2024 Speakers

Ramadan Abouomar
Scientist R&D
SCOPS Coating Technologies

Ramadan Abouomar received his Ph.D. from the faculty of polymer science and polymer engineering at The University of Akron, OH. After graduation, he worked as a postdoc at the school of packaging, MSU, where he developed mechanical sensors and biodegradable polymers for packaging applications. Later, he moved to the University of Delaware to work as a postdoc fellow at the department of material science and engineering and department of mechanical engineering. He worked on developing biomaterials for biomedical applications and microrobots for cancer treatment. Finally, he landed on a scientist position at SCOPS Coating Technologies to develop PFAS-Free omniphobic coating. Ramadan has published a number of papers and patents.

Zore Ashish
Research and Development Chemist
COIM

I am currently working as Research and Development Chemist in Polyester lab at COIM. I got my PhD in chemistry from Missouri University of Science and Technology. My PhD research was in colloidal unimolecular polymer. I have a prior experience of two years in Coatings at Pidilite industries Ltd., Mumbai.

Michelle Bauer
Senior Chemist
ICL

Michelle Bauer is a Senior Chemist at ICL where she has spent seven years focused on new product development and technical service support of the Halox product line. Michelle possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Augustana College. She has accrued over 20 years of coatings industry experience, successfully commercializing additives and consumer coatings. She previously held positions in quality management and product development for Valspar and Ace Hardware Paint Division, and is a current board member of the Chicago Society for Coatings Technology.

Bruce Berglund
Sales, Business Development and Technical Support Manager
CHT USA Inc.

Bruce has a BA in chemistry from St. Olaf College, a MS in organic chemistry from The University of Minnesota at Duluth, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from The University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MBA from The University of Michigan. He also performed research in the organic chemistry department at Moscow State University in the Soviet Union. Following graduate school, he worked in technical, sales, marketing and business management positions at Wacker, Lubrizol, Michelman, and Euclid before joining CHT. Currently, he is a sales, business development, and technical support manager for the graphic arts and industrial coatings markets.

Nathan Biller

Vice President
ChemQuest Powder Coating Research

Nathan Biller began his career in the powder coating industry in 2001 with Jamestown Powder Coatings, joining Powder Coating Research Group in 2011 (PCR was acquired by ChemQuest in 2021). He soon emerged as the team’s lead formulator, tackling complex formulation challenges in numerous industries, including transportation, medical instruments, aerospace, injection-molded automotive trim parts, and architectural. As a member of the CQPCR leadership team, Nathan assists clients in navigating strategic and business challenges. In addition, his technical skills continue to lead to numerous technology development advancements.

Michael Bonner
Vice President of Engineering & Technology
Saint Clair Systems, Inc.

Michael Bonner is the Vice President of Engineering & Technology for Saint Clair Systems, Inc., a leading supplier of process temperature and viscosity control equipment for industrial fluid dispensing systems. A degreed electrical engineer, over the years he has spent time in a wide variety of industries including audio systems, medical equipment, HVAC and appliance controls, metal stamping, even the manufacture of gasoline pumps. For the last 25+ years, however, he has focused on the science of point-of-use temperature and viscosity control in fluid dispensing processes.

Cameron Brown
Group Leader
Coatings Applications Research, Eastman Chemical Company

Following completion of his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Duke University, Cameron joined the Coatings & Inks Division of Eastman Chemical as an Applications Research Chemist. His work as an individual contributor has revolved around designing polyester resins for coatings applications, as well as leading the division's digitalization and machine learning efforts. In 2023, Cameron transitioned to Group Leader of the Coatings Applications Research Group.

Mitchell Buchanan
Business Development - Specialty Components
Huntsman Advanced Materials

Mitch Buchanan is Business Development for Specialty Components at Huntsman Advanced Materials. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he joined CVC Thermoset Specialties in 2016, which was then acquired by Huntsman in 2020. He has established a broad base of experience in technical service, sales, marketing, supply, financial analysis, and plant operations management across the multiple chemistries and end markets served by Huntsman. Mitch has a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a minor in International and Military Affairs from The Citadel. He currently lives in Texas with his wife, and four children.

