Latest news with #Portwood
Business Journals
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Jennmar appoints Michael Portwood as new COO, bringing 30 years of industry experience
Story Highlights Michael Portwood appointed as new COO of Pittsburgh-based Jennmar. Portwood brings 30 years of experience in mining and manufacturing. Jennmar provides infrastructure products for solar, mining, and construction industries. Pittsburgh-based Jennmar has appointed a new executive to its C-suite. Michael Portwood has been named to the role of chief operating officer, according to a release from the company that's a part of the FalconPoint Partners portfolio. Portwood succeeds Robert Wise, who served as COO at the company, a provider of infrastructure products and services to the solar, mining and construction industries, for 11 years. "I'm thrilled to have joined the Jennmar leadership team during a period of exciting growth for the company," Portwood said in a release. "As Jennmar continues to grow its U.S. and global operations, the company is well-positioned to continue delivering the critical, high-quality products and services our customers have come to expect while maintaining a relentless focus on safety, innovation, and unmatched customer service. I look forward to leveraging my passion for manufacturing and my experience in the mining industry to support the company's continued operational excellence across new and existing products and an expanding geographic footprint." Portwood brings with him over 30 years of experience in various industries, including mining, automotive and manufacturing. He has spent the past decade serving as president of Minova Americas, a provider of support and geotechnical solutions for mining, tunneling surface ground engineering products. He's also the founder of multiple manufacturing and distribution business and is a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker. "We are proud to welcome an operating executive of Michael's caliber to Jennmar as Chief Operating Officer," Tony Calandra, CEO of Jennmar, said in a release. "Michael brings valuable insights from his previous leadership and operational roles in the mining and manufacturing industries, and he has already had an immediate impact on Jennmar's operations. I'd like to thank Robert Wise for his dedicated service and extend our appreciation that he will continue to provide his valued expertise and support to Jennmar's operations alongside Bruce Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations. Looking ahead, Jennmar remains committed to new ideas and new ways of working, including implementing our new JMOS LEAN operating system, which Michael will help lead."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jennmar Appoints Michael Portwood as Chief Operating Officer
PITTSBURGH, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennmar, a global provider of infrastructure products and specialized services to the civil, solar, mining, and construction industries and a FalconPoint Partners portfolio company, today announced that Michael Portwood has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Mr. Portwood will oversee all Jennmar operations in the US and internationally. He succeeds Robert Wise, who served as Chief Operating Officer for 11 years and will continue to provide operational expertise as part of the Jennmar team. Mr. Portwood brings over 30 years of experience in the automotive, mining, civil, and manufacturing industries. Before joining Jennmar, he spent over 14 years at Minova, a provider of ground support and geotechnical solutions for mining, tunnelling, and surface ground engineering projects, where he most recently served as President of Minova Americas for more than a decade. Mr. Portwood has also served as GM of Global Projects at Orica, a leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider, where he led efforts to strategically consolidate the global footprint. An experienced entrepreneur, Mr. Portwood has founded multiple businesses, including a tool and die manufacturer serving the automotive industry, as well as a manufacturing and distribution company for the mining industry. Mr. Portwood began his career at Toyota Motor Manufacturing. He is a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker and holds a BA in Business Administration from Sue Bennett College and an Executive MBA from Xavier University. "We are proud to welcome an operating executive of Michael's caliber to Jennmar as Chief Operating Officer," said Tony Calandra, CEO of Jennmar. "Michael brings valuable insights from his previous leadership and operational roles in the mining and manufacturing industries, and he has already had an immediate impact on Jennmar's operations. I'd like to thank Robert Wise for his dedicated service and extend our appreciation that he will continue to provide his valued expertise and support to Jennmar's operations alongside Bruce Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations. Looking ahead, Jennmar remains committed to new ideas and new ways of working, including implementing our new JMOS LEAN operating system, which Michael will help