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Leadership Team

Meet the Leaders Driving Our Success

At Summit Companies, our leadership team brings together decades of expertise in fire protection, life safety, and security services. Since 1999, our leaders have guided the company’s growth into a premier portfolio of fire protection companies, serving customers across the nation with comprehensive solutions designed to protect buildings, assets, and people.

Jeff Evrard

CEO

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Quint Rubald

President

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Courtney Pernat

CFO

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Adam Schreier

VP, Corporate Development

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Steve Benz

Executive Vice President

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Ryan Bierwerth

Executive Vice President

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Dean Howard

Executive Vice President

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Nic Brown

Chief Revenue Officer

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Michael Phelps

Chief Legal Officer
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Kate Lee

VP, Marketing & Communications

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Greg Tabor

SVP, Supply Chain & Procurement

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Tony Burt

VP, Finance Strategy
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Deanna Schumacher

VP, Human Resources
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Mike Hnat

Director of Field Risk Management

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Jeff Evrard

Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Evrard has served as Chief Executive Officer of Summit Companies since 2006, leading the company’s transformation into one of the largest and fastest-growing Fire, Life Safety, and Security providers in the United States. Under his leadership, Summit has expanded to well over 100 branch locations across more than 30 states.

Prior to Summit, Jeff co-founded Delite Outdoor Advertising in 1997, where he guided the company’s expansion through more than 100 acquisitions and the establishment of 21 branch locations before its sale to Lamar Outdoor Advertising. Earlier in his career, he began at Naegele Outdoor Advertising, advancing rapidly through leadership positions and ultimately becoming Chief Executive Officer.

Jeff earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Anderson University.

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Quint Rubald

Founder and President

Quint Rubald founded Summit Companies in 1999 and has overseen its growth from a startup into a leading national Fire, Life Safety, and Security provider with more than $1 billion in pro forma revenue, serving approximately 165,000 recurring customers across more than 200,000 sites nationwide. As President, he leads Summit’s operations, driving performance, culture, and strategic execution across the company’s branch network.

Before establishing Summit, Quint served as Chief Financial Officer of Viking Automatic Sprinkler, a subsidiary of API Group (NYSE: APG), where he developed deep operational and leadership expertise overseeing finance, field operations, and business planning. He began his career as an auditor with RSM, where he built a strong foundation in financial and organizational management. Quint was also recognized as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Quint earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. Cloud State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Courtney Pernat

Chief Financial Officer

Courtney Pernat serves as Chief Financial Officer of Summit Companies, where she leads the company’s financial strategy, planning, and operations. Since joining Summit in February 2024 and later appointed as CFO in October 2024, Courtney has guided the organization through a successful sale and strengthened Summit’s finance function to support continued growth, operational excellence, and strategic execution.

Before joining Summit, Courtney held senior finance leadership roles across multiple organizations, where she led finance teams through significant growth and transformation. Her experience includes implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, executing acquisitions, and building scalable financial infrastructures designed to sustain long-term success.

Courtney earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from the University of Minnesota and completed the Executive CFO Program at Columbia Business School. She has maintained an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license for more than 25 years.

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Adam Schreier

Vice President, Corporate Development

Adam Schreier leads Summit Companies’ corporate development function and oversees the company’s inorganic growth strategy. Since joining Summit in 2017, he has executed more than 140 acquisitions, driving the company’s expansion into new geographies and service lines across the Fire, Life Safety, and Security industry.

Before joining Summit, Adam held senior M&A and strategy roles at Piper Sandler and UnitedHealth Group, as well as direct investment positions at American Capital and Atlanta Equity Investors. He began his career as an investment banking analyst at CIBC, where he focused on the consumer and business services sectors.

Adam earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with honors from the University of Notre Dame.

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Steve Benz

Executive Vice President

Steve Benz serves as Executive Vice President of Summit Companies, where he leads the company’s integration strategy and oversees post-acquisition performance across the organization. He is responsible for ensuring newly acquired businesses are successfully integrated into Summit’s national platform, driving operational alignment and long-term growth.

Before joining Summit, Steve served as Chief Executive Officer of Northland Fire & Security, which was acquired by Summit. Since the acquisition, he has risen through a series of leadership roles within the organization, contributing significantly to Summit’s expansion and operational excellence.

Steve earned his Bachelor’s degree from Winona State University.

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Ryan Bierwerth

Executive Vice President

Ryan Bierwerth serves as Executive Vice President of Summit Companies, helping lead the organization’s strategic growth and operational excellence across its national platform. Since joining Summit in 2003, Ryan has built and organically expanded the company’s Consulting business—most recently doubling its size through strategic acquisition—and led the successful integration of Summit’s national accounts division as a stand-alone subsidiary.

Earlier in his career, Ryan oversaw fire protection engineering and code compliance services for numerous high-profile projects across the Upper Midwest, including Target Field and 3M Center. 

Ryan earned his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Fire Protection Engineering. Ryan also maintains membership in several industry organizations, including the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the International Code Council (ICC).

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Dean Howard

Executive Vice President 

Dean Howard serves as Executive Vice President of Summit Companies, where he oversees subsidiary operations, drives organizational performance, and supports the company’s long-term growth. With 33 years of industry experience, Dean has been part of Summit since its inception in 1999 and has played a key role in shaping the company’s service capabilities, operational strength, and integration strategy.

