The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Advisory Board was established in 1998 as an organization of outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of chemical and biomolecular engineering. The Advisory Board is responsible for advising the department, the college, and the university on matters related to the chemical and biomolecular engineering undergraduate program.
2023-2024 Advisory Board Profiles
Erica Ahlschwede
Product Steward
Glazosmithkline
552 Old Corvallis Road, Hamilton, MT 59828
About Erica:
Erica is currently a Product Steward at Glaxosmithkline (GSK) supporting the vaccines division. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining the Continued Process Verification program, aiding in investigations, and ensuring process robustness and performance. She also supports process improvement projects related to increasing throughput and reducing cycle times.
Erica has spent time in numerous different industries including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and supporting neutron sciences via particle acceleration. She has experience with process engineering, project management, lean Six Sigma principles, process optimization, writing technical documentation and standard operating procedures, and operating in regulated industries (FDA, DOE, PSM). Erica received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Hometown:
Lincoln, NE
Professional Associations:
AIChE
Ruth Angelina
Sr. Specialist, Manufacturing Automation
Merck
5325 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27712
About Ruth:
Automation engineer with 7 years of diverse experience in pharmaceutical industry including Operational Excellence, Process Improvement, Project Management and Automation. Passionate for developing and implementing process and reporting improvements through modernization projects and reporting tools.
Hometown:
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jim Bielenberg
Chief Technology Officer
RAPID – Advanced Manufacturing Institute
120 Wall Street, FL23 NY, NY 10005
About Jim:
Jim Bielenberg is the Chief technology officer for the RAPID manufacturing institute. RAPID is a public-private collaborative institute that carries our research and develops educational and networking opportunities in the areas for processing intensification and modular processing. As CTO, Jim is responsible for defining the technical direction of the institute through the development of technology roadmaps and project selection.
Prior to RAPID. Jim worked for ExxonMobil Research and Engineering where he held research and leadership roles spanning several technology areas, including upstream, downstream, chemicals, and biofuels applications. During his time at ExxonMobil Jim also held roles in supply chain planning and marketing for the ExxonMobil Chemical Company. Jim came to ExxonMobil following a postdoctoral research position at Los Alamos National lab.
Hometown:
Kearney, Nebraska
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1999
PhD, Chemical Engineering MIT, 2003
Professional Associations:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, International Society of Reaction Engineering
Timothy Carmann
Director, Business Development
Lummus Technology
1515 Broad Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
About Timothy:
Tim Carmann is Director, Business Development with Lummus Technology, where he is responsible for technical sales, licensing and marketing of Ethylene and Petrochemical technologies to global customers. Prior to this role, Tim served in technology licensing, operations, and new technology commercialization roles with DuPont. He started his career in technology development at ExxonMobil. Tim has over 17 years of experience in the oil & gas, petrochemicals, biofuels, and biotechnology industries.
Tim was very active as a chemical engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). He served as a two term president of UNL’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter, as well as president of the College of Engineering Student Advisory Board. He also spent a summer studying abroad in Brazil, which heavily influenced his desire to pursue a career path focused on international business development.
Tim received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and North Carolina State University, respectively. Tim also received a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Hometown:
Grand Island, Nebraska
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 2006
MS, Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2009
MBA, Washington University, St. Louis, 2016
Michael Cloeter
Senior Research Scientist
Fluid Mechanics & Mixing, LLC
Greater Houston Area
About Michael:
Dr. Michael D. Cloeter, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Scientist at The Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas. He joined Dow in 1987 in the Epoxy business with responsibilities for a variety of process R&D related to reaction kinetics, catalysis, and crystallization. In 2002 he moved to his current role in the Engineering Sciences - Fluid Mechanics & Mixing Discipline where he leads the experimental program at the Freeport site. His specialties include physical modeling of industrial processes that are studied using laser diagnostics and visualization methods. Globally-leveraged capabilities include testing of turbulent reacting flows, stirred tank mixing, static mixing, spray technology, and various multiphase systems. He consults with design teams on a wide variety of business technologies, mentors young engineers, and has authored over 100 internal R&D reports
Recognition include the “Excellence in Science” award given by the Dow Gulf Coast Scientists organization and multiple Technology Center Awards given for projects that meet economic and waste reduction thresholds. He also leads an internal process mixing class given annually to design engineers and researchers. He is certified as a Six Sigma black belt for both MAIC and DFSS and is a practitioner of systematic innovation.
