PCI Welcomes New Editorial Advisory Board Members

Thirteen years ago, when I became PCI’s Editor in Chief, I created an Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) to help me further develop the editorial direction of our magazine. EAB members share information with me on industry trends and new technologies, offer suggestions for new content that can better serve our readers, review and score the abstracts that are submitted each year for our Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit, moderate at the event, write articles for publication in our magazine or on our website, and advise on technical questions.

I try to meet with the board in person each year – usually at industry events such as the American Coatings Show, the CTT Summit, and the FOCUS Conference. I truly value and enjoy the discussions that we have during these meetings, and always walk away with new ideas for articles, roundtable discussions, columns, and panel topics.

A few EAB members have retired or passed away in recent years. I would like to thank David Fasano, Christopher J. Karwowski, Steven Nerlfi, and John Cox for their many years of helping me. I appreciate their service to our publication and to the coatings industry, and I value the friendships that we developed over the years.

With the departure of these EAB members, I would like to welcome three new members, effective immediately.

Eric R. Byer

President and CEO, Alliance for Chemical Distribution (formerly National Association for Chemical Distributors)

Eric joined ACD in January 2014 as President, with nearly 20 years of experience in government and public affairs, as well as organizational operations. Prior to ACD, Eric was senior Vice President at Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, PLC, (OFMK) where he led strategic communications, marketing, programs, and government affairs, as well as policy initiatives for the firm’s largest clients. Before his tenure at OFMK, Eric was the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of government and industry affairs at the National Air Transportation Association, where he led external affairs and internal operations for the $6.1 million organization.

Artur Palasz, Ph.D.

Technical Director and Formulation Scientist, Spektrochem Technical Center of Raw Materials for Architectural Paints

As a chemist of polymer latex synthesis, Artur studies the selection of surfactants and other raw materials in waterborne paint formulations, and tests their effectiveness and performance using ASTM test methods. On a daily basis, he is responsible for projects for paint raw materials producers from around the world. Artur has authored many technical publications on raw materials, formulations, and properties of waterborne paints.

Victoria Scarborough, Ph.D.

Vice President of Collaborative Innovation, The ChemQuest Group Inc.

Victoria is a research and development leader, and subject matter expert for the commercialization of new technology that leverages open innovation. For more than 25 years, she has advanced technology in the public and private sector ranging from the DoD and federal laboratories, universities, and multi-national corporations, to individual inventors and start-ups. From 1981-2007, she was the R&D Director for Sherwin-Williams Co.’s WoodCare Group in Memphis, Tennessee. For the next 10 years, she honed her skills as the Director of New Technology (2007–2010), then Program Director of Global External Innovation for Sherwin-Williams (2010–2017).

Having worked with Eric, Artur, and Vickie on various projects in the past, I am excited to further our collaboration to advance PCI’s editorial coverage in the future. Welcome aboard, and thank you for your willingness to serve!