Meet Our Team

Misty Johnson is responsible for taking care of our grating customers at the Logan, Utah, facility. She has been a member of the Wasatch Photonics team since 2009. By understanding her customers’ needs and goals, as well as the current grating market, Misty is able to provide a superior level of customer support. As Account Manager, she acts as a liaison between customers and Wasatch Photonics’ manufacturing department making sure that the lines of communication are always open.

Customer support is an integral part of Wasatch Photonics commitment to customers. Whether you are in the market to purchase a single grating, inquiring as a distributor, or purchasing large volume, Misty will guide you seamlessly through the custom design process. Misty strives to build trust and strong long term relationships with Wasatch Photonics customers. She brings 20 years’ experience as customer support manager from a number of manufacturing and service companies.

Elroy Pearson holds the role of Senior Optical Engineer at Wasatch Photonics, to which he brings deep holographic experience as well as multi-disciplinary breadth. Elroy studied computer engineering initially, going on to pursue an MSc at MIT with a thesis in holographic displays. Early in his career, he apprenticed with the founder of Wasatch Photonics, during which time he helped develop the world class gratings for which the company is known. For over 14 years, Elroy has led and contributed to optical design teams working on holographic technologies and tools ranging from large-aperture, multiplexed holographic optics for lidar to holographic data storage as well as holographic printers and holographic video displays. He spent another decade of his career creating automated and microfabricated tools for pharmaceutical research, optical zoom camera modules for consumer electronics, giving him a unique perspective and insight into the applications of holographic optical elements.

Liz Cellan is the corporate controller of Wasatch Photonics, who is responsible for all accounting and business operations for both the Logan and Durham locations. Liz is an experienced finance professional who joined Wasatch Photonics in 2010, after having served in controllership functions for 6 years. She is well seasoned in managing complex inventories as well as front office operations. She manages the day-to-day administrative operations, vendor relations and procurement for the Logan facility; and oversees the inventory management systems for both facilities. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Utah State University.

Dominic Speer worked full-time for Wasatch Photonics team from 2006 to 202, and now acts in a consulting role. As the former Technical Manager at the Logan, Utah facility, Dom fulfilled several roles including R&D, grating design, preparing technical quotations, process engineering, custom grating production, to overseeing the quality department. Dom has been a key contributor to Wasatch Photonics’ grating business with his diverse perspective of all aspects of volume phase holographic gratings and ability to understand our customers’ specific requirements to make sure the finished product performs correctly. Dom is a graduate of Utah State University, where he received a BS degree in Physics. He has 20+ years experience in the field of holography.

Jeff is a seasoned operations manager and supply chain professional with over 20 years of experience in the consumer goods industry. As the General Manager at Wasatch Photonics’ Morrisville, NC site, Jeff ‘s goal is to build reliable, repeatable processes that produce consistent quality and on-time deliveries. He implements Six Sigma, Lean, and other continuous improvement methodologies at Wasatch Photonics to drive a culture of “winning the hour = winning the day” and to achieve sustainable results in the facility. Jeff has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from Indiana Wesleyan University, and is a Six Sigma Green Belt.

As Director of Operations at the facility in Logan, Utah, Joel oversees all aspects of manufacturing Wasatch Photonics’ volume phase holographic gratings and holographic optical elements. Joel brings experience in managing industrial manufacturing teams spanning design, purchasing, shipping, and finance. As an experienced mechanical designer, he takes a hands-on approach to operations management, keeping a strong customer focus throughout the process.

Joel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Utah State University and an MBA in Business Administration and Management from Western Governors University.

As the Vice President of Operations at Wasatch Photonics, Alexis Calvert plays a pivotal role in driving operational excellence and ensuring the company’s success. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Meredith College and a Graduate Certificate from North Carolina State University. Her educational background has equipped her with a strong foundation in business management and leadership. Before joining Wasatch Photonics, Alexis worked as a Program Manager at Eaton, where she honed her skills in project management, process optimization, and team collaboration. Her contributions were instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and achieving organizational goals.

As VP of Operations at Wasatch Photonics, Alexis oversees critical aspects of the company’s operations, including supply chain management, production processes, quality control, and strategic planning. Her commitment to excellence ensures that Wasatch Photonics continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its clients.

Travis joined the Wasatch Photonics team in 2019 and oversees the company’s Quality Assurance processes. He is excited to help grow and mature the Wasatch Photonics Quality Management System and to promote a strong quality-centric culture within the company. Travis has worked 19 years in the Quality world, with 16 years in medical device manufacturing. Travis hold BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah, and is an ASQ certified Quality Manager and Quality Engineer.

Tiff Hopkins is an accomplished supply chain professional with a wealth of experience and expertise. His dedication to advancing end-to-end supply chain management has made him a valuable member of the Wasatch Photonics senior management team. Tiff holds a prestigious Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) designation from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM). This certification, launched in 2006, has been earned by over 13,000 professionals across 78 countries. It signifies mastery of supply chain management best practices and specialized knowledge. Additionally, he is a Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM 7.0) and a certification from the International Consortium for Agile Business Management (ICGB).

As Supply Chain Director, Tiff helps Wasatch Photonics to successfully navigated complex supply chain challenges, optimizing processes and driving efficiency. His strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities have led to significant cost savings and improved customer satisfaction. As a seasoned professional, he has collaborated with cross-functional teams to enhance supply chain visibility, demand planning, and inventory control.

Matt Piland has been Chief Financial Officer of Wasatch Photonics since January 2020.  Matt has more than 25 years of experience across all areas of accounting and finance within manufacturing, technology, logistics, and entertainment industries.  For the last 15 years, Matt has held the role of CFO at several companies, both divisions/subsidiaries of large, global organizations as well as privately held corporations.  He has had responsibility for accounting departments throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia.  In addition to finance, HR, and IT, he has at times led operations, supply chain, and customer service functions.

At Wasatch, Matt has responsibility for all administrative aspects of the business.  By being very involved in the detail while also helping to set the strategy, he has proven to play a key role in the successful growth of organizations.  Along with the rest of the management team, Matt is very optimistic about the future at Wasatch Photonics.

Matt holds a BS in Accounting from Northern Illinois University, as well as an Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee.