Executive/Management Staff
Stuart Tillman – CEO
Patrick L. Dalee – Director of Business Development
John Michael Denaro – Western Region Director
Stuart Tillman – CEO
Stuart Tillman is the co-founder and CEO of DuPure, which is involved in the manufacture, distribution and service of water treatment/purification products. DuPure distributes its products primarily through relationships with national and regional homebuilders. He is also a member of the DuPure Board of Directors.
Mr. Tillman has an extensive background in corporate finance, private equity, sales, and marketing, and is a seasoned investor/operator. He managed his own private equity firm and has held a variety of senior-level positions during his career. His interest and dedication to water treatment also prompted him to become a Class III Water Treatment Specialist, the highest certification level in this space.
Stu, as he likes to be called, has a rich business/finance background that has afforded him an abundance of experience and opportunity. His humble nature makes him hesitant to discuss these successes yet he does mention the following; “my business background has been very rewarding on many levels offering many great opportunities, however, I don’t know of any other business opportunity that is as dynamic as the one with DuPure.” Stuart continues, “the water industry is in need of an overhaul and DuPure has an opportunity to become an industry leader through reinventing the way we approach the consumer. Our builder program represents, for the water industry, the first time anyone has imposed a builder’s quality standard upon themselves. This departure from the “dealer” model marks the beginning of the end of industry players focused on banging on doors and functioning to no standards other than their own. No standard seems to be standard for the industry! Our evolutionary business model will position DuPure as a business leader due to our consumer advocacy role.”
In 1997, he cofounded TriPoint Partners (TPP), and has since been involved in five primary investments; four of those have been buy-and-build initiatives that collectively made over 30 acquisitions. In his capacity as Partner in TPP, Mr. Tillman is responsible for the oversight for TPP’s private equity investments, related investment banking/fund raising and overall investment activities. In brief TPP’s investments include the following:
- TPP’s first investment was a five-company buy and build oilfield service initiative primarily involved in the offshore tubular conveyed perforating and electric line completion services area. Mr. Tillman developed the strategy, identified the target acquisitions and performed all of the related investment banking activities related to closing the transaction. He also served as its Chairman, CEO, and President. This investment was divested in January 2000 for a return of 8.5 times the initial investment.
- TPP sponsored a second oilfield service initiative primarily focused on drilling equipment repair/refurbishment and new mud pump distribution. This investment was divested with a return of 4X the original investment. Mr. Tillman served in the capacity of Chairman and CEO.
- TPP invested in a 20+ acquisition buy and build initiative focused on the technology infrastructure area.
- TPP is invested in a new natural gas to liquid fuels technology development initiative. This investment has developed strategic partnerships/co-investment relationships with two fortune 500 integrated oil companies. Mr. Tillman has served as Chairman and President of this initiative.
- TPP sponsored a management team to pursue a buy and build initiative in the fuels and lubricant distribution industry. This initiative has made numerous acquisitions and continues to be a TPP investment. Mr. Tillman serves as a director for the entity representing the initial management teams investment.
Prior to founding TPP, Mr. Tillman spent 10 years in corporate finance. This included positions with Frost Capital Group as Senior Vice President and Asset Based Lending Product Manager; GE Capital Commercial Finance as Senior Vice President in the Southwest Region; and Barclays Business Credit as a Senior Business Development Officer opening its Houston office in 1990.
Mr. Tillman has four years of experience in public accounting with KPMG and Kenneth Leventhal and is a Certified Public Accountant. He earned his bachelor’s degree in General Business with a concentration in Industrial Engineering from Lamar University and his bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from The University of Houston.
Patrick L. Dalee — Director of Business Development
Pat Dalee is a co-founder of the Company. Mr. Dalee grew up in the water
conditioning business. He is the son of one of the original Culligan
dealers. Mr. Dalee has spent his entire career in the water industry
from being a sales manager and trainer, a top Culligan dealer, a manufacturer,
and a successful entrepreneur.
Mr. Dalee’s profound influence on the industry has extended to product development, industry standards, consumer advocacy and thought leadership. A decade ago he was quoted by Water Quality Products magazine as saying, “Specific forces will influence the way our industry markets its residential products. The only guarantee we do have is that the quality of our fresh water supply will continue to decline, and people’s awareness of solutions will continue to rise.” There is either irony in that statement or it is purely Pat’s dedication to this industry that finds him playing a key role in defining how the industry markets its residential products through DuPure’s Builder Program.
Mr. Dalee founded PJD International, Inc. and invented the first quality monitor for residential reverse osmosis. While operating this company Mr. Dalee created a full line residential reverse osmosis and distribution company. Upon the sale of PJD, Mr. Dalee founded IWW Inc., a full line distribution company for reverse osmosis, water softener products, ozone equipment, water testing equipment, and ultra violet disinfection. In 2002, Mr. Dalee merged his company into Good Water Warehouse Inc. He directed sales and marketing until joining the Company. Mr. Dalee has served the Water Quality Association (WQA), the major national trade association, in many capacities. His service includes being on its Board of Directors for the last ten years, serving as Governor for five years, and serving as President. Mr. Dalee was inducted into the Water Quality Association Hall of Fame in March 2004. Mr. Dalee holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. As Director of Business Development, Mr. Dalee plays a key role using his experience in all aspects of the industry.
John Michael Denaro – Western Region Director
After spending 10 years with Home Team Pest Defense, John possesses a wealth of sales management experience and a proven ability of successful sales and business development, consistently achieving significant year-on-year sales targets and growth in the new home builder industry. John is accomplished in training and motivating other sales reps to provide a high level of customer service. Believing that good team leadership and a hands-on approach to the needs of Homebuilders brings increased standards and profits.
John’s expertise and key to building relationships with builders, is staying active in the HBA and other Network groups with some listed below:
- Member of the National HBA
- Associate Committee Member HBACA
- Member of the HBACA Builder Show Committee
- President of CLG (Construction Leads Group)
For DuPure, it is necessary to speak the language of the new homebuilder industry. There isn’t anyone more qualified to meet the needs of the homebuilder and homebuyer. John is committed to the goals and principles of this organization and is quoted as simply saying, “DuPure is a Builder Vendor first, Water Company second.” The success of DuPure’s Builder Program in the West region will rely heavily on John’s past experiences of building relationships with Builders through the HBA and hiring good people that know how the builders protocol work.
Since joining DuPure in June 2010, John has been in the process of implementing a builder program in the Phoenix Market rolling out 7 builders in the first 60 days of operation handling everything from office space to hiring installers. Growth is a big initiative for DuPure where John will be responsible for expansion into several new markets in 2011, including Las Vegas and Southern and Northern California. With big expansion plans in the next year there is no doubt that John’s experience with builder programs and relationships will set DuPure apart from other water companies and change how Builders look at water products and the industry as a whole.