Electrotechnology Applications 
	Center Norhampton Community College

Home

About ETAC

News and Events

Partnerships

Contact Us

Services

Technologies

Case Studies

Ask the Expert

Education and Training

Site Map




Start of Main Content

Key Staff

Dr. Mike Vasilik, Executive Director
John Barkanic, Process Engineer
Joe Cresko, Process Engineer
Alfred E. Fuchs, Senior Polymer Chemist
Terry Hafford, Chemist
Eugene Hoffman, Engineering Technician
Patrick Kelley, Senior Materials/Manufacturing Engineer
Roger Price, Senior Technical Specialist
Preston L. Roberts, Director, Energy Management Institute
William J. Clark, Energy Manager

Dr. Michael Vasilik
Director, Read a welcome from Dr. Michael Vasilik

Job Description:
Mike is responsible for the overall operation of the Center. His duties include business development, staffing, strategic planning, program management, budgeting and client relations.

Experience:
Mike has 40 years of experience in research and development, manufacturing, engineering and production. He has held several senior management positions in the various technical fields, and has served as a consultant to the U.S. Government on research and development projects. Mike has run state-of-the-art environmental, microelectronics and advanced technology laboratories and manufacturing facilities. He has served as a consultant to numerous companies to assist them in modernizing and improving their operations and applying new technologies to achieve and maintain a competitive edge.

Education:
Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering/Operations Research, Arizona State University
M.S. in Astronautical/Facilities Engineering, The AF Institute of Technology
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Diploma from the National Defense University

Back to Top

John Barkanic
Process Engineer

Job Description:
John performs industrial manufacturing and process evaluations and site assessments, consults with industry vendors and specialists, works with clients on research and development, materials testing, and process development, and conducts workforce development and training.

Experience:
John has more than 25 years of experience developing, testing and evaluating a variety of industrial manufacturing and production processes. He is a recognized expert in the pollution prevention approach to identify manufacturing process and procedure changes that reduce air emissions, optimize production, and increase profits. John has extensive experience performing industrial facility assessments to help manufacturers evaluate heating, drying and curing technologies. He has a strong background in radiation-based curing and drying using ultraviolet or infrared light, and in polymeric materials processing, polymer chemistry and film characterization. John performed research and development projects with Keystone Applied Research, and helped develop training materials for the National Training Center for Microelectronics.

Education:
Ph.D. i n Chemistry, Lehigh University
B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Penn State University

John Barkanic

Back to Top

Joe Cresko
Process Engineer

Job Description:
At ETAC, Joe Cresko, ETAC Process Engineer, is in charge of process, chemical and materials engineering for projects specializing in radio frequency, microwave, infrared, ultrasonic, and induction technologies. Joe manages ETAC's Dielectric and Materials Characterization Laboratory.

Experience:
Joe has more than fifteen years experience performing a variety of projects in chemical, process and materials engineering. He is the author of a dozen technical papers presented at international symposia, specializing in microwave, radio frequency and infrared heating and drying. Joe served as General Manager at HVS Technologies in State College, PA before joining the technical staff at ETAC, where he developed materials, process and business in the areas of EMI shielding (Joe holds a patent in this area) and microwave heating. Prior to this, he worked as an environmental engineer for Jacobs Engineering Group in Washington, D.C. and was a teaching and research assistant at Penn State University.

Education:

M.S. in Engineering, Science and Mechanics, Penn State University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Bucknell University

 

Alfred E. Fuchs
Senior Polymer Chemist

Job Description:
Al runs the Applications Laboratory, coordinates technology demonstrations, assists on customer plant tours, consults with industry specialists, works with customers on project testing, and conducts technical training classes. He works closely with manufacturers and end users to develop new applications for waterborne and powder coatings that meet air quality standards.

Experience:
With more than 35 years of proven results in research and development and manufacturing environments, Al offers a strong technical background in coatings development, liquid chromatography, polymer chemistry, quality control and materials management. Al has developed new UV coatings and has worked extensively with a variety of coatings, resins and application and curing equipment, including state-of-the-art electron beam and ultraviolet systems. Before joining ETAC, he worked for a major supplier of printed automotive panels, a manufacturer of glass spheres for industrial and scientific use, and a manufacturer of filter paper and liquid chromatography. He has four patents.

Education:

M.S. in Polymer Chemistry, New York Institute of Technology
B.S. in Chemistry, Widener University

Back to Top

 

Terry Hafford
Chemist

Job Description:
Terry is responsible for operations and technical support for infrared, ultraviolet and electron beam applications. She demonstrates environmentally-friendly technologies, troubleshoots coating and application problems, and provides "hands-on" technical training.

Experience:
Terry has 25 years of research and development experience in radiation-based curing of coatings, adhesives and inks; RF plasma polymerization; zinc oxide applications in photocopying, paints, ceramics, and rubber and marine geotechnology.