lead." "I'm thrilled to have joined the Jennmar leadership team during a period of exciting growth for the company," said Mr. Portwood. "As Jennmar continues to grow its US and global operations, the company is well-positioned to continue delivering the critical, high-quality products and services our customers have come to expect while maintaining a relentless focus on safety, innovation, and unmatched customer service. I look forward to leveraging my passion for manufacturing and my experience in the mining industry to support the company's continued operational excellence across new and existing products and an expanding geographic footprint." About JennmarJennmar is a leading global provider of infrastructure products and specialized services to the civil infrastructure, solar, mining, and construction industries. For over 100 years, Jennmar's focus has been on manufacturing products and providing solutions that help keep workers safe and productive. For more information, please visit About FalconPoint PartnersFalconPoint is a private equity firm that invests in North American mid-market companies in the business services and industrial sectors. The firm leverages a partnership-oriented approach and relationship-based procurement strategy to identify and execute on idiosyncratic opportunities to invest in companies that provide mission-critical products and services. For more information, please visit ContactsJennmarMichelle EastlyMarketing Director, Jennmarmeastly@ FalconPointEd Trissel / Sarah SalkyJoele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher212-355-4449FalconPoint-JF@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Jennmar Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Teen Mom star Amber Portwood denies firing rumors, says she quit the show for mental health purposes
Former Teen Mom star Amber Portwood denied claims she was fired from the reality show 's spin-off series Teen Mom: The Next Chapter in a TikTok livestream over the weekend. According to the 34-year-old MTV regular, she quit the show last week. 'Not only am I not being let go, I quit three days ago,' she said online on Saturday. 'I told Larry, the producer, I quit. 'My mental health was one of the things I said other than the yelling and crying from being so damn hurt from stuff,' she continued, clarifying that her exit from the show wasn't 'confirmed' yet. 'I started to see that all they were pushing, all this crazy stuff, that tore my heart out.' Portwood went on to say: 'If I'm gone, who's gonna be the villain for them? Who's gonna play that role? Who are they gonna keep lying about and having their puppets making up stories like that?' The Independent has contacted MTV for comment. Portwood, who gave birth to her daughter Leah Leann Shirley at the age of 18, faced accusations of being fired earlier this year after she was noticeably absent from the show's most recent reunion special. The reality star welcomed Leah (now 16) with her ex-partner Gary Shirley a few years before she welcomed her now-six-year-old son James with her ex Andrew Glennon. Portwood has been a mainstay on MTV for years, appearing on 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom: Girls' Night In, Teen Mom 2, Teen Mom: Family Reunion, and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars. Portwood was arrested in 2010 for felony domestic violence after her behavior on-screen was flagged by authorities. According to The Hollywood Reporter 's report at the time, Portwood was seen 'physically attacking' Leah's dad. She was officially taken into custody in December 2010 after authorities found 'a fairly sufficient amount of several different prescription pills' during a probation search. Portwood was later sentenced to serve a minimum of two years in an Indiana jail after pleading guilty to a felony drug charge in 2012. The TV mom had agreed to a plea deal that promised she would go to drug rehab, per CNN 's report, but wound up leaving the facility before the agreed-upon date. She was arrested for violating her drug probation agreement on May 24, 2012. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said Portwood also lied about passing a urine test. 'I just don't think she knew opting out meant five years in prison,' he said of her decision.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amber Portwood Says She Quit 'Teen Mom' for Her ‘Mental Health' as She Addresses Claims She Was Fired
