About Us - Management Bios

Dr. Patrick J. DeSouza

Patrick DeSouza is the President and CEO of PlainSight and Chairman of American Leak Detection. He has 18 years of operating and advisory leadership experience with both public and private companies in the defense, software/Internet and petrochemical industries. Over the course of his career, Pat has been involved in several billion dollars of corporate finance and mergers and acquisition transactions with leading companies such as Cisneros Media Group and AOL. Pat also has significant experience in licensing and technology transfer with leading companies such as Bristol Myers, Dupont and Kerr-McGee.

Pat is a member of the New York and California bars and former law clerk to the Hon. Thomas Gibbs Gee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a graduate of Columbia College, the Yale Law School where he was both a senior editor of the Yale Law Journal & editor-in-chief of the Yale Journal of International Law and Stanford University where he has a doctorate in international relations writing about foreign investment in the United States.

William E. Palmer III

William Palmer is the President of American Leak Detection.

Prior to joining the American Leak Detection corporate team, Bill was a franchise business consultant for the Dwyer Group, Aire Serv Division, where he enhanced the franchise training program for financial, strategic and marketing forecasting.

Bill started as a plumber in upstate New York and Arizona. Throughout Bill's career he has successfully established, developed and sold several lucrative home service businesses including the first Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and One Hour Heating & AC franchises in Arizona as well as Refrigerant Management Services. He has significant experience with mergers and acquisitions.

Originally from upstate New York, Bill is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, with degrees in Business Administration and Accounting.

Pamela Vigue

Pamela Vigue is the Chief Financial Officer for American Leak Detection. With over 25 years of experience in the accounting field, Pamela joined American Leak in 1998. Prior to ALD, Pamela worked for 14 years in the retail industry as controller and business manager. She spent six years in city and county governmental accounting as well as seven years as the controller for Dobbs TV & Appliance chain of stores, handling all finance and accounting functions.

Pamela received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University, San Bernardino.

Judy Howard

Judy Howard is Director of Franchise Relations. Judy joined American Leak Detection in April 1997 as Executive Assistant to the President and CEO. Prior to ALD, she worked in the insurance industry and as a legal secretary.

During her tenure with ALD Judy has held many positions including Franchise Sales Assistant, and Franchise Sales Coordinator. In July 2008 she was named Director of Franchise Relations.

Judy’s relationships with and support of the ALD Franchise Team Members make her uniquely qualified for this position. Her many years of working with the ALD Management Team has been Judy’s training ground leading to her current position as Director of Franchise Relations.

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter is the Sr. Director of Corporate Field Services for American Leak Detection. Jimmy has 25 years of experience in leak detection and repair. Jimmy began his career working for two years at American Plumbing and Heating before moving to American Leak. Since then he's spent over 20 years in the American Leak Detection system. Jimmy started out as a technician in the San Diego franchise office before he was hired at the ALD corporate office as a technician and a trainer for new franchisee sales - domestic and international. He has since managed the warehouse operations and also the Palm Springs leak detection office. In addition to running the Palm Springs office, Jimmy has also been responsible for the Bakersfield office (until it was sold) and currently manages the San Bernardino office as well as managing the corporate training division. Jimmy has grown the Palm Springs office into a six truck operation and continues to improve the San Bernardino office, now with three trucks running.

Jimmy has received his C-36 plumbing license and is certified in Infrared Thermagraphy, PADI open water diving, Leak Correlation, Airborne Ultrasonic’s, and several other technology applications.

Michelle Hoglund

Michelle Hoglund is Director of Human Resources and Administration. Prior to joining American Leak Detection, Michelle spent 12 years as the Director of Human Resources at an adolescent residential treatment center in Oregon. She was instrumental in the startup of the facility, assisting with all administrative matters. Michelle was also the office manager for an automotive dealer and a cost analyst for Hyster company. With over 25 years of corporate administration, she understands the challenges of opening a business from the ground up, operations, and all aspects of human resources; in particular, the recruitment and retention of staff.

She completed the Professional Development Program at Portland State University and received a Certificate in Human Resource Management.