The Chemical Engineering department is proud to have strong ties with industry, as it provides opportunities for graduate study that are relevant to society's needs—allowing Michigan Tech students to be on the forefront of real world problem solving for future sustainability. The External Advisory Board meets semiannually to consult on ideas and visions that continue to keep our chemical engineering program in tune with long-term needs of the chemical and materials processing industries.
Stephen Anderson '98
Steve Anderson is Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Food and Beverage Global Solutions business within Ecolab. A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life.
Building on a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $16 billion, employs more than 47,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use.
Throughout his 26 years with Ecolab, Steve has held various roles in the areas of sales, sales management, business strategy and general management. He started his career in the field as a territory manager following his graduation from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. He has continued his learning journey with executive education at both Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and at Harvard Business School.
During his time in the field and throughout his career, he has supported customers in the Institutional, Food and Beverage, Manufacturing, Power and Chemical industries.
With the ever-growing need for water use reduction and food safety programs around the world, Steve is responsible for continuing to build upon the solutions most needed by Ecolab's Food and Beverage customers to minimize water, maximize the life of customer assets, protect their brand and their people, all at an optimized cost.
Kyle Austin '91
Kyle Austin is a confident and technical senior director with over thirty years of international experience in the Oil and Gas industry. Currently, Austin is a site leader over three Illinois sites accountable for R&D pilot plant Operations and over a 100 million annual capital budget.
Kyle is a strategic R&D leader supporting STRAP and acceleration of innovation and Leader of R&D strategic development and pilot plant operations, which includes UOP's patent portfolio, as well as open innovation associated with external alliances.
This role is an essential member of the Honeywell UOP R&D leadership team and Austin works directly with the CTO and UOP's leadership to formulate strategy, drive innovation, and reduce product launch risk. He has a multi-disciplinary background in refinery processes, process control, automation, HAZOP, and Operational Work Processes and has a proven history in executive presence, change management, business risk reduction, and customer interaction.
Alex Bank '16
Alex graduated from Michigan Tech in 2016 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, Alex started his career with Dow Chemical in the Michigan Operations plant and spent his first few years working as a production engineer. As part of the Dow-Dupont merger in 2019, Alex aligned to Corteva Agriscience and led three separation projects to transfer ownership and operational control of eight assets from Dow to Dupont, IFF, Trinseo and Corteva Agriscience. Following the merger-related projects, Alex supported a multi-product herbicide production facility over the next four years as a commissioning and startup leader, production coordinator and operations leader.
Currently, Alex is an Operational Excellence Transformation Leader where he's responsible for implementing new roles and work processes across the Michigan Operations facility to improve cost and productivity.
Alex lives in Midland, MI with his wife, Ashley, and three kids. He actively participates with United Way, having led two campaigns for Michigan Operations and serving on the Midland County Young Leaders United Executive Council for three years.
Todd E. Davis '92, '93
Todd E. Davis has over 30 years experience in the North American mining and steel industries. He is currently a Lead Process Engineer for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., the largest flat rolled steel producer in North America. He developed skills in leading large-scale mineral processing operations and process optimization. He built his career on a foundation of enhancing productivity, managing costs, ensuring safety and environmental compliance. He started his career in 1993 with Cyprus Northshore Mining Co in Silver Bay, MN as a Metallurgical Engineering in Fine Crushing and Concentrating. Following Cliffs acquisition of Northshore in 1994, he went on to work at several U.S. sites for Cleveland-Cliffs, in various technical, operations and leadership roles covering all aspects of iron ore processing. In addition, his experience includes ISO 9001 Quality Management system implementation, renewable energy development and process optimization of Eastern Canadian operations.
He is most grateful for the opportunity to be mentored by his mentor and learn from high caliber professionals of diverse backgrounds over his career with Cleveland-Cliffs. He has Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. He earned Green and Black Belts in 6-sigma for process and business improvement. In 2018, he was the recipient of the MTU – ASISC Life Time Achievement Award. He currently resides in Marquette, MI with his wife (Sandy) of 30 years and three children.
