Committee Members
Adam BACKHAUT
Paint Manufacturing
LUCID MOTORS
Scott BARNETT
Director – Application Engineering, Robotics and Automation
3M
Scott currently leads the 3M global abrasives application engineering team that is focused on engineering of robotic abrasive processes in collaboration with system integrators and end using customers.
He has been with 3M for 41 years within various abrasives related businesses and has held a variety of roles including new product development, technology development, business leadership, acquisition integration, and for the past twelve years, application engineering.
Nadia BENHAMIDA
Senior Polymers and Coatings Engineer
HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA
Nadia is Senior Coatings Engineer in the Materials Development team at Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center. She has over 20 years in global industrial experience in advanced research and development focused upon sustainability, innovation and emerging technologies with collaborative and inclusive leadership style. She received a Chemical engineering degree from North Africa, M.S. Applied Chemistry Engineering degree from Europe and a M.S. degree in Polymers and Coatings Engineering from USA.
Michael BENNETT
Marketing Director
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS
Bob BOOTH
President
TKS INDUSTRIAL COMPANY
Bob has been with TKS, the North American division of Taikisha Ltd., for 17 years. Bob, a degreed engineer, has supported various roles throughout his surface finishing systems career at TKS including sales/marketing, procurement and operations. He currently holds the position of President of TKS and its paint finishing subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico. Bob is committed to the customers TKS serves, the industry as a whole and the drive toward an efficient and green future. When not supporting that commitment, he enjoys being a soccer and baseball dad and the many outdoor activities he and his family enjoy.
Marc BRILL
Director of Sales
GIFFIN
Marc currently leads the Sales and Marketing team that is focused on providing high quality surface finishing solutions for Automotive, General Industrial, Aerospace and non-Automotive processes, in collaboration with system integrators and OEMs. He has been in the industry for 30-years within various disciplines, including design, program management, field operations, business development, and recently appointed Director of Sales.
Marc’s diverse industry knowledge, experience and network play a key role in supporting successes for our client’s and their needs that involve complexity, intricacy, large-scale implementation, and sustainability. His recent accomplishments include the most expeditious, safe and successful build of a World-Class manufacturing facility for Stellantis in Detroit, MI., amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.
Marc is a well-rounded humanitarian driven with dedication and investments in relationships, results and continual improvement in all aspects of life, professional and familial. Marc is the President of a Youth Non Profit Archery League and has Managed his son’s baseball teams for close to a decade; and is a founding member of GIFFIN Gives-Back community outreach program, extending to habitat for humanity participation and organizations that support and foster well-being and enlightenment for children.
Steve COATS
Vice President – Automotive Sales & Marketing
SAMES
Vernon COMEAUX
Vehicle Process Engineering - Paint Process Senior Manager
STELLANTIS
Henry FULMER
Paint Shop Materials and Automation Steering Specialist
BMW SPARTANBURG
Yuko GIDCUMB
Engineering Material Development Leader
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA
Yuko graduated from the University of Michigan with a Chemical Engineering degree prior to starting her career at Toyota R&D in 2003.
At Toyota, she started off as a paint design engineer before transferring to the materials development group, with focus on body primers.
After completion of an international assignment on 2011, Yuko then expanded into the high viscosity development area.
Currently, she works as the Senior Engineering Manager of the materials development group that focuses on the localization and development of body paint, pretreatment and electrocoat, and high viscosity materials.
Chris HALL
Strategy and Standards, Paint Group Leader
HONDA
Tim HAYES
International President
SURCAR
Jeffrey JONES
Vice President Automotive OEM coatings
BASF
Jon KARR
Vice President Paintshop Automation
FANUC
Xavier MAURY
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Director America
PLASTIC OMNIUM
Xavier Maury , 54 Years old
24 years of experience in the Automotive industry in the development of product and processes of exterior automotive plastic parts.
Responsible for Engineering dept at division level in the early 2010s and in charge of industrialization and Manufacturing engineering activities for the Americas for the past 7 years . In charge of regional organization in the field of Assembly , packaging and paint application . Responsible for the HSE at regional level.
Since 2015 , responsible for all Capital expenditure as well as industrial projects ( refurbishment , additional CAPEX and Greenfield ) for the Intelligent exterior system division of Plastic Omnium Americas.
Patrick MCKERNAN
Chief Engineer VOME - Global Paint Engineering
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Mike NELSON
Paint Process Manager
ABB
Michael Nelson, has been in the Paint Automation Group at ABB for over 23 years. During this time he has held several roles with many different job descriptions including: Engineering, Process Development, Sales Support, Installation, and Commissioning. His current role is the North American Paint Process Manager based in Auburn Hills, MI USA
Ryan ODEGAARD
Director, Global Paint Vehicle Systems Engineering
GENERAL MOTORS
Ed PAGAC
General Manager, Americas Optima Solutions
PPG
Jim PAKKALA
Director of sales and estimating
GALLAGHER-KAISER
Paul SIKORA
Vice President & General Manager
NALCO WATER
Travis SMITH
Senior Manager Paint and Plastics Engineering
NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION
Joshua SUDBURY
Global Key Account Manager
NIPPON PAINT AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS
Joshua Sudbury has had a diverse career ranging from R&D in water soluble polymers, energy and water saving & sustainability, and development and sales of automotive coatings for plastics. He has a B.S. degree in chemistry from Millikin University. In his current role he is a Global Key Account Manager for several Tier 1 manufactures and guides Nippon Paint Automotive Americas down their sustainability journey. He’s married with three children and very involved in youth sports and equine activities. He also enjoys officiating recreational youth sports and high school contests in wrestling, softball, and baseball.
Alexander WEITEN
Vice President
DÜRR SYSTEMS
Vice President Application Technology, Dürr Systems Inc.
Alexander Weiten is currently acting as Vice President in the Division Application Technology at Dürr Systems Inc. USA.
With more than 25 years of experience in the Automotive Paint Industry he has been working in different functions at Dürr globally, inter alia as Software Commissioning / Software Development Engineer PLC/HMI, Project Manager Control Systems, Senior Manager Control Systems, Director Operations in the field of Paint Automation Equipment. Mr. Weiten has broad experiences in project management and operations management including manufacturing, modular build, installation and commissioning.
Mr. Weiten is holding a degree in Automation Technology / Information Technology.
Kenny WHITE
North American President
SURCAR