Discover what’s shaping the future of the specialty papers industry.
The just-released agenda for Specialty Papers US 2026 is packed with can’t-miss presentations on fiber innovation, regulatory shifts, sustainable alternatives, end-use breakthroughs and more!
See who’s taking the stage in Milwaukee this October and explore the expertly-led sessions below.
Join the mailing list for the latest information >>>
Steve Ottone is the holder of a BS and MS in Wood Science from the Pennsylvania State University. His career started in the paper industry with work for Container Corporation of America, St. Regis Paper, and Champion International. He then moved to the supplier side, working in latex supply to the paper industry for Reichhold, Inc., Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex, and Mallard Creek Polymers. He worked for 7 years with a supplier of ground calcium carbonate into the paper industry. He’s currently a Technical Service Representative with Mallard Creek Polymers, a leading supplier of latex polymers for barrier coatings. His area of emphasis is polymer and rheology modifier solutions to barrier coatings needs.
Scott is the Founder of Nextep Partners LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on driving paper-based innovations and barrier developments for sustainable packaging applications.
Scott McNutt brings over 44 years of comprehensive paper industry expertise to the stage, with a distinguished career spanning papermaking, process engineering, operations management, and Lean/Six Sigma innovation. A recognized specialist in both upstream manufacturing and downstream converting, Scott possesses deep technical insight into the stringent end-use requirements for quick-service restaurant (QSR), flexible packaging, copy and bond papers, and specialized technical paper grades.
Scott began his career in specialty papers at Dunn Paper, establishing a strong foundation in process engineering, quality management, and product development. He later transitioned to Willamette Industries, where he contributed to pioneering efforts aimed at integrating state-of-the-art papermaking technologies into the U.S. fine paper sector. Following this, he managed production operations for Wausau Paper before ultimately returning to Dunn Paper in Port Huron to spearhead operational excellence and next-generation product innovation. Over his career, Scott has toured over 40 pulp and paper mills globally to evaluate and implement emerging manufacturing technologies.
Gary is a mission-driven professional focused on advancing Sustainability for high-volume consumer goods. Sustainability challenges us to think differently. It challenges us to innovate and build systems solutions. Gary’s 30-years of diverse professional experience with global brands has prepared him well for this mission.
Gary started as a research scientist for Kraft Foods. This cultivated curiosity as a challenger, and analysis skills for building disruptive innovations. This is also when Gary became committed to Sustainability after the launch of his first consumer package into retail.
Gary has served in a multitude of leadership assignments. Each uniquely demonstrating his strength and diversity. Gary’s experience includes Global Manufacturing Engineer in India with the Amway Corporation, Sr. Manager New Product Development with Newell Rubbermaid, Director of Purchasing and Packaging for a global chemical company, and he was the first to build the packaging department for The Home Depot. As an innovator, Gary led development of a disruptive fiber technology for BillerudKorsnäs called Fibreform, a 3D cold formable paper to displace plastics.
Gary served a rotation in public policy, strategy, and government affairs for an Israeli based certified compostable biopolymer company called Tipa.
Gary currently operates as a fractional professional helping a portfolio of clients advance their Sustainability and innovation strategies. Gary is actively accepting new clients.
Chip Daley supports clients with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) data reporting, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and financial analysis. His work focuses on helping organizations navigate complex and evolving EPR requirements, build scalable packaging data systems, and identify opportunities to improve compliance outcomes while advancing broader operational goals.
Erica Frankel is a Technical Service & Development Scientist at Dow, where she focuses on the development and commercialization of specialty barrier coatings for paper-based packaging applications. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University, and joined Dow in 2018 through the Research Assignments Program, where she worked across multiple coating and materials platforms. In her current role, Erica works at the intersection of materials innovation, sustainability, and regulatory trends, driving the expansion of fiber-based packaging solutions into new market segments through supportive collaborations with global brand owners.
Huqiu (“Hoo-choo”) Zhang, Ph.D., a principal and senior chemist at Sevee & Maher Engineers (SME), leads the firm’s Product Stewardship group assisting clients in regulatory compliance and sustainability matters of food packaging and food contact products. She is based in SME’s Park Ridge, Illinois, office in the greater Chicago area and was instrumental in establishing SME’s regional presence in the Midwest.
Huqiu joined SME in 2020, bringing more than 25 years of international experience in regulatory compliance for consumer product chemical safety, food contact, and food packaging. She is recognized internationally for advanced expertise in regulations and approvals, process improvement, and scientific and regulatory affairs, including sustainability and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Huqiu’s experience and knowledge, combined with her diligence and exceptional problem-solving skills, consistently contribute to clients’ business growth and risk management.
