Plastics Business Development & Polymer Strategy Consultant

Timothy R. Dawsey
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Plastics Business Development & Polymer Expert - Timothy R. Dawsey

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Accomplished Executive and Recognized Polymer Science Expert (40+ Years) proven to leverage innovative scientific developments, deep organizational leadership, and creative market insights to drive business growth and commercialization. Successfully led major technology transfer initiatives, academic operations, and R&D divisions within leading industrial and academic institutions. Specializing in high-value, strategic consulting at the intersection of materials science, sustainability, and regional economic impact.

• Sustainable Polymer Strategy: Guiding organizations in the adoption of bioplastics, advanced recycling technologies, and circular economy principles.
  
• Manufacturing-Led Economic Diversification: Developing strategies to leverage existing polymer/plastics expertise to create new manufacturing bases and stabilize regional economies.
  
• New Technology Commercialization (T2): Implementing effective Stage-Gate processes, intellectual property (IP) assessment, and accelerating technology transfer from research to market
  
• Organizational & R&D Leadership: Restructuring technical teams, modernizing facilities
  

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Executive Director for Advancement of Applied Science and Technology
Strategic Leadership, Organizational Change, and Capital Development. 
(2013 - Present)

• Secured over $16 Million in Federal and State Capital Funding to modernize and expand research infrastructure, including:
  

• Championed the expansion of the Tyler Research Center, securing $12 Million in combined Federal and State funding for a new prove-out facility (Construction commenced 12/01/2025).
  
• Acquired $1.6 Million in US EDA funding (with a $400K university match) to fully update outdated analytical and testing equipment throughout the facility.
  
• Received $2.39 Million in NIST funding to “stand up” the newly renamed NationalInstitute for Materials Advancement (NIMA) with appropriate staffing and resources.
  

• Led major organizational transformation by successfully rebranding the Kansas Polymer Research Center (KPRC) to the National Institute for Materials Advancement (NIMA) to elevate national visibility and strategic focus.
  
• Defined and delivered a sustainable vision for growth in the Tyler Research Center focused on supporting plastics and polymer-centric economic growth within the four- states region.
  
• Spearheaded the revitalization of polymer research activities and the attraction/hiring of new research staff to expand core competencies and ensure strategic succession planning.
  
• Driving efforts to develop and implement a university-wide technology transfer process to accelerate the commercialization of university-developed intellectual property.
  

Director of Innovation & Commercialization - Kansas Polymer Research Center (KPRC)
Promoting Technology Transfer of KPRC Developed Technologies to Industry

• Coordinate processes for the EDA RIS grant management, including: community workshop facilitation; lead the selection of, and communication with, nationally recognized experts as consultants; coordinate consultants’ information gathering with representatives from the university, community, and business leaders; and support required grant reporting.
  
• Work with the CIBD team to coordinate regular corporate engagement efforts. These are face-to-face visits to establish relationships that will help better understand current/future market needs and identify how KPRC’s expertise might be leveraged to build partnerships.
  
• Attend technical conferences and tradeshows leveraging my existing industry network, and networking experience, to identify potential organizations/individuals to build relationships and broaden KPRC’s market exposure.
  
• Review KPRC’s technology portfolio and seek avenues to capture value.
  
• Identify opportunities and support commercialization efforts focused on promoting technology enterprises in the southeast Kansas region
  
• Collaborate with multiple groups across campus to leverage expertise and promote technology transfer
  

Sr. Research Associate - KPRC
Strengthening the KPRC team in communication, planning, and delivery

• Mentor early career scientists in opportunity identification, proposal writing/presentation, and project management
  
• Build working relationship with Wichita State’s NIAR program. Review potential projects for collaboration and share resources.
  
• Support new equipment installation and procedure development, and manage maintenance and upgrading of aging units.
  
• Mentor graduate students from the Chemistry Department in flame retardant research.
  
• Review all technical publications prior to submission.
  

Spartech Corporation - St. Louis, MO
Sr. Director of Technology - Color & Specialty Compounds Division (2004-2013)
Established and Implemented Formulation Development Processes

• Tripled the Tech Service project completion rate, growing the monthly project portfolio from 8 to 40+ active projects with existing staffing level, directly increasing commercialization throughput.
  
• Established processes and completed ISO/TS 16949 certification for the newly established compounding development operation. First audit completed with zero non-conformances, major or minor.
  
• Implemented three long-term stage-gate development projects.
  
