Expert Development and Testing of Building Materials Consultant and Scientist Specializing in Materials, Products and Pyrotechnics

Technical Consultant #1831

Building Materials:

Gypsum board (dry wall, sheet rock, wall board).
Cement (Portland, cellular, Sorel).
Ceilings (acoustical, suspended).
Fiberboard (MDF).
Flooring (vinyl, tile, linoleum, cork, adhesives, waxes).
Insulation (pipe insulation, foamed rubber, urethane, phenolic, aerogel).
Paints and coatings (latex, epoxy, melamine, acrylic, textured, urethane, biocides, surfactants).

Consumer Products:

Professional Achievements

Invented and patented acoustical cement and gypsum panels.
Developed new building products, from concept to production, including ceilings, flooring, and insulation.
Technical manager of a $5 million project to product light weight wallboard in Europe.
Established protocols for the selection of new biocides resulting in modifications to ASTM standards.
Developed and produced building materials comprised of phase change, recycled or renewable materials.
Formulated latex paints for acoustical and textured applications.
Designed and fabricated equipment as needed.

Testing to National Consensus Standards

Oversight and regulations for UL, ASTM, NFPA and CPSC: abrasion resistance, accelerated aging, acoustics, antibacterial and antimicrobial, chemical resistance, child resistance, color analysis, compression resistance, digital scanning calorimeter, dimensional stability, fire resistance, formaldehyde content, freeze thaw, glass fracture analysis, gloss, impact resistance, nail pull, pyrotechnics, rheology, rodent resistance, slip resistance, stain resistance, tamper evident, tensile, thermal kinetics, wind uplift.

Pyrotechnics Specialist

Certified Pyrotechnics Guild International safety instructor.
Instructed over 600 students on safety regulations per NFPA 1123, 1124 & 1126, including proper handling and ignition of fireworks.
Experienced in manual and electric ignition, close proximity, computer-controlled choreography and special effects including high explosives.

Industrial Processes

Autoclaving (gas fired), ball milling, bead blasting, blow molding, bottling, calcining, calendaring, coating, compression molding, conveying (roller and belt), critical extraction, drying (microwave and conventional), embossing (chemical and mechanical), extrusion, foaming, Fourdrinier, grinding(cryogenic and conventional), heating (induction and conventional), injection molding, lithography, machine guarding, machining, metal punching, mixing (Autocon, change can, Henschel, Hobart, pulpers, static, V-type), painting (textured, airless and air assist), pressing (hot, cold, hydraulic, mechanical), pumping (diaphragm, gear, impeller, peristaltic), refrigeration, rubber compounding, sawing (circular, band, diamond), sieving, static dissipating, ultrasonic welding, ultraviolet microscopy.

Professional Experience

Independent Consultant, Present

Robson Forensic, Lancaster, PA, Associate, 2008 - 2010

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony towards the resolution of litigation and claims involving product liability, material failures, workplace safety and pyrotechnics.

Armstrong World Industries, Lancaster, PA, Senior Scientist, 1988 - 2010

Developed new products from concept to production for the core businesses of ceilings, insulation and flooring.
Directed safety programs resulting in world class safety performance.

Kerr, Lancaster, PA, Associate Chemical Engineer, 1977 - 1988

Research and development of packaging materials including: glass bottles, plastic bottles, metal closures, bottle caps, home canning lids, child resistant and tamper evident systems.
Conducted accelerated aging, chemical compatibility and failure analysis.
Managed CPSC protocol testing for child-resistant closures.

Pyrotechnics Guild International, Certified Safety Instructor, 2004 - Present

Instruct classes and hands-on demonstrations covering safety regulations per NFPA 1123, 1124 and 1126, including proper handling and ignition of fireworks.

Fireworks Extravaganza, Inc., Maryland Line, MD, Lead Shooter, 1999 - Present

Perform public fireworks displays. Experienced in manual and electric ignition, close proximity, computer-controlled choreography and special effects including high explosives.

Credentials

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Publications and Patents