Michael J. Kocurek, Course Director, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Paper Science & Engineering - North Carolina State University
Mike is one of the world’s most recognized educators in the pulp and paper industry. His focus is on pulp and paper technology, paper properties, and workforce and professional development. He has taught in-mill company classroom short courses on Linerboard & Medium Manufacture to groups of operators at more than 27 mill locations. Mike has also taught university courses on Paper Properties for 19 years. He is the editor of 11 books, including the recognized Pulp and Paper Manufacture series covering the entire field of pulp and paper. He has authored / co-authored 12 video courses, including the Introduction to Pulp & Paper series- again covering the entire field of pulp and paper. He is active in teaching distance learning courses.
His honors include TAPPI Fellow, TAPPI Distinguished Service Award, Paper and Board Division Technical Service Award, and induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame – an honor bestowed to recognize people who have made preeminent contributions to the global paper industry.
Charles P. Klass, President - Klass Associates Inc.
Chuck Klass is a consultant with over five decades of paper industry experience. After graduation from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in pulp and paper technology, he worked with Union Camp manufacturing linerboard, corrugating medium and bag papers. He has worked in technical and operating positions with several other paper companies and in marketing and technical service for paper chemicals, machine clothing and paper mill machinery. In 1986 he became a consultant to the paper industry specialized in operations/quality improvement and development of value-added papers and paperboard; clients include producers of coated paper and paperboard worldwide and suppliers to the paper industry. He also teaches courses in paper machine operations improvement, sizing, coating and marketing for TAPPI, universities and suppliers to the industry. He has been a TAPPI member for over 50 years and has served as chairman of the Paper and Board Manufacture Division and on the Board of Directors.
David V. Lange, Product Manager – Presses, Andritz Inc.
Dave is the Product Manager – Presses, and supports pressing activities from tissue to market pulp for Andritz, a first-tier supplier of pulp and paper machinery. He got his start in the paper industry as an intern with Beloit Corporation while earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
In 2001, Dave joined Küsters to help develop the PrimePress X shoe press. In 2006, Andritz acquired Küsters and others.
Jon Porter, Senior Trainer/ Process Specialist - Fosber America
Jon Porter has 32 years of technical training experience, designing, building, and delivering technical training in several different media formats for stand-up, group-lock step, and self-paced programs with an emphasis on adult learning. Jon has served as a Senior Instructor/Process specialist for Fosber America for the last 10 years.
Jay Shands, Vice President of Technology – Paperchine
Jay leads the Paperchine capital projects group. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Doctorate in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Florida. He has 30 years of experience in the paper industry, beginning his career at Beloit Corporation’s Research Center, followed by MeadWestvaco Research, before joining JohnsonFoils/Paperchine. He has published over 30 technical articles and holds 12 patents with a focus on wet end papermaking processes.
Jay is an active TAPPI member and has been honored as a TAPPI Fellow as well as TAPPI’s Engineering Division Beloit Award. He’s also a past chair of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology Papermaking Advisory Committee and has served on Doctoral Committees at the University of Maine, University of Michigan, and IPST. He currently lives in Belchertown, MA with his wife Holly.
Darren K. Swales, Technical Applications Group Manager - Kemira North America
Darren leads a group of 28 strategically located Field Application Experts at Kemira. The group interfaces closely with Kemira’s sales and research and development, as well as mill production staff to facilitate product development and application knowledge. He has a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Analytical Chemistry and a Ph.D. degree in Colloidal Chemistry from University of Technology, Loughborough, UK. Following graduation in 1991 Darren conducted research related to alkaline sizing for Roe Lee Paper Chemicals in the UK. In 1996 Darren relocated to the USA as Technical Specialist and later as Chemicals Manager for Paper Sizes in North America for Raisio Chemicals. In early 1999 Darren joined Penford Products Co., Cedar Rapids, IA, as the Application Development Specialist, focusing on new carbohydrate-based strength additives. He joined Kemira Chemicals Inc., in August 2003 following the acquisition of Vulcan Performance Chemicals where he had been since early 2001. Vulcan was acquired by Kemira in 2002.
Darren is an active member of TAPPI, the vice-chair of the Paper Additives sub-committee, and the Additives track manager for PaperCon 2011. He is a member of the TAPPI Faculty for Wet End Chemistry Short Course. Darren is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Marty D. Wakefield, Business Driver for L&W Product Sales, Lorentzen & Wettre-A Member of the ABB Group
Marty has over 35 years of paper industry experience and currently works as a Business Driver supporting sales of L&W Process Automation and Paper Testing equipment as well as the L&W KPM Line of Consistency Transmitters, Sheet Break Detectors and sample valves. In 2011, L&W was acquired and is now part of the ABB Process Automation Division. He has been with L&W/ABB since 2003.
He started his career working at Buckeye Cellulose in Perry, FL and then moved into specialty chemical sales holding various sales and management roles with Diamond Shamrock/Henkel, BASF and Vinings Industries/Kemira. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Wake Forest, NC (where the college used to be). He has been involved with TAPPI on the local and national level for over 30 years.
