Seminar Presenters
The Restek Learning Network (RLN) can only offer the high-quality education you have come to expect because of our highly skilled instructors. They have been chosen from across the organization for their in-depth knowledge, extensive experience, and innate ability to present complex material clearly and effectively. If you have any questions about a seminar that you attended or are registered to attend, feel free to e-mail your instructor. You can also find many of them on ChromaBLOGraphy at blog.restek.com
And as always, for more information about the Restek Learning Network, please contact RLNSeminars@restek.com
Rick Parmely
After teaching undergraduate chemistry at both West Point and Juniata College, Rick joined Restek in 1997 as the manager of our reference standards group. With 25-plus years of teaching experience, Rick currently directs our technical education programs, teaches chemistry and separation science theory through the Restek Learning Network (RLN), and coaches other RLN instructors in public speaking. He has developed and presented Restek chromatography seminars both domestically and internationally for over 10 years.
Rick.Parmely@restek.com
Chris English
Since 2004, Chris has been the head of Restek’s Innovations Lab, where he oversees a team of more than a dozen chemists performing applications work, new product testing, and method development for both LC and GC. Before taking the reins of our lab, he spent 7 years as our Environmental Chemist and 4 years as a GC and GC-MS chemist with Inchcape Testing Services (now Intertek Testing Services).
Chris.English@restek.com
Scott Grossman
Scott Grossman has worked at Restek for 5 years as an Innovations Chemist, largely focusing on applications for GC accessories and new product development. He is particularly interested in GC inlet liners and was instrumental in the development of our highly inert Sky™ liners. Before he arrived at Restek, Scott earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Mary Washington, and then spent 6 years with the U.S. Army researching chemical sensing and the detection of explosives. His experience is predominately in gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
Scott.Grossman@restek.com
Jason S. Herrington, Ph.D.
Jason came to Restek after spending over 10 years in environmental analysis, most notably as a post-doctoral research fellow with the EPA focusing on the development of techniques for organic speciation of ambient gas-phase air toxics. He has a B.S. & Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey respectively. His dissertation examining carbonyl measurement methods in air garnered him several prestigious awards, and his wide-ranging work has been both published and presented around the world. As Restek's Air Innovations Chemist, Jason is heavily involved with developing new products and new ambient air applications.
Jason.Herrington@restek.com
Jonathan Keim
Jonathan “Munch” Keim found his initial home at Restek in Technical Service, where he spent 9 years putting his B.S. in Chemistry from Juniata College and M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from Pitt to work assisting Restek customers. He started as a Technical Service Specialist and ultimately rose to Technical Service Manager before assuming the role of Sample Preparation Product Marketing Manager in January 2010. In addition to providing instruction on QuEChERS and other sample prep methods, Jonathan also lends his expertise to our GC and GC-MS seminars.
Jonathan.Keim@restek.com
Julie Kowalski
Julie is a Senior Innovations Chemist who previously taught college-level chromatography and spectroscopy lectures and labs for 5 years in addition to working as a staff scientist at the Penn State Intercollegiate Center for Mass Spectrometry. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from Juniata College, a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, and professional experience that includes troubleshooting and method development for GC, GC-MS, GCxGC, LC, and LC-MS/MS. Her primary work for Restek has been in food safety applications, especially QuEChERS and GCxGC method development.
Julie.Kowalski@restek.com
Rick Lake
As a Product Line Manager, Rick oversees the development and application of Restek’s LC products. He previously served as our Pharmaceutical Market Development Manager and Pharmaceutical Innovations Chemist, developing GC and LC applications and assisting in new product development. Before coming on board in 2005, he worked for 7 years as a study director and principal investigator for a contract research lab, where he developed and validated GC and LC methods while also managing the stability testing department. Prior to shifting his focus to pharmaceuticals, he spent 4 years performing pesticide residue and volatile/semivolatile analysis.
Rick.Lake@restek.com
Michelle Misselwitz
Michelle is an Innovations Chemist at Restek Corporation with a B.S. in Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. For the past several years, she has been generating application data using new and existing products with the goal of providing a total solution for customers. With experience in GC and GC-MS as well as HPLC, she has worked with an emphasis on environmental and food safety testing field including GCxGC method development.
