EXHIBIT 10(o)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is made as of September 1, 2001, at Groveport,
Ohio, between Pinnacle Data systems, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
and C. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (the "Employee"), who hereby agree as follows:
[sect]1. Employment. The Company hereby renews and continues the
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Employee's employment, and the Employee hereby accepts such employment renewal
and continuation by the company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this agreement.
[sect]2. Term of Employment. The term of this Employee's employment as
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renewed pursuant to this agreement shall begin as of the date of this agreement
and shall terminate, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions
of [sect]6, below, on September 1, 2003. The term of employment under this
Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year periods
commencing on each September 1 each year unless either party shall have given
written notice to the other party no later than the preceding August 15 of his
or its intention that the term hereof not be extended beyond its then current
term.
[sect]3. Services. The Employee shall be employed as Vice President of
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the Service Group, and will at all times faithfully, industriously, and to the
best of his ability, experience and talents, perform all of the duties that may
be required of and from him pursuant to the express and implicit terms hereof
and such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the
Company, acting by and through its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") or its Board
of Directors. The Employee shall report to the Company's CEO and President.
[sect]4. Compensation. During the term of his employment pursuant to
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this agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to receive the following
compensation:
(a) Salary. An annual base salary of $125,000 (one
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hundred twenty-five thousand) per year.
(b) Bonus. An incentive cash bonus equal to a percentage
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of the pre-tax net income of the company (or based upon other factors
deemed appropriate by the CEO and President) for each fiscal year
ending during the term of employment under this agreement (calculated
prior to the deduction of the bonus). The bonus percentage or other
factors for each year will be determined by the CEO and President or
the Board or Directors or its Compensation Committee no later than
March of that year.
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The base salary will be payable in accordance with the
Company's general policies for payment of compensation to salaried personnel.
The bonus will be payable after the end of each fiscal year of the Company as
soon as practical after the Company's independent auditors have completed the
year-end audit of the Company's financial statements for such year.
[sect]5. Fringe Benefits. During the term of employment pursuant
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to this agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to the following fringe
benefits:
(a) Vacation. Employee is entitled to 20 days of Paid
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Time Off ("PTO"). PTO will be taken pursuant to the Company's PTO policy as
amended or changed from time to time.
(b) Disability Payments. If at any time during the term
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of employment the Employee shall be unable to perform his duties
hereunder for a period not to exceed six (6) months, Employee shall
nonetheless be entitled to receive any compensation the Employee would
otherwise be entitled to pursuant to [sect]4(a), above, during the period
of such disability, provided, however, that his "disability" be documented
by a competent medical doctor selected to examine the Employee at the
request of the disinterested Board of Directors, which examination
expense shall be borne by the Employer. In the event said disability
shall continue for a period greater than six (6) months, then it shall be
considered a "long-term disability", the Employee shall no longer be
entitled to receive any compensation under [sect]4 of this agreement
during the remaining period of such disability, and upon the vote of a
majority of the disinterested Directors, said Employee shall be terminated
in consonance with the provisions of [sect]6 hereof as if said disabled
Employee had voluntarily terminated his services hereunder.
(c) Executive Development. The Employee shall be required
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to attend a personal executive development or experiential learning
seminar of his choice for up to three days during each year of the
employment term, with spousal accommodations.
(d) Other Fringe Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled
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to such other fringe benefits and perquisites as may be provided
generally for the Company's executive management pursuant to policies
established or changed from time to time by the Board.
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[sect]6. Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding the provisions
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of [sect]3 above, the Agreement may be terminated by either party as
follows:
(a) By the Employee within six months after a Change in
Control of the Company (as defined below); provided that after such Change
in Control of the Company, the Employee's base salary or other benefits
have been reduced or the Employee's authority or responsibilities have been
significantly reduced. If the Employee terminates his employment pursuant
to this provision, he shall be entitled to receive his salary and benefits
to the date of termination, any bonus for such year to which he would
otherwise be entitled, prorated for the portion of the year during which
the Employee was employed, and a payment from the Company, in a lump sum,
in an amount equal to one year's base salary.
