Executive Team

Peter R. Gallagher

Chairman

Pete Gallagher is Chairman of the Board of Directors of BTX Industries, a position he has held since its inception in 2007. Pete also served as BTX’s President and CEO from 2007 until 2012. Pete joined BTX’s predecessor company, Beijing Trade Exchange (BTE), in 2001 as the Director of New Business Development where he used his prior international experience and military leadership background to rapidly grow several business segments and improve execution throughout the organization. Pete recognized the potential for BTX to become a premier provider of offshore manufacturing and led the reorganization of the company and founding of BTX Industries, Inc. in 2007.

Prior to joining BTE, Pete had a long and distinguished career in the fields of international business and foreign trade. His early background as a ship’s captain led to various positions with shore-based maritime firms. Extensively travelled, Pete has acquired the knowledge and cultural familiarity associated with having visited well over 100 countries world-wide. Pete has lived and operated businesses in countries as diverse as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Micronesia, Denmark, and Greece. Having operated ship chartering and vessel ownership shipping enterprises in the Far East, Pete returned to the U.S. and founded the heavy-lift contract carriage shipping company Project Asia Line which was the first American owned carrier to call at ports in mainland China. Prior to joining BTX, Pete was an owner and chairman of Whitehall Steamship Company, Ltd, a liner operator of 24 general cargo and bulk carriers and a vessel ownership holding company.

Pete is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a B.S. in Marine Engineering, and was formerly an officer in both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Naval Reserve. He is also a licensed Master Mariner.

Peter J. O’Keefe

President and CEO

Peter O’Keefe is President and Chief Executive Officer of BTX Industries, Inc., a position he assumed in 2012. He is responsible for overseeing operations and leading the overall strategic direction and growth of the firm. Peter previously served as BTX’s Chief Financial Officer from the company’s founding in 2007. Peter joined BTX’s predecessor company, Beijing Trade Exchange (BTE), in 2001 and held a variety of management positions in areas of product development and operations giving him more than fourteen years of experience in offshore manufacturing. The unique combination of his financial background and offshore manufacturing experience allows Peter to understand the evolving needs of US companies and ensure BTX is continually adapting to provide our clients with the products and services required to excel in their industries.

Prior to joining BTE, Peter worked as a warehouse manager for Great Plains Distribution in Fargo, ND and spent two years living and working in Tatabanya, Hungary. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master of Business Administration (Beta Gamma Sigma) from The George Washington University. He is also a graduate of Culver Military Academy in Culver, IN.

Steven N. Snyder

Chief Manufacturing Officer

As BTX’s Chief Manufacturing Officer since its founding, Steven Snyder is responsible for all facets of design, production and quality control. Steven joined BTE in 2002 and served as Director of QC and Manufacturing for five years prior to founding BTX with Peter Gallagher and Peter O’Keefe. Steven has spent extensive time in Asia developing BTX’s manufacturing capabilities, expanding our product development capabilities and refining our quality control practices. Steven is responsible for a number of product designs executed on behalf of our clients that have received or are in the process of receiving US and International Patents.

Prior to moving to Washington to join BTX, Steven worked as an Engineer for G&T Conveyor and Invacare as an Engineering Manager. During his tenure at Invacare, he became highly experienced in design and manufacturing protocols required to meet the numerous international safety and quality standards required for products used in the medical industry.

Steven holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He is also an accomplished musician and past member of several rhythm and blues bands and still composes and records music in his free time.