Huqiu obtained her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she acquired an in-depth knowledge of chemistry and American football. She enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, and cooking with a fusion of eastern and western cuisines
Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni is the founder and President of KoolEarth Solutions Inc., a technical consulting and business development company focused on helping companies develop and commercialize new sustainable packaging solutions as well as to improve the sustainability footprint of existing packaging and to reduce/eliminate packaging waste. He is also VP, Plastics and Packaging at Ubuntoo (www.ubuntoo.com), a unique environmental solutions platform to address plastic waste, plastic litter, food waste, sustainable fashion and so on.
Sandeep has over 20 years of industry experience working for several large packaging companies, such as International Paper, Neenah Paper and Georgia Pacific. Most recently he worked for PepsiCo, in the area of sustainable beverage packaging. His diverse expertise includes recycling, bioplastics, paper based as well as molded fiber packaging. Sandeep has 7 granted patents as well as several publications in industry journals. He has also served on conference advisory boards and has delivered several invited presentations, at international conferences, on the topics of sustainability and sustainable packaging. Sandeep serves as an Adjunct Professor at The Packaging School (a spinoff from Clemson University) as well as the North Carolina State University. Recently he was elected to serve as member of the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) for 3 year term (2021-2024)
Marc Klein is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Astra Thermal Sciences, a firm licensing and selling thermally-insulating, eco-friendly papermaking and packaging technologies.
Prior to founding Astra, Marc spent over two decades leading operations, customer service, and automation initiatives at one of the world's leading third-party logistics providers, C.H. Robinson. Additionally, he served as Co-Chairman of the Board for North Branch Works, a non-profit community development organization, and on boards for the Kelley Institute for Business Analytics and the Kellstadt Center for Strategy, Execution, and Valuation.
Marc holds an MBA from DePaul University and a BA from Indiana University. He is recognized as a Certified Supply Chain Professional by the Association for Supply Chain Management.
Outside of work, Marc enjoys bowling, listening to music, and spending time with his wife and four children in Highland Park, IL.
Brad Hartong supports Application Development at Primient.
Brad’s career spans over two decades across both the chemical and paper industries. Much of his work has been focused on barrier chemistries development as well as paper coatings.
Brad earned a Paper Science and Engineering, BS degree from Miami University in Ohio as well as completed advanced degrees (Masters and PhD) in the same field from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology.
Dave Magda is the Sr. Director of Innovation & Business Development for Pixelle Specialty Solutions, headquartered in Spring Grove, PA. He has 35+ years of industry experience with multiple chemical suppliers and paper manufacturing companies. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in Paper Science & Engineering and an MBA in Technology Management.
Experience in global new business development in paper and board based packaging industry – focus on technology, processes and automation in retail and packaging. Corporate activities including venturing and spin-offs. Start-up founder and CEO. Currently a technology and business Innovator to accelerate technology transfer towards industry.
Mark Paradis has over 32 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry specializing
in technical support and commercialization technologies. As Customer Technical
Services Director for North America, Mark supports sales team by managing trial
activities at customer sites to ensure clients’ technical and financial objectives are met
when using FiberLean MFC. Projects include MFC applications in areas of paper and
board as well as building material applications. Mark has also been part of the
development effort to scale up the wet-end surface application of MFC for WTL and
barrier applications. Prior to joining FiberLean in 2019, Mark was the R&D Group Leader and Operations Manager at the University of Maine Process Development Center for 25 years doing R&D projects for industrial clients focused on MFC production and applications, papermaking, stock preparation and coating. Mark has a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Pulp and Paper Management from the University of Maine.
A born-and-raised Michigander, Eric relocated to New Jersey after obtaining dual bachelor’s degrees in Human Biology and Packaging from Michigan State University. He has spent the last decade in R&D and procurement roles for major CPGs like Unilever and Nestlé, developing a deep expertise in food contact packaging. Currently, Eric serves as a Principal Packaging Scientist for Nestlé Nutrition & Health, where he’s a part of a global rigid fiber unit to harmonize the company's ambitions within molded fiber and rigid paperboard technologies.
Jason Bergquist is CEO – North America at RecycleMe, the consulting division of Reclay Group International. With more than 35 years of industry experience, Jason has led commercial and municipal waste divisions, material recovery operations across six states, and bottle bill redemption programs in Maine, New York, and California. His career spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, bringing a global perspective to recycling and resource management. Jason holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from John F. Kennedy School of Law and has provided regulatory guidance on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, container deposit legislation, Superfund compliance, and hazardous waste management.