(b) By the Company immediately upon the occurrence of
cause (as defined below) or at any time thereafter. For purposes of this
agreement, "cause" shall mean the Employee's failure to operate the
Company's business in accordance with the policies, programs, budgets,
procedures, and directions established from time to time by the Board or
the CEO, the Employee's failure fully to perform and observe all
obligations and conditions to be performed and observed by the Employee
under this agreement, or the Employee's dishonesty, conviction of a crime
(other than minor traffic offenses), habitual drunkenness, using illegal
drugs, embezzlement, conflict of interest, willful insubordination, or
neglect of duty. If the Company terminates the Employee's employment
pursuant to this provision, he shall be entitled to receive only his base
salary through the date of termination.
(c) By the Company with or without cause upon giving not
less than 60 days advance written notice prior to the date of termination.
If the Company terminates the Employee's employment pursuant to this
provision, he shall be entitled to receive his salary to the date of
termination, any bonus for such year to which he would otherwise be
entitled, prorated for the portion of the year during which the Employee
was employed, and a payment from the Company, in a lump sum, in an amount
equal to one year's base salary.
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(d) By the Company if the Employee is under a long-term
disability, at which time the Employee will receive any amounts due to
him under a long-term disability policy of the Company, if any, and due
to him pursuant to [sect]5(b). For purposes of this agreement, the term
"long-term disability" shall have the same meaning as set forth in
[sect]5(b) and employment may be terminated as provided in [sect]5(b).
For purposes of this agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to
occur:
(i) When any "person" as defined in [sect].3(a)(9)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
and as used in [sect][sect]13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including
a "group" as defined in [sect]13(d) of the Exchange Act, but
excluding the Company and any subsidiary and any employee
benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
subsidiary (including any trustee of such plan acting as
trustee), directly or indirectly, becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, as
amended from time to time), of securities of the Company
representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities;
(ii) When, during any period of 24 consecutive
months during the existence of this agreement, the individuals
who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board
(the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason other than
death to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided,
however, that a director who was not a director at the
beginning of such 24-month period shall be deemed to have
satisfied such 24-month requirement (and be an Incumbent
Director) if such director was elected by, or on the
recommendation of or with the approval of, at least
two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as
Incumbent Directors either actually (because they were
directors at the beginning of such 24-month period) or by
prior operation of this paragraph; or
(iii) Upon the occurrence of a transaction requiring
shareholder approval for the acquisition of the Company by an
entity other than the Company or a subsidiary through purchase
of assets, by merger, or otherwise.
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[sect]7. Noncompetition; Nondisclosure; Ownership of Developments. In
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consideration of the substantial increase in base salary and other benefits
provided to the Employee, the Company and the Employee agree as follows:
(a) During the term of the Employee's employment by the
Company, pursuant to this agreement or otherwise, and for a period of
one year immediately after termination of such employment, the Employee
shall not directly or indirectly:
(i) Engage in or participate in any business
similar to the business of the Company within the United
States and within any other country in which the Company
has engaged in business during the term of the Employee's
employment by the Company; or
(ii) Sell or perform the same or similar services
or products as then provided by the Company to, or
solicit, any of the Company's present customers or
accounts or persons or businesses which were customers or
accounts within three years preceding the Employee's
termination of employment with the Company; or
(iii) Promote or assist, financially or otherwise,
any person, firm, association, corporation, or other entity
which directly or indirectly competes with the Company; or
(iv) Otherwise enter into or engage in any business
which directly or indirectly competes with the business
carried on by the Company.
(b) The Employee shall not at any time, either during the
term of his employment with the Company or after the termination of such
employment for whatever reason:
(i) Disclose to anyone (except to the extent
necessary as a benefit to the Company in the performance of
his duties) any trade secrets or confidential information (as
defined below):
(ii) Solicit any of the Company's employees to
leave the employ of the Company; or
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(iii) Seek to employ any of the Company's employees
(other than on behalf of the Company).
