Kate Hampford Donahue, Chair
CEO, Hampford Research, Inc.
Kate Hampford Donahue
Kate H. Donahue is CEO of Hampford Research, Inc., which is a family owned, custom chemical manufacturing firm. It specializes in hi-purity specialty chemicals used in the electronics, dental, cosmetics, engineered materials and printing/lithography industries, and is located in Stratford, CT.
Mara Gliozzi, 1st Vice Chair
Executive Vice President, McGean
Mara Gliozzi
Mara Gliozzi has worked in the chemical industry for 35 years, all with McGean, a specialty chemical manufacturer near Cleveland, OH, that employees almost 100 people. She started as a summer intern and stayed with the company from that point on.
During those years, the family-owned organization has gone through several iterations, but has always valued its employees and worked diligently to provide a supportive work environment that encourages success.
Throughout her career at McGean, Gliozzi has worked in a variety of jobs, from sales and marketing to purchasing and customer service. Ms. Gliozzi is actively involved in SOCMA, taking advantage of advocacy, educational and networking opportunities, including the Washington Fly-In, Annual Dinner and Committee Week, among others.
Ken Zrebiec, 2nd Vice Chair/Treasurer
SVP, Manufacturing Operations, Veranova
Ken Zrebiec
Ken has over 20 years of experience in plant management, manufacturing, supply chain, and project management with a strong technical background in pharmaceutical drug substance (API) and specialty fine chemicals.
In his current role at Veranova, Ken is the head of global operations responsible for EHS, API manufacturing, CAPEX, Supply Chain, and Operational Excellence for five manufacturing sites in the US and Scotland. He is also a member of the Veranova Executive Team.
Ken has been an active member of SOCMA’s Board of Governors over multiple terms since June 2018. In 2020, Ken served as Secretary on SOCMA’s Executive Committee.
Ken has a BSChE and MBA from the University of Delaware.
Adam Pingel, Secretary
Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing, Monument Chemical
As Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing, Adam leads all global manufacturing activities, including Health, Safety, Environment & Security, Quality, Production Operations, Engineering & Capital Planning. Adam joined Monument in 2009 and has held a range of positions, including Operations Manager and Site Leader at various facilities.
Prior to joining Monument, Adam worked for a private technology company that partnered with several businesses and municipalities across the U.S. In this role, Adam held a variety of positions within R&D, engineering design, wastewater treatment technologies and project management.
In the earliest days of his career, Adam was an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy; he was stationed on the USS Frederick in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His service spanned areas of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Adam holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, and he also completed the Enterprise Executive Program at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Joe Wilson, Member-at-Large
President & CEO, Toll Solutions LLC
Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson brings 47 years of an extensive background in the specialty chemicals industry. He is the Owner, President & CEO of Toll Solutions, LLC, a custom and toll manufacturer in Duncan, SC. Prior to Toll Solutions Joe held executive leadership positions at StarChem, Wacker Silicones and Henkel. Joe is a very active leader in his community. He serves on the Boards of Middle Tyger Community Center, Spartangreen Property Owners Association, Middle Tyger Area Council, Selah Grey Foundation and Rebel Touchdown Club. Joe has a BSChE from Cornell University. Joe and his wife Meg have two grown sons and two grandchildren.
Mike Ott, Immediate Past Chair
Owner & Chairman of the Board, Polysciences, Inc.
Michael Ott
Michael Ott is the owner and operator of Polysciences, Inc., which is a diversified manufacturer of chemicals for the research, medical device, electronic and diagnostic markets. Polysciences produces specialty monomers and polymers, microspheres, histology and microscopy reagents, and have a wide range of materials science applications.
President & CEO, NASi
Jeff Barnes
Jeff Barnes serves as the President and CEO of NASi, a leading North American specialty liquid chemical manufacturer that supplies several markets including agricultural, energy, transportation, as well as various other industrial markets.
Jeff joined NASi in 2007 becoming the CEO in 2014. He is based at the NASi headquarters in Marion, Ohio.
Jeff has over 25 years of experience in senior management positions. Before joining NASi he worked for Electrolux/Frigidaire and General Electric. He has worked in northeast Italy and Buenos Aires, Argentina as well as various locations in the United States.
Jeff has a Bachelor of Science degree from Muskingum University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Ohio State University. He and his wife, Dorothy, live in Dublin, Ohio.
Chief Executive Officer, Viakem SA de CV
Jose Maria Bermudez
Jose Maria Bermudez is the Chief Executive Officer of Viakem, a global player in the fine chemicals sector serving the custom manufacturing needs in the Agrochemical industry, headquartered in Monterrey, NL Mexico.
