| Posted: April 1, 2009 |
Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center announces new board members, officers |
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(Nanowerk News) The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center has announced the election of new officers and directors to its board. Elected are:
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Luis Fanor Vega, Ph.D.
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Luis Fanor Vega is division manager for the engineered finishes division at the Alcoa Technical Center, where he leads development of coatings, surface treatments, laminates, films and surface technologies to mitigate corrosion and enhance durability, appearance and functionality of products. He is responsible for integration of product and process technologies across Alcoa business units to maintain and grow the competency and identify opportunities of strategic importance to the corporation.
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Fanor Vega will serve the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center board for a term of one year as chairman.
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Robert J. Kumpf, Ph.D.
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Robert Kumpf is vice president of future business at Bayer MaterialScience LLC. A material scientist with extensive experience in industrial research and development, Kumpf's responsibilities include evaluation of new technologies and business opportunities, product development and commercialization. He leads the 24-member future business group at Bayer MaterialScience, which focuses on innovation-driven polymer products, new complex technologies and next-generation applications.
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Kumpf will serve the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center board for a term of one year as past chairman.
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Daniel E. Rardon, Ph.D.
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Daniel Rardon currently is a senior scientist and manager of nanotechnology initiatives at PPG Industries. His responsibilities include coordinating PPG's corporate nanotechnology programs and defining and setting strategic direction related to this emerging area. His focus also includes looking for collaborative R&D programs and partners that fit with PPG's strategic direction.
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Rardon will serve the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center board for a term of one year as vice chairman.
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Patrick B. Stewart
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Patrick B. Stewart currently is chief executive officer of Sewickley-based Pepperweed Consulting, having previously served as the firm's executive chairman of the board. Stewart also served as managing director and president of the Pittsburgh-based non-profit venture capital and consulting firm, Idea Foundry, which he founded in 2002. With more than 25 years of Fortune 500 experience in executive management, business development, operations, information technology, business process reengineering and product marketing, Stewart has led several corporate strategic planning initiatives over his career that resulted in the acquisition and creation of several companies.
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Stewart was elected to the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center board for a term of three years, ending December 31, 2011, and he also will serve as the board's secretary and treasurer for one year.
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Carlo G. Pantano, Ph.D.
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Carlo G. Pantano, Ph.D. is a distinguished professor of materials science and engineering, and he is director of the Materials Research Institute at The Pennsylvania State University. He is a fellow of both the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), and he is a former chair of the ACerS glass and optical materials division. Pantano also is a former U.S. Council representative for the International Commission on Glass and he was awarded the 2005 George W. Morey award for outstanding technical contributions in the field of glass science and technology.
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Pantano was elected to the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center board for a term of one year, ending December 31, 2009.
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Three other directors will continue to serve their existing terms on the board. They are Andrew Hannah, Audrey Russo and Christopher Roberts.
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Andrew W. Hannah
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Andrew W. Hannah is the president and chief executive officer of Plextronics, Inc., an international printed electronics company focused on the manufacture of solar cells, high-efficiency lighting and circuitry from ink-based technology. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the company is pioneering low-cost, high-volume printing of organic solar cell and organic light emitting diode technology for lighting applications.
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Audrey Russo
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Audrey Russo is the president and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh Technology Council. She previously had served as vice president of operations and chief financial officer for MAYA Design, as well as in several capacities at Alcoa, where as a senior-level human resources and information technology strategist, she led successful efforts to deploy and optimize global IT systems and improve global access to information.
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Christopher Roberts
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Christopher C.D. Roberts, Sr. is a research project engineer at the United States Steel Corporation Research and Technology Center in Munhall, PA, where he works within the finishing processes and coatings section of the product technology division, which deals primarily with cold rolled, electroplated and galvanized steel.
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"We are extremely gratified to have these individuals serve on our board," said Alan Brown, Ph.D., executive director of the center. "Each represents the significant commitment of their respective company or organization to this initiative which is unprecedented in other regions throughout the U.S. Through their involvement, we are certain to advance our mission."
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The mission of the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center is to promote and support the commercialization of nanomaterials research for new and enhanced products critical to the U.S. economy and manufacturing base. The center builds upon Pennsylvania's excellence in advanced materials research, development and manufacturing, and it acts as a new model for a public-private partnership among government, universities, entrepreneurs, small and large companies to accelerate the transition from nanomaterials invention and innovation to new products and new companies.
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