Management

Philip S. Sassower 

Phil Sassower is the chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of the board for Xplore Technologies. Since 2006, Sassower has shaped the basic policy of Xplore and map it to a solid growth strategy for the company. He spearheaded the company’s recent recapitalization, up-listing to NASDAQ and raised $10 million in funding through Aegis Capital.

Sassower has more than 40 years of business and investment experience in successfully restructuring publicly-traded companies. By implementing new business strategies, he works with management teams and boards of directors to acquire, invest in, and build successful companies. Prior to serving as CEO of Xplore, Sassower was chairman of the board of directors. Currently, Sassower also serves as the CEO of SG Phoenix LLC, a private equity firm, and has held this position since 2003.  

Before joining Xplore Technologies, Sassower served as CEO and chairman of the board for Communication Intelligence Corporation, a leading supplier of large scale electronic signature deployments for financial institutions, where he remains the majority shareholder. He also served as chairman and CEO of Newpark Resources, an oil and gas services company focused on environmental remediation, and Bates Manufacturing Company, an owner of extensive coal deposits, as well as a co-manager of Phoenix Venture Fund LLC.

Sassower graduated from Queens College in New York with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and from the Harvard Law School with a Doctor of Laws, the highest academic degree in law.

Mark Holleran 

President and Chief Operating Officer

Mark Holleran serves as president and chief operating officer (COO) of Xplore Technologies. Since 2006, Holleran has managed the day-to-day operations of Xplore, including marketing, operations, engineering, and financials. Prior to becoming president and COO, Holleran served as Xplore’s vice president of sales from April 2003 to February 2006.

Holleran brings more than 30 years of leadership and computing experience to Xplore. Prior to joining the company, he served as CEO of WaveSat Wireless, and was the country manager for Cabletron Systems, a former manufacturer of networking computer equipment.

Holleran studied at the University of Toronto’s Executive Business Program and holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Michael J. Rapisand 

Chief Financial Officer

As chief financial officer (CFO) of Xplore Technologies, Michael Rapisand is responsible for managing and analyzing the financial risks for the company, including financial planning, related record-keeping and reporting, and Xplore’s internal control environment. He provides financial decision support for the company’s operations, including leading Xplore’s supporting human resource and information systems programs, as well as supporting investor relations and shareholder communications. Rapisand has served as CFO since 2004.

Rapisand brings decades of financial experience to Xplore. Prior to his current role, he was CFO of TippingPoint Technologies Inc., a company engaged in the design, manufacture, and marketing of network-based intrusion prevention systems and appliances. He also served as a financial director of Dell from 1997 to 2001.

Rapisand received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Texas.

Jim Plas 

Vice President, Marketing and Sales

Jim Plas is the vice president of marketing and sales for Xplore Technologies. In this role, he oversees Xplore’s development and execution of marketing, channel and sales operations, as well as the respective strategies and plans. In addition to these responsibilities, he manages corporate public relations and supports sales activities for strategic pursuits, including critical account retention and development needs. plas also engages with industry analysts, key media figures and influential thought leaders to support Xplore’s brand and marketing objectives.

Prior to joining Xplore, Plas served as vice president of product management and marketing and also as vice president of customer data integration at Acxiom. He was also the senior manager of enterprise services at Dell, a principal consultant at Data General and Microsoft, and an IT operations manager at DST Systems.

Plas holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Kansas.

Steven C. Linahan 

Vice President, Operations

As vice president of operations for Xplore Technologies, Steve Linahan manages Xplore’s supply chain, sales operations, product manufacturing and logistics, as well as the company’s service and repair functions for its rugged tablet line. He has served in this position since 2011.

A 30 year electronics veteran, Linahan has extensive experience in supply chain, manufacturing operations and logistics. He has worked with a variety of computing and telecommunications companies including Quanta, Flextronics, Sanmina/SCI, AT&T, SMTC, 3Com and several start-up high tech computer and networking companies.

Linahan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He also holds many industry certifications, including certified production and inventory management from the American Production and Inventory Control Society and is a certified purchasing manager from the National Association of Purchasing Management. He also holds technical certifications in electronics from Texas A&M University and MOST systems applicator in industrial engineering from H.B. Maynard Institute.

Bryan J. Bell 

Vice President, Engineering

Bryan Bell serves as vice president of engineering for Xplore Technologies. In this role, he leads the roadmap strategy and product development for the company—marrying business objectives to product development—while keeping Xplore’s tablets cost-effective. He also closely manages supplier relationships to provide customers with the most advanced systems available and keeps Xplore products as the leading rugged devices for all industries. Bell has served as vice president of engineering since 2008.Prior to joining Xplore, Bell served as vice president of operations at Sirific Wireless, a developer of 3.5G multi-mode, multi-band mobile cellular and broadband data products, and as vice president and general manager at Acer Advanced Labs, Acer Inc. Bell also previously held the position of notebook product line manager, as well as other leadership positions during a 16 year career at Texas Instruments.Bell graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor of Science in engineering management, and also holds a master’s in business from Amberton University.