IRI Chairman 2012-2013 Ryan Dirkx Vice President, Research & Development Arkema Inc.

Ryan Dirkx, Ph.D. is the Vice President of Research & Development, Arkema Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia. In this capacity, he is responsible for all R&D activity in North America, management of the R&D Center in King of Prussia, PA and coordination with the global R&D activities of the parent company, Arkema, headquartered in Paris.

A 20-year veteran of Arkema Inc. and its predecessor companies, Dr. Dirkx has directed global R&D organizations for several Arkema businesses, most recently, those within the Technical Polymers and PMMA (Altuglas) divisions. He has also held business and market management positions within the Specialty Chemicals division.

Dr. Dirkx has a Ph.D. in Solid State Science from the Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

Chairman-Elect Martha J. Collins Director, Global Technology Centers Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

Dr. Collins has 22 years experience as an innovator in chemical and gases industries. She has managed, built and launched new technology platforms and products for businesses during the course of her career. Currently, Martha is the Director of the Global Technology Centers for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. with shared technology capabilities that cross the company. Previously, Martha was the Business Technology Manager (BTM) for Air Products HyCO (Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide) tonnage business serving as the key global interface for the business and new technology in HyCO plants. Martha has also served as Director of New Applications in the Materials Research Center and BTM for the Advanced Materials New Business Team. Prior to joining Air Products, Martha was part of a new business team that built a waterborne platform, new products and new technology for Eastman Chemical Company. Martha spent time early in her career developing and commercializing new products for the Solvent and Coatings Materials Division of Union Carbide Corporation.

Martha holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis and 14 U.S. patents; she grew up in San Diego, CA; is married and the mother of three sons.

Dr. Collins has been an active member of IRI since 2002 as a co-chair of two IRI-ROR subcommittees, a contributing member and participant in many other ROR subcommittee’s, the Committee Chairperson for IRI’s Advanced Program Committee, and a member of RTM’s Board of Editors. She was elected to IRI’s Board of Directors in May 2009.

Vice Chairman Daniel Abramowicz Chief Technology Officer Crown Holdings, Inc.

Dan Abramowicz is Crown’s Chief Technology Officer with global responsibility for innovation and technology development across Crown’s business platforms.  These efforts include new product design, new process development, product and process improvements, material developments, engineering, process monitoring, database management, standard setting and cost reductions across the breadth of Crown’s packaging products (food cans and ends; beverage cans and ends; aerosol containers; metal vacuum closures; specialty packaging; and packaging equipment).  In addition, Dr. Abramowicz heads Crown’s Environment, Health and Safety Organization and Crown’s Sustainability Initiative. 

Before joining Crown, Dr. Abramowicz was a Technical Director in GE’s Global Research Center.  In this leadership role he was responsible for technology development across GE’s Industrial and Consumer Businesses, including Appliances, Lighting, Transportation Systems, Industrial Control Systems and Electrical Distribution & Control.  In an earlier role with GE, Dr. Abramowicz headed GE’s Environmental Laboratory, utilizing chemical, biological and physical methods to develop innovative remediation and pollution prevention systems, as well as initiatives in green product design.

Dr. Abramowicz received his B.S. degree in Chemistry and his B.A. degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from St. Francis University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physical Chemistry from Princeton University.  During his time with GE, he was also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Dr. Abramowicz is an active volunteer for non-profit organizations and he is currently serving in several leadership roles with such organizations, including Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees at Salus University, Board of Director for the Industrial Research Institute, Chair of the Executive Corporate Committee of The Franklin Institute (a renowned science museum), and Chair of The President’s Advisory Board of Conwell-Egan Catholic High School.  Dr. Abramowicz is also a current member and past-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Clemson University’s Department of Packaging and past-President of the Board of Governors of the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni. 

Dr. Abramowicz has recently been recognized with two honors for alumni, being elected to the Andrew Fleming West Society of Princeton University and with St. Francis University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in Science. 

Past Chairman Robert J. Kumpf Chief Operating Officer Plextronics IRI Chairman 2011-2012

Bob Kumpf was named chief operating officer for Plextronics in January of 2012.  In this role Bob leads the company’s  manufacturing and engineering operations  with a focus on scaling capacity to meet increasing customer demand. 

Previously, Bob was chief administrative officer for Bayer MaterialScience LLC. He was also  a member of Bayer's North America Leadership Team with responsibility for Regional Business Support and Administration, as well as the Health, Safety, Environment organization, New Business, and Materials Characterization.