• Significantly improved and strengthened lab capabilities by staffing with skilled and experienced testing personnel, and by making major equipment upgrades - including a new high-speed twin screw extruder, two refurbished injection molding units, and enhanced testing capabilities (DMA, TMA, DSC, TGA, barrier testing (OTR and MVTR)).
  

Sr. Director of Technology - Spartech Technology and Marketing
Built, Equipped, and Staffed Spartech’s New Technology & Innovation Center

• Worked with CTO to identify and secure location to centralize three technical centers into one location and significantly improved customer access.
  
• Hired Facility Manager.
  
• Managed construction and equipping of the new site to support all three corporate business groups (Sheet, Compounding and Packaging).
  
• Coordinated the relocation and hiring of personnel to staff the new facility.
  
• Convinced 100% of the technical staff to relocate.
  
• Held Grand Opening in July 2011.
  

Director - Product Development Center, Custom Sheet & Rollstock - Warsaw IN
Launched the New Product Development Center and Associated Processes

• Delivered a facility capable of scale-up of new extrusion technology from bench to full commercial scale in a short timeline.
  
• Developed Product Initiation and Implementation processes.
  
• Educated key players in project management concepts.
  
• Implemented Stage-Gate process.
  
• Introduced three new product families in the first eighteen months of operation.
  
• Promoted “corporate” perspective in project/product pursuit.
  
• Established cross-division communication channels.
  
• Initiated Intellectual Property assessment.
  

Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport, TN (1989 - 2004)
Business Development Manager - Developing Businesses Division
Initiated and Managed the Membrane/Filtration Platform Development Effort

• Directed Market Research activities to identify and evaluate promising market segments.
  
• Promoted Needs assessments to target technical opportunities for innovation.
  
• Populated and equipped initial research laboratory for investigating proton transport materials.
  
• Launched four Stage-One projects in the first three months.
  
• Developed and promoted a business road map with potential to realize a new business platform.
  

Business Development Manager - Corporate Growth and Business Innovations
Proposed and Launched a New Membrane/Filtration Business Development Effort

• Promoted business and technical opportunities in the power and clean water markets.
  
• Identified and promoted key opportunities for technology focus.
  
• Worked with a broad consulting base to understand and validate networks and business options.
  
• Interacted with key members of the Executive Team to build support for high potential projects.
  

Research Associate
Eastman Research Division: Technical member of Eastman Ventures Group assisting in identifying and assessing opportunities for strategic investment.

• Developed global network to insure access to rich deal-flow.
  
• Extensive travel to establish and nurture financial, commercial and academic relations.
  
• Managed technical due diligence on a broad array of topics from photonics to drug delivery.
  

Department Head (Polymer Additives and Formulations Lab)
Managed Laboratory of 25 Scientists, Engineers, and Technicians.

• Renewed Eastman’s focus on outdoor weathering stabilization of polyesters.
  
• Revitalized Eastman’s core competence in copolymerizable colorants.
  
• Drove the amber PET product from concept to full commercialization in eighteen months, achieving product acceptance by all three North American brewers.
  
• Pursued nanocomposite technologies for oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier.
  
• Managed enabling technologies for Eastman’s calendered polyesters, and technical support for static dissipative polymers, polymer blends, flame retardants and oxygen scavengers.
  
• Developed polydyes suitable for use in microdenier fibers.
  

Project Manager (Eastar Bio Copolyester) - Polymers Division
Championed the Development and Commercialization of Eastman’s Compostable Copolyester

• Directed technical, business and marketing activities.
  
• Led the sale of the first two truckloads of product.
  
• Developed manufacturing scale-up strategy.
  

Pilot Plant Manager - Polymers Division 
Managed two melt-phase and two solid-state polyester pilot scale process lines and ancillary equipment (24/7 operations with five operators and two engineers per shift).

• Managed process improvements, scale-up studies, kinetic studies, new product development and concept validation.
  
• Taught “Polyester Technology” to Eastman Development engineers and scientists at locations in North America, Europe, and Mexico.
  

Advanced Development Chemist - Polymers Division
Responsible for new product development, supporting process improvements, evaluating customer complaints, and troubleshooting manufacturing problems.

R&G Sloane - Cleveland, OH
Manager - Quality Control

Ethyl Corporation - Columbia, MS
Quality Assurance Engineer


EDUCATION

PhD - Polymer Science
University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS


BS - Polymer Science
University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS

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