Joel Crites

Joel is a business and finance professional with over 20 years of experience operating in a variety of industries including consumer lending, service, public accounting, food manufacturing, contract manufacturing, plastics, automotive aftermarket, distribution, and construction.  He has a broad track record of leadership in controller and CFO roles within private equity-backed companies. As the VP of Finance of Penta Group, Joel leverages his extensive experience to drive financial performance through timely and accurate reporting of business results.

Previously, Joel served as the chief financial officer at Diversified Fall Protection, where he led finance, IT, and HR with over 25 direct reports. At DFP, he was in charge of integrating five newly acquired entities into one platform for payroll, accounting, banking, credit cards, and more.  In 2020, Joel held the role of chief financial officer at Design Molded Plastics. He streamlined financial reporting and the monthly close process while leading a plant expansion of 30% production capacity.  Joel helped DMP navigate the pandemic with improved working capital management of inventory, managed production schedules for a key customer, built quote models to drive business growth, and oversaw warehousing, purchasing, and payroll.

His career also includes significant experience at Maval Industries, where as plant controller, he managed the transition of financial operations after acquisition, then within a year helped lead due diligence on the sell side for a profitable divestiture. Joel's early career includes roles at CliftonLarsonAllen, HSBC, and Valvoline, where he honed his skills in business operations, managing people, and financial reporting.

Joel holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Accountancy from Kent State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Malone University. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Villanova University.