Gary Smay • Manager, Consulting Services
Gary joined American Glass Research in 1970. His focus areas consist of glass properties, surface chemistry and surface coatings on containers. He is a primary instructor for the cord and annealing seminar, the coatings seminar and the fracture seminars. He is also responsible for the planning and management of our seminar offerings. Additionally he coordinates all customer plant/line audits. He has been issued two U.S. patents and has authored multiple papers that are principally related to coatings, which have established him as a world-leading expert in his field of expertise. Gary obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and his Masters Degree in Polymer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
William G. Slusser • Manager, Research Services
Bill has been with American Glass Research since 1998 following 8 years as a Research Engineer with Harbison-Walker Refractories. His principle areas of responsibility include operational management of the testing laboratory. This includes project scheduling, laboratory equipment and workforce performance and coordination of customer communications. In addition, his background includes expertise in qualification and proof-of-design testing projects as well as fracture diagnosis. He is a principal instructor for the fracture seminars, design seminars and pharmaceutical seminars. He has been issued a U.S. Patent and he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University.
 Dave Machak • Manager Pharmaceutical Services and QAFollowing four years as a Process Analyst for Brockway Glass, Dave joined American Glass Research in 1979. His primary areas of expertise include fracture diagnosis, evaluation of pharmaceutical glassware, container performance evaluations and in-plant audits. He is responsible for pharmaceutical evaluations and seminars while also overseeing the quality assurance program. He is a principal instructor for the fracture seminars and the pharmaceutical seminars. Dave holds a U.S. Patent. He is an active participant on the pharmaceutical Task Force on Glass Defects. Dave obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Washington and Jefferson College and he continued with graduate studies in Physics at the University of Cincinnati.
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Dr. Wenke Hu • Senior Scientist
Wenke joined American Glass Research in 2012. His principle areas of responsibility include coordination of internal research projects, oversight of technical papers and applied research in glass science as it relates to container design, container performance and glass innovation. He has published multiple technical papers on the subject of dynamic fracture and failure on composite material and glass laminates. He obtained his B.E. in Engineering Mechanics and his M.S. in computational mechanics from Ningbo University, China. He obtained his Doctorate in Mechanical and Material Engineering from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. |
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Peter de Haan • Senior Scientist
Peter joined American Glass Research in 2013. His principle areas of responsibility include fracture diagnosis, glass forming issues, design interpretation and filling line evaluations. He will also have considerable involvement with internal research projects and technical papers as they relate to container design, container performance and glass innovation. He has ten years of experience with a leading manufacturer of architectural glass and eight years of experience with a world leading manufacturer of glass and metal packaging for the food and beverage industry. He graduated from NCOI Business School, Rotterdam and holds MTS degrees in Chemical Technology and Industrial Automation. |
Brian Collins • Research Engineer
Following seven years with Zedmark Incorporated, Brian joined American Glass Research in 1986. His principle areas of expertise include stone analysis, USP testing, Tristimulus testing, and contaminant analysis. He is also a specialist for the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM/EDX). Brian develope and is the primary instructor for our Analysis of Stones seminar. Brian holds an AAS degree in Metrology from Butler Community College.
Doug Holscher • Research Scientist
Doug joined American Glass Research in 2006. His previous experience includes work as a coatings chemist where he utilized a variety of analytical techniques. His principle areas of focus will include the study of surface chemistry and the utilization of coatings on containers. His expanded responsibilities will include contaminant identification, seminar instruction and container testing. Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Shippensburg University.
 Steve Spence • Research Engineer Steve joined American Glass Research in 2009. His previous experience includes work as a process engineer and manager of product development. His principle areas of focus will include the evaluation of cord and annealing stress. His expanded responsibilities will include analysis of surface treatments, seminar instruction, and container testing. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Adam Bailes • Research Scientist
Adam joined American Glass Research in 2012. His principle areas of responsibility include fracture diagnosis, testing and glass container technology issues. Adam brings his experience as a quality control supervisor at a glass container manufacturer to our team. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
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Brad Salitrik • Research Engineer
Brad joined our staff as a Research Engineer in 2013. His principle areas of responsibility will involve computer stress analysis of containers. Brad brings his experience as a Mechanical Design Engineer from previous positions with a robotics manufacturer and a supplier to the defense industry. He obtained his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. |
Mike Kovac • Global Research Consultant
Mike joined American Glass Research in 1969. His principle expertise includes fracture diagnosis, closure performance issues and in-plant audits. He is a principal instructor for the fracture and design seminars, which he has taught in more than 30 different countries. Mike is recognized throughout the glass container industry as a leading fracture diagnostician and following his partial retirement in 2011 he will continue on as a consultant to American Glass Research. Mike graduated from Pratt Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and he continued with graduate studies in Physics at the State University of New York.
Rick Bayer • Glass Technology Specialist
Rick joined American Glass Research in 2000, following a 31-year career with Owens Illinois. Rick's principle areas of expertise include fracture diagnosis, glass plant quality control, and product liability. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bryant College.
 Tom Sooy • Consultant/Seminar Instructor
After spending over 30 years in the Glass Container Industry, Tom has joined forces with American Glass Research in 2008 as a seminar Instructor and consultant. His expertise includes 20 years of in plant experience ranging from Shift Supervisor through Operations Manager and ultimately Plant Manager. His Corporate positions included Vice President of Quality and, most recently, Sr. Vice President of Technical Services where his responsibilities included Quality, Engineering, Planning and Logistics and Field Technical Services.
Linda Pilosi •Administrative Assistant/Seminar Coordinator
Linda has been with American Glass Research since 1998. Her principle areas of responsibility include final report preparation, marketing mailings and coordination of all seminar logistics including registration and billing.
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