Amber Portwood is shutting down rumors about her exit from Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. On Saturday, March 15, a video was shared via TikTok from a TikTok Live in which Portwood, 34, addressed claims that she was fired from the popular MTV series. 'Not only am I not being let go, I quit three days ago,' Portwood said. 'I told Larry, the producer, I quit. My mental health was one of the things I said other than the yelling and crying from being so damn hurt from stuff.' She said it was 'so weird' that the hearsay was circulating based on claims heard 'through the grapevine.' Related: Teen Mom Used to Be a Cautionary Tale; Now, I Think Some of Those Cast Members Are Examples of Parenting Done Right PEOPLE has reached out to MTV for comment on Portwood's claims but did not immediately hear back. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Portwood — who shares daughter Leah, 16, with ex Gary Shirley and son James, 6, with ex Andrew Glennon — has appeared on MTV's 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, 16 and Marriage Bootcamp. The star has been navigating her estrangement from Leah during recent episodes of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. Fans of the reality series have long been split on Portwood's inconsistent presence in her children's lives and in a TikTok Live, which was shared via YouTube on Feb. 27, Portwood addressed those criticisms head-on. When someone noted claims on the show that Portwood hadn't spoken to Leah in four months at the time of filming, the reality personality shared her side of the story. "I was told to stay away. Not to stay away, but... all that stuff," she said, emphasizing she "would never" go that long without talking to her daughter. Related: Gary Shirley Supports Daughter Leah's Therapy Journey to Handle 'Abandonment Issues' from Estranged Mom Amber Portwood Another commenter mentioned that Portwood had "put Leah through enough," at which point Portwood claimed she and Leah, "already talked about everything from the past." "She doesn't remember anything, guys. She said it on the show that she didn't remember anything bad. She didn't remember anything, but she would watch clips online. And she said that's what she hated," Portwood said. On the Thursday, Feb. 20 episode of the reality show, Leah reacted to clips of 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom she had seen on TikTok. "I see the older ones from when I was like 2 and it's just weird to watch because it's always just Amber screaming at you and you leave," Leah said of her mom and dad's fights on the show. "I think those ones are painful to watch because it's little me," she added. New episodes of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Read the original article on People
Reuters
03-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Exclusive: Activist investor Engaged launches proxy fight at restaurant chain Portillo's
Summary Companies Engaged nominates restaurant executive Morrison, marketing expert Portwood to eight-member board Nominations follow private discussions about adding Morrison Portillo's added Chipotle executive Hartung to board this year NEW YORK, March 3 (Reuters) - Activist investor Engaged Capital is ready to run a boardroom fight at restaurant chain Portillo's (PTLO.O), opens new tab and has nominated two director candidates to the company's eight-member board, three people familiar with the matter said. Engaged, which owns roughly 7.3% of the company, has been pushing for months for improvements, such as boosting restaurant-level performance, modernizing outdated locations and strengthening national marketing, said the sources who requested anonymity to speak about the private discussions. The nominees, restaurant operator Charlie Morrison and marketing executive Nicole Portwood, will be on the ballot at the company's annual shareholders meeting later this year unless the two sides reach a settlement beforehand. Portillo's, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries and chocolate cakes, is valued at roughly $1 billion after its shares closed at $13.97 on Friday. While the stock has jumped 51% this year on measures to boost sales, it remains down about 63% since being listed publicly in 2021. A Portillo's representative was not immediately available for comment. More companies are preparing for costly and potentially noisy fights as investors push for changes, including operational improvements and putting them up for sale, to increase their stock price. Engaged, run by former Relational Investors executive Glenn Welling, has a strong track record in the food and consumer sectors, having spurred a turnaround at casual restaurant chain Shake Shack (SHAK.N), opens new tab and sale of fine dining chain Del Frisco's. Engaged has succeeded in adding more than a dozen directors to boards over the past five years, industry data show. For months, Engaged held private talks with Portillo's about adding Morrison, a former CEO of restaurant chain Wingstop (WING.O), opens new tab, to the board, the sources said, noting that he had profitably expanded restaurant chains and overseen shareholder returns of more than 700% at Wingstop. In January, Portillo's named Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N), opens new tab Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung, who was introduced to the company by Engaged, to its board. But Engaged believes Portillo's needs even more operational and marketing expertise to help push for faster changes and therefore nominated Morrison and Portwood, a former chief marketing officer at Tito's Handmade Vodka, the sources said. Engaged in 2023 nominated three director candidates at Shake Shack before entering into a settlement that added two new members to the chain's board. Shake Shack's share price has doubled since Engaged built its stake in early 2023.
