Our Leadership Team
Our Leadership Team
David Bacon
C.E.O.
B.S. Chemical Engineering
University of Arkansas: magna cum laude
David Bacon joined Halocarbon Products Corp. as CEO in 2015. David was the first Halocarbon CEO to be hired from outside the company. His vision is to build the New Halocarbon and position it as the strategic growth partner for innovation in fluorochemistry. David has 13 years of experience leading businesses in General Manager roles where he consistently improved operations and profitability. Prior to Halocarbon, he served as President of the LSP Products Group (a division of NCH Corporation) and as General Manager of the AT Plastics (EVA) division at Celanese Corporation. Prior to his general management roles, David was a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. He began his professional career as a chemical engineer at Exxon Corporation.
David Bacon
C.E.O.
B.S. Chemical Engineering
University of Arkansas: magna cum laude
David Bacon joined Halocarbon Products Corp. as CEO in 2015. David was the first Halocarbon CEO to be hired from outside the company. His vision is to build the New Halocarbon and position it as the strategic growth partner for innovation in fluorochemistry. David has 13 years of experience leading businesses in General Manager roles where he consistently improved operations and profitability. Prior to Halocarbon, he served as President of the LSP Products Group (a division of NCH Corporation) and as General Manager of the AT Plastics (EVA) division at Celanese Corporation. Prior to his general management roles, David was a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. He began his professional career as a chemical engineer at Exxon Corporation.
Julie Fortunato
Director of Finance
B.S. Accounting | University of Maryland, College Park
Graduate, Tax Executive Institute | University of Michigan/Ann Arbor
Certified Public Accountant (Maryland)
Certified Management Accountant
Julie A. Fortunato holds the Certified Public Accountant (Maryland) and Certified Management Accountant designations. Ms. Fortunato has worked for Halocarbon since August 2015 as Director of Finance.
Prior to joining Halocarbon, Julie held various positions with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, most recently seconded to Arab Potash Company in Amman, Jordan as VP of Finance and Administration. Her chemical plant experience includes over 24 years working in both the Nitrogen and Phosphate divisions of PotashCorp as Plant Controller and Manager of Accounting. Julie has more than 34 years of experience in accounting, procurement, maintenance and warehouse operations.
Julie Fortunato
Director of Finance
B.S. Accounting | University of Maryland, College Park
Graduate, Tax Executive Institute | University of Michigan/Ann Arbor
Certified Public Accountant (Maryland)
Certified Management Accountant
Julie A. Fortunato holds the Certified Public Accountant (Maryland) and Certified Management Accountant designations. Ms. Fortunato has worked for Halocarbon since August 2015 as Director of Finance.
Prior to joining Halocarbon, Julie held various positions with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, most recently seconded to Arab Potash Company in Amman, Jordan as VP of Finance and Administration. Her chemical plant experience includes over 24 years working in both the Nitrogen and Phosphate divisions of PotashCorp as Plant Controller and Manager of Accounting. Julie has more than 34 years of experience in accounting, procurement, maintenance and warehouse operations.
Derek Brown
Director of Supply Chain
B.S. Mechanical Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S. Mathematics | Morehouse College
Derek Brown comes to Halocarbon with many years of supply chain leadership experience with companies including INVISTA, LSP Products/NCH Corporation and Celanese Corporation. Derek’s career began in production and operations, but for more than 16 years, Derek has held management roles with increasing responsibility in the area of supply chain, including inventory management, purchasing and customer service.
In his new role as part of Halocarbon’s leadership team, Derek is responsible for developing strategies that drive continuous improvement in customer service, procurement, warehousing and distribution, and inventory management.
Derek Brown
Director of Supply Chain
B.S. Mechanical Engineering | Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S. Mathematics | Morehouse College
Derek Brown comes to Halocarbon with many years of supply chain leadership experience with companies including INVISTA, LSP Products/NCH Corporation and Celanese Corporation. Derek’s career began in production and operations, but for more than 16 years, Derek has held management roles with increasing responsibility in the area of supply chain, including inventory management, purchasing and customer service.
In his new role as part of Halocarbon’s leadership team, Derek is responsible for developing strategies that drive continuous improvement in customer service, procurement, warehousing and distribution, and inventory management.
Sidd Shenoy
Director of Strategic Marketing
M.B.A. Executive General Management | Drexel University
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry | University of California, Irvine
B.S. Chemistry, University of Virginia
Siddhartha (Sidd) Shenoy joined Halocarbon in May 2016 as the Director of Strategic Marketing. His top priorities include designing and implementing the company’s new strategic growth initiatives, and interfacing with both the Commercial and Technical/R&D teams at Halocarbon to build the company’s innovation pipeline.
Prior to joining the Halocarbon Leadership Team, Sidd worked at E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, where he held multiple business and technical leadership roles, serving markets and applications ranging from industrial biotechnology, agriculture and nutrition to electronics and fluorinated materials.
Sidd Shenoy
Director of Strategic Marketing
M.B.A. Executive General Management | Drexel University
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry | University of California, Irvine
B.S. Chemistry, University of Virginia
Siddhartha (Sidd) Shenoy joined Halocarbon in May 2016 as the Director of Strategic Marketing. His top priorities include designing and implementing the company’s new strategic growth initiatives, and interfacing with both the Commercial and Technical/R&D teams at Halocarbon to build the company’s innovation pipeline.
Prior to joining the Halocarbon Leadership Team, Sidd worked at E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, where he held multiple business and technical leadership roles, serving markets and applications ranging from industrial biotechnology, agriculture and nutrition to electronics and fluorinated materials.
