- 30+ years of coated paper experience in sales, manufacturing, operations, and business development
- Also served on steering committees for energy, profit enhancement, labor negotiations, purchasing, and IT
- Served as Director of Research and Development for Consolidated Papers
- Co-author of several film coater patents
- Tappi member since 1968 – served in many capacities including President of Research Management Committee
- Member Pima Leadership Council
- Member of Packaging Boards Strategy and Leadership Team

Coating Course Instructors
We would like to thank the 2022 speakers and look forward to another great lineup in 2023.
2022 Speakers Included:
John Bergin – Sr. VP Global Specialty Paper, (Retired)
John Bergin
Sr. VP Global Specialty Paper, (Retired)
Gordon Bugg
Gordon Bugg
Senior Paper Making Expert (Coatings) for Kemira
Meggan Hostetler
Meggan Hostetler-Schrock
Director, Applications and Technical Service, Industrial Ingredients, Primient
Dr. Kecheng Li
Dr. Kecheng Li
Chair of the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University
Dr. Tony Lyons
Dr. Tony Lyons
Principal at Paper Lyons LLC
Chalres Klass
Charles P. Klass
President Klass Associates Inc.
Jim Niemiec
Jim Niemiec
Product Innovation Manager, Verso Corporation
Alexandra Pekarovicova, PhD.
Alexandra Pekarovicova, PhD.
Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering
James M. Rennes
James M. Rennes
President, Global Technologies Consulting Services for the International Pulp & Paper, Converting and Nonwovens Industries
Dave Lewis
Dave Lewis
Technical Specialist Paper Coatings at BASF
Brian Einsla
Brian Einsla
Senior Research Scientist in Paper Coatings at Dow
Michael Paczkowski
Michael Paczkowski
Technical Director - Duroblade®, BTG Americas Inc.
Jim Fogg
Jim Fogg
NA Business Development Manager, Barriers and Coatings, Solenis
Mark Miller
Mark Miller
Founder at Coating Tech Slot Dies
Steve Ottone
Steve Ottone
Technical Service Manager at Omya, Inc.
Prakash B. Malla
Prakash B. Malla, Ph.D.
Director of Research & Development, Thiele Kaolin Company
Dr. Lokendra Pal
Dr. Lokendra Pal
Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State University