Scott Weber - TAPPI Extrusion Coating Course Chair
Application Development & Technical Support Engineer
LyondellBasell
Scott holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. An industry veteran, Scott has over 30 years of experience in extrusion coating and lamination, blown and cast film most of which focused on flexible packaging applications. Scott currently has two patents and has been involved in the development of other products that were patented during his career.
Helping others to develop and continue to grow in the industry is very important to Scott. This has led him to become involved with TAPPI. Scott is currently 1st Vice Chair within the IFPED Division Leadership Team. He has chaired the TAPPI Extrusion Coating Course since 2012 and has presented at the Blown Film Extrusion Course and TAPPI PLACE/IFPED conferences. In 2018 he received the Division Leadership and Service Award and the Andreas Ahlbrandt Prize.
Scott resides in West Chester, Ohio with his wife Lori. Together they enjoy spending time at Lake Cumberland, KY with their family and friends. He is the proud father of two daughters and grandpa of four grandsons.
Scott Marks, Senior TS&D Consultant
The Dow Chemical Company
Scott B. Marks is a Senior TS&D Consultant with The Dow Chemical Company and a SME (Subject Matter Expert) for ethylene copolymers and formulated polymers for use in packaging and industrial applications. He has worked in this industry for more than 38 years, been a TAPPI member for over 35 years, and has served TAPPI as co-chair of the International Planning Committee. Scott has held all the Division Council positions in the International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division (IFPED), and currently is a Chair Emeritus of the Division and Council Member At-Large.
Scott has been a speaker and session chair in conferences and seminars in the USA for TAPPI and other organizations. He has been a recurring instructor in the IFPED’s Extrusion Coating Short Course and Blown & Cast Film Short Course for many years. He is the recipient of the International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division’s (formerly PLACE Division) 2000 TAPPI Leadership & Service Award and Andreas G. Ahlbrandt Prize, an annual award recognizing an individual who has a proven history of diligent work for TAPPI.
Rob Hammond
Retired
After 25 years of service, Rob recently retired from Mica. He started in 1998 in the laboratory both developing new products and creating the QA procedures for testing manufacturing products. 3 years later, he moved into Technical Sales. In 2014, he took on the role of Technical Sales Director. He is an active member of TAPPI, SPE, AIMCAL, IoPP, and ACS. He was TAPPI Flexible Packaging and Extrusions Division Chair and in other leadership positions at TAPPI for well over a decade.
Before going to Mica, Rob worked for 17 years in Corporate Research and Development, at Allied Chemical (Honeywell), GTE Laboratories (Verizon), and Polaroid. His professional fields of specialization include molecular spectroscopy, thermal analysis, polymer technology and coating technology.
Carmelo Declet-Perez, Associate Technical Service & Development Scientist
Dow Chemical Company
Carmelo Declet-Perez is an Associate Technical Service & Development Scientist for the Packaging and Specialty Plastics & Hydrocarbons (PSP&H) business at Dow. In his current role, Carmelo is responsible for technical relationship management at various customers in the Food & Specialty Packaging market segment. He also leads various platforms for understanding multilayer packaging structures and design for sustainability. Prior to this role, Carmelo was part of the PSP&H Polyethylene Product Group. In this role he was the technical focal point for extrusion coating and led a variety of projects across LDPE and Solution LLDPE. Carmelo is an active member and participant of employee resource groups, which seek to drive innovation through a more inclusive workplace. Carmelo holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. In his free time, Carmelo enjoys photography, hiking, and exploring new cuisines.
Kelly Frey, Extrusion Coating Technical Service
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Kelly Frey graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, Canada, in 1990 with a degree in Plastics Engineering Technology. Upon graduation, Kelly was employed by Dow Chemical Canada in Sarnia, Ontario where he worked in Polyethylene Technical Service and Development for approximately ten years. While employed at Dow Chemical, Kelly worked in TS&D supporting Dow’s blow molding, blown film, and injection molding polyethylene business. Kelly joined Chevron in Orange, TX in 1999 where he worked in their molding technical service group and then transitioned to extrusion coating technical service in 2000. Kelly then joined Chevron Phillips Chemical Company during its formation in 2001 and has since worked in extrusion coating technical service. Kelly has presented technical papers at both Antec and TAPPI’s PLACE conference and is an active member of the TAPPI International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division. Kelly is married, has two daughters and resides in Owasso, OK.
