holdings
Christina Weaver Vest is a managing director and partner of Hicks Equity Partners LLC. From 2005 until April 2007 she served as a senior vice president of its affiliate, Hicks Holdings.
Ms. Vest previously served as a Principal at HM Capital Partners (formerly Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst), which she joined in 1995. At HM Capital, Ms. Vest principally focused on the firm’s domestic branded consumer products investments as well as on several Latin American media investments.
Ms. Vest currently serves as a director of Ocular LCD Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance liquid crystal displays, modules and systems, and of Anvita Health, a provider of decision support systems for healthcare professionals. She is also a director of various HM Capital portfolio companies, including Sturm Foods, Inc., a global dry grocery manufacturer, and Fox Pan American Sports, an international sports programming and production company.
Ms. Vest received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1993 and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1999.
Larry Mozdzyn, Chief Technology Officer
Larry Mozdzyn is one of the original founders and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for Ocular. For over 24 years, Larry has assisted in running Ocular, has expanded product offerings and also has been awarded multiple patents. Larry is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and is a member of the Society for Information Display.
Ben Kwong, Former President and CEO, Ocular
Ben Kwong was the co-founder of Ocular and served as the Chief Executive Officer from April 1986 to March 2009. He was the key architect in growing Ocular for over two decades. Mr. Kwong was also a pioneer in the Liquid Crystal Display Industry of China; he led Ocular to become the first foreign entrant into the China LCD Industry in 1986 and deployed eight LCD production lines in China by the early 90’s.
Mr. Kwong has received various recognitions from the Chinese government, including an honorary citizenship of China. Before founding Ocular, Mr. Kwong served as a design engineer and later became the Sales and Marketing manager of Polytronix, a Dallas based defense contractor specializing in avionic displays.
Mr. Kwong also serves on various corporate and charitable boards and helps those organizations to achieve their visions and goals. Currently, Mr. Kwong is the General Partner of KMV Group, LLC – a venture capital firm that specializes in financing and nurturing emerging growth companies in the technology sector.
Mr. Kwong received his B.S.E.E. degree from New York State University.
David M. Sindelar, CEO, Viasystems Group
David M. Sindelar is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Viasystems Group, Inc., a position he has held since July 2001. Prior to 2001, Mr. Sindelar was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Viasystems Group, Inc.
Mr. Sindelar has significant experience in all aspects of running a business; operations, finance and sales and marketing. Mr. Sindelar has substantial experience in acquiring and transferring business to low cost regions of the World. These include activities all over the World; U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, UK, China, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and India.
Mr. Sindelar has participated in a wide variety of industries including printed circuit boards, electronic assembly, wire harness assembly, insulated wire, bare wire, plastic injection molding, polyurethane foam, safety equipment, cutting and welding equipment, specialty back panels, floor maintenance equipment, connectors and medical supply.
Mr. Sindelar currently sits on a few civic and for profit boards in addition to Viasystems Group, Inc. He is the Chairman of the Board of St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis and a Board of Trustee at St. Louis University. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Ocular, Inc. and Reliance Bank.
