MARTIN B. SHERWIN, PHD.
17344 Northway Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33496
Phone: 561-482-3324 Fax: 561-482-5200
PROFILE
Over forty years of progressively responsible positions encompassing a broad range of both functions and fields.
Track record of success.
- Proven ability to hire, motivate and
lead talented managers.
- Good communication skills.
- Detail-oriented strategic thinker with
hands on experience in numerous management
functions; Served as General Manager and
President for a number of corporate ventures.
EXPERIENCE
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING (2013-)
Treasurer, Council Member
National Research Council Board of Governors
ChemVen Group Inc. (1997-)-now part-time
Founder and Managing Director
W.R. Grace & Co. (1980-1997)
Corporate Vice-President and President Commercial
Development Division 92-97
Executive Vice-President (Research Division) 87-92 and General Manager Grace Membrane Systems 87-90
Vice-President (Research Division) 81-87
Director of Engineering (Research Division) 80-81
Chem Systems Inc. (1966-1980)
Managing Director (Chem Systems International, London) 78-80
Vice-President R & D 71-78
Director of R & D 70-71
Manager Chemical Consulting 67-70
Staff Consultant 66-67
City University, New York (1964-1966)
Instructor of Chemical Engineering
Halcon International/Scientific Design (1960-1964)
Process Development Engineer 62-64
Process Engineer 60-62
EDUCATION
PhD. (Chemical Engineering) CUNY 1967
MS (Chemical Engineering) Polytechnic Institute 1963
BS (Chemical Engineering) CCNY 1960
Selected business courses – NYU, U.Michigan
37 US Patents, 30 papers
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
AIChE, ACS, SCI, SAE, Sigma Xi, NAE
Two Engineering School Advisory Boards(CCNY&U.MD-no longer active)
Numerous government study groups and advisory activities(i.e. NRC Board of Chemical Sciences & Technology,Catalysis Study,Beryllium Metals Supply Options,NSF Review Boards)
National Academy of Engineering Peer Committee-3 years
HONORS
Awarded first PhD. in Engineering from CUNY
Fellow of the AIChE
David B. Steinman Medal for Engineering Achievement(CCNY-1993)
Election to the National Academy of Engineering (1998)
COMPANY BOARDS
Chem Systems,Inc. 1980-85, Grace-Sierra 1990-95, Powderject 1997-1999, Catalytica Advanced Technologies 1997-2000
SPORTS
Skiing, scuba, golf and tennis
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ChemVen Group Inc.
Restructured AlliedSignal’s PhotoCurable Materials business, selling their stereolithography business and applying the
knowledge learned to the introduction and positioning of a family of products (VEctomerR) to supply the coatings, adhesives and inks UV curables markets.
W. R. Grace & Co.
Commercial Development Division
This was a venture group aimed at internal new business
development. Corporate management changes in 1995 reversed
course and led to directives to monetize or outplace these
projects. This activity brought in over $200 million in cash,
two continuing ventures and stock valued at over
$50 million,validating the value created.
New venture responsibilities included:
Grace BioPesticides - commercialized new natural insecticide and fungicide. Created an Indian grass roots JV for raw material sourcing. Took R & D project to $4 million in sales and sold it to Thermoelectron for $8 million plus royalties.(Now part of Mitsui with over $40 million sales.)
Agracetus - split this genetic engineering research company into two parts - Agracetus for plant genetic transformation and Auragen for human gene therapy (e.g. DNA vaccines). Sold Agracetus to Monsanto for $150 million. Merged Auragen with
Oxford BioSciences genetic vaccine unit to form Geniva,which became part of Powderject(sold to Chiron in 2004 for $865 million).
Camet - This group developed advanced vehicular catalysts based on coated metal foil. Advanced the technology to the point where a joint venture was entered into with Engelhard (Metreon)for product commercialization. Transferred to a Grace division.
Grace Membrane Systems - Developed large spiral wound membranes
for natural gas purification and refinery solvent recovery
applications. Built factory in Colorado and went from R & D to $8 million in sales. Transferred to a Grace division. Continues in operation and later commercialized a solvent dewaxing membrane with Mobil Oil based on earlier work.
Grace BioMedical - This group is developing artificial liver and pancreas devices using xenogenic tissue. Hired team members and acquired supplemental technology to quickly advance projects to Phase II and Phase I clinical trials. Company was spun off as a separate venture called CIRCE Biomedical which now has the artificial liver in Phase III trials.
Research Division
Built the Engineering and Process Development functions from a skeleton operation to a major corporate asset.
Constructed major pilot plants to support a wide range of
organic intermediates, fermentation projects, construction
products and membrane operations.
Chem Systems
Member of the original team that helped establish this
start-up company. Took over and staffed new R & D
"for profit" operation and ran it successfully for
eight years. Conceived of the project approach and led the team that developed the world's first commercial
maleic anhydride from butane project (built by Amoco
Chemicals). One of the originators of the Liquid
Phase Methanol process (now commercialized by Air
Products). Created the multiclient PERP series
(Process Evaluation - Research Planning) that remains
an ongoing product. Reduced interoffice friction and grew profits while managing European operations.
Halcon/Scientific Design
Contributed to the successful development and process
design of four commercialized prototype petrochemical
processes. This includes the Oxirane propylene oxide process which now constitutes most of Lyondell Chemical(was Arco Chemical).