Education:

B.S. in Science, Penn State University

Back to Top

Eugene Hoffman
Engineering Technician

Job Description:
Gene works with the process engineers in the Dielectric Laboratory and is responsible for all operations and maintenance of the induction, microwave, radio frequency and ultrasound equipment. He also assists with plant audits and pollution prevention and energy efficiency (P2E2) assessments.

Experience:
Gene has over 35 years of experience, including serving as supervisor in manufacturing, electronic maintenance and plant maintenance at high tech facilities using electronic, radio frequency and microwave components. He operates and maintains environmental testing equipment, and worked for many years at ITT, where he maintained and calibrated a broad range of equipment.

Education:

RETS Electronics School, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

Back to Top

Patrick Kelley
Senior Materials/Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description:
Pat's association with Northampton Community College began seven years ago when he taught his first course in "Polymer Processing." Since that time he has also taught "Introduction to Plastics" as well as several levels of mathematics.

Experience:
Pat has over 30 years of professional experience. He spent 16 years with Mobil Chemical Company in the plastic division where he worked mostly on the extrusion of blown film. For the past 10 years, he has operated his own plastics recycling company, which makes post and rail type fencing. Pat has two patents for plastic products, which he invented.

Education:

M.B.A., Rutgers University
B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 

Back to Top

William (Bill) Clark
Energy Manager

 

Job Description:
Bill's main objective at ETAC is developing course curriculum for the Energy Efficiency Specialist diploma program being launched at NCC this Fall. Bill is also the project manager, and oversees the development of the project from all aspects.

Experience:
Bill has over 15 years experience in a field of knowledge founded in energy efficiency, waste management and productivity improvement, as well as energy auditing of commercial, industrial, power and mechanical operations. Prior to joining ETAC, Bill was the Executive Director at the University City Science Center, Industrial Technology and Energy Management Division (ITEM) in Philadelphia, PA. Bill strategically directed and guides the ITEM division, which dispatches teams of engineering specialists to conduct assessments of manufacturing production environments to identify cost savings through conservation, waste minimization, and productivity improvement measures. Bill was also involved in the promotion of ITEM to a wide variety of audiences, including federal,
state, and municipal government bodies, as well as industry trade and technical organizations. Bill has held Assistant Engineering Manager, Project Engineer, and Staff Engineer positions in his career as well, which involved technical reporting and analysis, writing and presenting formal papers on proposed energy conservation, and also equipment analysis. Bill also operated and supervised mechanical operators in the control of a naval nuclear power plant, where he also directed preventive maintenance practices.

Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University

 

Roger Price
Senior Technical Specialist

Job Description:
Roger performs industrial facility visits to identify potential opportunities for pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. He also identifies opportunities for using infrared, ultraviolet and electron beam applications. He coordinates efforts with clients and ETAC staff to collect relevant facility and process information necessary to meet the clients' needs, develop project work scope and activities. Roger also provides project oversight and assistance.

Experience:
Roger has more than 25 years experience as a practicing professional engineer. He has performed more than 150 industrial facility assessments for pollution prevention opportunities, environmental management system performance and environmental compliance. He also has conducted more than 170 training sessions on these subjects throughout the U.S. and in the Eastern Europe countries of Bulgaria, Slovakia and Poland. During 1991, Roger was appointed to serve on the Advisory Panel for the President's Commission on Environmental Quality (PCEQ). Roger authored a Hazardous Waste Minimization Manual For Small Quantity Generators, which received the Environmental Education Achievement Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and for 12 years managed a state-wide pollution prevention technical assistance program that won the EPA's Administrator's Award.

Education:

M.S. in Sanitary Engineering, Penn State University
B.S. in Engineering, Cornell University

 

Back to Top

Preston (Pete) L. Roberts
Director, Energy Management Institute

Job Description:
Pete directs ETAC's Energy Management Institute (EMI) at Northampton Community College. EMI engineers perform investment-grade energy, pollution prevention, and process assessments for industrial and large commercial clients; develops and conducts distance learning courses on energy management and process heating; evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of renewable energy installations and combined heat and power (CHP) systems; conducts "carbon footprint" analyses for industrial clients; and a variety of other services. Pete also assists clients in deploying electrotechnologies to solve industrial process problems using microwave, radio frequency, electric induction, electron beam, plasma, and infrared technologies for heating, curing, drying, heat treating, and melting.

Experience:
Pete has thirty-four years of experience in HVAC, industrial processes, and applied research and development and technology deployment. Industrial Program Manager for the Electric Power Research Institute. Pete has over twenty years experience managing marketing, technical services, and applied R&D at a Fortune 50 electric utility for the industrial and commercial sectors. He is the Winner of two R&D Magazine "R&D 100" Awards and holds one Patent.

Education:

M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Villanova University
B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics, Penn State University

Preston (Pete) L. Roberts

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3835 Green Pond Road Bethlehem, PA 18020-7699 • Phone: (610) 861-5081 • Fax: (610) 861-4101