Tony Burrows
Managing Director
Rhopoint Holdings

Since 2015, Burrows has distinguished himself as the Managing Director of Rhopoint Instruments, guiding the company through a remarkable era of growth and innovation. His journey at Rhopoint spans over two decades, during which his visionary leadership in technology and innovation has been pivotal. Before ascending to these leadership heights, Burrows honed his expertise in coatings formulations, a skill cultivated during his tenure with a premier UK ink manufacturer. His career is a testament to a relentless pursuit of excellence in achieving the ultimate painted surface finish. This ambition has not only fuelled Burrows' professional journey but has also been the catalyst for the groundbreaking technological advancements that define the company today.

Eric Casebolt
Vice President
The ChemQuest Group, Inc.

An accomplished leader with a proven track record of providing viable and actional solutions to organizational goals, Eric Casebolt started his career formulating powder coatings in support of resin development at Johnson Polymer. He later held numerous roles of increasing responsibility with BASF and Eastman Chemical Co., most recently serving as strategy manager at Eastman. Eric has worked to develop and market many resin technologies and formulation additives for use in coatings, packaging, and construction applications. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin Parkside, a master’s degree in chemistry from DePaul University, and an MBA from Wake Forest University.

Francisco Cortes
Head of Applied Research & Technology for Industrial & Transportation Coatings, Americas
Evonik Corporation

Francisco Cortés is a Chemical Engineer and holds a Master’s in Engineering by the Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico. Within the paints and coatings industry, Francisco has worked for companies such as DuPont and Covestro, both in Technical Service and Innovation areas. In 2016, Francisco joined Evonik CAD as Technical Service and Laboratory Manager for LATAM North region and was also responsible for setting up CAD’s Laboratory in Mexico. Since September 2019, Francisco is part of Evonik CAD’s Industrial & Transportation technical team and today he is the Head of Applied Research and Technology for the Americas region.

Richard Czarnecki
Vice President
Micro Powders, Inc.

Rich joined Micro Powders in 2011 as Technical Director and is currently the Vice President. He has over 35 years of experience in the coatings and inks industries and has lead formulation and polymer synthesis teams at companies including Sun Chemical and Zeneca. Rich holds 10 US patents.

Bruno Dário
TS&D Scientist
Indorama Ventures

Bruno Dário has over seven years of experience in surfactants and specialty chemicals. He has worked in oil & gas, performance products and coatings, developing new products and applications for surfactants. Currently, he is a TS&D Scientist for Coatings at Indorama Ventures. He is responsible for the technical support for North American customers in surfactants for emulsion polymerization, coalescents, architectural, and industrial coatings. Bruno earned his Master’s degree in Chemistry from University of São Paulo (Brazil) in 2021, focusing on the study of adsorption of surfactants. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the same institution in 2015.

Amanda Dershem
Chemist
Wacker Chemical Corporation

Amanda Schmotzer is a chemist at Wacker Chemical Corporation in the Ann Arbor Innovation Center and Regional Headquarters. She earned her Bachelor's in Chemistry from Siena Heights University and currently pursues a Masters in Polymers and Coatings Technology from Eastern Michigan University. She has three years experience in architectural coatings chemistry. When she isn't in the lab, you can find her reading, writing, and exploring Michigan with her husband and friends.

Michael East
Business Development Manager
Tosoh USA

B.Sc. University of Salford, UK (Chemistry and Botany) 1980. Ph.D. University of Toledo, Ohio, 1987. Post Doctoral Studies The Johns Hopkins University 1987-1989. Professor Florida institute of Technology 1989-1995. Industrial Chemist, FAR Research, Monsanto, Great Lakes Chemicals, AMRI 1995-2004. Business Development Manager Uquifa, Inc 2004-2011. Business Development Manager Tosoh USA 2012-present. With an extensive background in organic chemistry and mainly pharmaceuticals I have to admit to being slightly out of my depth in coatings. It is however, a fascinating and challenging area of science where the interaction of multiple components leads to complexities I have not seen before. I am still learning but, we have an experienced team of R&D scientists in Japan that provide excellent support.

David Folkman
Senior Applications Chemist
Alberdingk Boley

David Folkman has been formulating paints and coatings for substrates ranging from bobby pins to bridges for over 40 years. He joined Alberdingk Boley, a global manufacturer of waterborne resins, including acrylic emulsions and polyurethane dispersions 13 years ago as a senior applications chemist. Prior to that, he worked for a variety of regional and national coatings manufacturers.

