Mitra O'Malley

Managing Director - The ITB Group

Ms. O’Malley is one of the founding partners of The ITB Group in 1992. As Managing Director, she focuses on technology feasibility and business development activities in automotive acoustics, interior and exterior. Her specific areas of specialty include cabin technologies (materials, processing and function integration). Ms. O’Malley has 40 years of
experience in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell
with a Master’s degree in Plastics Engineering.

Luis Fernando Flores Bustos

Account Manager for Light Vehicle NA - Arkema

Mr. Flores is the Account Manager for Light Vehicle NA with a focus on Specialty Polyamides. Additional responsibilities include business development with automotive cooling lines, fuel lines and quick connectors. Mr. Flores holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.

Khorcheska Batyrova

OzoneBio

Christopher Bradlee

Sustainability Manager, Performance Materials - BASF

Mr. Bradlee has been with BASF for 25 years and is currently a Sustainability Manager for their Performance Materials business in North America. Here he has responsibility for development and execution of the sustainability strategy for the thermoplastic urethanes (TPU) and polyurethane systems (PU). Mr. Bradlee has more than 30 years of experience in sustainability, marketing and business development, as well as teaching and publishing on sustainable development, life-cycle analysis and product safety.

Mark Bacchus

Senior Manager, Chemical Management Office, Carbon Neutrality and Regulatory Affairs - Toyota Motor North America

Mr. Bacchus leads Toyota’s global efforts on substance and materials advocacy, working in the Chemical Management Office within the Carbon Neutrality and Regulatory Affairs Division in Washington, DC. He has been at Toyota for 26 years, working most of those years in the Materials Engineering Division developing textiles, plastics, and other materials. Mr. Bacchus hold a BS in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University.

Darren Nowak

Director - Research and Analysis

Mr. Nowak joined the ITB Group in 2007 and currently operates as Director - Research and Analysis. He is primarily responsible for direct interface with industry participants and building complex business models to facilitate ITB’s mission to assess automotive business and technology change. He has supported and been the lead investigator in many projects involved in interiors, exterior, under the hood, and most recently has concentrated on plastic/electronic integration. Mr. Nowak has over 25 years of experience in automotive, off road and heavy truck applications, including application and standards engineering roles at Eaton Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.

Karen Guzman

Mobility Marketing Manager - Covestro

Ms. Guzman is a Mobility Marketing Manager at Covestro where she leads and coordinates strategy and marketing activities for polycarbonate-based material applications for the Automotive industry. She is also responsible for identifying and developing new market opportunities. Prior to joining Covestro, Ms. Guzman held technical and business development positions at BASF. Ms. Guzman is a Chemical Engineer by trade and holds a Master Degree in Marketing and International Business and a diploma in Automotive Design and Engineering.

Adam Peer

American Chemistry Council

David Morgan

Chief Strategy Officer - Carbon Rivers

Dr. Morgan is the Chief Strategy Officer at Carbon Rivers where he leads client and investor relations in the global marketplace and is a liaison for next generation glass fiber and pristine nanoplatelet graphene applications. As the CSO, he also plays a diverse role engaging in policy and government relations. Dr. Morgan holds a Research Doctorate from the University of Aberdeen.

Nicholas Hammond

Product Sustainability Engineer - Shawmut Corporation

Mr. Hammond is a Product Sustainability Engineer who specializes in sustainability and life cycle assessment for soft automotive interiors including decorative surface textiles and formable multi-ply composites. Mr. Hammond created the company’s Life Cycle Assessment System and achieved third-party certification to ISO 14040/44 standards. In addition to monitoring the production stream, he also works with suppliers to quantify environmental impacts across the supply chain to identify and implement impactful sustainability initiatives. Mr. Hammond holds an MS in Textiles from North Carolina State University and a BS in Polymer and Fiber Engineering from Auburn University.

Dean Kanelos

Automotive Market Development & Product Applications Manager - Nucor Automotive Group

Mr. Kanelos has been with Nucor for 23 years and currently operates as Automotive Market Development & Product Applications Manager. Here he oversees automotive market development, product applications, early vendor involvement, and assisting in product development. Dean is Chairman for WorldAutoSteel and past Chairman of the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Joint Policy Council. He has 45 years of experience in the steel industry, having worked in production supervision, applications engineering, marketing, and market development. Mr. Kanelos has a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana University-Northwest.

Xavier Maury

U.S.A. Operation Director - OPmobility

Mr. Maury joined OPmobility in 1999 and was appointed in 2003 Engineering Director for North America. Since then, he has held different positions in the field of manufacturing engineering and industrial. Mr. Maury now operates as U.S.A. Operation Director, managing 5 facilities that produces bumper modules, tailgate and diverse cladding elements for multiple OEM in North America. Mr. Maury graduated from the National Engineering School from Tarbes in 1992.

Fernando Alves

HSE and Sustainability Director, Exterior Business - OPmobility

Mr. Alves joined OPmobility in 2003 and was appointed Lean Manufacturing Director for the division. Since then, he has held positions in operations including Plant Director of plants in UK and France, and Operations Director for France, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina. The last 9 years has worked as HSE and Sustainability Director for the Exterior Business group. Mr. Alves graduated in electrical engineering from the Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon.

Nathalie Veiga

Material Engineer, Senior Expert - OPmobility

Ms. Veiga joined OPmobility in 1993 and operates as a material engineer and senior expert. She has held roles in the central laboratory focusing on analysis and characterization perimeter on raw material and paints, as well as in the environment business group focused on materials, quality and purchasing. In the material engineering team, Ms. Veiga is involved in the transversal métier project to implement standards, identify the needs for future implementation, and promote recycled content, understanding, and recycled material improvements.

Eric Guizol

Paint Process Leader and Paint Expert - OPmobility

Mr. Guizol joined OPmobility in 2010 as paint commodity buyer and then worked as Global Commodity Leader. He now operates as a paint process leader and paint expert at the Sigmatech R&D Center of OPmobility. Here he leads the central paint process team and develops technical expertise through métier projects, manufacturing standards, and supports paint operations worldwide. Mr Guizol holds a master’s degree in business administration and industrial purchasing management from IAE Lyon School of Management.

Laurent Peyrelongue

Supply Chain Associate Director, US Operations - OPmobility

Mr Peyrelongue is a supply chain and logistics expert currently serving as Supply Chain Associate Director at OPmobility for the US operations. He joined OPmobility in 2008 as Supply Chain Engineer and later worked as Plant Logistics Manager and Supply Chain Manager for Central Europe facilities. He joined the U.S. team in 2018 took the responsibility of US Supply Chain operations in 2020. Mr. Peyrelongue graduated from the National Engineering School of Engineering & Manufacturing and holds a Master’s degree in Production Organization and Management.

Chad Pregracke

President - Green Current Solutions

Mr. Pregracke is the internationally named 2013 CNN Hero of the Year and is founder and president of Living Lands & Waters; a nonprofit river cleanup organization. He also operates as President of Green Current Solutions focused on manufacturing 100% recycled plastic pallets utilizing a portion of the plastics removed from the rivers, and other sources, while also trying to incorporate other company’s plastic waste streams into their product.

Dr. Joel Kopinsky

Managing Director - The ITB Group

Dr. Kopinsky (Ph.D. Chemical Engineering and MBA) is responsible for The ITB Group’s consulting assignments in energy storage, vehicle emissions, and hydrogen-based systems for mobility. In addition, Dr. Kopinsky leads ITB’s work related to start-up mentoring and M&A transactions. Over the past 30+ years he has completed a variety of strategic and technical feasibility consulting projects for leading suppliers, OEMs and investment banks in North America, Europe and Asia. Over the last few years, Dr. Kopinsky has been involved with mentoring several start-up organizations and is a board member at Mazlite (Toronto, Canada). In the 1980’s, Dr. Kopinsky worked at the General Motors Research Labs followed by the completion of his MBA at Columbia University. On the side, Dr. Kopinsky is an avid clarinetist and long-haul hiker.

