Executive Team

Ed Williams
President

Ed Williams co-founded Blue Ridge Numerics because in his words, “Doing a single design analysis is not the point. CFD doesn’t begin adding value until it can be used as part of the mainstream design process to quickly evaluate ten, twenty, even a hundred variations on a desktop PC.” In 1992, the industry “experts” dismissed Ed’s product vision as nothing more than a pipedream. Today, the ones that are still in business are scrambling to catch up.

A veteran of the CAD/CAE industry for more than twenty years, Ed provides the energy, clarity, engineering expertise, and business leadership that are transforming Blue Ridge Numerics from a bootstrap organization into an emerging global company. His charismatic and unassuming style defines a corporate culture that is attracting the best and brightest people in the MCAD and MCAE industry.

Before his entrepreneurial journey began in 1992, Ed was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Compuflo. His earlier training ground was at the Digital Equipment Corporation where he was Group Leader at the CAD/CAM/CAE center.

Ed earned dual B.S. degrees in Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He later earned an M.S. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Rita J. Schnipke
Chief Technology Officer

A CFD software application innovator for more than 20 years, Rita directs the development of proprietary technology and new numerical methods to insure CFdesign customers have the most powerful fluid flow and heat transfer tools in the world.

Rita began her professional career in the power industry, writing analysis software for both the nuclear and fossil fuel divisions of Babcock & Wilcox. After experimenting with many numerical techniques during her PhD research, she participated in the founding of Compuflo Inc. as the company's Vice President of Product Development.

After the sale of Compuflo to ANSYS, Inc. in 1992, Rita started with a clean piece of paper and co-founded Blue Ridge Numerics Inc. with the express purpose of delivering a CFD tool suitable for mainstream product development processes.

Rita’s academic achievements include:

BS Math Physics, Heidelberg University
BS Engineering Physics, University of Toledo
MS Mechanical Engineering, University of Toledo
PhD Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia

Kevin O'Shea
Vice President, North America and Europe Sales

Kevin has directed the North America sales effort since joining the company in 1999. In addtion to his North American role, in 2008 he began overseeing the European sales team. Under his leadership, the company is experiencing phenomenal revenue growth while assembling a sales and applications team that is the best in the industry.

After a brief and remarkably uneventful career as a "real engineer" at IBM, Kevin stumbled into the software business as an application engineer at Rasna Corp. As one of its early employees, Kevin transitioned into Sales and played an instrumental role in the rapid market adoption of Mechanica software. He remained with Rasna through its successful merger with PTC in 1995 and then joined Altair Engineering, heading up eastern operations. Kevin delivered some impressive non-automotive growth for Altair before discovering his destiny at Blue Ridge Numerics.

Kevin graduated from the University of Virginia in 1988 with an M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His personal passions include his family and friends, CFD for the mainstream product development process, and fitness.

Jim Spann
Vice President, Marketing

At his best when holding a cup of “red eye” from Starbucks, Jim directs Blue Ridge Numerics’ global marketing efforts. His duties include the strategic and tactical support of both direct and reseller sales channels, the development of strategic partnerships and new business initiatives, and elevating global awareness of CFdesign.

Prior to joining Blue Ridge Numerics, Jim helped a number of emerging and start-up technology companies develop and implement effective marketing plans. Introduced to the wonderful world of CAE in 1993, Jim joined Advanced CAE Technology, Inc. as its marketing manager. During his seven-year tenure with the company, Jim’s duties steadily increased to include leadership of channel marketing, product marketing and global marketing communications.

A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Jim’s personal passions include his family, his faith, modern art, Bluegrass music, drinking espresso, and watching American football.