A 1967 graduate of the College of Textiles North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Chemistry, he has served in various technical and management positions with dyestuff and chemical suppliers, and wet processors. After 53 years in the textile industry, Nelson retired in June 2019.
Previous positions include Technical Service with Archroma, Vice-President of Technical Service for M. Dohmen USA, Vice-President Technical Marketing for Burlington Chemical Company, LLC, Technical Director with the Textile Products Division of Ciba-Geigy Corporation and Technical Manager with American Color and Chemical. Manufacturing experiences include management and technical positions with M. Lowenstein, Burlington Industries, and Beaunit Corporation.
Nelson has been an active member of AATCC for over 40 years, chaired numerous committees including the Education Advisory Publications Committees, Colorfastness to Perspiration Test Method Committee. He served as President of the Association in 1997 and 1998 and is presently serving on several technical and administrative committees. In 2003, Nelson was awarded the AATCC’s Harold C. Chapin Award for distinguished service to the Association and in 2015 received the AATCC Education Award.
Nelson has also worked with technology transfer programs at the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University.
Additional recognitions include the 2000 Textile Leader of the Year by the Kappa Tau Beta Leadership Fraternity and Phi Psi Professional Textile Fraternity at the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, and the 2001 Textile World Annual Top 10 for service and dedication to the textile industry.
A frequent speaker on textile wet processing before retiring, Nelson has made numerous presentations at AATCC workshops and symposiums, North Carolina State University programs, Clemson University programs, and various business and trade association programs.
