A VESTED PARTNERSHIP
STARTS WITH A TEAM.


For 20 years, nGROUP has been increasing workforce efficiency and building high-performing teams.

“THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY.”

In 2001, David Hair, Jim Zimmerman, and Bob Duron all had that exact thought. Though they were working at separate companies, they saw the same thing: 

Manufacturing and distribution operations were struggling to deal with the highs and lows of customer demand. 

Some organizations would add to their payroll, increasing liability and risk. Others brought in third-party staffing providers, who provided workers, but no on-site leadership to maximize performance. This stretched management too thin in critical seasons. 

It was clear that neither option was the best solution. 

David owned equipment financing, staffing, and recruiting firms. Jim was on the front lines as an industrial engineer and facility manager. Bob was working with the supply chain at Amazon, trying to manage sudden swings in consumer demand. 

Separately, they each saw the need to truly revolutionize operations and eliminate labor-related struggles. 

 In 2001, David and Jim founded nGROUP and began offering this transformational approach – an insourcing model that provided both staff and the leadership needed for success. After leveraging the nGROUP insourcing model at DHL, Walmart and Americold Logistics, Bob joined the team in 2018.

Now, together, the three leaders help leverage a more flexible, low-risk option for manufacturing and distribution operations.

nGROUP’s LEADERSHIP TEAM IS DEDICATED
TO YOUR SUCCESS.

Image of Jim Zimmerman

JIM ZIMMERMAN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER

As an industrial engineer by trade, Jim Zimmerman enjoys locking arms with clients and helping them apply proven processes and find new approaches to their mulit-faceted challenges. Jim is a leading expert in Lean Six Sigma Operations Process Outsourcing.

Jim co-founded nGROUP with David Hair in 2001 and since that time he has served as CFO. Jim is accountable for the administrative, financial, risk management, IT, and human resource operations of the company, including business intelligence and data-driven metrics tied to these functions.

His experience partnering with industry leaders throughout the U.S. provides nGROUP clients with unparalleled insights, best practices, and outcomes. As a graduate of Virginia Tech with degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Statistics, Jim is driven by efficient, high-performance production.

Jim and the rest of the Executive team enjoy nothing more than helping clients turn chaos into calm at each of their facilities.

Image of Jim Zimmerman

BOB DURON

PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Warehouses and distribution centers are like Bob’s second home. He has worked in the industry since he was a teenager, and during his career he’s held nearly every role in supply chain and logistics management in companies like DHL, GAP, Walmart, Amazon, AmeriCold Logistics, and most recently a luxury e-commerce startup called The RealReal. As a result of his close personal experience with most of the jobs he oversees, Bob is able to manage people and processes like no other to drive employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and exceed customer goals. 

Before joining nGROUP as the Chief Operating Officer, Bob was actually a client who brought in nGROUP teams as his secret weapon during his time running operations at Walmart. Over Bob’s 10 years as an Executive at Walmart, he led several specialty divisions of the Walmart Stores USA Supply Chain including Reverse Logistics Network, Direct Imports Network, Print/Mail Network, Traditional Store General Merchandise, and Grocery Distribution Network.

In addition, Bob also helped to launch the supply chain operations for e-commerce for Walmart.com in its early stage. Bob drove impressive results in each of his roles at Walmart. In his last position as Divisional VP of Supply Chain Logistics in Texas, Bob saved the company $16 million dollars on an annual budget of $400million and led the largest division in the US made up of 9 distribution centers with over 10 million sq ft. His division supported over 450 Stores and 50 Sam’s Clubs.

Image of David Hair

DAVID HAIR

CO-FOUNDER

David Hair created the insourcing concept when he co-founded nGROUP with Jim Zimmerman in 2001 to take away labor management headaches for companies across the country. 

Over the past 20 years, under David’s leadership, nGROUP has helped companies like Del Monte, Sony, Honda, Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s, US Auto Parts, and Taylor Farms ramp up and ramp down quickly, save costs, increase productivity and employee satisfaction, and create raving fans of customers.

David has always been committed to driving growth through excellence and integrity. Before starting nGROUP, David owned businesses in equipment financing, staffing, and recruiting. He also served as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Navy and earned a BS in Business Management from Indiana University.

From David’s perspective, the core model of vested partnerships is the main reason nGROUP achieves significant results for its clients.

Image of Diron Raines

DIRON RAINES

Chief Strategy Officer

Diron Raines is affectionately deemed “the scientist” of the leadership team by his peers because prior to joining nGROUP, he was a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Strategy Practice. In that role, he oversaw over 250 accelerated cost improvement projects across his clients’ supply chains from inventory and procurement through final packaging, delivery, and warehousing. True to his nickname, Diron is a scientist of engineering efficiency, but he is also all about people. 

During his tenure as a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Strategy Practice, Diron implemented and managed cost reduction and tactical improvement programs for several global brands. He led the benefits case for a global supply chain redesign for a major international metals company, realizing an annual savings of $50MM. He consulted on global brands in diverse industries such as Ameren, International Paper, Corning, Bay West, Winchester, Phelps Dodge, Georgia Pacific, Wausau Mosinee, Olin Corp, Louisiana Pacific, and Unisource, among others. 

During the sales process, Diron oversees engineering assessments and is responsible for the successful implementation of nGROUP’s on-site project. As Chief Strategy Officer, Diron also provides ongoing leadership with client partners.

Image of Diron Raines

JULIE ROBERTS

Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer

At nGROUP, our people are our greatest asset. The more we grow, the more we need to invest in our people. With over 30 years of HR experience, Julie Roberts takes care of and strengthens the relationships that make it happen. As Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Julie guides nGROUP leadership on the strategy and processes that support the future state of the organization.

