2005: Past Meetings

afternoon session

• a) Developing a heat transfer model
• b) Analyzing how a major process plant would operate and safeties utilization
• c) Sales promises vs. guarantees
• d) Catalyst technology and suppliers responsibility

Dr. Bonacci’s perspective in all the cases was unique and his approach relative to the lawyers’ defense of the cases was tailored to the specific legal needs and how science and engineering and technology specifically pertained. He can state the qualitative results of all the cases and some amusing antidotes in these winning situations.

Topic: Consulting 101: Lessons, One Learned, One Not (Yet)
Speaker: Dr. William A. Hoffman, ROBILL Products
Two recent consulting projects are presented and discussed, from both technical and business viewpoints. In one, a technically successful project for an oil company led to an important reminder about IP values. In the other, the business impact of a proposed “redevelopment” should have been a clue to the real project, and the probability of getting paid.

Topic: Successful Defense Against Infringement
Speaker: Mr. Elliott L. Weinberg, Cross Gates Consultants
This personal narrative about involvement in a multimillion dollar patent infringement suit excites me even to this day. It actually involved work that I had done in the 1950s. The lawsuit took place in the 80s and involved over 1 1/2 years of preparation prior to trial in New Orleans. The infringement claim was based on an issued patent that involved a variation of a basic patent which had been declared prior validity during a very active research era in which I introduced organotin sulfur stabilization for polyvinyl chloride. At deposition time, the opposing attorney insisted that this case would not be settled out of court. At trial, the opposing attorney made a fool of himself and the case was decided in our favor. Because of continuing litigation elsewhere, the trial record was sealed and I was not allowed to testify in any other similar case.

Topic: Commercialization of New Technology
Speaker: Dr. Joseph V. Porcelli, JVP International Inc.
JVP International was created in January 2001 as a subchapter S corporation. The owner will describe how he used his technical and management background to gradually evolve the value proposition of his business, leading to the establishment of a growing number of clients. He will also discuss some examples of projects that have contributed to the success of the business.

SESSION DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 2005

TIME: Afternoon session

Dinner Meeting

There have been some new initiatives tried and many more discussed and not tried during the past year. Yet, our problems as an organization are not appreciably different from what they were a year ago.
At this meeting, we will review what we’ve tried to do and come to some conclusions as to what has worked and what has not. We will discuss a number of objectives for the next year and what we need to do to achieve those.
It is important that as many ACC&CE members as possible join us for this Annual Meeting. We will be electing a number of new directors, and we critically need more participation from all to help us move the organization forward in a positive direction.

Please try to make it – a dinner at Ben’s is an experience, and we’ll enjoy the food and the company while we wrestle with difficult and important issues. See you there!

Dinner Meeting

Developing countries are trying to build their chemical industries. In some countries, multinational chemical companies put in facilities. However, many smaller companies try to exist. They need help in selected technologies. The help can range from turnkey plants to specific technology transfer to problem solving. At times, there may be a need for market information. Cultural differences require special attention when arriving at contractual arrangements. The consulting opportunities are many and the need for considered ethical practice is obvious.

Elliott is a world recognized authority on the stabilization and degradation of polymers especially polyvinyl chloride. He has been involved in many aspects of overseas consulting with special attention to Asia and India. He is a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Chemists, and Society of Plastics Engineers. In addition to consulting work, he serves as editor for two newsletters and as associate editor for the Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology.

afternoon session

“Consulting in the Commercialization of New Technology”
by Joseph V. Porcelli.

“Successful Defense Against Infringement” by Elliott L. Weinberg.

“Experiences of a Chemical Regulatory Consultant”
by Richard L. Schauer.

“Value through Vision: Putting Your Knowledge to Work as a Consultant” by David W. Riley.

June 21, 2005

There is an elegant and simple way to think about Breakthroughs. Breakthroughs are ambitious and unprecedented results … aimed at in advance. Are breakthroughs always radical innovations? At times, they are radical. Equally true, breakthroughs might be significant reductions in project time and cost, or significant gains in project benefits. Breakthroughs always vastly exceed historical performance. Therefore, they not only call for innovations at the technical and process levels, but also at the organizational and human levels. These last two are often neglected.
As managers and consultants, the interest is in deploying a management discipline for achieving breakthroughs. The talk will describe a set of principles and a process for accomplishing breakthrough results. This will be illustrated with specific examples across several industries.

Douglas Berger is the founder of INNOVATE, a management consulting firm specializing in large-scale enterprise innovation and breakthrough. His experience includes information technology, consumer products, pharmaceutical, mining and natural resources, and chemical industries.
Doug began his career in software development, leading a number of advanced technology developments. He was Director, Worldwide Information Technology, for Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He joined Data General mini-computers as Technical Director, Emerging Markets. At Data General he co-led initiatives into alternate channels of distribution, personal computing and large commercial accounts. He has an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University and a Bachelors degree in Physics from the University of Rochester.

Biography: 1974 to 1988: After earning a BA degree in Technology from Montclair State University, he joined Killion Extruders. Keith managed sales, manufacturing, the lab, and created their seminar program and in 1984 became Vice President of Development.
1988 to Present: Founded Randcastle Extrusion Systems a company designed to build the world’s smallest extrusion lines in all forms where he remains as president. In addition, he has given 1 to 3 day courses in extrusion for The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and other organizations promoting plastics. Keith is the author of over thirty papers on extrusion and holds three patents in extrusion

Prior to forming Summit, Mr. Korczak was a member of a forensic consulting firm for 11 years, serving as a Staff Engineer, Managing Engineer and President. Mr. Korczak has a BS in Industrial Management and an MS in Engineering Management from NJIT in Newark, New Jersey. He has presented papers on Forensic Evidence Photography to the American Society of Civil Engineers Second Forensic Engineering Congress, National Conference on Building Commisssioning and several SEAK expert witness conferences. He has also been published in the Journal of the Evidence Photographers International Council several times.

As Chief Scientific Officer and one of the co-founders of InnoCentive, Dr Panetta provides the scientific leadership for InnoCentive. She heads the InnoCentive Scientific Operations group, which uses its extensive scientific knowledge to further the goals of Seekers and Solvers. In addition, Dr. Panetta serves as the subject matter expert, providing scientific input for marketing, business development, and operations.
Dr. Panetta also plays a pivotal role in establishing relationships with Seeker companies and with appropriate scientific institutions around the world. For example, Dr. Panetta has established partnerships with leading Russian scientific organizations, including Moscow State University, and has presented at conferences at St. Petersburg University and at the XVII Mendeleev Congress on General and Applied Chemistry in Kazan. Her efforts have been instrumental in building InnoCentive’s global network of qualified scientists.
Dr. Panetta has more than 16 years experience in drug discovery research at Eli Lilly and Company having joined the Lilly Research Laboratories in 1981 as a Senior Organic Chemist in the Drug Discovery Component. Her research efforts have led to the discovery of two clinical candidates: tibenelast for asthma and tazofelone for inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Panetta is the author of more than 85 publications and abstracts, has given over 40 invited lectures, is co-inventor of 32 granted US patents, and is co-editor of Psychiatric Illness in Women. She serves on advisory boards for a number of scientific journals and biotech companies. She received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Dartmouth College, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California with Professor Henry Rapoport.