The ACI Leadership Team

The ACI team is the best in the business and has over a century of compress experience between them. Since our inception in 1960, our team has grown and has attracted some of the top talent in the engineering world and beyond. Meet some of the leaders that keep ACI at the forefront of the compression industry.

Chad Brahler is a proven leader with over 25 years of experience in the compression industry, specializing in reciprocating compression application, design, and field service. Chad began his career with Cooper Cameron and has spent the last 12 years leading ACI Services, where he established a reputation for technical excellence and visionary leadership. Following the acquisition of ACI Services, Inc. by Cooper Machinery Services in 2025, Chad now serves as Vice President, Compressor Products & Operations for ACI Services, a Cooper Machinery Services Division.

Widely recognized as a subject matter expert across multiple disciplines, Chad’s expertise includes compressor modeling, performance and safety, selection, detailed performance reviews, applications engineering, load step determination, and compressor component design and manufacturing. He has authored numerous technical papers and published articles, and remains actively involved in the industry through the Gas Compressor Association (GCA), Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC), and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), where he has participated in many panels and committees.

Chad graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Systems Engineering and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy. He is currently a Commander in the U.S. Navy, serving as a Project Manager with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Norfolk, VA.

Throughout his distinguished military career, Chad has held several key assignments. He previously supported U.S. Forces Japan as a Staff Operations Planner and Military Sealift Command as a Port Operations Specialist for U.S. Central Command. In August 2009, he deployed with Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward as a Company Commander at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, leading 104 personnel in operational support to the 3rd Army’s 1st Sustainment Theater Command. Additional reserve assignments have included Operations and Training Officer with Commander Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Maritime Partnership Program in Pittsburgh, PA, and service with the Merchant Marine Individual Ready Reserve Program, supporting MARAD’s Ready Reserve Fleet.

Joe Reiheld brings over 25 years of experience in the compression industry. He began his career in March 1998 with Anglo Compression Inc. in Danville, OH, which later became ACI Services Inc., located in Cambridge, OH. Throughout his tenure, Joe has made a significant impact across numerous facets of the organization.

In the early stages of his career at ACI, Joe led the company’s sales and business development initiatives. He later transitioned into roles supporting procurement, vendor management, and inventory control. As the organization continued to grow, Joe’s deep experience and broad skill set enabled him to rise through key leadership roles including Material Manager, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Quality Control, and Vice President of ACI Services Inc., where he led the Engineering and Project Management teams.

Following the acquisition of ACI Services, Inc. by Cooper Machinery Services in 2025, Joe now serves as the Director of Compressor Products Engineering.

Joe has been an active member of the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable (EGCR) for 24 years, where he has served as chairman on various committees.

Dwayne Hickman has been a dedicated professional in the compression industry for over 27 years—all of them with ACI Services Inc. His deep expertise and longstanding commitment have helped shape many of the company’s technical advancements and customer solutions. Following the acquisition of ACI Services, Inc. by Cooper Machinery Services in 2025, Dwayne now serves as the eRCM Product Manager.

Dwayne is a recognized expert in a wide range of areas including Compressor Modeling, Compressor Performance and Safety, Software Design and Development, Detailed Compressor Performance Reviews, Applications Engineering, Load Step Determination and Implementation into PLCs, Control Logic, Tuning Compressor Models to Analyzer Data, Digital Twin Integration into Third-party Platforms, and Technical Training.

He has published numerous technical articles and delivered many papers and short courses throughout his career. Dwayne is also an active member of the Gas Machinery Conference (GMC) Planning Committee, contributing to the advancement of industry knowledge and best practices.

If you have questions about eRCM Pro™ Software, eRCM Express hardware, unloading equipment options, performance-based compressor modifications, or how to integrate eRCM models with big data analytics, edge computing monitoring systems and control panels, or hydraulic simulation software, Dwayne is your go-to expert.

Brett Kyle began his career in manufacturing in 1998, gaining hands-on experience in the aviation and CNC machining industries. In 2002, he joined GAS Products in Blue Springs, Missouri—a respected valve manufacturer for the natural gas industry—where he was mentored by industry veteran Lauren Sperry and served as Manufacturing Manager for six years.

In December 2008, GAS Products was acquired by ACI Services, Inc., and Brett continued in his role as Manufacturing Manager in Blue Springs, working under Norm Shade. His leadership and expertise led to his promotion in 2015 to Operations Manager for both Cambridge, OH and Blue Springs, MO operations, overseeing materials, scheduling, quality control, machining, and production across both locations.

In 2018, Brett was named Vice President of Operations for ACI Services, where he has continued to serve under ACI’s president, Chad Brahler. Following the acquisition of ACI Services, Inc. by Cooper Machinery Services in 2025, Brett now serves as ACI’s Operations Director.

With over 20 years of experience in the reciprocating compressor industry and deep knowledge of valves of all types and sizes, Brett brings invaluable operational and technical expertise to ACI and its customers.

Les Wymer has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 2003 and joined ACI Services Inc. in 2017. Prior to ACI, Les spent over 17 years with a regional accounting firm, where he worked closely with small and medium-sized businesses across a range of industries—including the natural gas sector—developing a strong foundation in financial management and strategic advisory.

Les’s areas of expertise include Accounting and Finance, Cost Accounting, and Taxation. He currently oversees all financial functions at ACI, as well as the company’s Human Resources and Information Technology departments.

Following the acquisition of ACI Services, Inc. by Cooper Machinery Services in 2025, Les now serves as ACI’s Controller, continuing to provide trusted leadership and financial oversight during this exciting new chapter in the company’s history.