Discover what’s shaping the future of the specialty papers industry.
The just-released agenda for Specialty Papers US 2025 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 Chicago this October and explore the expertly-led sessions below.
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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.
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.
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