Jim Lush, Sales Manager
Celplast Metallized Products
Jim Lush has been with Celplast Metallized Products in Toronto, Canada, since 1989, where he started in operations, playing key leadership roles in quality assurance, planning and continuous improvement. Jim has used his plant and leadership experience to assist in sales growth. After roles in account management and business development, he is currently Sales Manager at Celplast.
Jim joined TAPPI in 2003 and became involved with the International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division at the committee level by joining the Flexible Packaging Committee. He received a Certificate of Recognition in 2008 for technical program development within that committee. He also served on the Technical Program Committee for the Division’s annual conference in 2007 and 2008. In 2012, Jim began officer rotation with the Division, and finished as Division Chair in 2016.
Jim has been instrumental in introducing the Mentor Match program to the Division and has worked tirelessly to get young people involved. In addition to moderating panels at several TAPPI Flexible Packaging Conferences, he is currently chairing the Marketing Team.
During his spare time, Jim is on the soccer field or at the hockey rink developing and coaching the kids in his community.
Lou Piffer, Senior Sales Engineer
Davis-Standard LLC
Lou Piffer is currently a Senior Sales Engineer for Davis-Standard LLC, Converting Systems (D-S). He has been with D-S for the past 33 years, mainly in the Field Technical Sales function. He is currently responsible for sales of cast film, extrusion coating, and liquid coating equipment in the central and southern US, Latin America, as well as several strategic worldwide accounts. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in 1985, and has been a proud Dragon ever since. Lou has been a recipient of the Davis-Standard President’s Award, which is given to the top employee in the organization. Lou and his wife Linda currently reside in their beloved 'Tree House' in southern Delaware.
Lou began teaching the TAPPI Extrusion Coating Course in 1993 and the Film Extrusion Course in 2017 and has consistently received top scores on course attendee evaluations for both. He has been active in TAPPI since the late 1980s, writing multiple papers, chairing conference sessions, and contributing chapters to the last two editions of the Extrusion Coating Manual. Lou has held all the officer positions in the IFPED Council, and is currently a practicing Chair Emeritus. In 2001, Lou was the recipient of the Division Leadership Award & Andreas Ahlbrandt Prize.
Duane Smith, Process Manager, Web Handling & Specialty Winding
Davis-Standard, LLC
Duane Smith is Process Manager, Web Handling & Specialty Winding at Davis-Standard, LLC. Duane has over 45 years of experience, and is widely known throughout the paper, film and nonwoven industries for his technical knowledge on web handling and winding. He has been awarded two patents in winding. Duane has made over 85 technical presentations, and published over 30 articles in major international trade journals and magazines. He is the author of the Winding chapter of the Film Extrusion Manual and the Unwinding/Splicing and Winding chapters of the Extrusion Coating Manual, Fifth Edition. He has been an instructor at more than 20 TAPPI Courses and has published three books through TAPPI Press. He is the editor of TAPPI Press’ first e-book, The Ultimate Roll and Web Defect Troubleshooting Guide. Duane has been active in TAPPI for more than 40 years. Duane was named a TAPPI Fellow in 2011.
Brady Hunnicutt, Technical Service Engineer
Westlake Corporation
Brady Hunnicutt is a Technical Service Engineer for Westlake Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Stephen F. Austin State University with additional certifications in Secondary Education and Agricultural Development. Prior to the beginning of his career in the plastics industry Brady was a Texas High School Agricultural Mechanics Instructor for three years. His introduction into the plastics industry began in 2014 with Westlake’s Polyethylene Technology Department. At Westlake Brady started as a Lab Technician in Westlake’s Customer Solutions Center in Longview, Texas, operating various extrusion and lab equipment until being promoted into the Technical Service and Product Development Division in 2019. Brady’s experience as a Lab Technician exposed him to a broad array of troubleshooting, operating, and project development experience with a large emphasis on Extrusion Coating as well as extensive work in Twin-Screw Compounding and Blown and Cast Film extrusion. Married with three children he currently resides in Henderson, TX and frequently visits his family’s farm in Mt. Vernon, TX.
