Bob Bicksler was employed at JML Optical Industries, LLC, a manufacturer of precision optics and optical assemblies, from 2011 through its recent sale to Thorlabs in January 2023. He held the title of President & CEO. During his time at JML, Mr. Bicksler also held the position of Professor of the Practice, at Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Mr. Bicksler held this role for 7 years (March 2013 – January 2020). Before this, prior to the sale of its business to Neusoft (SH:600718), Mr. Bicksler served as the President and CEO of TapRoot Systems, a leading provider of software products and services for the mobile device market. Mr. Bicksler has over 30 years of operational and financial background in manufacturing, technology, and telecommunications companies. His track record is one of continued success in growing companies and leading them to a successful exit resulting in superior returns to investor groups. Mr. Bicksler began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP and was a managing partner when he left to pursue his entrepreneurial career. Since PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Bicksler has led and developed many companies as CEO, Executive Vice President, and/or Chief Financial and Administrative Officer including AT&T Canada (sold to AT&T Corp. in $8B transaction), howstuffworks.com International (merged into NASDAQ company), Global Metro Networks, MetroNet (IPO), Performance Awareness Corp. (sold to IBM/Rational Software), Seer Technologies, Inc. (IPO), and Megapath Communications. Mr. Bicksler’s experience providing strategic merger and acquisition consulting services also comes from his former role as a Principal of Catalina Consulting during which he was responsible for evaluating numerous companies on behalf of private investment firms. Mr. Bicksler is an active member and advisor to several Boards.
Mr. Bicksler holds degrees from The Pennsylvania State University (BS, Business Administration) and The University of North Texas (MS). He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