Dr. Bhuwneesh Kumar

Technical Support and Applications Development Manager - UBQ Materials

Dr. Kumar has over 25 years of experience in technical program management where he has successfully led and independently executed new product development initiatives, bringing innovative ideas from concept to commercial production. His deep knowledge of mechanical and material characterization techniques enables him to optimize formulations, enhance product performance, and provide application development and technical support to customers. Dr. Kumar holds a PhD in Polymers, an MTech in Rubber Technology, and an MSc in Biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology. He also completed a Post Doctoral Fellowship in Thermoplastic Application/Processing at Western University.

Summer Javed

Product Development and Sustainability Engineer - Kautex Textron

Ms. Javeed joined Kautex in June of 2020 and works as a Product Development Engineer and Sustainability Engineer. In her current role she bridges the gap between sustainability and engineering by developing tools and processes aimed at reducing scope 3 carbon emissions and enhancing the sustainability of Kautex products. She also contributes to the reduction of scope 2 emissions by identifying opportunities for renewable energy implementation within Kautex facilities. Additionally, Ms. Javeed serves as an Employee Resource Group Leader, fostering a culture of sustainability both within the organization and in the broader community.

Bridget Grewal

Director, Packaging Continuous Improvement - Magna International

International- bridget.grewal@magna.com
Ms. Grewal has been with Magna International since 2013 and currently assists 140 plants in North America with improvements and cross-group synergies that relate to packaging. She also serves as the global strategy lead for packaging within Magna and develops guidelines for the 350 plants globally. Outside of Magna, Ms. Grewal leads automotive industry teams for packaging sustainability and sensor technology for returnable assets. She was also inducted into the MSU Packaging Hall of Fame in 2015.

Dr. Nick Santero

Principal, Sustainability Science - Rivian

Dr. Santero has been tackling sustainability for over 20 years, with a focus on using life cycle assessment (LCA) strategies to influence product design. He currently leads the Sustainability Science team at Rivian and helped create the product sustainability program and led the development and publication of the first carbon footprints for the R1T, R1S, and EDV vehicle lines. Prior to this, Dr. Santero established the low-carbon design program at Apple and led the technical development of Apple’s 2030 climate neutrality plan. He holds a BS from UC Davis, a MS and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, and a post-doc from MIT. Dr. Santero has also co-authored ten peer-reviewed publications in the field of sustainability and life cycle assessment.

Kari Bliss

Principal of Sustainability - Padnos

Ms. Bliss is a recognized leader in sustainability with over 23 years of experience in the recycling and materials management industry. As the Principal of Sustainability at PADNOS, she plays a vital role in transforming waste into valuable resources. Her work focuses on developing and executing ESG strategies, advising major national accounts, and leading market development initiatives that convert low-value materials into high-revenue streams. Under Ms. Bliss’ leadership, PADNOS has developed 36 innovative solutions to address complex circular economy challenges faced by original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. Ms. Bliss holds a BS in Psychology and Business from Aquinas College and her contributions to sustainability have earned her recognition as one of Women We Admire Top Women Leaders in Michigan for 2024.

Karl Meira

Director of OEM Partnerships - Cyclic Materials

Mr. Meira has over 15 years of experience spanning the automotive, battery recycling, and rare earth industries and currently operates as Director of OEM Partnerships at Cyclic Materials. Here he leads initiatives to connect original equipment manufacturers with solutions that advance a circular economy for critical materials. Prior to this Mr. Meira was the Business Development Manager for Battery Feedstock at Lithion Technologies, and also held key roles as Regional Aftersales Development Manager and Business Development Specialist for Wholesale Parts at BMW Group Canada.

Kyle Gregoire

President - Granulum

Mr. Gregoire is the president of Granulum and the president of RubberJet Canada. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Windsor and has spent the majority of his 30-year engineering career in automotive polymers, having worked at Ford, Siemens Automotive, Trelleborg, and DMC Korea before moving into the tire recycling space in 2015. Mr. Gregoire has worked in both Canada and the US extensively and works to bring an automotive production mindset combined with an entrepreneurial drive to the recycling industry.

