Eric Haskell
About Eric Haskell
Eric Haskell, CPA, has served on Sono‑Tek’s Board since August 2009 and is currently an independent director with over 40 years of senior finance experience. He is the Board-designated “audit committee financial expert” and has chaired the Audit Committee since 2023. Haskell holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University (1969); his background includes CFO and board roles at public companies, with expertise in acquisitions/divestitures, strategic planning, and investor relations .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. | Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | Dec 2005 – Mar 2008 | Guided public-company finance; later merged into T-Mobile USA |
| SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. | Director | Nov 2003 – May 2007 | Board member during growth and strategic transactions |
| Systems & Computer Technology Corp. (NASDAQ) | Chief Financial Officer | 1989 – Apr 2004 | Led public-company finance and investor relations |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. | Director | Prior | Public company director before T-Mobile USA merger |
| SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. | EVP & CFO | Prior | Senior finance executive at a public wireless carrier |
Board Governance
- Independence: Haskell is one of six independent directors under NASDAQ rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee (Chair); members are Haskell (Chair), Carol O’Donnell, Philip Strasburg; Haskell is the Board’s “audit committee financial expert” .
- Attendance: Board held 4 meetings in FY2025; all directors attended at least 75%. Audit Committee met 4 times; all members attended at least 75% .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors typically meet in executive session after regularly scheduled Board meetings .
- Risk oversight/auditor transition: The Audit Committee unanimously recommended changing auditors to CBIZ CPAs following Marcum’s resignation and CBIZ’s acquisition of Marcum’s attest business; there were no disagreements with Marcum noted in FY2023–FY2024 audits .
Fixed Compensation
| Item | FY2025 | FY2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting fee policy | $2,500 per meeting | $2,500 per meeting |
| Board meetings held | 4 | 4 |
| Fees Earned (Cash) | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Element | FY2025 Detail | FY2023 Detail | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Awards (grant FV) | $10,000 | $9,900 | Under 2023 Plan, no option may be exercised prior to one year; remaining becomes exercisable in cumulative installments over a three-year period. Options expire in ten years unless otherwise specified . |
| Options Granted | 5,333 options @ $4.12 strike | 3,300 options @ $5.50 strike | Exercise price set at or above fair market value on grant date; Black‑Scholes valuation used . |
| Aggregate Options Held (end of period) | 28,359 options | 19,350 options | Plan administration and anti-repricing terms as disclosed . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. (prior) | Former Director and EVP/CFO | No current related-party transactions disclosed; no active interlocks noted . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- CPA; extensive public-company CFO experience (SunCom Wireless; Systems & Computer Technology Corp.) with depth in M&A, strategic planning, and investor relations .
- Board-designated audit committee financial expert; long-tenured director at SOTK since 2009 .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Ownership (Shares) | % of Outstanding | Currently Exercisable Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Haskell | 29,503 | <1% | 20,344 | Aggregate options held were 28,359 at FY2025 end . |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent audit chair with “financial expert” designation; stable committee cadence and attendance support oversight quality .
- Clean auditor transition with no disagreements reported; proactive audit oversight during firm change to CBIZ CPAs .
- No related-party transactions involving directors/officers; Section 16 filings timely in FY2025 .
- Modest, meeting-based cash pay with at-the-money options aligns incentives with shareholder returns (no evidence of RSU/PSU grants to directors) .
-
Watch items:
- Ownership alignment is modest (<1%); although director options are present, monitor for adherence to any formal director stock ownership guidelines (none disclosed) .
- Hedging/derivatives are prohibited by policy; pledging not specifically addressed—no pledging disclosures provided. Maintain surveillance for any future pledging disclosures .
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RED FLAGS:
- None disclosed regarding attendance shortfalls, related-party transactions, option repricing, or tax gross-ups in director compensation .