Kevin Hyman
Director of Human Resources
B.S. Industrial Management
Clemson University, South Carolina
Kevin Hyman is responsible for directing and developing Halocarbon’s people assets and culture in accordance with the company’s strategic direction, ethics and governmental regulations. He directs all aspects of Human Resources for Halocarbon.
Hyman joined Halocarbon in 2014 bringing with him over 25 years of domestic and international Human Resource experience from the textile and chemical industries. He is an active member of the business community and SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management).
Kevin Hyman
Director of Human Resources
B.S. Industrial Management
Clemson University, South Carolina
Kevin Hyman is responsible for directing and developing Halocarbon’s people assets and culture in accordance with the company’s strategic direction, ethics and governmental regulations. He directs all aspects of Human Resources for Halocarbon.
Hyman joined Halocarbon in 2014 bringing with him over 25 years of domestic and international Human Resource experience from the textile and chemical industries. He is an active member of the business community and SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management).
Carl Walther
Director of Research and Development
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Oklahoma State University
Walther joined Halocarbon in July of 2016 as Manager, Technical Services/Support being promoted to his current role in March of 2017. His most recent employment had been with Chemours as a Technical Service Senior Consultant in the Krytox Performance Lubricants business, which included both product and application development in a range of markets from industrial to aerospace as well as targeted R&D projects and manufacturing plant support. Walther is recognized as an authority in his field, has written papers, and made presentations to organizations such as AISE, IEEE PCIC, NLGI, NORIA, SAE, SMMA and STLE.
Walther joined Halocarbon with more than 30 years of experience in product and application development driving sales of specialty products into new and existing market spaces around the globe.
Carl Walther
Director of Research and Development
B.S. Chemical Engineering
Oklahoma State University
Walther joined Halocarbon in July of 2016 as Manager, Technical Services/Support being promoted to his current role in March of 2017. His most recent employment had been with Chemours as a Technical Service Senior Consultant in the Krytox Performance Lubricants business, which included both product and application development in a range of markets from industrial to aerospace as well as targeted R&D projects and manufacturing plant support. Walther is recognized as an authority in his field, has written papers, and made presentations to organizations such as AISE, IEEE PCIC, NLGI, NORIA, SAE, SMMA and STLE.
Walther joined Halocarbon with more than 30 years of experience in product and application development driving sales of specialty products into new and existing market spaces around the globe.
Eric Schoellkopf
Plant Manager
B.S. Chemical Engineering | Clemson University, SC
MBA | Augusta College, Georgia
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.
Eric Schoellkopf
Plant Manager
B.S. Chemical Engineering | Clemson University, SC
MBA | Augusta College, Georgia
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.
Norman Guest
Director of Environment, Health and Safety
B.S. Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
Oklahoma State University
Guest most recently served as Director EHS – Safety Culture for Momentive Performance Materials, where he was responsible for EHS at 20 sites globally in 2 business sectors. Guest also partnered with all levels of the company on EHS/PSM compliance, safety leadership skill development. Prior to his role at Momentive, Guest served in various global, regional, and local EHS leadership roles at Celanese Corporation. While at Celanese, he led the achievement of setting new company EHS performance records; negotiated site operating permit approvals; developed and implemented the companies ALERT process and global communication plan; led EHS / PSM audits globally; developed and implemented global EHS management systems such as safe work permit process; and applied six sigma principles resulting in improved EHS performance and efficiency.
Guest joined Halocarbon in 2016 with more than 20 years of experience in driving world-class EHS performance bringing industry best practices to lead the company’s next phase of EHS performance, growth, and product innovation.
Norman Guest
Director of Environment, Health and Safety
B.S. Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
Oklahoma State University
Guest most recently served as Director EHS – Safety Culture for Momentive Performance Materials, where he was responsible for EHS at 20 sites globally in 2 business sectors. Guest also partnered with all levels of the company on EHS/PSM compliance, safety leadership skill development. Prior to his role at Momentive, Guest served in various global, regional, and local EHS leadership roles at Celanese Corporation. While at Celanese, he led the achievement of setting new company EHS performance records; negotiated site operating permit approvals; developed and implemented the companies ALERT process and global communication plan; led EHS / PSM audits globally; developed and implemented global EHS management systems such as safe work permit process; and applied six sigma principles resulting in improved EHS performance and efficiency.
Guest joined Halocarbon in 2016 with more than 20 years of experience in driving world-class EHS performance bringing industry best practices to lead the company’s next phase of EHS performance, growth, and product innovation.
Paul Cross
Director of Quality
B.S. Chemistry
University of South Carolina
As Quality Manager, Paul Cross directs Halocarbon’s Quality Assurance and Quality Control programs to ensure all commercial products are consistent with Halocarbon high standards. In this role, he is responsible for implementing and maintaining a compliant quality management system that facilitates a proactive quality environment.
Cross joined Halocarbon in 1987 as Quality Control Supervisor for the North Augusta production facility and was promoted to Quality Manager in 1993. He was last employed as a Senior Chemist with Warner Lambert Corporation-Pharmaceuticals Division. Cross has extensive Good Manufacturing Practices and industrial experience.
Paul Cross
Director of Quality
B.S. Chemistry
University of South Carolina
As Quality Manager, Paul Cross directs Halocarbon’s Quality Assurance and Quality Control programs to ensure all commercial products are consistent with Halocarbon high standards. In this role, he is responsible for implementing and maintaining a compliant quality management system that facilitates a proactive quality environment.
Cross joined Halocarbon in 1987 as Quality Control Supervisor for the North Augusta production facility and was promoted to Quality Manager in 1993. He was last employed as a Senior Chemist with Warner Lambert Corporation-Pharmaceuticals Division. Cross has extensive Good Manufacturing Practices and industrial experience.