Helen Weykamp

Principal Engineer - Hydro Aluminum

Ms. Weykamp has worked in the aluminum industry for more than 30 years, focusing on alloy and extrusion process development for automotive applications. Currently she is a Principal Engineer working on recycling friendly alloys for use in automotive EV structural and crash management components. Ms. Weykamp holds a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and a MS in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Washington.

Sam Padnos

Non-Ferrous Trading Manager - PADNOS

Mr. Padnos is the Non-Ferrous Trading Manager at PADNOS, where he has been part of the team since 2014. Here he focuses on optimizing non-ferrous trading and supply chain operations, working closely with suppliers and customers to create mutually beneficial solutions. With a passion for sustainability and circularity, he helps ensure that valuable materials are recovered and returned to manufacturing.

Amanda Nummy

Senior Polymer Engineer - Hyundai Motor Group

Ms. Nummy is a senior polymer engineer with a decade of experience in the automotive industry. She is responsible for plant support and application development of all plastic components for North and South America and leads several global collaborations for fuel cell and battery electric vehicle development. Ms. Nummy is the author of several papers published within the industry and advocates for the thoughtful and responsible use of polymeric materials and alternative energy as part of the complex system of solutions that will be needed to ensure a sustainable future. Ms. Nummy earned a BS in Polymer, Textile, and Fiber Engineering from Georgia Tech, a MS in Materials Science and Engineering from Wayne State University, and a MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University.

Sean Osborne

Vice President - The ITB Group

Mr. Osborne leads vehicle efficiency, thermal and fluid management initiatives at The ITB Group. He has been developing and implementing strategic visions as a executive in several organizations for 25 years. Over the past 35 years he has accumulated extensive experience in automotive development, including experience working in Europe and China as well as the United States. Areas of his automotive specialization are vehicle efficiency, thermal and fluid management, fuel systems, and communications networks. Mr. Osborne holds Master’s degrees in Engineering and Management from MIT and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from General Motors Institute.

Tom Edwards

Manager, Quality, Environmental Health, and Safety - Cirba Solutions

With nearly 20 years of experience, Mr. Edwards supports the circular economy and sustainable vision and mission of Cirba Solutions through the strategic development and promotion of safe, professional work practices and conditions in his role as the Quality, Environmental Health, and Safety Manager. He provides critical expertise in overseeing the quality management system and that it is compliant with required standards and certifications.

Dr. Paul Hernley

Assistant Manager of EV Battery Sustainability and Recycling - General Motors

Dr. Hernley is the Assistant Manager of EV Battery Sustainability and Recycling at General Motors. With over seven years of experience in battery circularity, he has developed innovative solutions to real-world end-of-life battery management challenges. Here he collaborates with emerging battery recyclers and plays a key role in understanding the carbon footprints of GM’s batteries. Dr. Hernley holds a BS from Clemson University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, both in Chemical Engineering.

Dr. Nico Depner

Manager Innovation - Yanfeng

Dr. Nico Depner studied automotive engineering at RWTH Aachen University and in 2011 he joined the Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika) in the field of lightweight design and vehicle concept development. After ramping up the HMI business as team lead, he later became Head of the Vehicle Concept & HMI department. In 2019 he moved to fka GmbH as Head of the Vehicle Concept, Body & Interior department. Dr. Depner join Yanfeng in 2022 and works to drive cross-business-unit and product sustainability innovations.

Timothy Richter

- Prisma Renewable Composites

Mr. Richter has had a diverse career in the consulting and renewable energy industries having held senior positions in operations, project development, project management, and business development. This includes experience in geological and civil engineering problems within infrastructure development, leadership in renewable fuels construction and development, and assisting developmental companies and project suites in bringing their technologies to market. Mr. Richter holds degrees from Princeton University and Northeastern University Graduate School.

