Corporate Management
David J. Arthur, Chief Executive Officer
David J. Arthur has more than 25 years experience commercializing products utilizing advanced materials, including work at such companies as Rogers Corporation, A.T. Cross Co., Composite Solutions, Helix Technologies and Eikos.
Arthur holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University, master of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and a master of business administration degree from Northeastern University. His research interests include the synthesis of nanomaterials and the fabrication of nanoscale features at a large scale. He has strong technical and market knowledge in the field of carbon nanotubes.
Daniel Resasco, Chief Scientist and Founder
Daniel Resasco is SWeNT’s chief scientist and directs the carbon nanotube research team that invented the CoMoCAT® catalytic process. He also is Douglas and Hilda Bourne Chair of Chemical Engineering and George Lynn Cross Research Professor at the University of Oklahoma.
Resasco holds numerous industrial patents and has been principal investigator on many federal and state research grants. A former senior scientist for Sun Oil Co., he is a frequent industrial consultant for Fortune 500 energy and chemical companies and a sought-after speaker at industrial and academic conferences.
In 2004, Resasco received the Oklahoma Chemist Award from the American Chemical Society and the Yale Science and Engineering Award. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Catalysis and formerly served on the editorial board of Applied Catalysis.
He holds a doctoral degree from Yale University.
Richard Jansen, VP for Sales and Marketing
Richard Jansen has more than 30 years experience in sales, marketing and new business development for specialty materials. An expert in integrating sales and marketing strategies to achieve competitive dominance, he leads SWeNT’s efforts to accelerate sales growth, build customer relationships and further improve customer satisfaction. Jansen previously held executive positions with Taconic, Eikos Inc. and Rogers Corp. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Connecticut.
John Whorton, Chief Financial Officer
John Whorton has joined SWeNT as CFO. Whorton, a CPA, has more than 30 years professional experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings in a variety of industries, including business services, manufacturing, energy and life sciences regulatory compliance. This experience includes multiple start-up business units in both capital-intensive and service organizations.
Whorton has served in such corporate capacities as president CEO, vice president marketing and sales, and chief financial officer. He has raised significant capital in equity and debt placements in both the public and private markets and has negotiated numerous joint ventures and strategic alliances. Most recently, Whorton served as an enterprise director for i2E, a private not-for-profit Oklahoma corporation focused on wealth creation by growing the technology-based entrepreneurial economy within the state.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma City University.
Ricardo Prada Silvy, Research and Process Development Manager
Ricardo Prada Silvy is an expert in developing and scaling up catalysts used in the refining, petrochemical and carbon nanotube industries. He has more than 20 years experience managing R&D projects. Prada Silvy is the author of several international patents and has published more than 100 scientific articles and communications in recognized journals and proceedings. Before joining SWeNT, he worked for Nanocyl S.A., the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. and Procter & Gamble Co. Prada Silvy holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Universidad Central de Venezuela and a doctorate in catalysis and material science from Université Catholique de Louvain.
Joe Bretz, Plant Manager
Joe Bretz has more than 30 years experience in manufacturing and quality management. He has held plant manager positions with Cambridge-Lee Industries, Madison CMP, Crystal Inc. and Zinc Corp. of America.
Experienced in both union and nonunion environments, Bretz has worked in heavy industry and specialty chemical manufacturing as well as a small start-up operation. He has held management positions in quality assurance and directed the implementation of an ISO-9002 quality assurance system.
Bretz, who began his career as a process engineer, holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Muhlenberg College.
Philip Wallis, Technical Support Manager
Philip Wallis has than 30 years experience in research and development, operations, and general management. Prior to joining SWeNT, he held senior positions at such companies as Eikos Inc., Graphic Utilities and A.T. Cross. For the past five years, Wallis has been involved with product development related to carbon nanotubes. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and doctoral degree in surface chemistry from the University of Bristol in England.
Debra Levy Martinelli, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Debra Levy Martinelli is SWeNT’s director of marketing and corporate communications. She has more than 20 years experience in marketing, public relations and journalism. For the past decade, she has focused on science and technology in academia and industry.
Prior to joining SWeNT, Levy Martinelli was director of communications for the University of Oklahoma’s Office of Technology Development and College of Engineering. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in journalism from OU.
Wanda Gress, Executive Assistant, Office Manager and Corporate Secretary
Wanda Gress is SWeNT’s executive assistant and office manager as well as corporate secretary. She came to SWeNT from the University of Oklahoma, where she worked for more than three decades in a variety of administrative offices. Gress earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Kent State University and a master’s degree in adult and higher education from OU.