Specialty Papers US 2019 Expert Speakers

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Michele Bartolini serves as Senior Marketing Director for Sustana Group, the leader in sustainable, recycled fibers and paper products. She has more than two decades of experience in global organizations, including Citrix and Novell, with a breadth of Canadian and international experience in driving innovative marketing programs and strategies across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Michele holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University and attended Harvard’s Coaching and Mentoring program.

Biography coming soon

Mika Hotti has a long experience in the Paper Industry. He has been involved in the Paper Industry for more than 30 years with the assignments in manufacturing of coated and uncoated fine papers.  The majority of his experience has been focused on the promotion of the Special Pigments such as Precipitated Silicate and Silica materials in various paper and board grades and applications.

In his current role with Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH /Business Line Silica Mika has a role of the Business Director & Global Key Account Management for Paper Industry. Evonik Resource Efficiency is the Global leader of Silica based solutions for the Paper Industry with the widest Product Portfolio of Silica, Silicates, Fumed Silica and Silica-based Dispersions used in the paper coating and wet-end applications for adding value for end customers.

Before the Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH assignment, Mika has held positions at J. M. Huber Corporation and Wacker Chemie GmbH in various roles from Technical Sales & Support to Regional and Global Sales assignments.

Larry Hutchinson, Global Market Development Mangager with Solenis, began his career in the paper industry in 1979 with S.D. Warren (now SAPPI) in the US.  He is a graduate of the University of Maine with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pulp & Paper Science.  He has a diverse background with experience in manufacturing technical consulting, market development, sales, training, and knowledge management in a variety of regional and global roles.

Larry has benefited greatly from 25 years of global experience and was based in Asia for 15 years, where he was responsible for regional board & packaging market development, technical support, training, and was involved in numerous greenfield projects.  In his current role he is responsible for Global Market Development for Solenis Consumer Board portfolio and is also responsible for globalization of Solenis “Ecological Barriers” technology acquired with Topchim in March 2018.  In addition to his passion for the paper industry Larry is an avid road cyclist, mountain biker, hiker, and paddler and resides in Northwest Washington with his wife Linda.

Jeff is responsible for leading Marketing and Business Development as well as the Strategic Growth Platforms for Cascades Sonoco. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in Sales and Marketing with Sonoco and Cascades Sonoco.  Jeff led the business transformation efforts beginning back in 2010 which helped Cascades Sonoco evolve from a Roll Packaging company into a leading coating and lamination innovations company.  Jeff holds and Economics degree from Muskingum University.

Heli Kuorikoski is currently the Technology Centre Director for Metsä Board, and has been working in the paper and packaging industry for almost 20 years. Heli has held a number of positions within Metsä Board, focusing on quality and product management, product safety, technical marketing, and customer relationship management. Prior to her time in R&D, Heli was the Technical Service Director for Metsä Board Americas based in Norwalk, CT. Heli graduated from Tampere University of Technology in Finland with a M.Sc. in Materials Science focused in Paper Converting.

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Markku Hämäläinen is the CEO of Kotkamills Oy, a Finnish paper industry company located in south east Finland. Prior to this current position he has been working as the Managing Director of Papierfabrik Scheufelen GmbH in Germany. Earlier has been employed for example by Storaenso in various production and R&D positions in Finland between 1986 and 2006. He has also been running his private consulting firm since 2008. Markku Hämäläinen is 56 years of age and he has a Dr. Degree in Paper Technology from the University of Lappeenranta in Finland.

Jack Miller is Principal Consultant, Biobased Markets, a unit of Market-Intell LLC.  Jack founded Market-Intell in 2005 after more than 25 years in sales and marketing in the paper and packaging industry. Since 2009, his focus has been on markets for value-added bio-based materials. In 2018 he rebranded Market-Intell as Biobased Markets.

