The team you can trust; experience you can count on.

​More than 40 combined years of experience in a multitude of industries is why Vitrus Research consistently delivers on-time results you can trust.

A young man with long, wavy brown hair and a beard smiling at the camera, wearing a dark green Under Armour jacket with a zipper, in an indoor setting.

Leeman Stevens

Director of Design and Technology

​Elliot holds a hybrid Electro-Mechanical and Design Engineering degree from Murray State University.  His career prior to founding Vitrus Research spans automation, robotics, and thermal imaging at Zenith, followed by high-performance automotive engineering at Holley Performance and Garrett Advancing Motion (GT30–GT47 turbochargers). Moving into aerospace R&D, he completed projects for clients like Boeing, Blue Origin, NASA, SpaceX, and Pratt & Whitney.
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Today, he leverages this background at Vitrus Research LLC, specializing in performance-centered device enclosure design.

  • Business Development

  • Mechanical Design

  • Emerging Technology

  • Additive Manufacturing

Phillip Vilardo, head of project management, smiling and standing in a rural setting wearing sunglasses and a red shirt.

Phillip Vilardo

Director of Project Management

Phillip earned a bachelor's degree in Design Engineering Technology from Murray State University. Before co-founding Vitrus Research, he excelled in automotive engineering at Kayser Automotive Systems, high-performance fire suppression design, and finally project engineering coordination at Pella Windows, where he innovated their plant layout strategy and quality control processes.

​At Vitrus Research, he leads project management and drives the early conceptual design phase.

  • Sales and Discovery

  • Project Timeline Management

  • Project Consultation

  • Conceptual Design

Nathan Thomas, electrical design specialist. short brown hair, beard, and blue eyes wearing a blue suit jacket and a light blue shirt, posing against a gray background.

Nathan Thomas

Electrical Design Specialist

​Nathan studied electrical engineering at Western Kentucky University.He began his career at Heath-Zenith, rising to Senior Electrical Engineer before serving as a staff member in Western Kentucky University's Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department.

A contributor to Vitrus Research since its inception, he supports business administration and helps drive inventive solutions across various patents and projects.

  • PCB and Circuit Design

  • Electrical Consultation

  • AI Integration

  • R&D Initiatives

Colin Reece, mechanical design specialist. with red hair and beard, wearing a gray jacket, taking a selfie inside a race car with a sunroof, with a building in the background.

Colin Reece

Mechanical Design Specialist

Colin earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Western Kentucky University.
He began as a Design Engineer at Holley Performance, contributing to Sniper EFI, Hooker Blackheart, and Earl's. Prior to joining our team, he excelled as a Development Engineer at Garrett Advancing Motion, focusing on commercial turbocharger performance and durability.
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At Vitrus Research, his expertise in fabrication, machining, 3D printing, and casting delivers manufacturing-focused, high-performance enclosure designs.

  • Mechanical Design

  • DFM/A & DFAM

  • Kinematics

  • Manufacturing Readiness