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Theresa Kotanchek, Ph.D.
1984, 1987g, 1991g
Chief Executive Officer, Evolved Analytics LLC
Dr. Theresa Kotanchek is the Chief Executive Officer of Evolved Analytics LLC, a data science and analytics system and software provider (www.evolved-analytics.com). Utilizing proprietary algorithms, evolved analytics discovers elusive relationships in complex data systems, extracting new insights and knowledge. Evolved Analytics’ suite of global solutions are broad reaching across multiple-industry sectors, enabling new catalyst, drug and materials discoveries, enhanced business forecasting, supply chain planning and logistics, and automated process and quality control.
Prior to assuming her current role, Dr. Kotanchek spent twenty-three years in executive and leadership positions at Dow Chemical, including Vice President for Sustainable Technologies, Innovation Sourcing and Information Research, Chief Technology Officer of Dow Chemical China Company Limited, Global Business Director of Dow Ventures, Global R&D Director of Dow Plastics, and Corporate Director of Materials Science and Engineering.
Dr. Kotanchek holds a doctorate in Materials Scienceand Engineering, a masters of science in Ceramic Science, and a bachelor of science in Ceramic Science & Engineering from Penn State. She is currently the Vice Chair of the National Academy of Engineers National Materials and Manufacturing Board and has served as a member of the NAE Committee on Foundational Best Practices for Making Value in America.
Internationally recognized, she has given over 200 invited lectures, published over 100 technical articles and holds six U.S. patents.
Ruth Ann Wood, M.S.
1987, 1991g
Senior Director - Process Transfer, Pall Corporation
607-644-7798
ruth_ann_wood@pall.com
Ruth Ann Wood has been employed with Pall Corporation in Cortland, NY since 2005. Ruth Ann served as the Global Engineering Manager for Filter Elements in the Industrial Process division with Pall. She manages design engineering functions in the US, Europe, and China for new filter element products within the Industrial Process line of business at Pall. Prior to her current role, Ruth Ann was a Senior Manufacturing Manager at the Pall Cortland facility with responsibility for production of media for metal filter element construction.
Prior to her career with Pall Corporation, Ruth Ann was employed with Ashland Incorporated for 15 years (1990 to 2005). Ruth Ann held a number of roles at Ashland with the Specialty Chemical division. She started her career with Ashland in R&D developing environmentally compatible foundry binder systems for metal casting. From 1995 to 2005, she developed refractory coating systems for lost foam casting and was considered an expert in that technology, receiving an American Foundry Society Division 11 (Lost Foam) Outstanding Individual Service Award (2004). Ruth Ann was also the recipient of an American Foundry Society Service Citation (2005) for contributions which had refined the lost foam process into a cost-effective method of manufacturing castings.
Ruth Ann received her BS in Ceramic Science & Engineering in 1987 from Penn State and her MS degree in Ceramic Science in 1990 also from Penn State. Her MS research focused on the chemistry of magnesium phosphates as low temperature binder materials for phosphate-bonded refractory systems.
Ruth Ann has been a member of the GEMS (Graduates of Earth and Mineral Science) Alumni Constituent Society since 2004 and has served as board president from 2010 to 2012. She has actively supported GEMS sponsored events including the alumni dinner at TOTEMS (Total Orientation to Earth & Mineral Science) and alumni involvement at EMEX. She was also a recipient of the Material Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.
Ruth Ann currently lives in Lafayette, NY near Syracuse.
Edward Sobota
1994
President, TSI Titanium
Edward A. Sobota is President of TSI Titanium, a PRV Metals company. TSI, located in Derry, Pennsylvania, is a leading manufacturer of titanium bar products.
Mr. Sobota began his career in titanium in 1988 as an assistant in TSI’s quality department. He spent extensive time observing hot-working operations (rolling and forging) at various mills subcontracted by TSI Titanium.
Upon graduating from Pennsylvania State University, with a BS in Metals Science and Engineering in 1994, Sobota joined BethForge (Bethlehem Steel’s large forging division) as an engineer in the technology department.
In 1995 He returned to TSI as a process metallurgist. He has had various responsibilities at TSI, mainly focusing on operations. The past decade has seen great expansion for TSI; installation and continual improvements to the rolling facility, extensive upgrading and expansion of the titanium bar finishing facility and the recent upgrade to TSI’s 1500 ton forging press. He assumed the role of President of TSI Titanium in 2010.
Mr. Sobota is a board member of the International Titanium Association, a board member of Westmoreland Federal Savings and Loan and a board member of the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County.
Sobota is currently residing in Latrobe, Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons. He is an avid golfer, cyclist and outdoorsman.
Mike Petrucci, M.S.
1982, 1985g
Semi-retired, Vice President Global Operations (Backbone), British Petroleum
Mike is currently the Semi-retired, Vice President Global Operations (Backbone), British Petroleum. He has also served as the President and CEO for BP Solar where he was a business unit leader with in the Alternative Energy Division of BP since joining the business from the semiconductor industry in 2007. Mike is currently responsible for delivering an integrated “common” solution to all geographic regions producing oil and gas to ensure consistent methods, processes and practices are employed.
Mike brings more than 25 years’ experience in Operations of high volume semiconductor and consumer related products. As President of BP Solar, he managed a global company generating revenue greater than $1.3B. The scope consisted of product development through direct/indirect manufacturing and Sales via a combination of direct and utility scale project development/delivery. Prior to BP, Mike was President of Amkor Technology, Philippines, Inc. for 6 years. Amkor, Philippines is a high volume operation providing complex semiconductor packaging and turnkey solutions through focused operational performance delivering a revenue stream greater than $800M. Amkor Technology, Inc. is a $2.8B company based in Phoenix, AZ. Mike oversaw four manufacturing locations which employed over 10,000 employees.
Prior to joining Amkor, Mike was employed for 13 years at Compaq Computer Corporation in Houston, Texas where he held a number of Senior Director positions.
Mike holds a Bachelor and Master degree’s in Materials Science (Metallurgy) from The Pennsylvania State University and a MBA from the University of St. Thomas.