Bermudez has served in a variety of senior leadership roles with Dow Chemical (and previously Rohm and Haas) for more than 32 years. His professional career includes roles in Operations, Human Resources, Geographic leadership and Business Management in a diverse group of markets like Agrochemicals, Coatings & Construction, Personal Care, Mining, Oil & Gas, and Paper throughout the Americas.
Before his current role, Bermudez was President, General Manager for Dow Mexico and during that time also took the responsibility as Chairman of the Board of ANIQ, Mexico Chemical Industry Association (2017-2019).
Bermudez holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University, a MS in Quality Management from Tampa College and a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Las Americas Puebla Mexico. He has also completed Executive programs at Wharton School (Marketing) and Cornell University (HR). Bermudez currently serves on the Board of Directors of United Way Latin America, American Society of Mexico AC as well as in the advisory board of ANIQ.
VP, Fine Chemicals, Milliken & Company
Brian Burkhart, Ph.D.
Brian is Vice President of Fine Chemicals for Milliken & Company, a role he has held since 2018. He has served in a series of other roles within Milliken since 2000, including researcher, R&D leadership, product leadership, and commercial director. The Fine Chemical Products business produces, markets, and sells customized products for silicones and silanes, semiconductor precursors for CVD/ALD, specialty alkoxylates, API precursors, metal carboxylates, PVDC emulsions, and many other products.
Brian has served on the SOCMA Board of Governors since 2021. He also has served on the Board of Directors for the SC Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics Foundation (2018 – 2024). He lives in South Carolina with his wife Julie. They have two grown children, a son Danny and daughter Rachel.
President, Ascent Chemicals
Bryan Kitchen
Bryan Kitchen has nearly two decades of senior leadership experience in the chemicals industry, having held management roles for several global industry leaders. Most recently, he served as president, CEO and chairman of the board for Clearon Corp., a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer of essential sanitizers and disinfectants for household, industrial, institutional and water treatment applications. Prior to Clearon, Bryan served as the president of Xingfa USA, a division of Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Ltd, a global leader in specialty phosphates manufacturing. He also served as vice president of business operations at ANGUS Chemical Company, which was carved-out from The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW). Bryan previously spent over a decade in various management roles at Dow AgroSciences and later, Dow Chemical, one of the world’s largest chemical manufacturers. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Anderson University.
Co-Owner & Chief Human Resources Officer, CJB Industries, Inc.
Jeana Beeland
Jeana Beeland is Co-Owner and CHRO at CJB Industries, a 25 year-old family-owned, contract chemical company specializing in the agricultural market.
Prior to CJB, Jeana was Assistant Operations Manager for Levi Strauss – Valdosta facility.
Jeana joined CJB in 1998 and has assisted in various capacities over the years. She has held roles in plant management, scheduling, inventory and supply chain.
Jeana is an active member of professional organizations and in her community. She served on the City of Valdosta Board of Education, Wiregrass Foundation Board, Christ Episcopal Finance Committee and Vestry, and Georgia’s Workforce Development Board.
Jeana holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (BSISyE) from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Valdosta State University. Jeana and her husband, Clinton, enjoy spending time with their two grown children and son-in-law. She is looking forward to being more involved in SOCMA and appreciates the work SOCMA does for our industry.
VP, Business Development & Marketing, ProChem, Inc
Alan Dyke, Ph.D.
Alan Dyke is the VP of Business Development & Marketing at ProChem Inc. He oversees the commercial operations of ProChem, a leading supplier of high purity inorganic compounds and custom precursors for advanced materials applications. He also supports the new investments in laboratories, analytical services, and management systems that will ensure ProChem delivers high quality products to its customers.
Alan has a background in technical and commercial roles at Boulder Scientific and Johnson Matthey, where he was involved in new business development of Advanced Precursors and Organometallic Products for the micro-electronics industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Bristol in the UK, with a focus on Catalysis and Ligand Design.
President & COO, Pressure Chemical
Sandra Cernick
Sandy joined Pressure Chemical in 2021 as President & COO with more than 25 years of industry experience. She has held executive-level positions across a variety of API, specialty and fine chemical segments for global companies including TEVA API, Siegfried USA LLC, Callery LLC, and LANXESS (formerly Bayer Corporation).
Prior to joining Pressure Chemical, Sandy was Chief Commercial Officer of Ascensus Specialties Callery LLC, from 2018-2021. She began her career at Siegfried in 2009, serving as Head of US Exclusives Custom Synthesis Business for the North America Sales & Marketing division.