Margaret Guillaumin '03
Meg Guillaumin is the Director of Gas Plants at DTE Energy, a Detroit-based diversified energy company. With over 20 years of experience in the power generation industry, Meg has worked in engineering, maintenance and operational leadership roles in fossil fuel and renewable energy generating facilities. In her current assignment, Meg is responsible for DTE Energy's natural gas, fuel oil and hydroelectric generating plants totaling over 4,000 MW of generating capacity across the State of Michigan. The facilities under her control provide both base load and peaking generation capabilities to serve the needs of customers safely and efficiently. Prior to this role Meg led Operational Performance for DTE's Energy Supply organization, developing strategic direction for generation transformation and emerging technology usage as DTE strives to achieve net-zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Meg also led the Blue Water Energy Center, DTE's newest power plant, during its transition from construction through commercial operation in 2022 and achieving top quartile unit performance for the first full year of operation. Meg is a 2003 graduate of Michigan Technological University with a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering.
Angela Johnston '00
Angela Johnston graduated from Michigan Tech in 2000 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. The past 24 years, Angela has held several roles across Kimberly Clark Corporation Research and Development in process, materials, and product development. Her curiosity and creativity have resulted in over 75 granted global patents and trade-secrets as well as many in-market product launches for well-known brands like Cottonelle®, Scott®, Viva®, Depend®, Poise®, Goodnites®, Pullups® and Huggies®. Angela served as the technical leader for Huggies® Hospital where she led the engagement with medical professionals and launched the world’s smallest diaper for premature babies. She is a leader in open innovation, an advocate for transformation to digital R&D, and a champion for teammates professional growth. Angela’s current role is the Global Technical Expert for Huggies® where she influences and provides technical leadership and strategy for the flagship brand. She has a passion for researching consumer fundamentals, setting strategic direction, and engineering products that delight consumers balancing global business scale with local customization. Angela has complemented her research and development career with technical sales and marketing influence including staring in 4 US and Canadian TV commercials and most recently as a social media STEM-influencer for Huggies®.
Angela met her husband Jim Johnston (B.S. ChE 1999) at MTU and they have lived and worked in the Fox Valley, Wisconsin area for the past 24 years. They have two daughters who are continuing the MTU legacy. Outside of work, Angela is an active advocate of engineering in the community. Together with her husband they have mentored dozens of high school seniors into engineering and celebrate their professional successes along the way. When visiting the Houghton area, Angela can be found at skiing at Swedetown and Mt. Bohemia, mountain biking the Tech Trails, and hunting for thimbleberries.
Teresa Karjala '87
Teresa (Plumley) Karjala graduated from Michigan Tech in 1987 with a B.S. in chemical engineering and from the University of Delaware in 1992 with a PhD, also in chemical engineering. Currently, Teresa is a R and D Fellow at Dow in the Packaging and Specialty Plastics business and is based in Lake Jackson, Texas, leading product development of advanced grades of polyethylene. In addition to her day-to-day work,
Teresa coaches individuals and teams, and is a member of multiple Dow cross-functional teams. She is the recipient of several awards, including being made a Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers, R and D 100 and Edison Awards, and the ACS Award for Team Innovation, as well as Dow awards for technology improvements and the Dow Gulf Coast Scientists Excellence in Science Award. She is an inventor on over 100 U.S. patents and over 90 European patents and has published over 90 external presentations, conference papers, and journal articles. Teresa is active in several professional organizations including the Society of Plastics Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Society of Rheology, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She has served as a member of the Michigan Tech Chemical Engineering External Advisory Board since 2021 and is a continuing supporter of the Department of Chemical Engineering, along with her husband, Thomas, also of the MTU class of 1987. Teresa was inducted into the Michigan Tech Presidential Council of Alumnae in September 2023.
Danielle Klimek-McDonald '15
Danielle Klimek-McDonald was a direct part of the Michigan Tech community from 2007 to 2017 earning her B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2011 and her Ph.D. also in Chemical Engineering in 2015 (Advisor: Dr. Julie King Dissertation: Mechanical Properties of Graphene Nanoplate/Epoxy Composites). Danielle stayed at MTU as an instructor from Fall of 2015 to Spring of 2017 teaching core Chemical Engineering classes such as Thermodynamics as well as other cross engineering electives. Danielle knew that she didn't want a career in academia and desired to work in research and development.
Summer of 2017 presented an opportunity for her to intern with Georgia-Pacific's Consumer Product Group at the Neenah Technical Center. During the internship Danielle worked on understanding the drying mechanism for the adhesive in a Dixie insulated hot cup. In August, Danielle accepted a position at GP in Product Development where she has spent the last 7 years building a track record of leading design to commercialization, scale up and manufacturing start-up of new products. She is recognized for her ability to design experimental trials to identify risk adjusted alternatives, and effectively communicate technical risks to business leaders.