Dean established Summit’s St. Cloud office in 2002 and led the operation until 2010. He then expanded Summit’s service offerings as President of the newly formed Fire Suppression division, adding fire extinguisher, pre-engineered systems, fire alarm, and special hazards capabilities. In his current role as Executive Vice President, Dean provides broad oversight of Summit’s subsidiaries, supports acquisition integration, and has helped drive consistent organic growth across the organization.

Dean earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota State University and has been a licensed Fire Protection Engineer since 2000.

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Nic Brown

Chief Revenue Officer

Nic Brown serves as Chief Revenue Officer of Summit Companies, where he leads national revenue strategy across Fire, Life Safety, and Security services. In this role, he directs inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) programs, retrofit projects, construction, monitoring, and deficiency-to-repair initiatives, partnering closely with operations to deliver predictable, compliance-driven outcomes and performance across a nationwide branch network.

Before his current role, Nic served for six years as President of Summit Fire & Security, where he led multi-site expansion, integrated acquisitions, and standardized business practices that improved speed, consistency, and customer retention. Under his leadership, Summit Fire & Security grew from four locations to more than 70 across the United States.

Earlier in his career, Nic transformed a small fire extinguisher and pre-engineered systems business in Nevada into a large full-service fire protection provider—laying the foundation for what is now one of Summit’s largest and highest-performing branches.

Nic earned his Bachelor of Business Management from Jacksonville State University.

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Michael Phelps

Chief Legal Officer

Michael Phelps serves as Chief Legal Officer of Summit Companies, establishing the company’s first in-house legal resource. He leads enterprise risk management, contract management, and corporate policies while overseeing the compliance and field-risk functions.

Prior to Summit Companies, Mike served as General Counsel for several private equity–backed companies including Ergotron, Marmon Beverage Technologies, and Polaroid.

Mike earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated as Salutatorian.

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Kate Lee

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Kate leads Marketing and Communications for Summit Companies, where she is responsible for developing and executing strategic initiatives that strengthen the organization’s brand, drive engagement, and support business growth. Since joining Summit in 2019, Kate has led a talented team overseeing corporate branding, digital marketing, lead generation, and internal and external communications—ensuring a consistent and compelling presence across all platforms.

With more than 20 years of experience, Kate’s leadership in marketing and communications has elevated brands, enhanced organizational culture, and contributed to measurable business success.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bemidji State University and a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University.

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Greg Tabor

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Procurement
President, Protegis Fire & Safety

Greg Tabor serves a dual role of Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Procurement and President of Protegis Fire & Safety. In his corporate role, he leads purchasing, inventory management, supplier partnerships, capital sourcing, and Summit’s national procurement programs. He developed a centralized Shared Services model and expanded the company’s Preferred Supplier Program to support long-term growth and operational consistency.

As President of Protegis Fire & Safety, Greg oversees a specialized distribution business focused on fire alarm parts and reconditioning. He has led the organization through integration and modernization, strengthening internal operations and enhancing customer service nationwide.

Greg joined Summit in 2022 through the acquisition of Protegis, where he served as CIO and Vice President/General Manager of Distribution and Marketing. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at G.L. Huyett, Vallen, Ariba, and MSC Industrial Supply. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bluefield State University.

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Tony Burt

Vice President, Financial Strategy

Tony Burt serves as Vice President of Financial Strategy for Summit Companies, where he leads financial planning and analysis, long-range planning, pricing strategy, and enterprise reporting. Since joining Summit in May 2022 through the Protegis Fire & Safety acquisition, Tony has advanced several major initiatives, including an EBITDA Enhancement program delivering significant annual improvement. He also added financial reporting to Summit’s EPM platform and led the development of the data model and reporting used in the company’s ownership transition.

Before Summit, Tony served as CFO for two private-equity-backed companies with successful exits—Protegis and Track Utilities—and held leadership roles at POWER Engineers, SUPERVALU, and Intermountain Gas Company. His multi-industry experience and deep background in financial operations, systems integration, and process improvement strengthen Summit’s strategic and operational capabilities.

Tony earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Boise State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Deanna Schumacher

Vice President, Human Resources

Deanna Schumacher serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Summit Companies, where she leads the company’s people strategy and cultivates a culture of collaboration, growth, and excellence. With more than 30 years of experience in the fire protection industry, Deanna brings strong operational understanding and industry insight.

Throughout her career, Deanna has led HR teams that drive organizational growth through mergers and acquisitions, organic expansion, and integration initiatives. She has guided large-scale system integration projects that improved efficiency, enhanced the employee experience, and mitigated organizational risk. A strategic and results-oriented leader, Deanna has also successfully implemented innovative benefits and compensation programs that reinvest savings into employee pay and well-being.

Deanna aligns talent, culture, and organizational development with Summit’s mission and long-term business goals, empowering employees to grow and succeed alongside the company.

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Mike Hnat

Director, Field Risk Management

Mike Hnat serves as Director of Field Risk Management for Summit Companies, where he leads the organization’s Safety, Fleet, Claims Management, DOT Compliance, and Property functions. He drives a proactive safety culture across operations, advancing performance, efficiency, and sustainable growth

Since joining Summit 14 years ago, Mike has advanced through several safety and risk management leadership roles, contributing to the company’s growth and operational excellence. His expertise in fire protection, regulatory compliance, and risk management has been instrumental in strengthening Summit’s reputation as an industry leader in safety and service quality.

Before joining Summit, Mike managed national accounts and risk programs in the fire protection and Highly Protected Risk (HPR) sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as an active member of his local fire department. Mike earned his Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a minor in Industrial Risk Management from Eastern Kentucky University.

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