Executive Team

Peter Murin
CEO

As CEO, Peter Murin sets Halocarbon's strategic direction and oversees the development and execution of research and development projects and corporate marketing. He ensures that the company's high standards are maintained, particularly those that relate to the customers' experience, and is actively involved in assuring customers, employees and corporate neighbors that all of the company's products are manufactured safely, consistently and responsibly.

Murin started at Halocarbon in 1984. He was named CEO in 2005. Previously, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer for 10 years. Prior to that, he managed the company's commercial development and production efforts. Before joining Halocarbon, Murin worked in a variety of engineering and production positions at Olin and AlliedSignal (now Honeywell).

He has a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from The Cooper Union in New York City.

Barbara Gardner
Vice President of Finance and Benefits

Barbara Gardner began her career at Halocarbon in 1985 as Controller. As VP of Finance and Benefits, she oversees the company's financial matters and the Customer Service Department. Gardner is also responsible for administering all Human Resources functions.

Prior to joining Halocarbon, Gardner owned an import/export company that handled sporting goods.

Gardner is a graduate of Brooklyn College, where she received a Bachelor's degree in English and Classics, and has done two years of post-graduate accounting studies.

Ron Epstein
Sales Director

Ron Epstein has worked at Halocarbon since 1995, rising to Sales Director in 2007. Epstein and his team of account managers ensure that all customers receive what they need when they want it. He also has primary responsibility for the company's international customers, particularly in Asia and Europe, where Halocarbon has a strong presence. Epstein, who has a background in plastics, chemicals and lubricants, started his career at Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, TN, where he worked in sales.

A past president and chairman of several national industry organizations, he is currently a member of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE).

Epstein is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Ohio, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry.

Barry Jones
Technical Director

Barry Jones is responsible for the team of chemical engineers, fluorine chemists and technicians at Halocarbon that develop new products in response to customer needs. Among his duties, Jones shepherds new products through a variety of steps to ensure the safest, most environmentally responsible and cost-efficient production.

Jones has been with Halocarbon since 1984, starting as a process engineer. Prior to joining Halocarbon, he was a process engineer with Crawford and Russell/John Brown Engineers and Constructors, handling chemical engineering design and specification for new chemical plant construction. Before that Jones was a process engineer with Rohm and Haas (UK) Ltd. Jones has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.

Kenneth J. McDowell
Regulatory Affairs Director

Ken McDowell began at Halocarbon in 1989 with primary responsibility for all aspects of state, federal, national and international regulatory compliance. He oversees Halocarbon's on-going registration and/or compliance efforts with OSHA, US EPA, TSCA, RCRA, US FDA and various overseas medicine control and drug registration agencies, Homeland Security and US DOT.

McDowell also serves as the company spokesman, and is an active member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Managers).

Prior to joining Halocarbon, McDowell was Division Director of Environmental Affairs for West Point Pepperell for 5 years. Following his graduation from Auburn University in Alabama, where he received a degree in Environmental Health & Science, McDowell worked for the State of Alabama Water Improvement Commission (now the Alabama Department of Environmental Management).

Eric Schoellkopf
Plant Manager

As Plant Manager, Eric Schoellkopf leads the production, quality assurance, logistics and maintenance organizations at Halocarbon's manufacturing facility. An employee of the company since 1989, Schoellkopf also worked as production engineer and production manager before being named Plant Manager. Schoellkopf began his engineering career at Milliken Chemical in South Carolina as Pilot Plant Supervisor, where he was responsible for developing specialty colorants and textile chemicals.

A graduate of Clemson University, where he received a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering, Schoelkopf also holds an MBA from Augusta College.

Paul Cross
Quality Manager

As Quality Manager, Paul Cross directs Halocarbon's Quality Assurance and Quality Control programs to ensure all commercial products are consistent with Halocarbon's high standards. In this role he is responsible for implementing and maintaining a compliant quality management system that facilitates a proactive quality environment.

Paul joined Halocarbon in 1987 as Quality Control Supervisor for the North Augusta production facility and was promoted to Quality Manager in 1993. He received a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina in 1975. He was last employed as a Senior Chemist with Warner Lambert Corporation-Pharmaceuticals Division. Mr. Cross has extensive GMP and industrial experience.