As of August 2023, Danielle has been responsible for the long-term product strategy and innovation for Quilted Northern Ultra Plush® bath tissue.
On the side, Danielle is very passionate about early career development and has been the leader of two different professional development groups within GP. She also stays engaged with the MTU Chemical Engineering department by teaching a section of Trasport 1 each Spring semester and meeting with the students during the semesters the GP Unit Operations Experiment is running.
Glenn Lawrence '75
After graduating with my BS in Chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University, Glenn returned home to New Jersey to achieve his dream job of working for the Pharmaceutical Company Merck and Co. Lawrence's first position at Merck and Co. was as a shift engineer at a large factory in Rahway, New Jersey. It was a great learning ground for chemical processing and automation. After moving to high positions within the Rahway site, he was asked to join engineering department where he performed process engineering / plant design for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) vaccines and therapeutic proteins.
During that time, Glenn earned his Professional Engineering License and certification as a Certified Pharmaceutical Industry Professional by the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE). Near the end of Lawrence's career at Merck and Co., he was asked to head the Process Safety initiatives. He assisted in assuring the safety of manufacturing processes and achieving personnel exposure objectives at Merck sites around the world.
During his 37 years at Merck and Co., the most rewarding project Glenn was a part of was during the AIDS epidemic. At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Merck developed an antiviral therapy that prevented the HIV virus from replicating itself. Getting the drug to market became the number one objective for the company. It was the first class of drugs that prevented AIDS from being a death sentence. Lawrence was selected to lead the process design for the manufacturing facility—it was more of a mission than a project.
After retiring from Merck and Co., Glenn joined a consulting firm and worked on projects for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and large and small pharmaceutical companies. Since leaving consulting, Glenn continues to volunteer with ISPE serving as the Chair of the Containment Center of Practice (CoP) and was a contributor/author to three industry Good Practice Guides.
Kevin Possi '05
Kevin Possi is a 2005 graduate of Michigan Tech and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He has worked for ChemDesign Products in Marinette, WI since 2013 and is currently the Engineering and Facilities Manager. Kevin and his team are responsible for all projects, process planning and plant maintenance activities. Prior to his current role, he spent eight years as a Production Manager for ChemDesign andoversaw the manufacture of many chemical products.
Kevin is from Escanaba, MI and spent the early part of his career working for oil and gas companies in Texas and Indiana. During that part of his career, Kevin worked in various roles including development, optimization, and maintenance and reliability. His experience in a manufacturing environment during this period ignited a passion that has shaped his career.
Kevin shares a son and daughter with his wife, Julia, who is also a 2005 Chemical Engineering graduate of Michigan Tech. Kevin is active in his community and is a board member for the Marinette Menominee Chamber of Commerce. He actively participates in local STEM education outreach and chairing the local Community Leadership Academy. In his free time, Kevin enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, hiking, mountain biking, camping, and pursuing amateur woodworking.
Dave Reif
David Reif is an accomplished professional with a rich background in engineering, finance, and sales, underscored by his commitment to advancing automation applications and use in the energy sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and an MBA in Finance, which have provided a solid foundation for his diverse career. David began his professional journey as a Process Engineer with Fluor Engineers, where he developed a deep understanding in the design and operation of complex petroleum processing facilities. He transitioned to Emerson, holding leadership roles in sales and sales management, industry marketing, product management and business development across their extensive portfolio of automation products and systems. At Emerson, David utilized his technical expertise to drive innovation and advancement of industrial automation in the energy sector, with a particular emphasis on the petroleum industry.
David has authored numerous technical papers and delivered technical presentations on process control and instrumentation, showcasing his expertise and thought leadership in the field. His contributions have been instrumental in advancing knowledge and practice in these critical areas. David also served as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he shared his industry knowledge with students and contributed to their academic and professional development.
Currently, David is the Vice President of Global Sales and serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team at SOR Controls Group. In this role, he leads Global Sales, Customer Service, and Product Management strategies, leveraging his extensive experience to drive the company's success and deliver innovative automation solutions to the energy sector.
He also maintains a professional consulting business centered on delivering competitive results to companies focused on key elements of business management. David serves on the Boards of several entities, including the Industrial Advisory Board for Chemical Engineering at Michigan Tech,
David's career reflects a dedication to merging technical knowledge with strategic business acumen, positioning him as a key figure in the advancement of process control and automation in the energy industry.