Stephen Aber is the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), one of the largest sources of private research funding in North America for sustainable materials management. He plays a key role in disseminating EREF’s research and facilitating dialogue within the industry.
Category: Speaker Bios
Michele Wallace
For twenty-two years, Michele Wallace conducted textile chemistry research in the Product Development and Implementation division at Cotton Incorporated and participated in standards development to support the company’s research. During this time, Michele led the Analytical Services Lab and was the Chemical Safety Officer. She became engaged with life cycle assessment (LCA) in 2010 when Cotton Incorporated carried out the first global LCA of cotton fiber and fabric.
Matthew Farrell
Matthew Farrell, Ph.D., manager of textile chemistry research at Cotton Incorporated has over a decade of experience in cotton and textile chemistry and sustainable processes. Matt conducts and manages both internal and external research projects. He holds a master’s degree in textile chemistry and a doctorate in fiber and polymer science from North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles.
Bob Carswell
Bob Carswell is a founding member and the R&D Director at Material Return, a pioneering company dedicated to building a sustainable and socially responsible economy. Material Return focuses on custom circularity solutions for textile brands and manufacturers, leveraging worker-owned models and cutting-edge technology. Bob leads the development of custom circular yarns and products, working with his team to close the loop on textile waste in the U.S. while ensuring that workers play a central role in this emerging circular economy.
Amy Bircher Bruyn
Amy Bircher Bruyn is the CEO and Founder of MMI Textiles, Inc., a global industrial and custom textile supplier she established in 1997. With over 40 years of experience in the U.S. textile industry, Amy has driven innovation, expanded U.S. manufacturing, and strengthened domestic supply chains. She has successfully acquired three textile businesses, including her family’s company, NDW Textiles (formerly National Dye Works, Inc.), with her latest acquisition of Jason Mills LLC closing in December 2024.
Jeffrey (Jeff) L. Neuville
Jeff Neuville joined the Manufacturing Solutions Center in June 2022 as Director, where he oversees a staff of 26 people dedicated to supporting US manufacturing and creating and retaining US jobs. The Manufacturing Solutions Center assists US manufacturers with product development and prototyping services, hosts an on-site business incubator, and has an ISO accredited testing […]
Ahmed El-Shafei, Ph.D.
El-Shafei is a professor and the Program Director of Polymer and Color Chemistry at Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University. He is a world renowned expert in dye chemistry and sustainable dyeing and finishing with more than 255 scholarly articles including 144 peer-review papers, 34 referred conference proceedings, two book chapters, one book, three patents, […]
Despina Papadopoulos
Despina is a pioneering leader in the wearable technology and e-textiles world, regularly consulting major brands and start-ups on e-textiles development and commercialization. She has developed a wide range of award-winning wearable technology projects and solutions, including the mBracelet for NCR, the world’s first sweat-sensing t-shirt for Nivea / Beiersdorf, a heated jacket for Lubrizol […]
Katelyn Lee
Katelyn Lee works in Textile Chemistry Research at Cotton Incorporated. She has been with Cotton Incorporated since 2007. She managed day-to-day operations in the digital printing and garment wet processing laboratories for five years. Her present role as a Textile Chemist focuses on conducting applied research projects to improve performance in enzymatic processing, dyeing, and […]
Louis T. (Lou) Protonentis
Louis T. (Lou) Protonentis began his textile career in his mid-teens working in a local mill weighing up dye in the drug room. His initial formal education was in Pre-Law with a degree in Administration of Justice from Guilford College. After being accepted at law school, he decided to instead enter the work force and […]
