Meet the Team
The Experts Behind the Science of Wine Preservation
Wine Guardian was founded on a simple premise: that the world’s finest wine collections deserve the world’s most precise climate control. At Wine Guardian, what began as a family passion for wine has evolved into a global engineering standard. Today, our team combines decades of wine collection heritage with cutting-edge technical mastery. As an Air Innovations company, we share manufacturing, engineering, and logistics resources and staff to deliver the world’s best solutions in wine preservation.
From design engineers holding over 70 patents to sales staff specializing in international cellar applications, the Wine Guardian team is dedicated to protecting your investment and perfecting your environment. Explore the profiles below to get to know the people behind our innovative solutions.
Engineering & Product Design
Mark Ferguson — Mechanical Design Engineer
Mark is a Mechanical Design Engineer with more than 40 years of experience in design for manufacturing and consumer product development. With a strong focus on form, fit, and function, he has spent over three decades collaborating with industrial designers to transform complex concepts into cost-effective, manufacturable, and serviceable products.
Earlier in his career, Mark worked at Anaren Microwave and Chase Design, and later founded RiverDawg Products, where he served as Owner and President. He is the inventor or co-inventor on more than 70 U.S. and international patents and also mentors STEM students in creating 3D-printed prosthetics for amputees. Outside of work, Mark enjoys boating, home remodeling, and music.
Marcos Locke — Design Engineer
Marcos Locke is a Design Engineer with more than 24 years of experience developing air conditioning components and systems across the automotive, residential, and commercial HVAC industries. He has worked with companies including Parker Hannifin, Carrier, ECR, Daikin, and now Wine Guardian. Marcos holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering technology and has expertise in system design, coil development, sound and vibration analysis, and thermodynamic modeling. In his free time, he enjoys biking, running, and swimming.
Brennan Buck — HVAC Design Engineer
Brennan Buck is an HVAC Design Engineer at Wine Guardian, where he manages the HEPAir product line and develops new prototypes alongside the engineering team. With dual degrees in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from Clarkson University, he specializes in airflow analysis and system sizing for cleanroom applications. Brennan works closely with cleanroom and semiconductor clients to deliver optimized solutions tailored to unique project configurations. Outside work, Brennan is an avid gamer and Dungeon Master who enjoys immersive story-driven worlds.
Share our passion for innovation.
For information on current openings at Air Innovations, Wine Guardian’s parent company, refer to the Careers page on the Air Innovations website. Plus, be sure to review our company About Us page and recent articles detailing our successes, products and services to learn more about who we are.
Apply for openings online or submit a resume with cover letter to:
Human Resources
Air Innovations
7000 Performance Drive
North Syracuse, NY 13212
Or email to hr@airinnovations.com
Sales & Global Support
Maria Carey — Customer Service / Account Manager
Maria is Wine Guardian’s Account Manager. She has 20+ years of experience in customer service. She assists management with customer inquiries, works with distributors, coordinates with parts and service, writes orders, and tracks shipping. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her two cats, Buster and Lilly.
Russ Warner — Technical Support Manager
Russ Warner works with Wine Guardian customers on installation and operational questions about our systems and equipment. In addition, he tracks issues in the field and works with our engineering and manufacturing departments to ensure continuous process improvement. Russ has over 30 years of experience with the company, providing expert installation and technical product support.
Digital Experience & Content
Natalie Zackevich — Digital Marketing Coordinator
As Digital Marketing Coordinator, Natalie manages email marketing campaigns, social media strategy, and digital advertising initiatives across both Air Innovations and Wine Guardian. She began her career with Air Innovations as a marketing intern in 2022 before transitioning into a full-time role in 2023. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing, along with a minor in political science, from SUNY Cortland. Natalie focuses on elevating Air Innovations’ and Wine Guardian’s online presence through targeted messaging, analytics-driven decision-making, and cohesive brand alignment.
Jacob Crawford — Marketing Communications Specialist
As Marketing Communications Specialist, Jacob Crawford oversees the production of video, graphic, and written marketing materials for Air Innovations and Wine Guardian. Before starting at Air Innovations in 2024, Jacob graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with bachelor’s degrees in digital media production and TV-video production. His role enables him to create engaging content about wine cellars, wine culture, and specialty HVAC systems for a wide range of consumer and professional audiences.
Jack Hogan — Marketing Intern
Jack Hogan is a Marketing Intern supporting the marketing initiatives of both Air Innovations and Wine Guardian. A senior marketing major at Nazareth University, he began his internship in May 2025 and continues to be part of the team. Jack works closely with the marketing staff on a wide range of projects. His primary contributions include CRM management, identifying sales leads, and re-engaging leads.