Derick Forcha
End-Use Specialist Powder Coatings Additives NAFTA
BYK-USA

Derick obtained his BS & MS from North Carolina A & T State University and an MBA in Finance from Concordia University, Chicago, and is currently with BYK-USA as Powder Coatings End Use Specialist, for NAFTA. Derick Started his coatings career in 2004 with PPG, has worked for Sherwin Williams, Troy Corporation (now Arxada), and IFS Coatings, to name a few.

Franz Friebel, CEO, femtoG

Franz holds a Ph.D. in aerosol science from ETH Zurich. During several years of analyzing airborne nanoparticles in the laboratory, he developed an analysis concept to measure the mass, size, and structure of particles. As a co-founder and CEO of femtoG, a Swiss start-up, he set out to revolutionize the analysis of white and color pigments.

Sean Gahan
Global Technical Service Manager
Primient Covation (TM) LLC

Sean is a Global Technical Service Manager for Primient Covation™ LLC (formerly DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products) since 2018. Sean previously worked in the coatings industry focusing on water-based wood coatings & sealants and printing inks. Sean is a graduate of Clemson University holding a Master of Science degree in Chemistry. Sean has global responsibility for customer technical support, new business development, and end-use applications related to the Bio-PDO™ product for both consumer and industrial market segments.

Larry Gibson
Director of Research and Development
Us Silica

Dr. Larry Gibson is the Director of Research and Development for the Industrial and Specialty Products division at U.S. Silica. He has over ten years of experience in the building materials, mining, and chemicals industries, and currently leads a team of experienced scientists focused on developing novel performance-enhancing specialty products from a wide range of industrial minerals. Larry received a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

Aaron (Qi) Guan
Founder and CEO
Neptune Nanotechnologies

Mr. Guan is recognized as one of the most innovative young serial entrepreneurs (Forbes 30 Under 30) and one of the most influential people under 35 in the plastics industry (Rising Star 2015 by Plastics News), Aaron Guan is the Founder and CEO of Neptune Nanotechnologies Inc. He also serves as Board Director and Newsletter Chair for the Society of Plastic Engineers' Thermoplastic Materials and Foams Division. Mr. Guan received both his B.A.Sc and M.A.Sc in mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto, he has a number of patents and publications in the fields of bio-based nano-reinforcement, biopolymers, thermoplastics, and composites. Decorated with multiple awards recognizing his efforts in the development of sustainable biobased nanotechnology and entrepreneurship, Aaron founded Neptune in 2022 which specializes in the development of a novel nano-material known as chitin nanocrystal, a fishing waste-sourced single crystal with a wide range of applications.

Nathalie Havaux
R&D Researcher
Hexion Research Belgium

Nathalie Havaux is an R&D researcher at Hexion Research Belgium. With a chemical background, she has more than 15 years of experience in the development of waterborne and solvent-borne acrylic, vinyl and polyesters binders for automotive coatings and construction paints. Nowadays, Nathalie Havaux is involved in research and providing technical service support

Marcelo Herszenhaut Commercial Manager, Surface Technology BU
Lehmann & Voss North America

Marcelo Herszenhaut received his B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering in 1984. He has worked in the petroleum and petrochemicals, polymers, coatings, and fiber industries in technical as well as in sales, marketing, and management positions. Marcelo is currently the Commercial Manager for Lehmann & Voss North America, responsible for the Surface Technology business unit, which includes rheology modifiers and functional fillers.

Thorsten Heyden
Head of Industrial and Inside Sales
LEHVOSS North America

Thorsten has 15 years of experience in R&D for marine and heavy corrosion protection coatings at market-leading manufacturers. Since 2019, he has been the Head of Industrial and Inside Sales for the LEHVOSS Group Coating Solutions BU. Thanks to his experience in coatings and other industrial segments, he is always motivated to support customers in their technical and commercial developments.

Julie Hostetter
Associate Scientists
Cypris Materials, Inc.

Julie holds a MS in Polymers and Coatings Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and has a background in chemistry. Her previous experience includes polymer synthesis, coatings formulation, and materials property testing. At Cypris, Julie is focused on process improvements and supporting the transition of Cypris’s chemistry from lab scale to pilot manufacturing.

Noel Hollingsworth
CEO & Co-Founder, Uncountable
Uncountable

Noel Hollingsworth is the co-founder and CEO of Uncountable. Noel works closely with Uncountable's customers to implement next-generation data management systems. Before his work at Uncountable, Noel led startup data teams and was awarded Forbes 30 under 30 for his work with machine learning and artificial intelligence. Noel's impressive engineering and data analysis expertise has enabled the company to create a robust platform that allows businesses to gain valuable insights, optimize their operations, and enhance their business strategies.

