Leadership

Built and led by repair industry veterans.

Our board comes from the franchise, retail, training, and independent shop sides of the industry — and meets monthly to set association strategy.

Board members

Meet the team behind RFA.

Jeremy Kwaterski

Jeremy Kwaterski

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-Founder

Jeremy Kwaterski is undeniably one of the cell phone repair industry's founding fathers, with over 20 years of experience in the space.

As the original founder and CEO of CPR Cell Phone Repair, Jeremy played a pivotal role in shaping the industry. After selling CPR in 2013, he founded Repairs First Association (RFA) — the industry's first association and buying group for repair shops.

Jeremy is also the Executive Director of the Gadget Repair Expo, North America's only conference dedicated exclusively to the repair industry. He owns multiple cell phone repair locations in Georgia and serves as a director of RFA, consulting on operations, financing, and unit sales.

Outside the repair industry, Jeremy is an avid car enthusiast and entrepreneur, and owns a hot air balloon company that produces balloon festivals across the southeastern United States.

Brian Ahern

Brian Ahern

Chief Operations Officer (COO) & Co-Founder

Brian Ahern is a USMC veteran who has been in the service industry since 2000, starting as Regional Operations Manager for the Cottman Transmission franchise.

Recruited by CPR Cell Phone Repair in 2010, he quickly took the reins as Vice President of Franchise Operations — a leader, creative thinker, and solutions-oriented problem solver with an unwavering passion for the industry.

After CPR, Brian served as VP of Operations for Phone Medic, growing nine Kansas City locations rapidly to profitability.

In his leisure time, Brian is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, and competing in bird dog trials across the Midwest.

Bradley Allan Broome

Bradley Allan Broome

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Co-Founder

Bradley began his career in the cell phone repair industry in 2009 and has since dedicated himself to helping the repair community grow and innovate.

He served as Director of Operations for CPR Cell Phone Repair — one of the nation's largest franchise networks — focused on operational efficiency, team development, and customer satisfaction.

Today, he is Co-Founder of the Repairs First Association and the Gadget Repair Expo, both created to connect, educate, and empower professionals in the repair industry.

Beyond tech, Bradley is the Co-Founder of Hot Air Balloon Management (est. 2019), producing large-scale family-friendly hot air balloon, drone, and laser show events across the U.S.

Nicole Russell

Nicole Russell

Chief Training Officer (CTO)

Nicole Russell is a serial entrepreneur, systems innovator, and award-winning speaker. She is the Founder and CEO of CellBotics and Chief Training Officer at Repairs First Association, where she builds and scales high-performance teams and innovative educational platforms.

Nicole co-owns several ventures, including Gadget Repair Expo, Event Nitro, and Xcelerate Franchise Consulting. She created the repair industry's most comprehensive learning management system, with over 800 instructional videos.

Recognized for her leadership and insights, Nicole inspires professionals and entrepreneurs at industry conferences, driving innovation and transformation across her fields.

Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith

Board Member

Christopher Smith is the Founder and Owner of Savannah iDoctor, a premier electronics repair business specializing in smartphones, tablets, and computers. Since 2012, he has grown a single repair into a thriving brand known for exceptional service and deep community ties.

From delivering pizzas and driving for Uber to supporting a growing family, Christopher's first device repair — done for a family friend — marked the turning point in his career.

He is the creative force behind the popular "iDoc In The Shop" content series, blending technical repair insights with storytelling that resonates across social platforms.

In 2025, Christopher joined the RFA Board of Directors, helping shape the future of the industry by empowering independent repair professionals through content strategy, digital marketing, and mentorship.

Jonathan Strange

Jonathan Strange

Board Member

Jonathan Strange is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of XiRepair, a wireless repair and service company he launched from his bedroom as a high school freshman. Since 2018, XiRepair has successfully repaired over 40,000+ devices.

He is an early adopter and pioneer of partnership programs like Samsung's ISP and Apple's IRP, working directly with major tech companies to bridge the gap between OEMs and independent repair shops.

Jonathan is also the founder of XiRecovery, a data recovery and digital forensics firm trusted by both law enforcement and private clients, and manages a portfolio of short-term rental properties in Montgomery.

On the RFA Board of Directors, Jonathan champions industry-wide standards for training, certification, and consumer protection — ensuring electronics repair is recognized as an essential pillar of a sustainable, circular economy.

Bob Lafon

Bob Lafon

Board Member

Bob Lafon brings over 40 years of experience across multiple segments of the telecommunications industry.

Half of his career was spent with regional, national, and international carriers before joining a retail wireless dealer, where he was pivotal in transforming the company into "Retailer of the Year" for nine consecutive years.

He is co-founder of Capital Growth Partners, a business advisory firm of a dozen industry leaders serving mid- to large-market clients, and co-founder of the Mobile Disrupt conference — a leading event for the used phone ecosystem.

Bob also founded Lafon Enterprises, supporting smaller clients on a flexible basis and delivering speaking engagements worldwide.

Dana Dorcas

Dana Dorcas

Board Member

Dana Dorcas is a business advisor and leadership strategist with extensive experience helping organizations improve performance, strengthen accountability, and build the structure needed for sustainable growth.

His background includes sales strategy, operational leadership, business development, and executive advisory work across multiple industries.

Known for bringing clarity, practical insight, and a results-focused perspective, Dana is committed to helping organizations align strategy with execution and create meaningful long-term impact.

Christian Kelley

Christian Kelley

Board Member

Christian Kelley is the owner of My Tech Bench in Dalton, Georgia — a trusted cellphone and electronics repair shop he launched in 2017. His path began at a Savannah flea market and continued through five years at CPR alongside future RFA leaders before going independent.

Over the past eight years, he's built a reputation for high-quality repairs and nonstop dedication to his craft.

In 2026, he joined the RFA Board of Directors, focused on expanding retail partnerships into national opportunities for independent shops and advocating for the right-to-repair movement.

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