Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement between Interphase Corporation and Marc E. DeVinney
This agreement is between Interphase Corporation and Marc E. DeVinney, outlining the terms of his employment as Vice President of Engineering. It covers job duties, compensation, and conditions for termination, including for cause and without cause. The agreement also includes confidentiality and non-competition obligations, requiring Mr. DeVinney to protect company information and refrain from competing with the company during and after employment. Severance terms, renewal periods, and arbitration provisions are specified. The agreement ensures both parties understand their rights and responsibilities during and after the employment relationship.

1. | Duties. Executive shall devote Executives best efforts to the business of the Company. Executive shall perform such duties and responsibilities customary to the position of Vice President of Engineering, including those described on Exhibit A to this Agreement. Executive shall also perform those duties assigned by the Company from time to time. |
2. | Terms. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall terminate six (6) months after the date of this Agreement. The initial term of this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive six (6) month periods, referred to as successor terms, unless either party gives thirty (30) days written notice of its intention not to renew prior to the expiration of the initial or any successor term or Executive is terminated for cause. |
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3. | Terminable Only For Cause. This Agreement may be terminated by the Company prior to the expiration of the initial term or any successor term as follows: |
(a) | Due to the death of Executive; | ||
(b) | Due to a physical or mental disability which prevents Executive from performing the essential functions of his full duties for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days during the term of this Agreement, as determined in good faith by a physician reasonably acceptable to the Company; or, | ||
(c) | For Cause, which is (i) fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, dishonesty, or other act of material misconduct against the Company or any affiliate of the Company; (ii) failure to perform specific and lawful directives of Executives superiors; (iii) violation of any rules or regulations of any governmental or regulatory body, which is materially injurious to the financial condition of the Company; (iv) conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (v) violation of the provisions of 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, or 16; or, (vi) substantial failure to perform the duties and responsibilities of Executive under this Agreement. |
4. | Termination Without Cause or Nonrenewal. In the event the Company gives Executive thirty days written notice of its intention not renew a term of this Agreement, or if Executive is terminated without cause after the expiration of the initial term, the Executive shall receive an amount equal to six-months severance pay based on the Executives base salary at the time of termination, payable in bi-monthly or bi-weekly installments as dictated by the regular pay dates of the Company. No accrued but unpaid bonuses or commissions shall be due to Executive under this Paragraph. No other severance payment or benefits shall be due Executive other than those provided for under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything stated herein to the contrary, in the event Executive becomes employed during the period in which the Executive is eligible to receive post-employment payments under this Paragraph, any amounts received by Executive in the form of compensation, salary, or other payments shall be offset or shall reduce any amounts or liability owed by the Company to the Executive under this Paragraph. |
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5. | Compensation. Employer shall pay and provide benefits to Executive according to the provisions of Executives compensation plan described in the attached Exhibit B. Executives compensation plan shall be reviewed on a periodic basis. The Company reserves the right, and Executive hereby authorizes Company, to make deductions from Executives pay or bonuses to satisfy any outstanding obligations of Executive to the Company. The Company may offset against the final payment of wages or bonuses owed to Executive any amounts due the Company from Executive. | |
6. | Changes in Position, Location, or Compensation. If the Company transfers, promotes, or reassigns Executive to another position or geographic area, or both parties agree to a change in compensation or benefits during a term of this Agreement or upon the renewal of a term of this Agreement, an updated employment agreement may be substituted by agreement of the parties but is not required. Mutually-agreeable changes in compensation or benefits shall be effected by amendment to and incorporation of a modified Exhibit B, initialed by the parties or their authorized representative. All provisions, promises, terms or conditions not modified by an amendment of Exhibits A - C shall remain in effect and shall not be deemed revoked or modified beyond the changes set forth in one or more amended Exhibits. | |
7. | Executive Representation/Warranty. Executive represents that Executive is not a party to any agreement with a third party, or limited by a court order, containing a non-competition provision or other restriction which would preclude Executives employment with Company or any of the services which Executive will provide on the Companys behalf. | |
8. | Duty of Loyalty. Executive acknowledges the common law duties of reasonable care, loyalty, and honesty which arise out of the principal/agent relationship of the parties. While employed and thereafter for whatever term the law may impose, Executive shall not engage in any activity to the detriment of the Company. By way of illustration and not as a limitation, Executive shall not discuss with any customer or potential customer of the Company any plans by Executive or any other Executives of the Company to leave the employment of the Company and compete with the Company. | |
9. | Company Documents. Executive agrees and acknowledges that Executive holds as the Companys property all memoranda, books, papers, letters, and other data, including duplicates, relating to the Companys business and affairs (Company Documents). This includes Company Documents created or used by Executive or otherwise coming into Executives possession in connection with the performance of Executives job duties. All Company Documents in the possession, custody, or control of Executive shall be returned to the Company at the time of termination of employment. |