Dr. Kumpf comes to Plextronics after a successful twenty-five year career at Bayer MaterialScience where he most recently served as Bayer MaterialScience’s Chief Administrative Officer. During his tenure at Bayer he also held executive leadership roles in the Polymer Division, Polyurethane Division, Plastics Division and Future Business Group. During this time he served two European assignments for Bayer

Kumpf joined Bayer in 1988 as a research chemist after graduating with a doctorate degree from the Materials Science and Engineering Department at The Pennsylvania State University. He currently holds 20 U.S. and European patents and has published 21 articles in various scientific journals.

He is active in various non-profit organizations and serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Nanomaterials Commercialization Center board of directors―a position he has held since 2006. In addition, he is a member of the Pennsylvania State University Material Science and Engineering Advisory Board, the National Board of the Industrial Research Institute, and the Carnegie Science Center Sci Tech Initiative Advisory Board.

In 2009, Kumpf was appointed by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to serve on the board of directors for the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority―one of the largest single state technology development programs in the nation.

In 2010, Kumpf was named Adjunct Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University.  Dr. Kumpf holds a Ph.D. in Material Science & Engineering and a B.S. and M.S. from Penn State.  He is also a graduate from Notre Dame’s Business Program and  Oxford University’s Business Economics Program.

Directors

Douglas Coors Executive Vice President CoorsTek

Doug Coors is Executive Vice President of CoorsTek, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Ceramatec, a subsidiary research and development company, located in Salt Lake City, UT. He is Manager of 9th Street Investments, a venture capital arm of CoorsTek and related businesses.

Mr. Coors has held a variety of positions with CoorsTek and related companies, beginning in 1992 when he began working on government contracts for research and development at Golden Technologies. He served as Engineering Manager for Graphic Packaging, responsible for the construction of a new plant in Golden, Colorado. He joined CoorsTek in 2000, relocating to Northern California where he led the very successful InVision project, producing baggage scanners used at airports. He returned to Golden, CO in 2004 as a Director, responsible for identifying business development opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions. In 2005 he became General Manager leading operations in Colorado and California. Since 2008 Mr. Coors has been overseeing research and development at CoorsTek and business operations for Ceramatec.

Mr. Coors received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Colorado School of Mines.

Mr. Coors is on the leadership council of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) in Boulder, CO, and he is also a board member of Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA).

. 

Raymond Cosner Director, Technology Strategy Execution Boeing - Phantom Works

At Boeing, Dr. Cosner coordinates technology investment planning and execution for the Defense, Space and Security business unit.  A key portion of his role is to represent the interests of his business unit as the Office of the CTO shapes enterprise technology strategy.  Ray has been in this role about ten years.  IHe oined McDonnell Aircraft (now part of Boeing) in June 1968 as a co-op student.  Previously, he was an individual contributor and then an R&D group leader in the area of aerodynamics and propulsion systems.  Ray has had multi-year assignments on five aircraft development programs and has been with Boeing for 37 years. 

Ray holds a BS and MS degrees from Purdue University in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (1972), and a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in Aeronautics and Applied Mathematics (1975).  He was selected as a Senior Technical Fellow in March 1997.

Dominic A. Dannessa Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer USG Corporation

Dominic A. Dannessa is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, USG Corporation.  Current accountabilities include R&D, Engineering, Technical Services, Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Logistics, Transportation, New Technologies, Environmental, Energy, Sustainability and Corporate Efficiency Initiatives.

Mr. Dannessa graduated with high honors with a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from Youngstown State University.  He is currently attending University of Illinois of Chicago working towards his PhD in mechanical engineering.

His previous assignments include Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Building Systems; Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management and Information Technology; Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Ceilings and Supply Chain Management, Building Systems; and Vice President, Manufacturing, USG Interiors.  He also held various plant management positions covering all product lines.  Mr. Dannessa joined United States Gypsum Company in 1978. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of USG Mexico; Otsego Paper, Inc.; Gypsum Transportation Limited; U.S. Gypsum Engineering Co.; USG Middle East Joint Venture and Knauf-USG Systems Joint Venture.

He has been heavily involved in a variety of the Corporation’s change management initiatives including LinX (USG’S Oracle ERP and Network Business Process Redesign initiative) and USG’s Capital Expansion program.

Mr. Dannessa is active in the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.   He is also an Advisory Board Member for Catholic Charities of Chicago; Chairperson of St. Rafael Church Pastoral Council, Naperville; and an active member of the Naval War College Foundation.  He is a past member of the Chamber of Commerce in Jacksonville, Florida; Cloquet, Minnesota; Westlake, Ohio; and Red Lion, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Dannessa lives in Naperville, Illinois with his wife, Josette, and daughter.  His eldest daughter is a cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.  

