Chemistry Spring 2004 Graduation

Dr. Mitchell Koppelman received a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Geochemistry from SUNY at Stony Brook in 1972. He participated in the graduate program at Virginia Tech and received a PhD degree in Chemistry in 1977 completing thesis work studying the adsorption of metal ions on mineral surfaces under John Dillard. Mitch worked for the Georgia Kaolin Company in New Jersey from 1976-1983 doing research, product development, and technical service in the area of paper filling minerals and then became marketing manager for Paper Industry Products for GK from 1983-1989. Mitch met and married Debbie Burns, who also worked for GK, in 1984. They have raised two children. He left voluntarily in 1990 to join Pfizer's Minerals Division. He headed Pfizer's marketing efforts for calcium carbonate products in paper, grew its global scope to about $250 million, and then became head of the North American part of the business shortly after Pfizer divested the Division. Minerals Technologies, Inc. was formed in 1992 and is listed on the NYSE. He ran MTI's North American Precipitated Calcium Carbonate business from 1994-1998. In 1998, he was offered the job of Global R&D Head for Minerals Technologies' largest subsidiary company, Specialty Minerals. In 2001 he was elected a Corporate Officer and currently heads a Corporate Development group focusing on strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. His current position is located in the corporate headquarters in New York City in the historic Chrysler building.