Debra Hudgens
Business Development Manager
ProLeiT Corp, Subsidiary of Schneider Electric

Debra Hudgens is a Business Development Manager for ProLeit, a medium sized software company owned by a huge company, Schneider Electric. ProLeit is a process automation software company. The ProLeit headquarters are in Germany and our USA headquarters are in Chicago. Debra holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University.

Terri John
Technical Service Manager
Synthomer

Terri John is a Technical Service Manager and Senior Scientist in the Coatings Group at Synthomer. Terri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The University of Akron. She has over 20 years of experience formulating water-based and solvent-based specialty coatings for the architectural and industrial coatings market. In addition, she is actively involved in the development of innovative latexes for direct-to-metal coatings, clear sealers, and roof coatings. She also works closely with customers to develop and support new and existing business with polymers from Synthomer.

Chuck Jones
Business Development Manager – Advanced Polymer Technologies
Ingevity

Chuck Jones is a Market Segment Manger for Ingevity, and he is responsible for coatings globally. Prior to his current role, he was Technical Manager for Industrial Coatings at BASF Corporation. He has worked in the industry for more than 14 years and is currently located in Charlotte, NC. He earned his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Pennsylvania State University.

Michael Kelly
Chief Customer Officer
Allied UV

Mike has over 40 years of manufacturing experience. He received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, his MS in Management from Central Michigan University, and his MS in Finance from Walsh College.

Steven Lee
Senior Commercial Manager / Coating - Taiwan & Americas
Rianlon Corporation

Steven Lee brings over 15 years of extensive experience in the chemicals industry, specializing in UV and light stabilizer additive business management. Currently serving as the Senior Commercial Manager of Coating at Rianlon Corporation, he possesses a proven track record of success in the Americas region. Steven is highly skilled in C.A.S.E (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers), Plastics, and Channel Management, enabling him to effectively navigate complex market landscapes. Throughout his career, Steven has demonstrated a unique blend of sales acumen and technical expertise, consistently delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of clients. His contributions extend beyond the corporate realm, with five research papers published in prominent industrial magazines, showcasing his thought leadership and commitment to advancing the field. With a passion for driving growth and fostering strategic partnerships, Steven Lee continues to be a trusted advisor and influencer within the chemicals industry, shaping its future trajectory with his knowledge and dedication.

Rich Leonard
Sales Director
Allied UV

Rich has 28 years of experience in industrial coatings. He has a BS in Applied Science from Eastern Michigan University.

Ramon Lozada
Global Product Manager, Architectural Coatings
Vibrantz Technologies

Ramon Lozada is the global product manager for architectural coatings at Vibrantz Technologies (formerly Chromaflo), the leading global supplier of colorants and tinting concepts for architectural and industrial coatings and plastics. With more than a decade of coatings experience, Lozada joined Vibrantz in 2018 as a color scientist, later incorporating his technical service expertise into product management. Prior to Vibrantz, Lozada has experience as a plant chemist at Sherwin Williams. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Toledo and a Master of Business Administration from Youngstown State University.

Kim Ly
Lead Scientist
SABIC Specialties

Kim Ly is a Lead Scientist for SABIC Specialties. She has over 18 years in the polymer industry. As part of the global application development team, she works on polymer processing while developing new technology and applications. She has degrees in Chemistry and Biology with a Masters in Material Science from the University of Oregon.

Jim MacDonald
Business Line Manager
BYK-Gardner USA

Jim has been with BYK-Gardner USA, a division of Altana, for over 25 years. He is the business line manager for Industrial paint and coatings applications in the U.S. and Canada. Jim is an experienced sales leader supporting organizations with their color and appearance needs. He delivers solutions that enable his customers to bring quality products to market. Jim manages clients while also coaching and developing the skills of other sales people within the organization.

Pratibha Mahale
Senior Research Specialist
Dow Chemical Company

Pratibha Mahale is a Senior Research Specialist at Dow and focuses on Applications Research and Development in the field of architectural coatings. Before venturing into the coatings industry, she earned her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral work focused on developing functional materials using silica colloidal crystals, with applications in electronics and energy systems. Currently, at Dow, Pratibha leads the application R&D efforts for the development of biobased binder for architectural coatings in the North America market. Pratibha has authored over 13 publications and is passionate about finding high performing sustainable solutions in the materials industry.