John Chalmers
Vice President – Sales
Cloeren Incorporated
John Chalmers is an accomplished executive in the field of coextruded flat film, sheet, and extrusion coating tooling technology. He began his career at Cloeren Incorporated in 1986, shortly after graduating from Lamar University. John started out in various engineering positions, including designer and project manager, before transitioning to a technical sales engineer role in the mid-90s.
Over the years, John has held a range of sales and marketing positions. His extensive travels around the world have been instrumental in helping to establish and grow Cloeren's global brand.
In addition to his role at Cloeren, John serves on the NPE Operations Committee. NPE is the largest plastics trade show in North America.
With over 35 years of experience at Cloeren, John currently serves as the company's Vice President of Sales. His wealth of knowledge and expertise in the industry have contributed significantly to Cloeren's success as a leading solution supplier for coextruded flat film, sheet, and extrusion coating tooling technology.
Andrew (Andy) Svenningsen, Application Engineer
Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC
Andy Svenningsen is an application engineer with Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC, part of the Nordson Polymer Processing Systems line of business. In this role, he serves global EDI® extrusion and fluid coating die system customers by providing the commercial and technical support that enables improved efficiency and performance in their production.
Andy holds dual bachelor’s degrees, in Manufacturing Engineering and Plastics Engineering, from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Michelle Sullivan, Marketing Manager
Schenk Vision
Michelle is the Marketing Manager at Schenk Vision with a heavy background in process and manufacturing engineering. She holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from Norwich University.
Paul Carter, Regional Sales Manager
Advanced Blending Solutions
Paul Carter is the Regional Sales Manager for Canada at Advanced Blending Solutions, an industry-leading supplier of blending and convey equipment to the extrusion and compounding industries.
Blown film machinery veteran Carter has over 35 years of experience in the extrusion industry, with a strong focus on engineering, manufacturing, and project management.
He previously held various technical roles at extrusion machinery manufacturers in the greater Toronto area.
Paul is a Certified Engineering Technician (Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians & Technologists) and a Certified Sales Professional (Canadian Professional Sales Association).
Mike McConnell, Sales Director
Enercon
As Enercon Sales Director Mike McConnell works with OEMs, film converters, and film extruders to implement innovative corona, plasma, and flame surface treating technology solutions. Mike uses his experience as both a Sales Engineer and Global Product Manager to apply his technical aptitude and business expertise in a consultative approach when working with customers. He has extensive experience in driving product growth through voice of customer research, launching new products to market, and configuring engineered to order capital equipment. McConnell earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and his MBA from Purdue Global, West Lafayette, IN. In his younger years Mike also earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts.
Olivier Catherine, Polyethylene Customer Applications and Development Engineer
ExxonMobil
Olivier Catherine has been a Polyethylene Customer Applications and Development Engineer with ExxonMobil, based in Baytown Texas, since April 2023. In his current role, Olivier is responsible for the technical relationship of various customers with film extrusion and extrusion coating applications.
Prior to this, Olivier was the Technical Director at Cloeren Incorporated (Orange, TX) a leading supplier of coextrusion solutions for cast film, extrusion coating and sheet. For over thirteen years, Olivier’s main focus was to develop flow channel designs, performing intricate flow models, and characterize complex flow behaviors through rheology. He was also supporting customers globally with their technical projects, and assisting Cloeren’s Global Sales Team in order to grow market shares through technical expertise.
From 2004 to 2010, Olivier worked as a Senior Research Engineer at Saint-Gobain Research America, located in Northborough, MA, where he developed modeling tools for injection molding and extrusion, and participated in various polymer and ceramic processing projects.
Throughout his career, Olivier has been an enthusiastic speaker at conferences, seminars and webinars, including TAPPI. He is currently the Vice Chair of the IFPED Technical Team for the 2024 FlexPack PLACE Conference, and is a member of the Board of Directors for SPE Extrusion Division.
Olivier graduated from ParisTech Mines (France) in 2001, and holds a MS degree in Materials Science.
Brian Herioux, Systems Sales Engineer
Honeywell
Brian Herioux is a System Sales Engineer with Honeywell. He has been with Honeywell for 21 years, working in field service and installation of Quality Control System prior to starting his current role. In his current role he is responsible for working with the sales team to insure the proper application of Honeywell systems. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and an associate’s in Electromechanical Technology from Northern Michigan University. Her resides in Escanaba Michigan with his wife and 2 kids.