Executive Team

At Edge Insights, we provide solutions you need and savings where it matters most.

Emmett Lien

President

Creating businesses that don’t just survive but thrive in our current economic climate is challenging and rare. And for Emmett Lien, it’s a passion. For most of his career, Emmett has been at the executive level of companies that flourish. He was the General Manager of the Pennsylvania Division of GE Capital ITS – PA, which – under his leadership – was the most profitable region worldwide. A leader in the Berks County, Pennsylvania community, he founded WorldNet Technology Consultants in 2000. Soon after its inception – and under Emmett’s management – WorldNet was named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. While at WorldNet, Emmett acquired four other local businesses, including Digital Instructor, LLC (which he co-owned with Dennis Hefter) – a direct marketing company acquired by AdEx Media, Inc. in 2008. In 2010, Emmett purchased Edge Insights, Inc.

When not helping to save millions of dollars each year for his Edge Insights clients, Emmett serves on various boards and committees in the greater Reading, Pennsylvania community. Emmett and his family reside in Berks County.

Dennis Hefter

Executive Vice President, Business Development

Dennis Hefter is a career entrepreneur. He started his first company in 1988 at the age of 26. His technology company quickly grew and was acquired in 1995 by General Electric – Information Technology Services. Since then, Dennis has conceived, funded, and built the following companies:

  • Outlaw Technologies, Inc., a software company, acquired by Quovadx, Inc. in 2001
  • Hefter Impact Technologies, LLC, a hockey & lacrosse helmet manufacturer, acquired by Reebok in 2005
  • Digital Instructor, LLC, a direct marketing company, acquired by AdEx Media, Inc. in 2008

Dennis is primarily responsible for business development at Edge Insights. He handles new business opportunities, joint ventures, sales agents, and all other expansion opportunities.

Dennis was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania. He attended Millersville University and now resides with his wife and three children in Boulder, Colorado. He is President of Boulder Valley Hockey Foundation and is active in numerous Boulder community events.

Gene T. Waltz

Executive Vice President

Gene’s primary responsibility at Edge Insights is client satisfaction and service delivery in all aspects of the business. Additionally, Gene works to ensure the continuous improvement and quality in Edge Insights’ processes, internal and external communication, project cycle time and financial results for our customers. Gene earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh. He attended Albright College with a focus on accounting. He has also completed the following courses: Leadership Development and Innovation (Innovational Services), Situational Leadership and Targeted Selection (DDI), Customer Oriented Selling (IBM), Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan), Strategic Planning, Starting Team from Scratch, and Project Management (Kepner Trego).

Gene is very active in the community, currently serving as the Chairman of the Township of Cumru Zoning Hearing Board, Vice President of the Heritage at Green Hills Benefit Fund and in multiple leadership roles over 15 years at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Shillington, PA. Gene and his family reside in Berks County.