OFFICERS

President: 

Suresh Patel, Director of NA Business Development, holds M.S Degree in Chemical Engineering from NJIT and has been with Chemetall for 30 years.  He has held various positions at Chemetall throughout his career starting with lab Chemist, Process Engineer, Process Equipment Mfg. Manager, Marketing Manager, Business Manager, General Industry (GI) and Director, Mexico Sales, Tech Service and Marketing. During his 30 years of service at Chemetall, he has been involved with large corporations within GI, Auto OEMs, Auto Comps and other segments related to their approvals and processes.

He has made numerous presentations to trade organizations and companies, including several Powder Coating, CCAI, Fabtech, STLE, SFM-MX, and ECOAT Conferences and has written articles for several trade magazines.

Vice President:

Michael Stuhldreher, Axalta Coating Systems, is a Market Development Manager with Axalta Coating Systems. He has 30 years of experience in the coatings industry, with 21 years of Ecoat-related business development for Axalta’s General Industrial Total Solutions unit. Mike holds a BA from Notre Dame and an MBA from Ohio State University.

Treasurer:

Dr. Mark Rizzone is Sales Manager- Industrial Processes with Koch Separation Solutions. He has 37 years of experience in electrocoat paint and general industrial applications. Prior to joining KSS in 1996, he held key technical, sales and marketing positions at ROMICON, Sanborn Technologies, CUNO Separations and Metcalf & Eddy.

Dr. Rizzone is Treasurer of the Electrocoat Association and has been past President 2009-2011. He received the 2012 Brewer Award for Market Promotion of the Technology. Mark holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University.

Secretary:

Todd Luciano is publisher of Products Finishing, Products Finishing Mexico and the VALVE Magazine brands, overseeing advertising sales and collaborating with each brand’s editorial teams on topics and content for multiple media platforms, including a print magazine along with all their digital channels, including both brand websites. Todd supervises each brand professional staff of editors, columnists and contributors and is responsible for the day-to-day business operation of the brand with the goal of maintaining our standards of excellent content for the surface technology sector and valve manufacturers. He also works extensively with industry trade organizations to articulate each brand’s value and vision and is responsible for developing and carrying out the brand’s long-term strategic plan.

Past President:

Jon Barrett, PPG Coating Services

DIRECTORS

Ben Hill, Brose, has over 15 years in the finishing industry, working around captive e-coat shops in various function from a lab technician to the maintenance manager. In his current role, he oversee the NA region for Brose, supporting their internal e-coat lines as well as various sub-suppliers. In 2016, Benjamin was awarded the Best End User Paper Award for E-Coat 2016. Additionally, he was named as one of Products Finishing 40 under 40: Class of 2017. In 2021, he received his Certified Electroplater Finisher certification from NASF. He currently serves on the E-coat Board of Directors.

Rex Krohn, from Deere & Company, Manager of Enterprise Facilities Services in Moline, IL. He leads the Paint Materials group responsible for innovation, specifications, standard processes, and qualification of paints and painters. He also leads the Paint Process Engineering group responsible for designing and constructing new and renovated paint systems. In 2020, Rex took on additional responsibility for the Enterprise Facilities Competencies – Electrical, Mechanical, Environmental, Civil and Structural Engineering. Similar to the Paint Competency, the Facilities Group is responsible for large capital projects, equipment standards, and specifications. Rex began his career with John Deere in 2000 and has held positions at the WWHQ, Harvester Works, Waterloo Works, and at the John Deere Engine Works. Prior to joining John Deere, Rex held multiple manufacturing and materials engineering positions in the paint/coatings industry.

Rex holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Iowa.

Kirsten Kulik, F.A.S.T. International, as an expert in sales and marketing, has over 21 experience in all types of marketing and 10 years in sales and marketing of electrocoat paint filtration and separation technology. She served on the board of director and chair of the American Filtration and Separation Society. She is currently serving on the board of directors for The Electrocoat Association.

Antonio Gallegos, KOCH Finishing

David George from Henkel is a Surface Treatment Technical Manager. In his 34 years with Henkel, he has held various positions within The Automotive Technical Service Group including Director, as well as Global Technical Sales Manager, and Head of Henkel’s Automotive Training Programs. Throughout his career, he has given numerous presentations to technical/trade organizations including SURCAR, Fabtech, CCAI, and The Electrocoat Association. In his current role, David provides technical expertise and support for Automotive OEMs’ conversion coating processes, focusing on innovations in sustainable metal pretreatment technology. David and his Henkel team have won two Automotive News PACE awards for the introduction of zirconium oxide (Thin Film) technology in 2009 and Henkel Flex (Two-Step) hybrid technology in 2014. He currently serves on the board of directors for The Electrocoat Association. David is also a professional photographer and a music enthusiast.

Mike Vandenbark, Modine Manufacturing Co.

James Gezo, PPG Industries, Inc., Industrial Coatings Americas Strategic Business Development Manager, has been in the electrocoat industry since 1982. He began his career in automotive resin synthesis and product development and then moved into the Industrial Coatings Team as a Service Representative in southeast MI. He then moved back into the laboratory and worked in IC Electrocoat Team in product development, Tank Sampling Laboratory Team Leader, and Customer Response Chemist and Team Leader before moving into Product Management. Jim has been responsible for a number of major electrocoat launches including one-coat acrylic for the appliance industry and PPG’s 9th Generation cationic epoxy electrocoat.

A 2018 Brewer Award recipient and member of the Electrocoat Association’s Board of Directors, Conference Steering Committee, and prior Boot Camp Presenter, Jim received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.S. in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University.