Hilton Head, SC         (267) 503-3692                      [email protected]

Who am I?

I am a Cornell University-trained PhD chemist with a strong background in organic and organometallic chemistry, polymers, plastics, failure analysis, project management, and patents. I applied these skills during my three decades of experience as a scientist, leader, and executive in the chemical and polymer industries to develop new products and processes that delivered significant growth in sales and profitability. My experience includes research and development, failure analysis, intellectual property, manufacturing, and business development.

Technical Depth Drives Innovative Solutions

When taking on a technical challenge, I use my deep understanding of chemistry to understand the problem and its cause, reviewing what has been done to address the problem, as well as any traditional approaches to solve that type of problem. If that provides a clear solution, I build upon it. If not, I flip the problem around to understand if there is a better solution. Using this approach, I have been able to significantly improve the quality, speed, and outcome of many projects. As examples:

• A company approved an >4-year research program to address a quality and performance issue with their most profitable product. Within weeks of accepting the project, I identified a much faster route that avoided many regulatory obstacles. It was demonstrated at the industrial scale in just 3 months. The solution has resulted in several billion USD of sales. 
• A company hired me to solve product problems after it spent nearly 10 years developing a new technology to produce polymers. I proved that the ‘patented solution’ the company had adopted was actually the cause of the troubles. I also demonstrated an alternate solution that fit within the process capability, resolved the problems, and saved significant cost. 
• A team had been working for >3 years on a new product with no clear success in sight. After I modified the technical approach, the team had a viable product ready for industrial trials within 9 months. 
• A company had a multi-year program that suffered from poor product performance, limited shelf-life, and low quality. I recommended a change in the technical approach that would address all three of these problems and would also fit better with customer needs. The new approach quickly led to a revised product offering with greatly improved commercial prospects. 

Data-Driven Failure Analysis

Even when companies devote many resources to developing high quality products, failure may still occur and people then point the finger of blame. It is critical to use data to identify the cause of the failure because the ‘obvious’ explanation is often incorrect. For example:

• On two occasions I was asked to investigate a coating failure. In both cases, a detailed analysis proved that the coating performed exactly as it was designed and the failure was actually due to improper use by the customer and subsequent degradation of the substrate. 
• A company needed assistance when their yield for a high value product had dropped to near zero. The company believed that a change in a raw material was the source of the problem. While there was a raw material change, a detailed investigation showed that the problem was caused because the molds for the product were not properly supported leading to physical deformation and lost yield. 

Strategy 🡪 Plan 🡪 Execution

Deciding what to work on, having a solid plan to address the issue, and executing that plan well are keys to obtaining good and profitable results. This approach has been at the heart of my work in solving technical problems, but this method is also critical to leadership and guidance of a business. The bullets below demonstrate how I lead project and portfolio management processes for companies with which I have worked.  

• Some companies have no project management system, others have highly bureaucratic ones. I have shown multiple times that a well-designed and implemented system can greatly enhance project speed and success. 
• Entropy and a desire to please everyone may contribute to people and businesses working on far too many projects, some with very low value. By focusing the commercial and technical development team on projects that were both valuable and important, I have often demonstrated that reducing the number of active projects by 80% could actually increase the number and value of successful projects and thus the profit contribution from them. 
• Many companies hold long and tedious portfolio reviews including up to 100 slides that leave the management team tired, confused, and frustrated. By focusing on key aspects of the portfolio, I have condensed the reviews to brief focused meetings that conclude with agreements and plans to move forward. 

Education and Teaching Experience

• PhD in Organic/organometallic Chemistry from Cornell University
  Dissertation: The Structure and Reactivity of Organometallic Compounds
  Advisor: Dr. David B. Collum
  Received the Tunis Wentinck ‘Graduate Student of the Year’ award and a Rohm and Haas Fellowship
• Master of Science in Chemistry from Cornell University
• California Institute of Technology Certificate in Technology Management
• BS in Chemistry from the Univ. of Scranton. Graduated in 3 years, Magna Cum Laude
• Taught Chemistry Laboratory courses to Cornell undergraduate students.
• Taught and mentored PhD, MS, and BS employees for Arkema and Bostik in the subjects of chemistry, polymer science, optics, and project management  

Employment Experience and Accomplishments

6/2018- present: President; innov8 chem LLC (www.innov8chem.com)

Providing chemistry, leadership, and strategic problem solving to the chemical industry with specialization in polymers, plastics, materials, and adhesives 

