The Instructors
Michael J. Kocurek, PhD, Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, has taught this tissue short course to operators at multiple corporations and mills. Dr. Kocurek has taught Paper Properties for undergraduate students for 18 years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and at North Carolina State University. He has taught TAPPI’s oldest and highly ranked short course on Introduction to Pulp Paper for over 37 years. He is the editor of 11 books, including the recognized Pulp and Paper Manufacture series covering the entire field of pulp & paper. He has authored / co-authored 25 video publications, including the Introduction to Pulp & Paper series- again covering the entire field of pulp & paper. He is active in teaching distance learning courses. Dr. Kocurek received his B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees in Paper Science & Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, and Syracuse University.
Lucyna M. Pawlowska, Tissue Process Application Specialist working for Kemira North America. She interfaces closely with Kemira’s sales and research and development, as well as the mill production staff to facilitate product development and the introduction of products into the market place. Prior to her current position, she worked in paper chemicals R&D for 18 yrs., developing new products such as retention aids, temporary wet strength resin, dry strength resins, internal and surface sizing agents, emulsifiers for sizing agents, softeners and tissue creping aids. She has a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the Charter Oak State College, Newington, CT, and a Master Degree of Commodities Engineering from the University of Economy, Krakow, Poland. She relocated from Poland to U.S.A. in 1988 and gained her US citizenship in 1993. In 1991 she started her career in the paper chemicals industry with American Cyanamid. Due to a series of spin offs and acquisitions in the paper chemicals industry, during her career she worked for Cytec Industries, Bayer, Bayer Chemicals and Lanxess. She joined Kemira Chemicals Inc., in April 2006 following the acquisition of Lanxess.
Roger Banks, Press Product Manager-Tissue for Asten-Johnson, Inc. Roger has 41 years of experience in the Paper Machine Clothing Industry, all in Press. He joined AstenJohnson in 2003 as Press Product Manager. In that role, Roger is responsible for product development, product design, product application and marketing of tissue press products. Roger has an A.S. degree in Textiles and a B.S. degree in Business.
William Bonds, Asten Johnson, Bill has 33 years of experience in the Tissue Paper Industry. Bill joined AstenJohnson in 2004 serving as a Field Sales/Service Engineer later a Tissue Grade Expert for North America. Before joining AstenJohnson, Bill spent many years as a Tissue Paper Maker, Electrical Design Engineer, Process Control Engineer, E&I Project Engineer, and Production Superintendent. Bill graduated in 1989 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a BSEE degree.
Bruce W. Janda, Tissue Business Leader for Asten-Johnson, Inc. Bruce has over 36 years of experience in the Paper and Nonwoven industry, specializing in Tissue and Towel Products. Bruce held positions in the Tissue industry at Georgia-Pacific, Kimberly-Clark and others with roles in Product Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing. In 2004, he joined AstenJohnson as the Product Manager - TAD. At AstenJohnson, he also served as the North American Product Business Leader and Global Innovation Leader for Forming. His current assignment covers Forming and TAD applications and product development. Bruce has extensive applications experience on World Class, high speed Tissue and TAD machines in North America and Europe both as a producer and supplier. Bruce has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, MBA from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and an Executive Scholar Certificate from the Kellogg School of Northwestern University. He has 14 US patents issued and 3 pending, all related to Tissue and papermaking.