(c) All inventions, discoveries, concepts, improvements,
formulas, processes, devices, methods, innovations, designs, ideas, and
product developments (collectively, the "Developments") developed or
conceived by the Employee, solely or jointly with others, whether or not
patentable or copyrightable, at any time during the term of his
employment with the Company or within one year after the termination of
such employment for any reason, whether or not during normal working
hours, and which relate in any way to the actual or planned business
activities of the Company shall be considered to be developed or
conceived by the Employee on behalf of the Company within the scope of
his employment, and all of the Employee's right, title, and interest
therein shall be the exclusive property of the Company. The Employee
hereby assigns, transfers, and conveys to the Company all of his right,
title, and interest in and to any and all such Developments. Employee
shall disclose fully, as soon as practicable and in writing, all
Developments to the Board. At any time and from time to time, upon the
request of the Company, the Employee shall execute and deliver to the
Company any and all instruments, documents, and papers, give evidence,
and do any and all other acts which, in the opinion of counsel for the
Company, are or may be necessary or desirable to document such transfer
or to enable the Company to file and prosecute applications for, and to
acquire, maintain, and enforce, any and all patents, trademark
registrations, or copyrights under United States or foreign law with
respect to any such Developments or to obtain any validation, reissuance,
continuance, or renewal of any such patent, trademark, or copyright. The
Company will be responsible for the preparation of any such instruments,
documents, and papers and for the prosecution of any such proceedings and
will reimburse the Employee for all reasonable expenses the Employee
incurs upon authorization of the Board.
(d) The Employee understands that this section is an
essential element of this agreement and that the Company would not have
entered into this agreement without this section being included in it.
The Employee has consulted with his legal counsel and has been fully
advised concerning the reasonableness and propriety of this section in
the specific context of the operations and business of the Company, and
the Employee acknowledges that this section is reasonable and appropriate
in all respects. In the event of any violation or attempted violation of
this section, Employee specifically acknowledges and agrees that the
Company's remedy at law will be inadequate, that the Company, its
business, and business relationships will suffer irreparable injury and,
therefore, that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief upon
such breach in
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addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, either at law
or in equity, without the necessity of proof of actual damage.
(e) As used in this agreement, the terms "trade secrets"
and "confidential information" shall mean any information which is not
generally known to the public, and include without limitation any
information relating to the Company's business operations and structure,
sales methods, practices and techniques, technical know-how,
Developments, advertising, marketing methods and practices, and the
Company's relationships with suppliers, employees, or other persons or
entities doing business with the Company.
(f) For purposes of this agreement, "directly or
indirectly" shall mean and include participation for the Employee's own
account or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, director, officer,
employee, creditor, or agent of any other person or organization or
through the Employee's spouse or other family relation, but shall not
include a passive investment of not more than two percent of the
outstanding stock of a company whose shares are then being regularly
traded in open-market brokerage transactions (either on a stock exchange
or over-the-counter).
(g) In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction
finally determines that any provision of this section is unenforceable,
the Company and the Employee agree that such court shall have
jurisdiction to reform this agreement and such provision so that it is
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the parties agree
to abide by such court's determination.
[sect]8. General. This document contains the entire agreement between
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the parties and supersedes any prior discussions, negotiations,
representations, or agreements between them relating to the employment of the
Employee. No additions or other changes to this agreement shall be made or be
binding on either party unless made in writing and signed by each party to this
agreement. Any notice or other communication required or desired to be given to
any party under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
when either delivered personally to that party or deposited in the United
States mail, first-class postage prepaid, addressed to that party at the
address set forth below its or his name below. Any party may change the address
to which notices and other communications are to be given by giving the other
parties notice of such change. All questions concerning the validity,
intention, or meaning of this agreement or relating to the rights and
obligations of the parties with respect to performance hereunder shall be
construed and resolved under the laws of Ohio. If and to the extent that any
court of competent jurisdiction determines that it is impossible or violative
of any
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legal prohibition to construe any provision of this agreement consistently with
any law, legal prohibition, or public policy and consequently holds that
provision to be invalid or prohibited, such holding shall in no way affect the
validity of the other provisions of this agreement, which shall remain in full
force and effect. No failure by any party to insist upon strict compliance with
any term of this agreement, to exercise any option, to enforce any right, or to
seek any remedy upon any default of any other party shall affect, or constitute
a waiver of, the first party's right to insist upon such strict compliance,
exercise that option, enforce that right, or seek that remedy with respect to
that default or any prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent default; nor shall
any custom or practice of the parties at variance with any provision of this
agreement affect, or constitute a waiver of, any party's right to demand strict
compliance with all provisions of this agreement. The captions of the various
sections of this agreement are not part of the context of this agreement, but
are only labels to assist in locating those sections, and shall be ignored in
construing this agreement. This agreement shall be personal to the Employee and
no rights or obligations of the Employee under this agreement may be assigned
by him.
PINNACLE DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
__________________________________ By____________________________________
C. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Address: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Address: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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