“What if money was no object?” What a great question. How many of us knew exactly what we wanted to be “when we grew up?”
For me, it took a while to figure out what I really had a passion for. Why would anyone be a polymer “nerd” for over 30 years? My journey began at Marquette University where I started out as a Biology major and then transferred into Engineering in the middle of my freshman year. Most freshman Engineering students transfer out after the first year. Along the way I took a Materials Science course and Organic Chemistry, and the rest was history. I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and got accepted in the Materials Science Department at Northwestern University. My interest in chemistry and materials science led me to choose Prof. W. W. Graessley as my advisor since my Ph.D project would be synthesizing polymers with known molecular structures and correlating the rheological propoerties. There it was. Polymer Chemistry and Physics.
After graduating I joined IBM. Why would a polymer guy go to IBM? It turns out that electronic packaging uses thermoset polymers in some very interesting and demanding applications. Once at IBM, I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about reacting polymers and how chemistry impacts the rheology during curing, processing, and final properties. Chemorheology became my specialty. For the next 14 years my research focused on developing the stucture, property, process, performance relationships for a wide variety of thermosetting polymers in the context of microelectronic packaging.
After so many years in the lab, I wanted to be on a steeper learning curve, so I transitioned into R&D management. I stayed in polymers for electronics by joining AlliedSignal Electronic Materials as an R&D Manager. I chose this path since it would allow me to stay very technical and actively involved in polymers for electronics. For the next six years, I held positions of increasing responsibility within AlliedSignal (which became Honeywell after the acquistion of Honeywell by AlliedSignal in 1999). At AlliedSignal/Honeywell, my teams were developing advanced thermoset composites for high end circuit boards and semiconductor packaging substrates.
I joined Ablestik Labs as Director of R&D in 2002 and assumed the role of VP of Technology (CTO) two years later. Ablestik was the market leader in adhesives for semiconductor packaging. This position also kept me very technical since electronic adhesives are highly engineered composites of thermosetting polymers with complex fillers and additives. As the VP of Technology, I was a member of the Senior Staff which allowed me to expand my busines experience. Throughout my management career, I held positions that required me to stay on the leading edge of polymer technology, so I continued to expand my experience and knowledge base.
In 2008, I started InnoCentrix, LLC to provide technical and management consulting in advanced polymers. We enable our clients to use polymer technology to gain a competitive advantage. Over my 30 years in polymers, I have developed a powerful combination of deep technical expertise combined with a solid understanding of business and new product commercialization. The InnoCentrix company tag line is “where science impacts business.”
I guess I have a “passion for polymers.”
So what is your passion?
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