Michelle.Misselwitz@restek.com
Neil Mosesman
Neil Mosesman has over 30 years of chromatography experience. Before transitioning to a consultant role, he spent 24 years filling various technical marketing and product development positions at Restek. Prior to joining us, Neil was employed by Supelco in their new product development group. He also has experience in environmental testing and at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Neil has 2 decades of experience presenting technical seminars both domestically and internationally.
Neil.Mosesman@restek.com
Jan Pijpelink
Jan is a 30-plus-year veteran of the petrochemical industry with extensive international experience in petro laboratories and with process applications throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In his current position of Market Research Manager Gas Chromatography, Jan leads our scientific collaborations and key industry partnerships.
Jan.Pijpelink@restek.com
Chris Rattray
Chris has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside, and substantial experience with GC, GC-MS, sample preparation, standards formulation, and instrument calibration. His years performing organic EPA analysis include extensive work with methods 8270, 8260, 8141, and 8081. Over the course of his tenure at Microbac Laboratories, Inc., he was an organic analyst, organic supervisor, and technical director of the lab. After coming on as Restek’s Environmental Innovations Chemist in 2011, Chris has been concentrating on the optimization of existing environmental methods.
Chris.Rattray@restek.com
Amanda Rigdon
As our Clinical/Forensics Innovations Chemist, Amanda is responsible for the development and application of chromatography products for toxicology. She has also held the position of Pharmaceutical Innovations Chemist. Amanda graduated from George Mason University in 2004, where she majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry, and has since expanded her education on topics ranging from clinical study design to LC-MS/MS method development. Before Restek, Amanda worked for a pharmaceutical contract research lab developing GC methods for clinical study samples and testing finished products.
Amanda.Rigdon@restek.com
Randy Romesberg
A Six Sigma green belt with a B.S. in Science from Penn State, Randy is a Senior Innovations Chemist who has been immersed in the design, manufacture, and use of LC columns for over 20 years. After working at Keystone Scientific, Inc., as both a chemist and research/applications supervisor, he came to Restek in 1994. One of his first accomplishments with Restek was helping to establish Restek’s LC column product line, and ever since, he has been developing a steady stream of new stationary phases, silica particles, column hardware, and more.
Randy.Romesberg@restek.com
Kristi Sellers
With over 20 years of experience in chromatography, Kristi has worked for Restek as a Clinical/Forensic Innovations Chemist, GC Column QA Chemist, and GC Process Chemist. She has also managed GC column manufacturing, QA, the applied science group, and R&D. Kristi is currently our Associate Product Marketing Manager for air and GC columns. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Lock Haven University and an M.B.A. from Regis University and has been a Restek Learning Network instructor for more than 2 decades.
Kristi.Sellers@restek.com
Gary Stidsen
Gary has over 30 years of experience in chromatography, including sample preparation techniques, air sampling, and chromatographic analysis. He specializes in gas chromatography, with an emphasis on the environmental and petroleum markets. Gary has been at Restek for over 15 years and has played an instrumental role in developing many key products and numerous applications. During this time, Gary has managed the Innovations lab and served as Product Manager for both the GC Columns and Air Monitoring product lines. In his current position, as Director of Research and Innovation at Restek, he is responsible for all aspects of research and new product development.
gary.stidsen@restek.com
Jim Whitford
Jim’s early years in chromatography were spent in a biological laboratory doing R&D and method development for drugs of abuse. He then transitioned to performing instrument modifications and technical marketing with VICI® Valco Instruments Co. After a 10-year stint with Supelco as GC Product Manager, Jim returned to Valco Instruments as an OEM specialist, and ultimately joined Restek, where he is in charge of developing and expanding our GC column line.
Jim.Whitford@restek.com
Becky Wittrig, Ph.D.
Becky is currently the European Sales Manager for Restek Corporation in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and has almost 20 years of experience in chromatography, including GC and HPLC method development in the areas of food composition and food safety, environmental contaminants, and clinical/forensic toxicology. Prior to taking her present position, she served as Restek’s Global HPLC Specialist (2003–2009) and a Food & Flavors Applications Chemist (2001–2003). Becky also spent two years as the Food & Environmental Business Development Manager at AB SCIEX before rejoining Restek in 2011. From 1994 to 2001, she supervised the chromatography laboratories at The Pillsbury Company and Ecolab, Inc., both in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to her B.A. in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), Becky has earned Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the Krannert School at Purdue.
Becky.Wittrig@restek.com