Terry Fetterhoff Senior Director, Technology Management Roche Diagnostics Corporation

Terry received a Masters degree in Pathology from University of Western Australia (1981). He then worked at the Denver Children's Hospital from 1982 to 1987 where he oversaw the construction of a 3 laser, 5 parameter flow cytometer. In 1987, Mr. Fetterhoff took the position of R&D Manager for Boehringer Mannheim in Indianapolis in which he was responsible for development and manufacturing of Immunology and Biochemical product lines. He became Director of R&D for Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals in 1995. During this time, the primary research focus was the development of methods to isolate pancreatic islets for subsequent transplantation into diabetics. When Roche acquired Boehringer Mannheim in 1996, Terry was responsible for moving the R&D function to Berkeley where the focus of the research was in vitro protein expression. 

Currently, Terry is Sr Director of Technology Management and Head of the US Chief Technology Office for Roche Diagnostics in which he is responsible for Global Open Innovation.
 

John Hillenbrand, Jr. VP and Chief Innovation Officer Owens Corning

John Hillenbrand is the vice president and chief innovation officer of Owens Corning, a world leader in building materials and composite systems and solutions.  For the past 4 years, Mr. Hillenbrand has led the global Science and Technology organization in developing new innovations that deliver differential value to Owens Corning’s customers.   In addition to his duties at Owens Corning, Mr. Hillenbrand is currently serving as Chair of the Industry Advisory Subcommittee of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Task Force, established by the Ohio Board of Regents, to develop strategies that transform how the institutions within the University System of Ohio execute commercial activities.

Prior to joining Owens Corning, Mr. Hillenbrand spent 23 years with DuPont, working in a variety of global business, technology, and operations roles in Delaware, Texas and Virginia.  His most recent role was vice president, innovation and technology for DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, based in Wilmington, Delaware, United States.  In this role, he was responsible for all global technical activities in DuPont’s Ethylene Copolymers, Glass Laminating Solutions, and Intermediates business units.  In addition to driving targeted growth programs in packaging, specialty additives and modifiers, and high performance glass interlayers, the organization expanded its global application development footprint under his leadership with new facilities in China and Brazil.

Mr. Hillenbrand also led DuPont Ventures, a business unit that sought out and partnered with entrepreneurial companies to create growth opportunities for them and DuPont. In this capacity, he and his team developed and executed a new model to broadly enable open innovation. 

Mr. Hillenbrand earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, and master’s and doctorate degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, all in chemical engineering.  He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Chemical Engineering at Virginia Tech.

Tom Kavassalis Vice President, Strategy and Alliances The Xerox Innovation Group

As Vice President of Strategy and Alliances, Tom leads strategy development for the Xerox Innovation Group. In this role, Tom ensures that Xerox has a balanced portfolio of research and technology investments supporting Xerox's near term business strategies and creating options for the future. His alliances work is focused on leveraging external innovation.

Joining the Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) in 1987 as a member of the research staff, Tom worked in the field of polymer physics, developing theories and models to explain the mechanical and rheological properties of polymeric materials. He also established a competence in modeling and simulation of material systems. His further research areas included the study of molecular level models of phase transitions, solubility behaviors and stress-strain behaviors. While conducting research at XRCC, Tom maintained a concurrent appointment as adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo. Tom became Associate Centre Manager of XRCC in 1995. He has been associated with the strategy and planning functions in XIG, and the former research and technology organizations, since 1997.

Prior to joining Xerox, Tom served as a research scientist at Ontario Hydro Research Division and as a visiting scientist at the Instituut Lorentz in the Netherlands.

Tom holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from MIT. His thesis research was in the field of statistical mechanics.

Away from work, his interests include nature photography, woodturning, rebuilding vintage cars, and auto-racing. He will always be a bad golfer.

Max Lewis Vice President, Global Innovation Sherwin-Williams Company

Max Lewis was appointed Vice President – Global Innovation in The Sherwin-Williams Company Corporate Division in January 2008.  He is responsible for coordinating the global research & development, manufacturing technology, and technical service functions supporting The Sherwin-Williams Company’s nine (9) operating divisions.  Max also provides strategic direction for the company’s Innovation Council and is responsible for the company’s new technology ventures.  Max has 31 years of industrial experience having held a variety of positions in marketing, engineering, R&D, and manufacturing support at Conoco, DuPont, and now Sherwin-Williams.

Max served as President of the Board of Directors of PRA International located in London, UK until its merger with Pera International in 2009.  He now serves on Pera International’s board.  He is currently a member of the Ohio Polymer Strategy Council and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Council (OBIC).  Max also serves on the Board of Advisors for AlSher Titania LLC, a privately held nanomaterials technology company, and CERAMATEC, a privately held advanced materials technology company located in Salt Lake City, UT. 

