CNG Leadership

Kathy Bolhous serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Charter Next Generation (CNG). Since becoming CEO in 2010, Kathy has led CNG through significant growth, transforming the company from a business valued in the millions into a multibillion-dollar industry leader through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Today, CNG operates 18 manufacturing facilities across North America and has more than 2,700 employee-owners.  

Under Kathy’s leadership, CNG has emerged as a leader in sustainability, circularity, and reduced-carbon solutions, guided by its purpose, Enhancing Lives For A Better World. In 2021, she introduced CNG’s broad-based employee ownership program, giving employees a direct stake in the company’s success and helping foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and shared value creation. Kathy believes engaged employee-owners are essential to delivering better outcomes for customers, the company, and the environment, while helping address challenges such as food waste, resource efficiency, and environmental protection through advanced materials and continuous innovation.  

With more than four decades of industry experience, including leadership roles at Appleton Paper, Cascade Engineering, and Magna-Donnelly, Kathy is a recognized leader in manufacturing. Her honors include being named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2025 Notable Leaders in Sustainability, receiving the 2023 Outstanding Leader in Business Award from YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, and the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Midwest Award, and being named to Forbes’ 2021 50 Over 50 list. 

Dan Niss serves as President at Charter Next Generation (CNG), where he has played an instrumental role in the company’s growth and leadership in specialty films and material science solutions. Dan began his career on a blown film manufacturing floor as a teenager and has spent more than 30 years in the industry, building deep experience across manufacturing, operations, research and development, raw materials, and commercial leadership. He is known for his entrepreneurial mindset, commitment to innovation, and ability to connect customer needs with operational and technical capabilities. 

In addition to his leadership at CNG, Dan remains deeply invested in his north central Ohio community through philanthropic and business initiatives. 

Mike Manke serves as Chief Information Officer at Charter Next Generation (CNG), where he leads the company’s enterprise technology strategy and IT organization. With more than 30 years of experience using technology to drive business performance and growth, Mike brings deep expertise in enterprise systems, data and analytics, digital strategy, cybersecurity, and technology innovation. Most recently, Mike served as Chief Information Officer at PremiStar and previously held senior technology leadership roles at Stericycle, Baxter, W.W. Grainger, Olin, and Duracell. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in management and quantitative methods, with a focus on information systems, from Illinois State University.

Todd Herndon serves as Chief Financial Officer at Charter Next Generation (CNG), where he leads the company’s financial strategy. With more than 35 years of experience across global industrial and consumer manufacturing businesses, Todd has held financial and commercial leadership roles at organizations including Diversey, Gardner Denver, and Capital Safety. He began his career with SC Johnson and most recently served as CFO of Consilio, a global leader in legal technology solutions and enterprise legal services. Throughout his career, Todd has supported organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, operational improvement, and value creation, including experience with leading private equity firms such as KKR, Bain Capital, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, and Stone Point Capital.

Brandon Hall serves as Executive Vice President of Operations at Charter Next Generation (CNG), bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience to the organization. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt, he leads CNG’s operations with a focus on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and advancing the company’s One CNG approach. Brandon oversees manufacturing, engineering, health and safety, and quality, helping drive consistency, efficiency, and performance across CNG’s North American network of 18 facilities. 

Glenn Harsh serves as Senior Vice President of Sales at Charter Next Generation (CNG) and has held sales leadership positions in the flexible packaging industry for 30 years. He began his career in the chemical industry with Monsanto and subsequently held positions in marketing, strategic planning, supply chain, and HR with Rexene, Amoco, and Huntsman Packaging/Pliant. Glenn develops deep relationships with customers by learning their needs and developing plans to meet and exceed their expectations, and he enjoys coaching and mentoring the next generation of sales leaders. Glenn earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Northwestern University. 

John Garnett serves as Senior Vice President of Technical, Sustainability, and Innovation at Charter Next Generation (CNG), where he leads the company’s technical, sustainability, and innovation agenda. With more than two decades of experience spanning the materials and consumer packaged goods industries, including leadership roles at Dow Chemical and Conagra Brands, John brings deep expertise in technology development, sustainable packaging, and innovation. He is focused on translating CNG’s research and development capabilities into market-driven solutions that solve customer challenges, advance circularity, and create long-term value. 

Polly Baur is Senior Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Pricing at Charter Next Generation (CNG), a leading B2B provider of specialty films and sustainable material science solutions. Previously, she held senior marketing and leadership roles at SC Johnson, Mars, and PepsiCo, specializing in brand transformation, innovation, and data-driven growth strategies. Polly earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.