The WACKER ACADEMY Team of Instructors
The WACKER ACADEMY team is available all over the world to further your professional development. We offer customized seminars and education solutions for your business needs – in theory and practice, and in keeping with the state of the art. Our certified instructors and moderators will share their knowledge, bringing to bear their curiosity, expertise and comprehensive understanding of new trends and markets.
Instructors at the WACKER ACADEMY of the USA (Ann Arbor, Allentown and Dalton)
Isaac Bressler
Isaac Bressler has been with WACKER since he graduated college in 2018. He is a chemist in the construction polymers group. Isaac has a primary focus on wall systems which includes Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS). Isaac earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University.
Dr. Daniel Calimente
After working with PPG Industries and BASF Corporation in their industrial coatings divisions, Dr. Daniel Calimente joined WACKER in 2011 as a Technical Manager. During the time at WACKER he has been responsible for technical applications for industrial coatings, plastics and oil and gas. Currently, Daniel is the Marketing Manager responsible for Architectural and Industrial Coatings. He received his PhD in Organic Chemistry and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.
Jianfang Chai
JC joined WACKER in 2015 and currently serves as the senior chemist for the mold-making market segment. In this role, he focuses on developing formulations and applications using RTV-2 silicones. Additionally, he has contributed to other market segments, including the Oil & Gas and automotive industries. Dr. Chai earned his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Göttingen in Germany.
Kory DeCesaris
Kory DeCesaris is a technical manager in the Construction Polymers (LNB) group based out of WACKER's Allentown, PA Lab. Kory supports the cement-based construction business via cementitious formulating, technical service, and new product development. Kory joined WACKER in 2017 as a chemist in LNB prior to transitioning to his current role in Summer 2022. He is a graduate of Penn State University (B.S. Materials Science and Engineering ’17) before joining WACKER.
Christopher Deeg
Christopher Deeg is a Technical Manager for the both the Chemical Industries and Thermal Insulation market segments of the Performance Silicones team, specializing in a wide range of applications, including automotive care, release agents, lubricants, printing and toner, heat transfer fluids, fumed silica for Brenntag, and formerly adhesives and composites. Christopher’s previous work includes a local R&D start-up focused on commercializing "geopolymers," an experience he credits for his adaptability and passion for diverse chemical technologies. His prior experiences also include R&D at a major adhesives company, a B.S. from the University of Michigan, and graduate studies in Polymers and Coatings at Eastern Michigan University.
Ed Grabowski
Ed Grabowski oversees the WACKER ACADEMY in the U.S. and is based out of WACKER’s Ann Arbor Innovation Center & North American Headquarters (AIC). Ed joined WACKER in June of 2022. Prior to WACKER, Ed led a team of technical trainers and developers for the USAID government agency as well as a team of consultants at a global professional services firm. Earlier in his career, he has led learning and development teams that focused on improving technical and leadership skills within the automotive industry. Ed has a B.S. in Human Resources with a specialization in Training and Development from Oakland University.
Chelsea Grimm
Starting at WACKER in 2015 after working at Ashland Chemical for seven years, Chelsea is currently a Chemist in the Personal Care market segment. She provides technical support to customers, production and Sales Managers, formulates products and prototypes for the personal care industry and does application testing for hair, skin and color cosmetics. Chelsea attended Marshall University in West Virginia where she received a BS in Chemistry.
Dr. Linrong Gu
Lingrong (Linna) joined WACKER right after completing a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Clemson University in South Carolina. She is the Technical Manager for the Pulp and Industrial defoamers Business Team SPI responsible for developing new defoaming and antifoaming products to various industries. Linna also has a MS in Polymers Chemistry and Physics and a BS in Chemistry from Zhejiang University in China.
Vahdat Jahed
Vahdat joined WACKER immediately after earning his PhD in Chemistry from Ohio University. As a chemist in the Performance Silicones Business Team, he is responsible for providing technical support and driving product development in the coatings segment. Prior to pursuing his doctoral studies, he gained five years of experience as a production manager in a tile manufacturing company. Vahdat is currently expanding his expertise by pursuing an MBA at William Paterson University.
Edward Jarrah
Edward Jarrah is a Formulation Specialist at Wacker Chemical. He has over 18 years of experience formulating construction chemicals. He worked several years at Dayton Superior Corporation developing emulsions and dispersions, with a strong focus on cementitious systems. He now serves a dual role, formulating polymer modified systems for the Business Development and Core team.
Steven Kaganove
Dr. Steven Kaganove is an applications chemist in the Architectural and Industrial Coatings group at Wacker Chemical Corporation in Ann Arbor, MI. He has a B.A. in chemistry from Grinnell College, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was previously a senior materials scientist at Elegus Technologies, and a research scientist at Michigan Molecular Institute. Dr. Kaganove’s interests have spanned silicon-containing polymers, silicones in composite materials, high temperature stable coatings, antimicrobial coatings, dendrimers and branched polymers, surface and interfacial chemistry, and chemically sensing polymers.
Todd Kamyszek
Todd joined WACKER in 2005 and spent 10 years at the Adrian, Michigan site in various technical roles. He relocated to the SILMIX® Ohio site in 2015 and is presently the Technical Manager focusing on high consistency silicone rubber compounds. He holds a BS degree in Rubber Engineering Technology and BS degree in Plastics Engineering Technology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, and a Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Management from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Joel Kennard
After earning his Chemistry degree from Cedarville University in 2004, Joel joined WACKER in 2005, starting in the spectroscopy lab. While at WACKER he completed an M.S. in Chemistry from Eastern Michigan University, focusing his thesis on the synthesis and evaluation of heat-stabilizing siloxanes. Over the years, Joel has supported markets such as release coatings, industrial coatings, and personal care. Currently, he serves as Technical Manager for Personal and Home Care, driving innovation and industry solutions.