• Provide expert support for intellectual property and inter partes review in polymers, plastics, chemicals, materials, and adhesives
• Offer chemistry solutions to address production and product performance issues
• Deliver failure analysis in polymers, coatings, and composites
• Conduct business, market, and competitive analysis 
• Supply safety and regulatory reviews for workplace and environmental exposure

2/2016-6/2018: Chief Technology Officer; Bostik Americas and Global Director of R&D; Bostik Global Industrial Adhesives

• Led Industrial Adhesives Americas and Global R&D organizations and shared-services group including Americas Pilot Plant, Analytical, and Regulatory groups (>200 reports)
• Oversaw research, development, and commercialization for polyester, polyurethane, olefin, hot melt and multiple other adhesive products. 
• Served as technical lead for Bostik Americas Executive Team, Global and Regional Industrial Adhesives Business Teams, and Bostik Global Innovation Committee
• Elected to the Board of Directors of the Adhesive and Sealant Council
• Completed M&A due diligence

2006-2016: Global Director of Research; Altuglas International Division of Arkema
2009-2011: Dual role of Global Director of Research + Regional Director of Manufacturing 

• Oversaw Global R&D program of Altuglas, commercializing numerous new products and won the Innovation Award for LED lighting (2015),  R&D 100 award for Rnew biopolymer alloys (2012), Prix Pierre Potier for ShieldUp sheet (2012), Arena Award for Solarkote Capstock (2010), and finalist for the Arena Award (LED diffusion resins) in 2015 
• Recruited, hired, and trained employees on science, patents, and project management
• Secured and defended multiple patents and guided global patent strategy
• Instructed Altuglas Leadership Team on strategic innovation and R&D issues
  • Key contributor and champion for initiative to improve engagement and innovation
• Refocused business on high value opportunities leading to 2x to 4x increases in average new product selling price and in unit margins
• Improved Altuglas injury and process safety performance each year while manufacturing director for 300+ person organization
• Oversaw capital, research, technical service, and operations budgets exceeding $20M

1999-2006: R&D Manager; Altuglas International Division of Arkema

• Led research and development of high performing polymers for all applications  
• Upgraded Altuglas coextrusion and compounding capabilities to be models for King of Prussia R&D facility. Established high through-put capabilities for physical property testing and emulsion polymerization
• Led and presented failure analysis studies of plastic and composite materials including failures from weathering, thermal degradation, chemical attack, and fracture
• Co-designed the Altuglas Stage Gate process to manage R&D projects including both ‘light’ and ‘full scale’ versions to accommodate projects of varying size and complexity
• Established Univ. of Mass. (a top-3 Polymer Science graduate school) recruiting program to improve R&D talent and led this program for over a decade. 

1996-1998: Technical Marketing Specialist; Elf AtoChem N.A., AtoGlas Division 

• Initiated Solarkote product line by identifying market need, developing product concept, selling idea with senior management, designing first two products to launch, and branding products 
• Initiated cross-business programs with multiple Elf Atochem groups to accelerate integration

1985-1996: Sr. Research Scientist; Rohm and Haas and Altuglas precursor companies

• Led the development and commercialization of the patented and trade secret ‘-101’ technology products. Project was budgeted as a 5-year development but by redefining the approach, my solution was validated at commercial scale in ~3 months. The technology has generated several billion dollars of sales
• Introduced North American manufacturing technology to our new production facility in Rho, Italy
• Developed and helped commercialize Plexiglas SG7 and SG10 resins. The patented technology made these products the medical industry benchmark for gamma resistant acrylic molding resins
• Led the Impact Technical Team from 1991-1994. The multifunctional team was responsible for addressing customer and plant needs in a responsive manner
• Developed proprietary binder system for injection molding of powdered metal and ceramic substrates. The binder technology was later refined, patented, and the rights sold
• Developed novel 1K shelf-stable silane-crosslinking emulsion technology for multiple applications