Norbert Fraunholcz

CEO - ReSolved Technologies

Dr. Fraunholcz is the founder and CEO of ReSolved Technologies BV, Netherlands. Prior to this role he operated as an Associated Professor of recycling technology at the Delft University of Technology, and was a consultant on technology, strategy and supply chain management in the field of plastics recycling at Recycling Avenue. He was also engaged as Lead Engineer Recycling at The Ocean Cleanup. Dr. Fraunholcz holds a M.Sc. in minerals processing technology from the Mining Academy of Freiberg and a Ph.D. in separation technology of waste plastics from the Delft University of Technology.

Tim Almond

Chairman - Heartland Industries

Mr. Almond is the Chairman of Heartland Industries where he has utilized his passion for redefining manufacturing and supply chains to steer his company toward becoming a driving force in sustainability and industrial efficiency. Recognized as a trailblazer in his field, Mr. Almond was honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, a testament to his exceptional contributions and impact on the industry. His work exemplifies the power of innovative thinking and strategic execution in building a better, more sustainable future.

Gary Hawkins

Automotive Applications Development - Eastman

Mr. Hawkins joined Eastman in 1998 and serves as an Applications Development Associate and the Global Automotive Technical Leader. Throughout his career, he has supported a diverse array of Eastman business sectors and since 2016, he has concentrated on advancing circularity and assisting customers in achieving carbon neutrality within the automotive plastics segment. Mr. Hawkins holds a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee. He is also recognized as an inventor, having contributed to several patents.

Missy Brudzynsky

Engineering Director, Innovation - Lear

Ms. Brudzynsky, Director of Engineering at Lear, has more than 20 years of automotive industry experience at both the OEM and the supplier level, holding positions of increasing responsibility in research and development, seating comfort technologies, and foam systems.  She earned a bachelor degree from Michigan State University, a masters from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from Wayne State University.  Ms. Brudzynsky has published several papers and holds 15 patents to date. Most recently, she leads the team that developed FlexAir, a foam replacement solution that provides greater environmental benefits with superior comfort and durability performance. 

Dr. Xi Chen

Application Development Scientist - Dow

Dr. Chen is an application development scientist at Dow where his work is focused on developing innovative polyethylene and polyolefin elastomer products for automotive interior, exterior and seating applications. Before joining Dow, Dr. Chen earned his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and did a summer internship at Tesla. Dr. Chen has authored 15 journal articles and 6 patent filings. 

Arnd Herwig

Vice President Development - Brose North America

Mr. Herwig is an international automotive industry leader with R&D, M&A, and board-level experience with developing and launching innovative electronics and mechatronic products. He first joined Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH as Director Design for the Door Systems Business Division and later joined the North America division in 2007. Here Mr. Herwig operates as Vice President development and is responsible for the group’s product engineering activities, central engineering functions and electronics business. Mr. Herwig holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Hannover and is the Chairman of the Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program MAT²®.

Selamawit Belli

Strategic Market Manager - Dow

Ms. Belli has over 20 years of commercial and technical experience in chemical and coatings companies where she has proven success in developing new markets and executing innovation-driven growth. Currently she is the North America Mobility Market Leader for the Polyurethanes business at Dow. Ms. Belli holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Paul Salach

Product Leader - Owens Corning

Mr. Salach began his career at Owens Corning in 2017 as a member of their Supply Chain Leadership Program and in 2020 transitioned to marketing as a Strategy Analyst where he provided executive level recommendations on organic growth opportunities across Owens Corning’s three businesses. He currently serves as the Americas Product Leader for Type 30 Single End Roving and Global Product Leader for Sustaina® Glass Fibers. Mr. Salach holds a bachelor’s degree in applied engineering sciences from Michigan State University.

Thomas Klena

HW Excellence Manager and Engineering Sustainability Lead - Continental Automotive

Mr. Klena manages the Hardware Excellence Group at Continental Automotive where his focus is on driving sustainability initiatives within the engineering organization. His expertise in simulation and process improvements has led to accelerated product development and improved product performance. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.