Management Team

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Officers & Directors

Every member of our team is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society.  Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization. 

E. Thomas Layton

Chairman of the Board & 
Chief Executive Officer
E. Thomas “Tom” Layton is a seasoned team builder and leader with a long and successful history in sales and management, and especially in the chemical industry. His early success in technical sales and marketing in the specialty chemical and pharmaceutical spaces led him to C-level positions early in his career.  

Tom has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lux Amber Corp, Inc. since 2015. From January 2014 until September 2015, he was the senior advisor to KT Chemicals, Inc. From 2013, he was CEO and is currently the Chairman of CBI Polymers, Inc., and for nine months in 2012 he was Acting CEO of LAXAI-OSR, a clinical research organization. From 1998 until 2014, he was also an independent consultant to a variety of companies. From 1998 until 2009, most of his consulting clients were in the chemical industry, although beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2010, 2011 and 2012, he was consulting primarily to real estate related businesses including hotels and commercial developments, assisting them with restructuring and refinancing. In the course of this work, Tom also served as a court authorized debtor-in-possession manager, shepherding real property projects through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. From 1994 to 1998, he was CEO of Deepwater Iodide (now Deepwater Chemicals), and from 1976 to 1990 he was CEO of Bishopric, Inc., a construction engineering and manufacturing business which he grew from sales of $9 million to $122 million. Prior to that, Tom managed the worldwide chemical business of G.D. Searle, and prior to that he worked in positions of increasing responsibility at Mallinckrodt Chemical, ultimately reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board.

Tom has an A.B. degree in chemistry from Central Methodist College, has served on Boards and had leadership positions in numerous Trade Associations, Boards of Companies, both private and public, and was elected into the Young President’s Organization. In addition to his business activities, Tom has served on Boards of Colleges, Universities, Churches and charitable organizations.

Walton Ashwander

President Lux Amber Corp.
Walton Ashwander, Jr. was employed in broad based segments of the construction industry for the first six years of his career, where he served in finance, estimating, procurement, and management. His wide experience in the construction industry compliments Lux Amber’s position as a provider of specialty chemicals and applications equipment to the construction industry and to the vendors that supply those companies.

Walton has a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in accounting from Alabama A&M University, which he earned while on a baseball scholarship. During the competition of his MBA, Walton served as a Graduate Assistant Coach.

Walton and his family reside in Dothan, Alabama, where he directs the Lux Amber’s corporate operations center.

Roger Crabb

Corporate General Counsel
Corporate Secretary & SEC Counsel
Roger Crabb is a seasoned corporate & securities attorney, and is currently a partner with Scheef & Stone, LLP in Dallas, Texas. Roger brings over 30 years of experience negotiating and documenting corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private and public market financings, and general commercial transactions. Roger has experience both leading and serving in senior roles for large public company legal departments, and has diverse industry experience. 

Jeannine M. Dupuis

Vice President of Marketing Services
Jeannine Dupuis’ executive management experience began with her ownership and management of Vocational Trade Schools, which she operated for a period of fifteen years. After selling the Vocational Schools, Jeannine began a career in the Insurance Industry, where she began her tenure with the Financial-Insurance subsidiary of the J. C. Penny Company.
 
Following the sales of the J.C. Penny unit to Aegon Insurance, Jeannine remained with Aegon and for fifteen years managed units of Aegon, specifically product development areas within new business, coordinating with actuaries and attorneys to assure the accuracy of the system set up for new products. In addition, audited telemarketing firm systems to assure the policies issued were accurate for coverage, including state and federal requirements. In these capacities, Jeannine managed large staffs of skilled personnel where accuracy was demanded.
 
Using her bilingual skills, Jeannine was placed on special assignments where being fluent in French was a prerequisite and will serve the company well as we expand our business to global markets.