Jack is also an Associate Consultant with RISI and a member of the Advisory Board of Sweetwater Energy, a biorefinery company. Jack served as Business Development Consultant with CelluForce, Inc., from 2011 to 2013, and was Consulting Manager, Global Nanocellulose Sales, American Process, Inc., in 2014 and 2015.

Jack is the author of Nanocellulose in Packaging, published by RISI in 2019 and Nanocellulose Challenges and Opportunities: End User Perspectives, published by TAPPI in 2018. He is also the author of

Nanocellulose: Technology, Applications and Markets, published by RISI in 2014, Lignin: Technology, Applications, and Markets published by RISI in 2017, and Nanocellulose Producers, Products and Applications, A Guide for End Users, published by TAPPI, 2017. He has also presented on cellulose nanomaterials and lignin at webinars and conferences in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Brazil, as well as at conferences on packaging, composites, nonwovens, adhesives, textiles, and other nanomaterial applications.

Previously Jack was Senior Consultant, North America with Pira International and held management positions in sales and marketing with Domtar, Continental Forest Industries, and Stone Container.

Yvon is an Innovation Manager with over 19 years product development experience in Paper Coatings, Latex Rubber Adhesives, Corrugating, Folding Carton and Resin Extrusion.  Yvon has an established an impressive track record as a problem solver and holds numerous patents.  Yvon uses his strong analytical and organizational skills to work with customers in determining new and innovative technologies.  He also spends a great deal of time helping companies streamline and reduce costs of their current products and processes. Yvon hold an Analytical Chemistry degree from Shawinigan University in Quebec, Canada.

Graham Moore has over thirty years experience of the paper and board industry, encompassing process and product knowledge, product performance, recycling, deinking, wet end chemistry, and strategic futures related research. He has assisted paper companies around the world to successfully develop and exploit new speciality products and markets.

Dr Moore developed and initiated the Paper Perspectives research programme which assesses the impact of a range of issues and trends on the future demand of a range of paper products. Products have included office paper, magazines, thermal paper, promotional print products and commercial inkjet.

He has authored many papers and publications, including a number of books, e.g. Wet End Chemistry Strategies, Non Wood Fibres and Pulp and Paper Five-Year Technology Forecast. Moore has also contributed to other publications including the EC COST publication, 'Paper Recycling' and TAPPI's Paper 360o journal.

A member and Fellow of TAPPI (USA), member and non-executive director of PITA (UK) and a member of PRIMA, Graham has represented the UK on the European COST programme for Forests and Forest Products and has acted as an evaluator for the EC and the Finnish Academy of Science. Has also acted as an external examiner for Manchester and Reading Universities in the UK and been an invited lecturer at the pulp and paper schools of Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland and Seoul University in South Korea.

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Gary Robinson is the founder of Synaptic Packaging and an advisor to global brands, micro-innovators, converters, material producers, and venture capitalists. He specializes in helping companies develop meaningful business and technical strategies to advance Sustainability. Synaptic Packaging sees Sustainabilty through the lens of innovation and opportunity. We seek to position our clients so they are both relevant and competitive in response to emerging business challenges.

Gary holds a packaging degree from Michigan State University and over 25 years in global business leadership. His experience includes major consumer brands such as The Home Depot, Kraft Foods, Newell Rubbermaid, and Amway. Throughout his career Gary has held leadership positions in R&D, Global Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Marketing, and Business Development. This diverse professional background is the key to success to drive innovation. Synaptic Connections are made when we identify relevant adjacencies, anticipate forward trajectories, then accelerate towards convergence. For more information please visit us at www.SynapticPackaging.com.

Arming the pulp and paper industry with innovative approaches to achieve a sustainable and profitable future is Will Robinson’s passion. As Founder and Chief Solutions Officer of the Process Solutions Group, the company specializes in solving chronic operational issues that undermine efficiency, process stability and product quality.