Max has been the IRI Representative for Sherwin-Williams since 1997.  For two years, he chaired the IRI’s New Business Development Network that strives to identify, assess, and create new business opportunities based upon innovative new technologies.  He is currently serving on the IRI Program Committee. Over the years, Max has found the IRI to be an invaluable partner for developing and exposing high-potential managers to the latest innovative thinking and practice in R&D management, and in providing networking opportunities to solve some of the industry’s toughest problems.  He has also found the greater IRI network to be a unique avenue for uncovering collaborative ways to enhance the value of his company.

Daniel T. Plummer Global Technical Manager, Oil & Gas Chemicals Sasol North America

Dan Plummer works for Sasol North America, where he currently serves as global technical manager for oil & gas chemicals R&D on the behalf of Sasol Olefins & Surfactants GmbH.  He has held past roles as manager of R&D for Sasol O&S and Sasol North America, as well as jobs in sales & marketing, quality development and product management.  He has been attending IRI meetings since 1998 and has participated in the ROR as a committee member and chairperson for R&D metrics. Dan began his industrial career in 1983 as a research chemist with Conoco Inc. and holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Kenyon College and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Iowa State University.

Rob Slone Innovation Director – Castrol innoVentures British Petroleum

Rob Slone is the Innovation Director for Castrol innoVentures, a global group which is responsible for planning and executing the long-term technology strategy of BP Lubricants within the Refining and Marketing Division of BP Group.

Prior to joining BP, Rob was the R&D Director in charge of Formulation Science and Materials Science within Dow Chemical.  Running a large global group, Rob’s teams were responsible for High Throughput Research (HTR), Mechanical Dispersions, Composites, and Energy Storage Materials.

Rob joined the Rohm and Haas Company in 1997. He worked initially in Coatings R&D in polymer synthesis with a particular focus on the mechanistic study and development of new free radical initiation systems, as well as new coatings binder development using those new tools. Rob has also led research in the packaging of Electronic Materials in the Emerging Technologies department and product development R&D in Automotive Coatings along with joint venture partner Nippon Paint. He joined Adhesives and Sealants in 2004 and returned in 2010 from a two year assignment in Shanghai, China, where he served as R&D Director for Adhesives and Functional Polymers in the Dow Advanced Material Division.

Rob obtained his Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1993 and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Northwestern University in 1997 (advisor Dr. Joseph T. Hupp). 

Rob has 21 peer reviewed articles and holds 22 patents.  He lives just outside Philadelphia with his wife, Caroline, and two sons, Jack and Jim.

Douglas H. Smith Senior Vice President - Technology & Quality The Timken Company

Douglas H. Smith is senior vice president – technology and quality at The Timken Company.  The company’s chief technology officer since 2009, Smith is responsible for research and development, manufacturing technology, technical services and quality for the $5 billion company’s global operations.

His organizations, which include some 400 professionals and staff, oversee the development and implementation of technology roadmaps, open innovation strategies, new products and processes as well as the deployment of technical resources across the company's broad portfolio of special alloy steel, friction management and mechanical power transmission products. Smith serves on the company’s extended executive committee and reports directly to Timken’s president and chief executive officer.

Previously, Smith spent four years living and working in China while serving as director – manufacturing – Asia. In this role, he was instrumental in expanding Timken's manufacturing operations in the region, including new manufacturing plants and supply chains in China and India.

Smith joined Timken at the company's Technology Center in Canton, Ohio, in 1991 and has held a number of additional research, development, manufacturing and management positions during his 20-year tenure.

Smith holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and eight patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, he serves on the boards of directors of the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Research Advisory Board for the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Pueblo, Colo.

Johann Venter VP & Director of Technology American Vanguard Corporation

Dr. Venter has 26 years experience as an innovator in nuclear, oil & gas and more recently the crop protection sectors of the chemical industry. He has managed, built and launched new technology platforms and products for businesses during the course of his career in Africa, Canada and the United States. Currently, Johann is VP & Director of Technology for American Vanguard with responsibility for Environmental, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Support, Process Development and Formulation across the enterprise.  Previously, Johann was Director of Research and Development at Champion Technologies, directing foundational research, new product development through open innovation.  Johann is a Green Belt in the Value Innovation Process and has lead the R&D function during dramatic organizational growth and maturisation.  Numerous patents and publication resulted from the work in putting science and technology into oil field treating chemicals. 

Prior to emigrating to North America, Johann held senior technology leadership positions with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Atomic Energy Corporation of South Africa.  Johann holds a PhD from the University of Port Elizabeth, he grew up next to the Kruger National Park in South Africa is married and the proud father of a son and daughter.