Michael Preston

Senior Vice President, Lux Amber Corp.
Michael began his career in the “creative business” as a commercial/advertising photographer. Then in positions as a studio manager, project manager, rental manager and a producer that spanned over 20 years. Michael’s latest career was Professional Organizing. He has organized for residential and business clients for over 12 years in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Michael has a BA degree in Commercial Photography from Brooks Institute of Photography as well as an Associate’s Degree in Accounting. He is a member of NAPO, National Association of Productivity & Organizers Professionals, and a member of its Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. He is a member of APPO, Association of Personal Photo Organizers and is a Certified Personal Photo Organizer.

Kimberly Miller Snell

Assistant Controller, Lux Amber Corp.
Kimberly “Kimmie” Miller Snell, a native of Tennessee, began her accounting career at the University of Memphis, and now has over 10 years of accounting experience. In order to advance her career, Kimmie Relocated to Dallas, TX where she worked for Huselton, Morgan, & Maultsby P.C. prior to joining Lux Amber Corp. 

Kimmie’s has a depth of knowledge of financial and accounting procedures and constantly brings a high level of commitment and dedication to managing Lux Amber Corps’ financial records and reporting.  

Advisory Board Members

Ernest K. F. Lum

Chairman of the Advisory Board
Ernest K. F. Lum is President and owner of Ernest K. F. Lum Construction, Inc. He has held this position for 50 years and has been involved in the construction industry for 55 years. Mr. Lum’s business, to a large extent, engages in construction and refurbishment of his substantial ownership interests in residential multi-family dwellings, the management and maintenance of which also comprises a major part of his activities. Mr. Lum is a member of various nonprofit organizations.

Les Leff

Advisory Board
Les Leff, is an investor and director of a diverse portfolio of technology, wellness, chemical and martial arts businesses, who brings decades of professional experience to BBiTV. He was co-owner and executive vice president of JWS Delavau Co, Inc. and President of Accucorp, contract manufacturers of vitamins, minerals and over the counter pharmaceuticals, prior to co-leading the companies to a successful leveraged buyout in 2002. During his career, Mr. Leff has served in a variety of senior technical liaison, plant management, union negotiation and Food and Drug Administration negotiation roles. He also has directed the design and engineering of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. More recently, in addition to managing his family’s investment portfolio, he has served on the board of directors of the Children’s Alliance of Hawaii. Mr. Leff earned his BS in Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 1975. 

Neil K. Nakamura 

Advisory Board
Neil K. Nakamura has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare, food, environmental and refinery industries in Hawaii. He has held numerous positions directly testing and performing quality control of samples and products, and is knowledgeable of microbiology and chemistry methodology and principles.

Neil was born in Maui and graduated from the University of Hawaii. As a former gentleman farmer, waterman and outdoorsman on the Big Island of Hawaii, he understands the impact in which science and technology has on the future of Hawaii’s environment and natural resources.

Senator Clarence K. Nishihara 

Advisory Board
State Senator Clarence Nishihara has been serving in the Hawaii State Senate since 2004 representing the 17th Senatorial district covering Waipahu, Crestview, Manana, Pearl City and Pacific Palisades. Senator Nishihara chairs the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, and serves as a member of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee as well as Agriculture and Environment Committee. He has previously chaired the Senate committees on Tourism, Transportation, and Agriculture. He is a current member of the National Conference of State Legislators’ Agriculture and Energy Committee, subcommittee member of State Rural and Agriculture Leaders (SARL) and served as vice chair of Education for the National Asian Pacific American Caucus. Senator Nishihara was recognized as 2009 Legislator of the Year by the Hawaii State Library; 2010 Legislator of the Year by the Hawaii Medical Association; 2013 Hawaii State Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year; and State Legislative Award from Crop Life America in 2014. Among Senator Nishihara’s notable successes was his role in securing funding for the Leeward YMCA, Leeward Community College, UH West Oahu, the Filipino Community Center, and the Building Industry Association Training Center in Waipahu. All of these institutions play a vital role in sustaining Waipahu and its surrounding community as a hub in Leeward Oahu.  