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10. | In exchange for the mutual promises and obligations contained in this Agreement, and contemporaneous with its execution or soon thereafter, Employer promises to deliver to Executive or permit Executive to acquire, be exposed to, and/or have access to material, data, and information of the Company and/or its customers or clients that is confidential, proprietary and/or a trade secret (Confidential Information). At all times, both during and after the termination of employment, the Executive shall keep and retain in confidence and shall not disclose, except as required in the course of the Executives employment with the Company, to any person, firm or corporation, or use for the Executives own purposes, any Confidential Information. For the purposes of this paragraph, such information shall include, but is not limited to: |
1. | The Companys standard operating procedures, processes, formulae, know-how, scientific, technical, or product information, whether patentable or not, which is of value to the Company and not generally known by the Companys competitors; | ||
2. | All confidential information obtained from third parties and customers concerning their products, business, or equipment specifications; | ||
3. | Confidential business information of the Company, including, but not limited to, marketing and business plans, strategies, projections, business opportunities, client identities or lists, sales and cost information, internal financial statements or reports, profit, loss, or margin information, customer price information; and, | ||
4. | Other information designated by the Company or deemed by law to be confidential information. |
11. | Non-Competition. In consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged by the parties, Executive agrees that during the term of his employment and for a period of twelve (12) calendar months after termination of employment from the Company (whether voluntary or involuntary), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either as principal, agent, manager, employee, partner, shareholder, director, officer, consultant or otherwise: |
1. | Become associated or affiliated with, employed by, or financially interested in any business operation which competes in the business currently engaged in by Company. (The phrase business currently engaged in by the Company includes, but is not limited to, the type of activities in which the Company was engaged during Executives tenure, such as designs and delivers high performance connectivity adapters for computer and telecommunication |
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networks.) |
2. | Solicit or attempt to solicit the business or patronage of any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, department of government or other entity with whom the Company has had any contact during a period of twelve (12) calendar months preceding the date of this Agreement (Customers), or otherwise induce such Customers to reduce, terminate, restrict or otherwise alter business relationships with the Company in any fashion; or, | ||
3. | In any way solicit or attempt to solicit the business or patronage of any Customers. | ||
4. | The parties intend the above restrictions on competition to be completely severable and independent, and any invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more such restrictions shall not render invalid or unenforceable any one or more restrictions. |
12. | Limitations on Scope. In recognition of the broad geographic scope of the Companys business and the ease of competing with the Company in any part of the United States, the restrictions on competition set forth herein are intended to cover the following geographic areas: |
1. | The geographic territory identified on the attached Exhibit C; | ||
2. | The cities containing a facility or operation owned or managed by the Company; and, | ||
3. | A fifty (50) mile radius outside the boundary limits of each such city. |
13. | Non-Solicitation of Employees. During employment and for a period of twelve (12) months after termination, Executive agrees not to hire, employ, solicit, divert, recruit, or attempt to induce, directly or indirectly, any existing or future employee of the Company to leave their position with the Company or to become associated with a competing business. |
14. | Companys Right to Obtain an Injunction. Executive acknowledges that the Company will have no adequate means of protecting its rights under Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, or 13 of this Agreement other than be securing an injunction (a court order prohibiting the Executive from |
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15. | Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that any unresolved dispute or controversy involving a claim for monetary damages and/or declaratory or injunctive relief arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a single arbitrator in Dallas, Texas, according to the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators award in any court having jurisdiction. The direct expense of any arbitration proceeding shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Paragraph is intended to subject a claim by either party arising under Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, or 13 to mandatory arbitration. Any claim arising under Paragraphs 10, 11, 12, or 13 shall be litigated in the courts of the relevant jurisdiction and venue. |
16. | Discoveries, Inventions, & Copyrights. Executive shall disclose promptly to the Company any and all conceptions and ideas for inventions, improvements, and valuable discoveries, whether patentable or not, which are conceived or made by the Executive, solely or jointly, during Executives term of employment and which pertain to the business activities of the Company. Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign all his interest therein to the Company or to its nominee. Whenever requested to do so by the Company, Executive shall execute any and all applications, assignments, or other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters of Patent of the United States or any foreign country or to otherwise protect the Companys interest therein. |
