Following the enthusiastic response to our 2024 “Voices” issue, CoatingsTech is delighted to showcase more profiles of industry members and highlight the myriad ways a career in coatings can offer opportunity and growth.
What we learned from last year’s issue is that most professional journeys are rarely linear; they unfold through detours, surprises, and opportunities we don’t always anticipate. Careers in coatings are no different.
That is why this year, we turned the issue’s focus on more individual experiences and invited professionals—from those just a few years into their careers to those with decades of expertise—to reflect on the unique paths their careers in the coatings industry have taken. Their stories reveal just how diverse, rewarding, and sometimes unpredictable this industry can be—in a good way.
We hope you find insight, inspiration, encouragement, and possibly some recognition of your own story in these voices. If you have questions about a career in coatings or mentoring the next generation of coatings professionals, we encourage you to reach out—whether to our contributors, CoatingsTech, or ACA directly. The path into coatings may not always be straight, but it is always full of opportunity.
Amy Frederick
R&D Scientist, CARLISLE WEATHERPROOFING TECHNOLOGIES
What skills or traits do you think are essential for success in this industry? Curiosity. I don’t think I would have done well in this industry if I didn’t have a strong sense of curiosity. My curiosity has enabled me to learn, to question and, when I didn’t have the knowledge, to reach out to others in the company who did and learn from them. … more
Rich Czarnecki
Vice President, MICRO POWDERS, INC.
What keeps you motivated and eager to come to work each day? It’s an opportunity to solve real problems. I love it when customers come to us with a challenge, and even more so when we don’t have an immediate answer but know how to create the right solution. Some of our most successful products were born out of that kind of collaborative development. When those projects take off, it’s the best feeling in the world. … more
Brooke Kuei
Content Marketing Manager, ALBERT INVENT
How important has mentorship or a piece of advice from someone been in your career—and have you had the chance to mentor others in return? One piece of career advice that has been really helpful was the reminder that— just like research—career paths are often nonlinear, and each job will give you more information about where your interests are. Despite the untraditional path I’ve taken, I’m really happy with where I’ve ended up—and I love taking opportunities to remind others that it’s okay for your career path to include twists and turns, and that even steps in the wrong direction will teach you something about where to go next. … more
David S. Bem
Senior Vice President, Science and Technology and CTO, PPG
What brought you to the coatings industry? Was it part of the plan, or did you discover coatings along the way? I discovered coatings along the way—it certainly wasn’t part of my initial plan. I started my career in the oil refining industry making commodity and specialty chemicals from a supplier standpoint. After holding a few different roles, I found my career in paints and coatings. Now, I am driven by being able to modify and customize products for each customer and industry that we work in. … more
Chris Seubert
Technical Expert, FORD’S COATINGS AND SURFACE RESEARCH GROUP
What’s one project or innovation you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of? It is definitely our current work on reducing paint overspray with inkjet applicator technology. It isn’t every day that you can work on a potentially revolutionary change to part of an industry, but we truly believe that when we bring this to market, it will change the application of automotive coatings forever. … more
Forough Zarean
Chemist III, Architectural & Industrial Coatings, WACKER
What brought you to the coatings industry? Was it part of the plan, or did you discover coatings along the way? Did your educational background shape your path into coatings? My fascination with chemistry began early on. As a child, I loved pretending to be a chemist—mixing household items to create “sanitizing solutions” or blending flower petals to make plant-based colors. When I discovered that one of the top universities in my country offered a specialized program in polymers and coatings, I recognized it as a unique opportunity to turn my curiosity into a meaningful career. … more
Dale McIntyre
Vice President, Sustainability, BEHR
What trends or developments do you think are shaping the future of coatings? Work to enhance the sustainability of coatings across the entire life cycle will continue to influence architectural coating technology development. New opportunities for architectural coatings to provide enhanced durability in challenging environmental conditions will influence the development of higher-performance materials. … more
Mary Chervenak
R&D Scientist, ARKEMA
Are there any misconceptions about your role or industry that you’d like to correct? That coatings are boring! That paint is ordinary! Coatings with the dry thickness of a few hairs can keep a ship afloat, delay the progress of a fire, resist chemical attack, repair minor damage, protect a delicate substrate from
impact, wind, and water . . . it’s honestly amazing that something as inobtrusive as a wafer-thin coating can accomplish so much. Coatings make a safe and comfortable life possible. … more
Jigarkumar Patel
UV R&D Technical Manager, SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
What trends or developments do you think are shaping the future of coatings? UV and LED curing or conventional fast curing technologies have emerged as game-changers, offering immediate drying and dramatically cutting down energy usage. This shift from conventional curing methods not only boosts efficiency but also supports products with low VOC or 100% solids, meaning fewer emissions and an eco-friendlier production line. Industries such as wood coatings, electronics, and digital printing have especially embraced UV/LED curing because it integrates smoothly into automated processes and reduces thermal stress on substrates. … more
Melinda Keefe
R&D/TS&D Architectural Coatings Director, DOW
What’s one project or innovation you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of? I was part of the early team that first commercialized EVOQUE™ Pre-Composite Polymers—binders that adsorb to the surface of TiO2 during the paint-making process to enhance paint performance. This elegant technology has advanced significantly since then, enhancing top-tier paint products currently on the market. Another project I am proud of is a long-term technical collaboration between Dow and the art conservation science field—an initiative I launched many years ago and continue to lead. This effort brings industrial experience to technical challenges in art conservation. Search “” online—we were honored to play a small role in that restoration and other research projects. … more
Janice L. Lebga
Principal Investigator, ELINOR COATINGS, LLC
Do you have any professional goals that you’re still eager to accomplish? I don’t think that will ever stop. I nurture a constant need to be better and more efficient today than I was yesterday. That means I always have new goals to accomplish. Two years ago, I led a small team; today, I manage large projects; tomorrow, I would like to manage branches of Elinor Coatings. I also dream of educating and empowering youth populations to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. … more
Ramon Lozada
Global Product Manager, VIBRANTZ TECHNOLOGIES
Is there anything else you’d like to share or express that isn’t captured in the previous questions?