Senator Nishihara is a long-time educator, having spent 20 years as a special education teacher on the Leeward Coast, two years as a Vice Principal at Waianae High School, and retired after eight years as Vice Principal at August Ahrens Elementary in Waipahu. Senator Nishihara’s past contributions to the community include four years as a member of the Leeward Oahu Jaycees, serving as its Vice President of Community Affairs. He also served as President of the Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, President of the Waipahu Community Association, Board of Directors of the Leeward YMCA as well as Independent Living Waipahu, and member of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board.

Senator Nishihara is a graduate of Maui High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, 5th year certificate in Special Education, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, all from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also is a veteran, having served almost four years in the U.S. Army Security Agency.

Jack Schneider  

Advisory Board
Jack Schneider graduated from Long Island University with a BA in Psychology. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1963 and became a fighter pilot, serving in the Vietnam theater of operations. Mr. Schneider’s last duty station was Hickam AFB, Hawaii. When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, Mr. Schneider left the Air Force and continued to reside in Hawaii.

Mr. Schneider was a Past President of the Honolulu Executives Association, Past President (3X) of the International Executives Association, Past Chairman of the Board of the Grassroot Institute, Past Chairman of the Board of Hawaii Reporter, Past Board Member of HEMIC (Hawaii Mutual Insurance Company), and he is presently a trustee of the Stagehands Union #665 in Honolulu.
Throughout his career, Mr. Schneider started, sold and/or folded approximately 16 different Hawaii Companies. He sold the last one, and retired in 2013. Mr. Schneider currently lives in Honolulu, Hawaii with his wife, parrot, and RV12 aircraft.

Jim Pappas

Advisory Board
For 25 years, Jim Pappas owned and served as Chairman of Honsader Lumber Corporation, one of Hawaii’s largest building supply companies. Jim has been active in promoting youth development and is a strong community leader, having served as a board member for the Aloha Council and the regional council for Boy Scouts of America (covering Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau). As secretary and member of the board for the Air Force Civilian Advisory Council, he serves as a liaison between the Air Force and his community. Jim currently serves as a director for Koa Anuenue, the University of Hawaii’s support program for student athletes, and is first vice president and director of Oahu Country Club. Marilyn Pappas is equally involved in community programs, serving as member and volunteer of Child and Family Services, which provides a variety of support services for youths and families. Jim and Marilyn’s shared interest in charitable work is reflected in their own foundation, which will receive the bulk of their assets. For more than 20 years, they have provided annual support for over 25 local charities. Jim and Marilyn are founding members of L3. They reside in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Thomas B. Reed IV, Ph.D.

Advisory Board
Dr. Reed is President of Oceanic Imaging Consultants, Inc., a leading manufacturer in easy-to-use seafloor mapping software systems. He received his undergraduate degrees in Economic Geology from Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982, and his Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1987. His research at UH included development and programming of automated techniques for analysis and mapping of the seafloor with side scan sonar. This research was performed largely for the Office of Naval Research in association with the UH SeaMARC II Sidescan Sonar Seafloor Mapping Program. In 1993, Dr. Reed founded Oceanic Imaging Consultants, Inc. to answer the growing need for commercially available seafloor mapping software, services and systems. Reed's research interests include acoustics, remote sensing and statistics as applied to problems in marine geology and geophysics.

Kyle K. Ushijima 

Advisory Board
Kyle K. Ushijima is President & CEO of Landscape Hawaii, Inc. He started Landscape Hawaii, Inc. in April 1993. He is half owner with his brother, Scott, and has built this Company for 25 years and has grown the company to be one of Hawaii’s larger landscape companies. Mr. Ushijima has been in the construction industry for 40 years. Landscape Hawaii, Inc. is made up of 5 divisions - Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Construction, Tree Trimming, Plant Rental, and Nursery. He is an Associate/Allied member of BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Hawaii. Mr. Ushijima is also an active member of his Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 

Professional Engagements

Public Auditors
Whitley Penn L.L.P.
Dallas, Texas

Securities Counsel
Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.
Dallas, Texas
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