17. | Condition to Seeking Subsequent Employment. Executive agrees to show a copy of this Agreement to any Competitor with whom Executive interviews during the Executives employment with the Company or with whom the Executive interviews within twelve (12) months following the effective date of the termination of the Executives employment with the Company. |
18. | Attorneys Fees. If any party shall obtain a final judgment of a court of competent |
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19. | Non-Disparagement and Confidentiality. Except as may be required by law or as consented to in writing by an authorized officer or agent of the Company, Executive agrees not to make any statements whatsoever, directly or indirectly, written or oral, which could reasonably become public, which could be interpreted as embarrassing, disparaging, prejudicial, or in any way detrimental or inimical to the interests of the Company. Furthermore, Executive agrees to hold confidential and not to disclose, make public, or to communicate orally or in writing to any person or entity (other than Executives significant other and immediate family), directly or indirectly, the terms of this Agreement or any matters set forth herein, except only: (a) as may be compelled by court orders; (b) as may be necessary to enforce the terms of this Agreement; (c) to legal, accounting, and financial advisors; (d) as may be necessary in connection with the application for or obtaining loans or credit; (e) as may be necessary to comply with applicable laws and government regulations; or, (e) as may be necessary or desirable in obtaining future employment. |
20. | Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, and assigns. |
21. | Nonwaiver. Any waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by the Company to be effective. Any waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver by the Company of any different or subsequent breach of this Agreement by Executive. |
22. | Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof. |
23. | Forum Selection Clause. Any and all causes of action for equitable relief relating to the enforcement of this Agreement and not otherwise subject to the mandatory arbitration provisions of Paragraph 15 may, in the Employers sole discretion, be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas or the Dallas County District of the Texas State Courts. The parties agree that the provisions of this paragraph benefit both Employer and Executive. Any and all causes of action by and between Employer and Executive can be quickly and efficiently resolved in the agreed-upon forum, which will not unduly burden either Employer or Executive, and which will substantially aid Employer and Executive in providing the opportunity for uniform treatment with respect to any issues relating to the covenants contained in this Agreement. |
24. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the Company |
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25. | Severability. The invalidity of any term or provision of this Agreement, including any term or provision of paragraphs 10, 11, 12, or 13 shall not invalidate or otherwise affect any other term or provision of this Agreement. |
26. | This agreement shall be effective August 31, 2007. |
Interphase Corporation | ||||
By: | /s/ Gregory B. Kalush | |||
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Executive | ||||
/s/ Marc E. DeVinney | ||||
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Job Title: VP of Engineering | Department: Engineering | |
Reports To: President and CEO | FLSA Status: Exempt | |
Prepared By: D. Shute & G. Kalush | Approved By: Deborah Shute | |
Prepared Date: August 7, 2007 | Approved Date: August 13, 2007 |
As the senior Engineering individual for the company, the VP of Engineering is fully responsible for representing and leading all global Engineering functions in product development and new product development activities. Ultimately oversees and ensures success of all product development, Engineering schedule accuracy, goal attainment, budget responsibilities, key corporate and Engineering processes, and personnel-related decisions.
Software Development
Hardware Development
SVT
DVT
CAD
Interoperability
Systems Integration
Engineering Project Management
Technical Feasibility studies and ERA (Engineering Requirements Analysis)
CPCDs & MRDs
CP-12 process deliverables and execution
PIDs (Product Development Documentation)
Engineering Schedules
Engineering change orders
Operating Plans and Budgeting
Headcount changes
Employee relations
Contributes as a member of the CEOs Executive Staff on all long-term strategic and annual operating planning activities. Participates in future plans and the associated business/budgeting activities to achieve desired results. Prepares detailed budgets,
B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science is required. An advanced technical degree (M.S. or PhD) and/or MBA would be highly desirable.
Must communicate effectively, concisely, and accurately with integrity, having the ability to decipher and understand complex customer and market requirements, analyze and interpret complex scientific and technical journals and documentation, financial reports, and legal documents and be able to explain them accurately. Must possess the ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from customers, partners, regulatory agencies, members of the business community, Board members, or employees that are from the simple to the complex in nature. Must possess the ability to effectively and concisely express key relevant information in written form, whether writing speeches, or articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to customers, the executive Leadership Team, the Board of Directors, our employees, public groups, and/or the media.
Ability to work with advanced engineering and mathematical concepts such as algorithms, probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Excellent ability to read and understand very complex and technical information and then apply that knowledge of information to the companys own situation to develop strategies and solve problems. Must be able to pro-actively and effectively define problems, collect data, establish facts, make sound recommendations, draw valid conclusions, and solve complex problems daily. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions or engineering schematics in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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and Non-Compete Agreement.
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