2024 speakers have been confirmed!
The 2024 speakers include Papkot, Mondi, Suzano America, Canopy Planet, Dow, University of Maine, UMV Coating Systems AB, and more.
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.
Dean Benjamin received a B.S. degree in Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, he studied computational and experimental fluid mechanics of the roll coating process under Professor L.E. Scriven.
Upon graduation, Dean joined Avery Dennison as a Research Engineer at the Avery Research Center in Pasadena, CA where he led projects to develop coating processes for the production of pressure sensitive labels and tapes.
Dean then joined Consolidated Papers, Inc. as a Senior Research Engineer at their R&D facility in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. His research focused on developing new coating and finishing equipment and he eventually became the manager of the Coater Research & Engineering Department. He also worked in the areas of coating color preparation, paper finishing technology, high-speed coaters, fountain applications, corrosion engineering, kraft chemical recovery systems and product development. Dean then became the manager of the Product Development - Publication Papers where he worked on a variety of product developments including high bulk paper, alternative finish paper and high brightness, carbonate based paper coatings, and later was appointed as Director of Research for NewPage.
Daniel has worked within the paper & board industry sector for 25 years and has had positions within Engineering, Sales, and Management. He started his career in Valmet Karlstad in Sweden and joined UMV Coating Systems in 2008. Daniel’s current position is Commercial Director and he is a former CEO and Sales Director of the company.
Daniel has been deeply involved in the strategic decisions to develop technology for better coverage of the fibers and focus on barrier applications which has positioned UMV Coating systems in the center of this field. The work Daniel has made, leading customer projects from idea to implementation on the world market, has given him a profound understanding and knowledge about production units and coating concepts needed to produce optimal barrier products based on surface treatment of paper‐and board.
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, 1987
M.S. Pulp and Paper Science, Institute of Paper Chemistry, 1989
Ph.D. Pulp and Paper Science, Institute of Paper Science and Technology, 1994
A representative voice in paper-based solutions with 20+ years’ experience in Paper & Packaging Industry, serving major Industrial, CPG Brands, Retailers and Private Labels, and E-Commerce provider. First point of contact in Mondi for Retailers and Brands on achieving Sustainability goals in packaging with flexible solutions (paper, plastic, hybrid) and circular business model. Holding a Civil Engineering Degree, MBA & Executive programs in Sales & Marketing Excellence from US Business Schools, and specialized in Business Sustainability, Net Zero, Circular Economy from the University of Cambridge. Grown in Venice (Italy), international market experience, living a multicultural family, passionate Sailor, Architect & Engineer of Sustainability in Business.
Bio to come!
Dr. Ying is an Associate Research Scientist from Dow Chemical’s Business Research & Development organization. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the Peking University. Then he earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, developing a new type of dynamic covalent chemistry named ‘hindered urea bond’ for smart materials design. With Dow, he developed expertise in polyolefin dispersion (POD) derived coating materials for various sustainable industrial solutions in paper packaging, metal beverage/food packaging, lamination adhesive, etc. He has authored 18 peer-reviewed publications and 6 patents in his career.