Vijay Mannari
Director, Coatings Research Institute
Eastern Michigan University

Dr. Vijay Mannari is a Distinguished Professor and Director of Coatings Research Institute at Eastern Michigan University. He has more than 30 years of combined experience in the field of polymeric materials and coatings, in industrial R&D, technical consulting and in academia. Prof. Mannari, a gifted teacher and accomplished researcher, is recipient of number of awards and accomplishments, including Michigan Governor’s Green Chemistry Award in 2012, and very recently inducted to the National Academy of Inventors (RadTech). He is a co-author of more than 60 research papers, nine patents, one technical book, and five book chapters. His research interests include development of sustainable polymers and coating materials, sol-gel derived functional coatings, photo-curable coatings, non-isocyanate polyurethanes, and study of structure-property relationship in polymeric materials. Dr. Mannari is also very active in conducting professional development training, serving many professional organizations, and as member of technical advisory boards.

Robert McShane
President & CEO
PowderCoil Technologies, LLC

Bob McShane is the President and CEO of PowderCoil Technologies. He is a veteran of the steel/aluminum industries, having worked in the coil coating industry and metals markets for 40 years. He holds a BS in Chemistry, and an MBA.

Isabel Meza
Technical Service & Development
Dow Silicones Corporation

Isabel Meza is the Technical Service & Development / Research Scientist in Dow Silicones Corporation since 2022, working very closely with coating-resins, and specifically in the Thermal Insulation Coatings. Isabel has been deeply passionate for understanding all the physical and chemical interactions that exist between the industry and the environment. She has worked in Ecuador and the United States with several industries in environmental compliance, and during her post-graduate degree with uranyl arsenates synthesis for the overarching goal of uranium and arsenic decontamination from water resources in Native American lands. Isabel is originally from Ecuador, with a BSc. in Environmental Engineering and a MSc. in Environmental Management and Natural Resources, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering. Isabel is very excited to be able to work for DOW and support its sustainable goal to produce quality products while preserving and protecting the natural environment that we have, for us, and for our future generations.

Paul Mijen
CEO
Ink Invent B.V.

Education: Aerospace Engineering, Technical University Delft & MBA, TIAS-NIMBAS Career Experience: Business Consultancy, followed by Entrepreneurship. Built and sold several companies, the latter (prior to Ink Invent) being built around an innovative product in Medical Devices (Class III Medical Implants). Paul served as CFO/COO and Principal in negotiating the final exit deal to a global party. Role with Ink Invent: CEO, Management Team: Executive Decision Making, Strategic Marketing, Patent Generation & Filing, Financial Management, Leading R&D efforts as a key (analytical) driver of efforts and priorities in output, creative problem solver.

Sam Morell
President
samMorell.com

Sam Morell is a Chemical Engineering graduate of New York University. With over 50 years in the Chemicals industry, his experience includes both technical and marketing positions at Rohm and Haas, BASF, and Air Products and Chemicals. Mr. Morell has authored numerous technical articles on additives, pigments, and resins in various publications including PCI Magazine, Modern Paint and Coatings, The American Ink Maker, and Adhesives Age. He has been invited by various domestic and international industry symposiums, as well as Fortune 500 companies, to present both technical papers and educational courses. These include The American Coatings Show, The Waterborne Symposium, The European Coatings Show, and Coatings Trends and Technologies.

Tony Moy
Sr. Technical Specialist
BASF

Tony is responsible for Transportation, Industrial, Furniture, and Flooring market segments as well as being the primary expert for dispersing agents within the BASF Formulation Additives team. He has been with BASF for 12 years. Before assuming his current role, Tony was a Process Development Engineer working to support the scale up and alignment of defoamer and rheology modifier products at plant assets in North America. Overall, he has been in the coatings industry for 34 years, working in diverse areas such as fluoropolymers, refrigerants, inkjet, industrial, and automotive coatings. He has degrees in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.

Daminda Navarathne
Research Scientist
allnex USA Inc

Daminda Navarathne is a Research Scientist for Powder Coating Resins at allnex USA Inc., a global leader in coating resins. He has 7+ years of experience in design, synthesis and development of polyester powder coating resins from lab to production scale. He holds a PhD degree in polymer chemistry from University of Connecticut.