Will helps mills realize their full potential.  He identifies improvements for operational efficiency and, when appropriate, eliminates “waste” through statistical process control.  He provides clients easy-to-implement solutions for the long term.  This includes bringing full teams together, from the executive suite to the plant line, to build focus and enthusiasm for the processes of investigation, operational improvement and problem-solving.  He believes the greatest outcomes are generated when everyone is engaged in finding and sustaining the solution.

For over 30 years, Will led the charge in process diagnostics and advancements in the paper industry with companies such as International Paper, James River, Graphic Packaging and Caraustar making a considerable impact to the bottom line. He implemented new technologies as an applications engineer and as Director of Technology at James River, Graphic Packaging and Caraustar, he patented processes that provided innovative approaches in solving production issues.  Later, as Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Caraustar, he provided focus on “what really matters” and revamped company structure, helping turn around a struggling company.

After achieving a Paper Engineering degree from SUNY/ Syracuse University, he received an MS and Ph.D. from the Institute of Paper Chemistry.  Halfway through his career, he earned an MBA from the University of Chicago with concentrations in both finance and business strategy.

Will and his wife, Carol, are blessed to spend time with their two amazing daughters and three grandchildren.  They also serve the elderly and single parents in their community through various organizations.  On the weekends, you just might find Will wading in a trout stream, skiing the slopes, or preparing for his next marathon.

Susan Thoman has over 25 years’ management experience within the solid waste and sustainability fields. Susan served on the Cedar Grove Composting senior management team for 12 years , where she pioneered the development of working  models to create collaboration between solid waste systems and the food service value chain. In January 2017, she and several partners formed a private industry group, the Compost Manufacturing Alliance, to broaden the vision and scope of compostable products testing across North America. Susan serves on the US Composting Council board, along with the Recycling Foundation Board in Washington State. 

20+ years in Innovation and R&D in high tech, CPG, and paper/poly manufacturing industries.

Previously VP of New Product Development, Cenveo; VP- Consumer Vertical – ORC International Market Research firm,  Group Manager, R&D, Clorox.

Joined Novolex in 2014.

Postdoctoral fellowship:  Bio-Inorganic and Synthetic Organic Chemistry- Univ. of Minnesota

PhD- Synthetic Organic Chemistry-Univ of Nevada, Reno

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry (ACS certified)- Northern Arizona University

Emily is Global Growth Platform Leader, Circular Economy in the Printing and Packaging group at Michelman. Emily is an active member of the ASTM committee for compostable plastics, the Food Service Packaging Institute with the Paper Recovery Alliance and Plastics Recovery Group, and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Her expertise is on the subject of compostable coatings for packaging applications, and she has presented at several conferences on the subject, including the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and PaperCon. She has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an M.S. in the same from the University of Cincinnati.

Professor Jeffrey P. Youngblood began his collegiate studies at Louisiana State University majoring in Chemistry and Physics.  Working in the laboratory of Professor William Daly, Professor Youngblood spent three years working on compatibilization, ageing, and thermomechanical investigation of asphalt/polymer blends and the synthesis of liquid crystalline nonlinear optical polymers.  In 1996, Professor Youngblood started Ph.D. studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering.  Under the direction of Professor Thomas McCarthy, Youngblood investigated the Superhydrophobic Effect, developed general methods for chemical surface modification of polymers, and synthesized pendant siloxane block copolymers.  Moving on to postdoctoral work at Cornell’s Materials Science and Engineering Department under direction of Professor Christopher Ober, he developed synthetic strategies for the development of coatings that prevent marine biofouling.  In 2003, Professor Youngblood accepted a position in the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University.  Promoted to Associate Professor in 2009 and Professor in 2015, he uses his polymer expertise to investigate nanotechnology, surface science, advanced processing and biomaterials.  Of late, he has been specifically interested in ceramic processing using polymeric methods, advanced composites and fabrication, renewable resins and cellulose nanocomposites, the latter of which has been a particular area of interest over the past 10 years.