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1985
MS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1987
PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, 1997
Professional Associations:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems (ILASS), American Chemical Society
David Driscoll
Venture Manager
ExxonMobil
Chemicals Division
Houston, TX
About David:
David Driscoll, served as Engineering Department Manager in Beaumont Texas area for ExxonMobil since January 2015. Previously, he was planning advisor for Downstream North America Operations and US Gulf Coast Economist in Fairfax, VA. He began his career with ExxonMobil from 2002 to 2011 in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Refinery and progressed through several Process Engineering assignments along with Engineering and Process Supervisory roles.
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 2001
MBA, Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University.
Adam Feist
Research Scientist, Bioengineering
University of California, San Diego
About Adam:
Adam Feist is a Research Scientist at the University of California, San Diego and a Senior Scientist and Group Leader at the Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark. Dr. Feist serves as a PI and Co-Investigator on various grants, research advisor for PhD and MS students, and guest lecturer. Dr. Feist’s current research is focused on developing two technologies – an adaptive laboratory evolution platform and next-generation genome-scale models. Dr. Feist has demonstrated the application of these technologies towards the fields of metabolic engineering and biomedical applications. Dr. Feist also has experience in industry at a start-up company focused on commercializing constraint-based modeling in the field of human health.
Hometown:
Minot, North Dakota
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 2003
MS, Bioengineering, UCSD, 2005
PhD, Bioengineering, UCSD, 2008
Professional Associations:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, International Society of Metabolic Engineers, Society of Biological Engineering
Scott Harmeier
Focused Improvement and Analytics Engineer
Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM)
3000 East 8th Street
Columbus, NE 68601-9073
About Scott:
Scott Harmeier is a Focused Improvement and Analytics Engineer at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). In this position, he is part a team responsible for applying optimization technology, such as advanced process control and analytics, to ADM’s various process operations and provides global support for these technologies throughout all ADM business units.
Scott has been an engineer at ADM for 23 years working in a variety of process engineering and process control roles. Prior to his current position, Scott was a member of ADM’s corporate engineering group where he developed company standards, supported existing facilities, and worked on construction and commissioning of new plants. During the first half of his career, he led the process control group at an ADM corn plant in Clinton, IA focusing primarily on plant modernization. Scott received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Hometown:
Columbus, Nebraska
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1996
MS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1998
David Hild
Senior Vice President and General Manager
ADS Biotec Inc.
7409 Irvington Rd
Omaha, NE 68122
About David:
David Hild currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager of ADS Biotec Inc, where he has global responsibility for all aspects of manufacture and distribution of ADS Biotec products, including consumables, instruments, reagents, and enzymes used in cytogenetic, amino acid, and molecular genetic analysis. Mr. Hild has over 30 years of industrial and manufacturing experience, having held key positions in process and product development, production and operations management. Mr. Hild received his BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nebraska. He holds emeritus status as a registered professional engineer in Nebraska.
Hometown:
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Education:
BS, 1981
MS, 1984
Dave Mills
External Manufacturing Manager
Cargill
1 Cargill Drive
Eddyville, IA 52553
About Dave:
Dave Mills is currently an External Manufacturing Manager for Cargill. In this role, Dave is responsible for managing and guiding a network of external manufacturers to meet manufacturing strategies of several product lines in the areas of food and pharma. Past roles at Cargill have included project management, plant management, and start-up of the Vitamin E plant. Prior to joining Cargill in 1995, Dave was a process automation engineer with Union Carbide in Seadrift, TX.