I’d just say that coatings is a space where science, creativity, and sustainability intersect. It’s a dynamic field with a lot of opportunities—and I’m proud to be a part of shaping its future. … more
Victoria Scarborough
Vice President, Collaborative Innovation, THE CHEMQUEST GROUP, INC.
What brought you to the coatings industry? Was it part of the plan, or did you discover coatings along the way? I joined the coatings industry in 1981, leaving the medical field for a better-paying job in business. It was a big pivot—but one that eventually led to a rewarding, 35-year career with The Sherwin-Williams Company. Back then, computers weren’t on desks, and volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations were just emerging. … more
Yasmin Sayed-Sweet
Head of Coatings, Inks, and Specialties, LAMBERTI S.p.A.
How has the coatings industry changed since you entered it? Over the past few decades, the biggest change has been in the acceptance and now preference for water-based and energy-efficient systems for various coating applications. Biobased and sustainable coatings are now preferred in DIY and selective industrial applications. Brand owners now pay attention to their customers’ voices. … more
Jon Weis
Director of Solutions Architecture, ALBERT INVENT
What skills or traits do you think are essential for success in this industry? Curiosity, persistence, and the ability to build trust are essential. Curiosity drives continuous learning across the many scientific and engineering disciplines involved in this highly cross-functional industry. … more
Ingrid Zimmerman
Delivery Operations Manager, ALBERT INVENT
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the industry or considering a career in coatings? Stay curious and open to learning—this industry is incredibly dynamic. Coatings touch nearly every sector, from consumer goods to aerospace, and there’s constant innovation happening in materials, processes, and sustainability. … more
Artur Palasz
Founder and Lead Formulator, SPEKTROCHEM COATINGS LABORATORY
How important has mentorship or a piece of advice from someone been in your career—and have you had the chance to mentor others in return? Mentorship has been critical in my career. Early on, I received advice that testing paints is not just about numbers—it’s about observing behavior and asking “why.” That mindset shaped my approach. Today, I try to give back by mentoring younger chemists and even raw material producers, helping them understand formulations, ASTM methods, and real-world performance. … more
Stan Cook
Americas Marketing Director, DOW COATINGS AND PERFORMANCE MONOMERS
How, if at all, did your educational background shape your path into coatings? Going through school, my plan was to become a chemical engineer. When I joined Rohm and Haas as an R&D scientist, I had no prior experience in polymer science. After nearly a decade in the lab, I thought I would make a career in it, as many had done before me. I certainly never imagined I would make a move into Marketing. The moral of the story is that your skills will eventually find the right spot, and maintaining some flexibility is important. Sometimes people see something in you that even you cannot see. … more
Katherine Davis
Marketing Manager, DOW COATINGS AND PERFORMANCE MONOMERS
Are there any misconceptions about your role or industry that you’d like to correct? There is so much more to the coatings industry than just “watching paint dry.” Dow contributes to almost every ingredient in a waterborne paint can, and there is a deep, fascinating science behind each ingredient. For people who love science, the coatings industry offers a fun, vast, and ever-evolving field to explore. … more
Sam Morell
President, samMorell.com
How do you stay current with advancements in coatings technology? I stay on the leading edge of coatings technology by attending industry symposia almost every month. Hearing the same topic dissected by multiple presenters, from formulators to raw material suppliers, sharpens my technical perspective and reveals nuances that a single source might miss. … more