Tell us about your background and how your experience and skill set help lead Smart Tire Recycling?

I have both bachelor's and Master's degrees in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. I've spent most of my career in process engineering focused on developing new processes and scaling them to full-scale operations. This experience will be crucial for the next steps toward commercialization at Smart Tire Recycling. During my time at PPG's silica division, I learned a great deal about rubber production, particularly for tires, and what manufactures are looking for in a filler material like silica or carbon black.

How has the company grown since you joined the team two years ago?

When I first joined the company, our process was in the early stages of development and heading down an unlikely path to produce recycled carbon black. At the time, we only had a small batch result showing the technology was feasible. Today, everything in the process has changed from that original design. We now have a continuous working process that produces recycled carbon black and passes quality control tests with plans to build a pilot-scale system that will allow us to make meaningful amounts of carbon black with zero emissions.

What do you like about working for Smart Tire Recycling?

I like working for Smart Tire Recycling because it gives me a chance to tackle a real problem facing the world and provide a meaningful solution. With our dedicated team, it's easy to see the impact of our work and know we all have a hand in reaching our goals. It also gives me the flexibility to balance work and family to handle the unique problem that Covid-19 presents to all of us.