Hometown:
Gretna, Nebraska
Education:
BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1988
Kathy Ostrom Payn
Key Account Executive
Labcorp
Dallas, TX
About Kathy
Being attracted to health and wellness, Kathy became involved with Environmental Consulting Services early in her career. Intrigued with the “people” side of the business, Kathy was drawn into technical sales and management and continued her education with several graduate classes in marketing, management, finance, accounting, etc. She went on to sell thermodynamic temperature control systems for advanced medical equipment and eventually found her “sweet spot” as a key account manager.
For over fifteen years, Kathy managed key accounts in energy and healthcare markets. These key account responsibilities included selling and growing authentication programs to deter counterfeit, diversion, substitution and dilution of valuable brand products for Global Fortune 100 companies. The products and services sold encompassed molecular markers, detection devices (gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, fluorimetry, etc.), program management and field sampling services, actionable data intelligence, and case file development.
She is currently a Key Account Executive for Labcorp, providing strategic clients with diagnostic testing services. She focuses on the Functional Medicine market, utilizing her training as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach via the Institute of Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.
In addition to the UNL Chemical and Biomolecular Advisory Board, Kathy serves on the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for Wello Inc., an entrepreneurial company focused on improved disease control and contagion management in healthcare. Kathy lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Jeff, a Customer Engineer for Google. They have one adult son, Matt Friedman, who works in Customer Insights for CVS Health in Austin, Texas.
Hometown
Omaha, NE
Education
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 1985
Certification
Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas
Frank Rozmus
Vice President, Gas Control & Facility Planning
Northern Natural Gas
About Frank
Frank Rozmus serves as the vice president, gas control and facility planning for Northern Natural Gas. Rozmus assumed this role after spending six years in the facility planning department. The gas control and facility planning departments are responsible for the safe and reliable operation of the pipeline system via 24/7 monitoring, capacity analysis and emergency support. He started his professional career in 2010 with MidAmerican Energy as a chemist at Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center. He is currently working on obtaining a Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in finance.
Outside of work, Rozmus enjoys attending Young Professionals (YP) events hosted by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and volunteering with local organizations. He is also the founder of Northern’s YP group and is invested in retaining talent and fostering the development of the future leaders of the organization.
Education
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 2009
Justin Vala
Director, Engineering and Development
Tenaska NG Fuels
1044 N. 115 Street, Suite 400
Omaha, NE 68154-4446
About Justin
Justin Vala is currently Director, Engineering for Tenaska, a diversified private energy company headquartered in Omaha. In this role, Justin has broad responsibilities in:
- large project development and conceptual engineering;
- technology evaluation and selection;
- management of internal and third-party engineering design studies;
- contracting for supply of engineering services, major equipment, and project construction; and
- performance/management of due diligence regarding prospective merger and acquisitions.
Prior to joining Tenaska in 2008, Justin spent five years with ExxonMobil Chemical at sites in Baytown and Beaumont, Texas. Responsibilities included process simulation, pilot plant management, and plant operations support. Justin is registered professional engineer in the State of Nebraska. Justin and wife (Karamie) have two children and reside in Omaha.
Hometown
Lincoln, Nebraska
Education
BS, Chemical Engineering, UNL, 2003
Professional Associations
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Professional Registration
Professional Engineer, State of Nebraska, 2012
Carina Winters
Process Engineer
Black & Veatch
11401 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66211
About Carina
Carina Winters is a process engineer focused on Energy & Process Industries projects at Black & Veatch. She has experience on projects ranging from feasibility studies to detailed design and including liquified natural gas (LNG), floating LNG (FLNG), gasification, biofuels, hydrogen, and ammonia facilities. Her most recent experiences have been as discipline lead for hydrogen production facilities employing several hydrogen production methods (electrolysis, SMR, and ATR) and as process lead for a project producing sustainable aviation fuel via biomass gasification.
Hometown
Sioux Falls, SD