Hieu Ngo
Technical Sales Engineer
DataPhysics Instruments USA Corp.

Hieu Ngo has been with DataPhysics Instruments USA for over three years, serving as a Technical Sales Engineer. He is trained extensively in surface and interfacial science methods including surface tension, surface energy, emulsion and dispersion stability analysis, as well as zeta potential measurement. He supports DataPhysics customers through hands-on training, applications development, technical support, and is responsible for organizing onsite technical seminars. Hieu received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to his role at DataPhysics Instruments, he worked at Specialty Product Technologies and also Pike Telecom.

Sasha Novakovich
Co-Founder & CEO
Alchemy

Sasha Novakovich is the Co-Founder & CEO of Alchemy, an enterprise software company serving industries where chemistry is at the core of product development. Alchemy digitalizes lab processes and deploys AI across the product lifecycle to speed time to revenue on new product development and improve customer responsiveness. Sasha is a veteran tech industry founder and investor. She started her first tech company in 1999, began investing in startups in 2007, and founded Alchemy in 2017. Sasha holds an undergraduate degree from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Artur Palasz, Ph.D.
Technical Director
Spektrochem Technical Center of Raw Materials for Architectural Paints

Artur Palasz is a chemist specializing in architectural coatings, their formulating and testing. He is the R&D Director in the Spektrochem Technical Center and cooperates with leading manufacturers of raw materials for paints in the field of developing starting point formulations, investigating the effectiveness of raw materials, and testing of paint and coatings. He is the author of numerous technical articles in global coatings journals, as well as a speaker at many coatings conferences in the United States and Europe. He is passionate about traveling and the creator of electronic music.

Dino Papagianidis
Technical Service and Innovation Manager
Omya

Dino is the Technical Service Manager for Omya, where he works on technical service and innovation activities in the region. Dino has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, and has held various roles in R&D, supply chain, project management, and technical service.

Bonnie Piro
Technical Marketing Manager
Sudarshan North America

Bonnie Piro has been with Sudarshan for 5 ½ years. One of her focus areas is the expansion of use of Sudarshan colorants (organic, inorganic, solvent dyes and mica effect pigments) in all applications – product introduction, product development, and training. In addition, she supports the technical needs of all U.S. customers. Prior to Sudarshan, she was with Axalta Coating Systems (formally DuPont) for 30 years in the pigment/colorant area. Education: B.S Chemical Engineering – Drexel University, 1989; M.S. Engineering Management – Drexel University, 1992.

Michael Praw
Senior Applications Scientist – Paints, Coatings and Inks
Indorama Ventures

Born and raised in Montreal, Mike now lives in the Houston area. He has 35 years of coatings formulation experience, 18 years with coatings companies and 17 years with raw material suppliers. He is currently Senior Applications Scientist – Paints, Coatings and Inks, for Indorama Ventures: Integrated Oxides and Derivatives. He has degrees in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, as well as a MBA. Mike is the Past President for The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology and The Piedmont Society for Coatings Technology, and served on the board of the Chicago Society for Coatings Technology. Mike is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, having served 15 years in the Canadian Infantry.

Pengxu Qi
Group Leader, R&D Application Testing
Polynt Composites USA Inc.

Dr. Pengxu Qi is the Group Leader of Application Lab Testing in the R&D Department at Polynt Group. He received his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Florida in 2016. With a focus on innovation, Dr. Qi has dedicated the past five years to advancing waterborne technologies at Polynt Group, primarily focusing on polyurethane dispersions. His expertise and leadership in polymer chemistry contribute significantly to the company's development of cutting-edge products. Dr. Qi's work exemplifies a commitment to sustainable and high-performance solutions in the polyurethane industry.

Bernhard Resch
Scientist II, AT Industrial Coatings, Coating Additives
Evonik Industries

Bernhard Resch is a Scientist II with Evonik Corporation’s Coating Additives Business Line. He has extensive powder coatings experience having worked for thirteen years with TIGER Drylac and seven years with Akzo Nobel before joining Evonik. His experience in managing production and labs as well as formulating powder coatings and trouble-shooting customer problems gives him broad understanding of powder coatings raw materials, manufacturing, and application. He has a degree in Chemical Industrial Engineering from Austria.