Jo Anne Shatkin, Ph.D. is Founder and President of Vireo Advisors, a US based small business focused on regulatory and safety strategies for novel bio-based and nanoscale technology commercializationFAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Scientific Advice on Cell-Based Food Products and Food Safety Considerations, the joint WHO/FAO Expert Panel on Nanotechnology in Food, the Canadian Council of Academies, the National Academy of Sciences Committee for the quadrennial review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), and the US/Russia Bilateral Commission for Science and Technology Nanotechnology Environmental Health and Safety Panel. Jo Anne received an Individually Designed Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science and Policy and her MA in Risk Management and Technology Assessment from Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts and possesses a BS degree from Worcester Polytechnic University in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Martti Toivakka is currently a full professor and head of the Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting at Åbo Akademi University, Finland (www.abo.fi/lpcc). He received his doctoral degree in chemical engineering in the area of paper chemistry in 1998. His research group is a member of the Academy of Finland appointed Center of Excellence for Functional Materials, which develops functional materials and demonstrates devices for printed intelligence. His research interests include novel coating and surface treatment methods for natural fiber-based products, printing as a fabrication method and use of paper as a substrate for printed electronics. He has (co-)authored over 140 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is currently the guest editor of Chemical Engineering and Processing – special issue of Coating and Drying of Thin Films. He has organized and been the chairman of 2006 TAPPI Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium and the 2011 European Coating Symposium, both held in Turku, Finland. Furthermore, he has arranged numerous international short courses for industrial professionals and doctoral level students, the recent ones being Coating and Drying of Thin Films – Fundamentals & Applications with a Special Topic on Printed and Organic Electronics in 2011, Pigment Coating Technology in 2012, and Advanced Printing Technology in 2014.
Dyan graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a Pulp and Paper Science and Engineering degree. Since graduating 18 years ago, Dyan has worked exclusively within the specialty papers market. started career with Ahlstrom in Taylorville, IL as a process engineer and worked her way up to quality manager. After 8 years, Dyan moved to Spring Grove, PA and started a chapter at Glatfelter which became Pixelle Specialty Solutions. Spent 11 years there as a development specialist and group manager for their engineered products division. There she oversaw various grades from specialty colors, archival quality, extrusion bases, office and medical papers, playing cards to food packaging (including specialty barriers). Dyan currently is utilizing her technical expertise at the Billerud mill in Escanaba, MI in her role as the quality and product development manager for the mill. Outside of work, she spend her days outside enjoying all sorts of outdoor activities with her husband and dogs.
Will Gramlich is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Maine. At UMaine, he is also cooperating faculty with the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) and the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) as well as the Director of the Paper Surface Science Program. The research of his group focuses on sustainable polymers and materials, next generation paper coatings, biomaterials to control cell behavior, and fundamentals of polymer science.
Navin Singhania is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Barracuda Technologies, a next-generation sustainable materials and biorefinery company focused on unlocking value from agricultural and industrial biomass at scale. He is widely recognized as an expert in biomass fractionation, agri-waste valorization, and circular materials, with deep experience spanning technology development, large-scale project execution, and commercialization.
Navin is actively involved with multiple startups and initiatives across the cellulose economy, including non-wovens, thermoformed packaging, biofuels, transportation, and energy applications. A passionate advocate for sustainability, he is a frequent speaker at international forums and conferences in the United States, India, and Southeast Asia, and firmly believes that circularity is the only viable path forward for materials, energy, and the planet.
Pratiksha Chotalia is a Senior Application Engineer at Henkel, specializing in water-based coatings for paper and molded-fiber packaging. Her work focuses on sustainable barrier solutions, coating process optimization, and scaling technologies from laboratory development to commercial production. She holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University and is passionate about advancing recyclable fiber-based packaging solutions.
Manuel Milliery is the founder and CEO of Papkot, a materials company developing nanoengineered biomineral chemistries that make paper stronger, cheaper to produce, and fully recyclable. Papkot's PA platform is a biomineral, PFAS-free, non-PAE wet-end additive family designed to replace legacy synthetic resins and enable paperization of plastic packaging without a green premium. Before founding Papkot, Manuel worked in AI design at Samsung. The company started in a Paris apartment lab in 2020 and now operates across France, Hong Kong, and ASEAN, with industrial trials at European mills, including Fedrigoni, Chinese, Australian and Indonesian mills.