Patents and Publications

• Acrylic photovoltaic module backsheet, US Patent 10,640,672. May 2020
• Optical light diffuser and method for measurement thereof, US Patent 10,539,290. Jan. 2020
• Impact resistant transparent thermoplastic compositions, US Patent 9,988,527. June, 2018
• Optical light diffuser and method for measurement thereof, World patent application WO 2014055330A3. Sept. 2013
• Multilayer composition with high gloss, US Patent 8,034,441. Oct. 2011
• Acrylic photovoltaic module backsheet, US patent application US 20110315189 A1. Dec. 2011
• Molded object exhibiting a polychromatic effect, US Patent 7,879,927. Feb. 2011
• Thermoformable photovoltaic backsheet, US patent application US20120024353A1. Mar. 2010
• Weather resistant high impact strength acrylic compositions, US Patent 7,294,399. Nov. 2007
• Acrylic polymer capstock with improved adhesion to structural plastics, US Patent 6,852,405. Feb. 2005
• Stabilization of methacrylic polymers against sterilizing radiation, US Patent 5,258,423. Nov. 1993
• Clear impact resistant plastics, US Patent 5,063,259. Nov. 1991
• Polymers stabilized against light and heat degradation. US Patent 5,066,696. Nov. 1991.
• Solid-state and solution studies of lithiated 2-carbomethoxycyclohexanone dimethylhydrazone and lithiated cyclohexanone phenylimine. Robert A. Wanat, David B. Collum, Greg. Van Duyne, Jon. Clardy, Randall T. DePue, Journal of the American Chemical Society  1986, 108 (12), 3415-3422
• On the origin of the stereoselectivity of hydrazone alkylations. Investigation of aggregation effects and solution kinetics. Robert A. Wanat and David B. Collum, Journal of the American Chemical Society 1985, 107 (7), 2078-2082
• Approaches to the Synthesis and Detection of a Transient Palladium( 0) Alkylidene. Robert A. Wanat and David B. Collum, Organometallics 1986, 5, 120-127
• Substituent effects on the stereochemistry of substituted cyclohexanone N,N-dimethylhydrazone alkylations. An X-ray crystal structure of lithiated cyclohexanone N,N-dimethyl 1-hydrazone. Collum, D.B.; Kahne, D.; Gut, S.A.; DePue, R.T.; Mohamadi, F.; Wanat, R.A.; Clardy, J.; VanDuyne, G., Journal of the American Chemical Society 1984, 106, 4865. 

Patents awarded to team members under Dr. Wanat’s supervision

• Polymeric articles having a textured surface and frosted appearance, US 7067188 B1. June 2006
• Stabilized UV transparent acrylic composition, US7407998B2. Aug. 2005
• Thermoplastic article with a printable matte surface, US7435462B2. Oct. 2008
• Polymeric articles having a textured surface and frosted appearance, US7547736B2. June 2009
• Plastic compositions having mineral-like appearance, US7592394B2. Sept. 2009
• High optical purity copolymer film, US7811659B2. Dec. 2014
• Polymeric articles having a textured surface and frosted appearance, US7868062B2. Jan. 2011
• Impact modified acrylics having a bimodal distribution of impact modifier sizes, US7915346B2. March 2011
• Transparent bullet-resistant acrylic sheet, US8119231B2. February 2012
• White light diffusing thermoplastic composition, US8163827B2. April 2012
• Multi-layer screen composites, US8208204B2. June 2012.
• White light diffusing thermoplastic composition, US8357744B2. January 2013
• Transparent chemical resistant impact acrylic alloy, US8524826B2. Sept. 2013
• Multilayer polymeric article having a metallic variegated look, US8658716B2. Feb. 2014
• Impact resistant acrylic alloy, US8835544B2. September 2014
• Fluoropolymer modified acrylic capstock, US9056974B2. June 2015
• Acrylic/thermoplastic olefin composite, US9272490B2. March 2013
• Photovoltaic module using PVDF based flexible glazing film, US9960300B2. May 2018
• Multilayer structures containing biopolymers, US9987820B2. June 2018
• High temperature acrylic sheet, US10043930B2. Aug. 2018.
• Photovoltaic modules having a polyvinylidene fluoride backsheet, US10050164B2. Aug. 2018

Awards (granted to Dr. Wanat and to his team):

Innovation Award for LED lighting (2015)

Arena Award finalist for LED diffusion resins (2015)

R&D 100 award for Rnew biopolymer alloys (2012)

Prix Pierre Potier for ShieldUp sheet (2012)

Arena Award for Solarkote Capstock (2010)

Cornell University Tunis Wentinck Award (1985)

Rohm and Haas Fellowship (1983)

Memberships and Affiliations

American Chemical Society (current member)

Society of Plastics Engineers (current member)

Adhesives and Sealants Council (past Board of Directors)

Society of Automotive Engineers (past member)