Monday, October 27 - Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Chicago, IL
Specialty Papers US is the premier event in North America dedicated to showcasing innovation in the specialty papers industry. This event provides a unique opportunity for experts to come together and drive conversation around market influencers, hear ideas and insights from different parts of the supply chain, and become knowledgeable about innovations and market insights that will improve their business.
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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.
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.
Scott McNutt has over 40 years of experience in the paper industry, with a focus on process and product knowledge in the disciplines of papermaking, quality, engineering, operations management, Lean/Six Sigma, product development and innovation. He is well-versed in the downstream converting processes and end use requirements for cut sheet, QSR, flexible packaging, and technical specialty grades.
He started his career in specialty paper at Dunn Paper, serving in roles process engineering, quality management, and product dev. He transitioned to Fine Paper with Willamette and was part of the effort to infuse state-of-the-art papermaking technology into the fine paper industry in the US. He then managed the production operations for Wausau Papers, returning to his specialty paper roots. To bring his career full circle, he returned to Dunn Paper in Port Huron to drive operations success and innovation.
He has toured a vast number of pulp and paper mills in the US and abroad, exploring new technology. Scott has been a member of TAPPI since 1985, attending numerous events at the local Chapters as well as annual Conferences. In addition, he has been active in the Smithers Specialty Papers Conferences in Europe and North America. He is currently active in the TAPPI Mentor program and recently joined the Tappi Nanotechnology subcommittee.
His primary focus now with Nextep Partners LLC Consulting is on paper innovations for sustainable packaging applications.
Having grown up in the heart of the Paper Valley (Menasha, WI), paper making is a passion for Michelle. She is 3rd generation in the industry and strives to keep the industry strong by focusing on next generation specialty products and the “what’s next” for the specialty paper industry.
Michelle brings a unique perspective to the advisory board having held commercial roles on both the film and fiber side of packaging and both the specialty and commodity sides of paper. Early in her career she started with Boise Cascade. She has since held roles in sales and marketing with Thilmany (Ahlstrom),Boise Paper, Novolex and now serves as Vice President Engineered Specialties for Pixelle Specialty Solutions overseeing sales, product management and innovation.
Brad Hartong supports Application Development at Primient.
Brad’s career spans 19 years across both the chemical and paper industries. Much of his work has been focused on barrier chemistries development as well as paper coatings.
Brad eared 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.
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)
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.
Guido Schmitz is an accomplished professional with over 44 years of international experience in the consumer healthcare industry, specializing in packaging, branding, design, and process technology innovation. Throughout his career, he has developed several groundbreaking technologies for various Bayer Consumer Health production sites, leading to the creation of many innovative products.
Recognized for his expertise and contributions to the field, Guido serves as a respected member of the Rutgers Advisory Board for packaging engineering education, where he shares his knowledge and insights with aspiring packaging professionals.
In 2016, he became an agile professor at Rutgers University, where he teaches Product Design and Packaging Innovation during the fall semester and he mentors Packaging Engineering students senior projects during the spring semester, truly nurturing the next generation of packaging engineers.
Guido’s commitment to advancing the industry extends beyond academia, as he is a board member at the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA).
Driven by a passion for sustainability and environmental responsibility, Guido founded InnCreReal, an organization focused on innovating new product concept solutions made from renewable raw materials. Its goal is to create structurally unique products optimized for a circular economy cycle, enabling complete recycling and reuse.
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.
Murray Ross has dedicated his entire 36-year career to the Specialty Papers division at Domtar. He spent the majority of this time at the innovative Espanola Mill site, initially working in and later managing the New Product Development team. Currently, Murray oversees the specialty grades across all production facilities, including Resolute and Catalyst.
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.
Jill has spent over 30 years in marketing, with the past 20 years specifically in print and paper manufacturing. She uses that perspective and understanding in her role at Two Sides North America to help address the environmental misconceptions faced by the industry. Working closely with sustainability experts, she understands the importance of clear communication, engagement and transparency when it comes to telling the important story of forestry, paper and the value of print in our daily lives.
Jill is also a partner at Bubble & Hatch Marketing.