Neal Rogers
Business Development Manager
Vinavil Americas

Neal Rogers is a coatings industry veteran with expertise in architectural coatings performance and durability testing techniques. He has served on ASTM technical committees developing testing standards for polymers and finished coatings. Through his career, Neal has presented many topics at coatings-related technical conferences and is a past recipient of a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award. Neal currently works as Business Development Manager for Vinavil Americas.

Brett Sago
Director, HSES Legal Services, and Global Product Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs
Eastman

Brett Sago is the Director of the Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) section of Eastman’s Law Department and the Global Product Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs (Global PSRA) function. In this capacity, he coordinates Eastman’s high-performing HSES attorneys’ compliance counseling, legislative/regulatory advocacy, training, due diligence, privileged investigations, and enforcement defense. In September 2023, he assumed responsibility for Eastman’s Global PSRA function. The Global PSRA team includes technical experts in the product regulatory and toxicology fields around the world that help ensure Eastman’s compliance with complex existing and proposed laws, regulations, and policies governing chemical and polymer manufacturing, labeling, handling, and uses, among other things.

Brett advises Eastman’s Board, Executive Team, Businesses, Government Relations, Corporate Communications, Community Affairs, Sustainability/ESG and Global HSES teams regarding HSES and PSRA legal regimes, assessing the impact of proposed legislation and regulation and crafting changes. He has led Eastman’s HSES-related buyer/seller due diligence and contract negotiations for numerous acquisitions and divestitures. Brett is a leader on multiple intra-company teams including those focused on advocacy and auditing, sustainability, climate change, and more recently Eastman circular economy platform where he is advocating for the acceptance of solvolysis and thermolysis based recycling technologies and the mass balance allocation of recycle content. He enjoys mediating communications gaps and helping develop frameworks that maximize manufacturing and business objectives while assuring compliance and the protection of human health and the environment.

Brett is a 1993 graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and obtained his JD, with honors, from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1998. While at Tulane, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal, received a Certificate in Environmental Law and was a member of the Tulane Moot Court Board. Following law school, Brett practiced environmental law and litigation for five years at a firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is admitted to practice law in North Carolina and Tennessee. He is married, has two children, and resides in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Victoria Scarborough
Vice President, Collaborative Innovations
ChemQuest Group

Victoria Scarborough, Ph.D., specializes in the commercialization of in-demand new technology that leverages open innovation. Over the course of her career, she has advanced technology in the public and private sectors, ranging from the U.S. Department of Defense and federal laboratories, universities, and multinational corporations to individual inventors and startups, often by creating and managing complex R&D and commercialization activities with multi-million-dollar budgets. She draws on this experience to serve as ChemQuest’s vice president of Collaborative Innovation, a position she has held since 2020.

Victoria holds numerous U.S. and international industry patents on breakthrough technologies and is a frequent contributor to professional society conferences and publications. In addition, she frequently participates as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Panel reviewer for funding research grants and has participated as a mentor in several national-level NSF I-Corps program cohorts.

Victoria earned a BS degree in biology from the University of Mary Washington and received her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She pursued an MBA from Christian Brothers University and later participated in the Sherwin-Williams’ Leadership Excellence Program at Case Western Reserve University. She also completed the Licensing Executives Society’s Best Practices in Licensing: Developing, Negotiating & Executing Transactions program."

Scott Simmons
Global Director of Environmental, Social & Governance
Barentz

As Director of Regulatory Affairs, Scott coordinates all cohesive corporate regulatory activities across all Barentz verticals. He has extensive experience in the chemical industry, most recently serving as the Manager, Product Compliance Americas for Lubrizol Corp. In this role he led a team of individuals which oversaw the regulatory compliance activities for Lubrizol’s North American operations and sales. Scott was instrumental in growing the Compliance team in response to regulatory drivers such as REACH, TSCA reform and OSHA GHS. He has chemical knowledge and a breadth of regulatory experience with Industrial, Food & Care and Medical products and has been involved with the integration of various acquisitions. Scott holds a BS in Chemistry from Ohio University, a MS in Organic Chemistry from the University of Dayton, and is currently working on his MBA at Villanova.

Catherine Vitale
PCA Applications Manager
MÜNZING

Catherine Vitale is the PCA Applications Manager at MÜNZING North America, where her team focuses primarily on additives for coatings, inks, and adhesives. She began her career over 25 years ago in the inks and coatings industry, starting in the laboratory and holding successive positions of R&D Chemist, Product Service Manager, and Technical Manager before joining MÜNZING in 2021. Catherine has extensive experience in new product development, applications troubleshooting, and manufacturing support, and enjoys helping customers identify the best solutions for their needs.