Rajendra Kholiya
After working with PPG Industries and BASF in India, Raj joined WACKER in Dubai in 2016 as regional business development manager for Polymers in Middle East & Africa. He is currently located in Ann Arbor, MI and responsible for global strategic management of Industrial application of Cyclodextrin product portfolio in BioSolutions division. He covers a wide range of market segments such as household & personal care, paints & coatings, sustainable packaging, specialty additives, and so on. Raj is a chemical engineer and has also earned his master’s in business administration from University of Manchester, UK.
Christine Klingler
Christine, a Chemist in the Release Coatings Team, joined WACKER in 2012. She is responsible for technical customer support and product development. Christine holds a BS in Biology from Hillsdale College. Before joining WACKER, she spent five years at Dow Chemical working as a Manufacturing and Process Support Analytical Chemist.
Dan Mania
Dan is the senior applications chemist for Sealants and Adhesives responsible for developing formulations and applications with both SMP hybrids and RTV-1 silicones. He has also worked in the Polymers division at WACKER, is Lean Six Sigma Certified and does the Minitab 17 DOE training for his team. He holds four degrees: an MS in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi; a BSc in Mathematics, a BSc in Polymers and Coatings and a BSc in General Biology, all from Eastern Michigan University.
John McClurken
John is currently the Senior Application, Development and Technical Service (ADTS) Chemist for the Carpet Team responsible for ADTS for U.S. carpet customers and the WACKER ACADEMIES in Dalton, GA. He joined WACKER in 1997 after spending 15 years at Reichold Chemicals and 7 years at Dow Chemicals. John holds a BS in Chemistry and a BS in Biology both from Winthrop University.
Timothy McCormack
Timothy McCormack is a seasoned technical manager with over 27 years in the paint and coatings industry and 20 years in the silicone sector. Holding a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Polymer Chemistry, he has driven innovation at major industry players, earning three patents for groundbreaking solutions. At Wacker, as a technical manager at a global chemical leader, he has led advancements in Architectural and Industrial coatings, establishing himself as a respected figure known for solving complex challenges and shaping the future of coatings technology.
Lucy Oldfield
Lucy is a Michigander through and through. Her bachelor’s degree is from Siena Heights University and has spent her career at Wacker Chemical Corp. and the realm of silicones. She started out her early years as a Lab Technician in the Silicone Elastomers Department working on Automotive sealants and room temperature vulcanizates in either one or two components. For a couple of years, Lucy worked in Elastomers QA testing a multitude of silicones including RTV-1, 2, gums, bases and LSR’s. Lucy worked up to Technical Service Manager in 2005 and has served Wacker Silicones in various fields including Automotive, Industrial, Mold-Making and Advanced Wound Care. Lucy enjoys helping the customer and new employees learn the intricacies of Silicones and their uses.
Laura Polchinski
Laura is a Chemist at Wacker Chemical Corporation. She has 25 years experience in the chemical industry, which includes 10 years of silicone-specific experience in the areas automotive and electronics. Laura has a specialization in RTV chemistry.
Patrick Polchinski
Patrick is a senior chemist in the Bioingredients market segment and has over 25 years of experience working with cyclodextrins in Food, Nutra, and Personal Care applications. He provides technical support to customers and develops prototype food formulations, which showcase the WACKER line of functional ingredients. Patrick obtained a BS in Chemistry degree from Grove City College.
Raj Prasad
Raj graduated with an Engineering Degree in Pulp & Paper and has been associated with this industry for over 30 years. He joined WACKER in 2019 taking on the role of Marketing for a diverse range of products serving various applications in chemical process industries. Prior to joining WACKER, Raj has worked in companies such as Nalco & Clariant in India and the US.
Norman Riley
Beginning his career with Wacker in 1984, Norm served in technical roles for companies such as Wacker, Applied Silicone, Rhodia, Inc. and Bluestar Silicones over the 31 years that followed. He rejoined WACKER in 2015 as Technical Manager in Silicone Rubber responsible for providing technical service and training to silicone rubber fabricators and end-users as well as formulation and applications development for LSR and HCR. Norm attended California Lutheran University and holds a BA in Organic Chemistry.
Tim Rummel
Joining WACKER in 2012 as a Technical Manager in the Release Coatings Division, Tim brought 13 years of experience with him in the market. He is responsible for providing broad technical support to all WACKER label and liner release coating customers in North and Central America and to develop innovative new products for new and existing markets. Tim has an MBA from Wayne State University as well as a BS in Paper Science and a BS in Chemistry from Western Michigan University.
David Speer
Dr. David Speer is the chemist responsible for the technical development of silicone sealants for construction applications. In his role, he works with customers and suppliers to develop and optimize sealant formulations to meet industry needs. This is his first role following the completion of his PhD at the University of Michigan’s Materials Science and Engineering Department, where he studied emulsions and polymeric membranes for chemical separation. In addition to a decade of research experience, he has interned previously in the Polymers Division, where he worked on caulk formulating.
Nick White
Dr. Nick White joined WACKER in 2016 as an R&D Scientist, becoming part of the newly established Silicones R&D team for North America. He currently serves as the Technical Manager for Automotive within the Silicone Elastomers team. Before his time at Wacker, Dr. White taught chemistry courses at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Michigan Technological University and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Michigan State University.
Emma Zeluff
Emma is a Chemist with the Construction Polymers Technical Service Team located in Allentown, PA. She began her tenure with WACKER in 2023. Emma is responsible for handling technical support for many customers in the NCA region, application testing, and product formulation. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry from York College of Pennsylvania.