Sandy has B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biology from La Roche College and Masters degrees in Environmental Science and Business Administration from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Chairman & CEO, AVN Corporation
Steven B. Hedrick
Steve Hedrick is Chairman, President & CEO of AVN Corporation in South Charleston, W.Va. AVN delivers market-driven innovation, research, technical engineering, technology commercialization, and manufacturing for the chemical, energy, environmental, and advanced software sectors.
Mr. Hedrick has more than three decades of broad-based leadership experience, with more than 20 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, leading businesses, chemical manufacturing and health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ). Prior to AVN, he held numerous roles of increasing responsibility at Lyondell, Bayer Polymers, Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer CropScience and has led multiple regional and global teams to improve business results, reliability and safety systems. His entry into the chemical industry followed service as an officer in the United States Army.
In addition, Mr. Hedrick currently serves on a number of boards of directors, including Discover Real West Virginia Foundation, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. He is a board member at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park and chairman of its governance committee and serves as chairman of the YPO Mountain State Gold board. He also sits on the Business Roundtable of West Virginia.
A native of West Virginia, he holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
President, Southern Chemical & Textiles
Cameron Whaley
Cameron Whaley is the President of Southern Chemical and Textiles, Inc (SCT) and has 23 years of experience in the Chemical Industry. He is a proven leader in expanding and diversifying business into new markets with a focus on improving culture, managing growth, sustainability initiatives, industry needs, and partnerships. In addition to leading SCT, Whaley is active in community outreach programs such as the National Kidney Foundation, Andrew P. Stewart Center (Atlanta), and a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Aside from work, Cameron enjoys spending time with his wife Erin and their children Reece and Eva. He earned a B.A. in Mass Communication from Auburn University.
Head of Procurement, Sun Chemical Corporation
Jean Yoho
Jean Yoho is the Pigment Procurement Leader for SunChemical Color Material Division. SunChemical is part of the DIC Group which is the world’s largest ink producer as well as one of the largest pigment manufacturers of organic and inorganic pigments and dyes globally.
Jean has worked in the chemical industry for almost 20 years, starting at Ashland Chemical before joining SunChemical in 2007. She has held various roles in her career from cost accounting, supply chain, logistics and purchasing. She has extensive experience with international trade regulations & restrictions. Jean has been actively involved with SOCMA attending Washington Fly-in, International Trade Committee member, Annual Dinner, and other events.
CEO, Boulder Scientific Company
Rich Preziotti
Preziotti joined the Boulder Scientific Company team as Chief Executive Officer in July 2021. He brings a wealth of experience within the Specialty Chemicals industry. He was the President & CEO of Vertellus Specialties for more than ten years and he spent many years working for Honeywell International (formerly Allied Signal) and ultimately became the Vice President/General Manager of Chemicals & Fluorine Products.
Rich was also SVP & President of Performance Additives at SI Group and he has been an advisor to private equity firms regarding new chemicals transactions as well as their portfolio companies. Rich is trained as an electrical engineer and has an MBA from Columbia Business School.
President & CEO, ChemDesign
Dave Mielke
A 25-year veteran of the chemical industry, David Mielke serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of ChemDesign. David’s leadership has been instrumental in srategically expanding their services in the agricultural, specialty chemical and fine chemical sectors. Prior to becoming President in 2006, he held positions as Director of Commercial Development and Vice President of Technology. He began his career as a development chemist with Aldrich Chemical and quickly took on more responsibilities in the areas of product development and management.
Under his leadership, ChemDesign has received national improvement and educational outreach honors from the Specialty Chemical Manufacturing Association (SOCMA), ChemStewards® environmental compliance, and safety awards from the Wisconsin Safety Council. In 2014, ChemDesign was named Business of the Year by the Marinette/Menominee Chamber.
David serves on the Board of Governors for SOCMA and the Board of Directors for the Marinette/Menominee Area Chamber. He is a member of the Optima Quality Consortium and the TEC Executive Committee (TEC XIII). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a Master of Science in Management & Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College.
Chief Technology Officer, Nation Ford Chemical
Brooke DiDomenico
Brooke DiDomenico is the Chief Technical Officer at Nation Ford Chemical. Holding a degree in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte, Brooke has cultivated a diverse skill set that bridges technical expertise with strategic business acumen.
With over 15 years of hands-on experience in the specialty chemical industry, Brooke has become a recognized authority in the realm of toll manufacturing. Her journey in the industry has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, innovation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions to clients.
Known for her leadership qualities, Brooke has played pivotal roles in driving operational efficiency and fostering collaborative environments within the organizations she has been a part of. Her strategic mindset, combined with a deep understanding of both technical and business aspects, positions her as a valuable asset in the ever-evolving landscape of specialty chemical manufacturing. Prior to her leadership role at Nation Ford Chemical, Brooke held a role as a Process Engineer at ExxonMobil.
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