Peter Votruba-Drzal
Vice President of Sustainability
PPG

Peter Votruba-Drzal, PhD leads PPG’s global sustainability collaborating cross-functionally to drive the company’s sustainability efforts by increasing sales of sustainably advantaged products, creating increased value for customers and shareholders, and reducing the environmental impact of PPG operations. Since joining in 2005, he has held various technical and technical management roles of increasing responsibility in six different PPG businesses. Throughout his career he has demonstrated a strong focus on harnessing innovation to deliver growth. Peter also serves as the board chair for the Sarah Heinz House and sits on two University advisory boards.

Vy Vo
Technical Marketing Manager
Orion Engineered Carbons

Vy graduated with Biology and Chemistry degrees in Ohio, and is currently pursuing an MBA at Youngstown State University. Vy has been in the coatings industry for 10 years, and is now Technical Marketing Manager for Orion Engineered Carbons, a carbon black producer, having been with the company since 2022.

Kris Weigal
Biobased Business Development Consultant
OmniTech International

Kris Weigal is a BioBased Business Development-Senior Consultant for OmniTech International. For over 27 years, she has been a proven director-level leader, bringing insight to business strategy for commodity and specialty chemical companies, with expertise in the sustainable chemicals industry. Kris holds a B.S. in Chemistry/Business and an M.B.A. in Operation and Production Management from the University of Wisconsin.

Isabella Weinland
Synthesis Chemist
Neville Chemical Company

Isabella Weinland is a Synthesis Chemist at Neville Chemical Company, leading the Coatings platform in developing new resin technologies for protective and marine, alkyd-based, and concrete cure coatings. Her current focus at Neville is producing a new line of bio-hybrid resins for epoxy systems. Prior to joining Neville, Isabella worked as a research scientist in polymer formulation, product development, and defense technologies. She has dual bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Applied Mathematics from Geneva College.

Daniel (Dan) Weinmann
Market Development & Technical Services Manager
Westlake Epoxy Inc.

Dan Weinmann earned his B. S. in Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma and his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Since joining the epoxy resins business, Dr. Weinmann has worked in a variety of technical and market development roles with focus on support to the coatings, construction, and adhesives industry. Dan’s current role is the Americas market development and technical services manager for Westlake Epoxy. Dan Weinmann is the coauthor of two U.S. patents. He has published numerous technical articles and has presented papers on high solids, solvent-free and waterborne epoxy technology to industry groups around the world.

Ralph Woerheide
CEO
Metromation Inc.

Ralph is an Industrial Engineer in chemical engineering, founder of companies, and has more than 20 years of experience in the paint and coatings industry. He has invented and developed technologies, and frequently speaks at industry events.

Mark Wolfinger
Technical Marketing Manager
Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc

Mark Wolfinger received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in Polymer Science from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. He has spent over 30 years in various research, technical service, and market development roles. He is currently a Technical Marketing Manager supporting Lubrizol’s resins and polymer business for North America.

Emma Wrigglesworth
Technical Lead
Inhibit Coatings

Emma Wrigglesworth is the Technical Lead at Inhibit Coatings, based in Wellington, New Zealand. Her background is in nanoparticle and nanocomposite design and synthesis, having completed her Ph.D. at the Victoria University of Wellington focused on nanocomposites with unique optical properties. She now manages the technical team at Inhibit Coatings and oversees R&D, technical support, and innovation.

Stephanie Yates
Advanced Application Development Engineer
Momentive Performance Materials

Stephanie Yates is an Advanced Application Development Engineer with Momentive Performance Materials in Pearl River, New York. With 24 years of formulation experience, her primary focus includes coatings for architectural and industrial applications. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Chemistry and holds an MBA from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.

Ziniu Yu, Ph.D.
Technical Service Manager
Coatings, North America W. R. Grace & Co

Dr. Ziniu Yu is a Technical Service Manager - Coatings at W. R. Grace covering North America region. He provides technical supports for customers involved in all coatings applications. He is also leading the coating application development group at Grace to develop new application for Grace’s silica products. Dr. Yu has more than 9 years of coating industry experience, which has expertise in both industrial and architecture applications. Dr. Yu holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Statistics from Texas Tech University and a B.S. in Polymer Engineering from the East China University of Science and Technology.