Julie has experience in employee relations, change management, leadership training and development programs with companies such as Nestlé, US Foods, Bimbo Bakeries and AmeriCold Logistics. At Nestlé she helped build a web-based compensation system supporting 3,000+ employees, expedited organizational changes through end-to-end market integration tools she developed, and received the Igniter Award for integration leadership.

Her impressive background in talent management rounds out the Executive team. The entire nGROUP team benefits from her thoughtful and innovative expertise as well as her intentional listening and understanding. She believes that once you know someone’s current state, you can start to partner with them on solutions.

Image of Ryan Gates

RYAN CATES

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

When you contact nGROUP, Ryan Cates will be your mainstay from contact to contract. As Vice President of Sales, Ryan works closely with companies who are looking to achieve more with fewer labor management headaches. If you’re not sure if your company or facility is a good fit for an nGROUP partnership, simply schedule a call with Ryan and he can help you determine with confidence if nGROUP is for you. 

Ryan has been overseeing the sales team for nGROUP since 2006. Whether you’re looking for more stability in your business or you’re looking to achieve more with your hourly workforce, Ryan can walk you through a stress-free assessment phase. Ryan will work closely with Diron Raines to design a customized plan for solving the most significant labor-related issues in your facilities.

Ryan’s career began as a Chemistry Teacher and Football Coach. He launched his sales career as an Executive Recruiter for CEO Inc., but when the opportunity arose to build out the sales team at nGROUP and work as a vested partner with companies like Sony, Honda, and Del Monte, Ryan was all in.

Ryan studied Chemistry at Virginia Military Institute where he played NCAA Division 1 Football.

Image of Ryan Gates
Image of David A. Cook

DAVID A COOK

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNOLOGY

Supply chain leaders deserve detailed, easy-to-digest data on how their teams are performing. David Cook ensures that nGROUP clients can access the performance of their workforce at the simple click of a button, in real-time on the cloud. As EVP of Technology, David is responsible for technology development for nGROUP corporate systems, as well as all onsite technology initiatives. 

David led the development of nGROUP’s Labor Management System (LMS), nSITE. The technology includes sophisticated work scheduling, incentive pay payroll systems and automated real-time reports on performance by individual and location. Using the nSITE platform, nGROUP clients can make more decisions in real-time that impact the site’s performance without costly delays trying to decipher outdated or complicated reporting.

Prior to joining nGROUP, David Cook was heavily involved in leading the development and implementation for two Software as a Service (Saas) companies that delivered solutions to large customer bases in education and business both nationally and internationally.

Cook graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a BS and received a MS from Florida Institute of Technology. He has his PMP, is a digital marketing certified associate (DMCA), along with multiple certifications from Microsoft, Citrix, and Cisco.

TOM GOLON

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

An entrepreneurial leader, Tom Golon’s expertise in teambuilding and his eye for detail will help nGROUP identify opportunities to drive higher success levels in AP, AR, payroll, risk, Banking, credit, FP&A, risk management, HR compliance, and M&A.

Tom’s experiences in operations, finance, and M&A, at companies such as MCG Global and Hilsmier Consulting, make him the perfect executive to help nGROUP achieve our overall growth strategy and exceed our customer’s expectations.

nGROUP’s rapid growth requires higher levels of financial oversight, intensified analysis, and leadership. Tom brings with him a proven track record in M&A, operations, developing strategic alliances, negotiations, forecasting, and sophisticated financial modeling. 

nGROUP’s LEADERSHIP IS SUPPORTED BY A HOST OF EXPERTS.

FRANKLIN
SOLORZANO

Executive Vice President Engineering and Solutions

BRIAN
BOOTS

SENIOR Vice President Operations
Image of Jake Duron

JAKE
DURON

Division Vice President Operations
Image of Adam Thomas

ADAM
THOMAS

Division Vice President Operations

Sonja
Flanigan

Vice President of Risk Management

BRITT
BROWN

Division Vice President Talent Acquisition & Development

Holly
Anderson

Vice President Strategic Project and Change Management
Image of Matt Linden

MATT
LINDEN

Senior Director Operations

MATT
CROSSLEY

SENIOR DIRECTOR OPERATIONS

DIANE
COLLINS

SENIOR DIRECTOR
HUMAN RESOURCES

BEN
TURNER

DIRECTOR
RISK MANAGEMENT
Image of Clinton Kennedy

CLINTON
KENNEDY

DIRECTOR ENGINEERING

JESSICA
CRISS

DIRECTOR LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

TERESA
DEATON

HQ Director Payroll & Benefits
Image of Ramona Petete

RAMONA
PATETE

HQ Director Accounting

YOUR PLAN TO OUTSOURCE, LEVEL UP, AND GROW

Starting your nGROUP partnership is easy, and it only takes a 15-minute phone call. 


BOOK A CALL

Click the link below to schedule an introductory call with one of our experts.

GET A CUSTOM PROPOSAL

Together, we’ll find your most pressing problems and create a solution to address them.

LEVEL UP AND GROW

With a turn-key, fixed-cost solution for your warehouse operations

TRUSTED BY
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES
AND MANUFACTURING
OPERATIONS LIKE
YOURS.


We offer proven solutions to labor recruiting and management challenges. Our clients come from all these industries, and more.

RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
REVERSE LOGISTICS
WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION
FRESH FOODS PACKING
E-COMMERCE & OMNICHANNEL
THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS

BOOK A 15-MIN
INTRODUCTORY CALL