Board of Directors
Steve Merone, Jr. | President
Steve grew up in the battery industry and spent every school vacation and summer break working in the family business. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2007 with a B.A. in Economics. Steve had lead in his blood and came back to work full time in the business after graduating doing anything and everything required. After 3 years of working in the warehouse, he moved into the office and started doing customer service and sales work. Steve continued to move up and currently serves as General Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of Midstate Battery.
Paul Staab | Immediate Past President
Paul Staab is a longtime veteran of the battery industry. He joined Staab Battery full-time in 1970 after graduating from the University of Denver. Paul also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He even has experience working for Exide and the former General Battery along the way! Paul’s tenure in the industry brings a unique expertise and set of experiences to our Board.
Paul also represents the 3rd generation in his family business which has the distinction of being the first battery specialist company in the USA, founded in 1928! In addition to the daily business of running Staab Battery, Paul is an active committee member of Battery Council International (BCI), and a member of their Quarter Century Club. He lives in Springfield, Illinois with his wife Patty.
Jim Murray Jr. | Vice President
Jim Murray grew up in the battery business and fondly recalls helping his father the day Mickey Mantle retired. So it was no great surprise that after college, Scranton University class of ’85 and a brief stint in the re-insurance marketplace, that the siren song of lead & acid called him back into the family battery business. Since rejoining Electro in 1987, not long after its humble rented 40′ container beginnings in 1981 when Electro would only sell car batteries, he has seen it grown to one of the largest family owned independent battery distributors with 4 locations in the NY/NJ/PA area. Today, Electro, one of BESA’s founding 13, is selling multiple battery chemistries across multiple markets.
Jim lives in northern New Jersey with his wife Carolyn and their three children.
Ryan Clements | Secretary
Ryan Clements graduated from Stephen F Austin State University in 2012 with a B.B.A in Management and Operations. He got his start in the battery industry with Advance Battery in Texas from 2012-2020. He learned the business by moving up through many different roles such as, warehouse/delivery, route sales, new business acquisition, branch manager, and regional manager. After an acquisition, Ryan joined Imperial Battery in 2020 opening their Houston location, and for the last 3 years has overseen operations for Imperial Batteries 7 locations.
Ryan lives in Manvel, Texas with his wife Katie and son Case.
Mike Moeller | Treasurer & Founding Member
Mike Moeller, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a third generation battery specialist who started his career in the industry in 1990 with Johnson Controls, Inc. In 1992 Mike returned to the family business, Remy Battery Co., Inc., and now is the sole owner and is the acting CEO for Remy Battery. Mike has been involved with BESA since 1999 and has acted as the organization’s Treasurer since the organization’s inception in 1999.
Board Members At Large
Rosanna Best Corbin | Board Member at Large
Rosanna Best Corbin graduated from The Johns Hopkins University in 1998 with a B.A. in International Studies. She also received an M.B.A. in Management from Loyola University. Rosanna has a seasoned background in the consumer goods segments in Business Development and Management. Since 2008, she has worked at The Best Battery Company, Inc., and serves as its President. She is proud to represent the 3rd generation in her family business.
In addition to her work with BESA, Rosanna is a member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts Sciences Advisory Board for the 2024-2027 term. She also continues to remain active on the JHU Alumni Council as a Champions member. Rosanna lives with her husband, Steve, and her two children in Maryland.
Brian Yates | Board Member at Large
Brian Yates is a 2nd generation battery specialist, growing up in the family business at Yates Battery Co. A graduate of Mansfield University class of ’94, he began his career with Exide Technologies working in the Health & Safety/Environmental department before moving to branch sales in 1999 and working his way up to District Sales Manager. In 2015, Brian joined the team at B&B Battery Group, Inc which was started by his father Bill Yates & partner Bob Giardina in 2009. Brian currently serves as President and is partners with Bob’s son, Chris Giardina.
Brian lives in Moosic, Pennsylvania with his wife Dawn and their son Jared.