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Inorganic Ventures 2023 ICP Conference: Peak Performance

In-Person ICP Training Course | September 12-14, 2023

Our Speakers

Paul Gaines, Ph.D. / Chairman of the Board of Directors

Dr. Paul R. Gaines has four decades of spectroscopic experience. After earning his Ph.D. in chemistry at Iowa State University, Dr. Gaines worked in the laboratories of Exxon Research and Engineering and Union Carbide. Dr. Gaines is also an accomplished web author of many popular guides and papers for fellow spectroscopists.

Brian Alexander, Ph.D. / Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Brian Alexander is an earth scientist specializing in geochemistry. His research has focused on radiogenic isotope and rare earth element studies of natural waters and chemical sediments, as well as trace metal analyses using ICP techniques. A native of southwest Virginia, Brian received his B.Sc. in geology from Virginia Tech, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in geochemistry from Penn State and Jacobs University Bremen, respectively.

Lesley Owens, Ph.D. / Technical Support Manager

Dr. Lesley Owens is an analytical chemist with research specialties including chromium speciation, environmental sample design, elemental spectroscopy, and metal contamination in food products. Dr. Owens graduated from Emory & Henry College with a B.S. in Chemistry, and a minor in Mathematics. Owens, a Cunningham Fellow, received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Virginia Tech.

James King, M.Sc. / Director, Production

James King is an inorganic chemist with experience in synthesis and purification. His research has focused on the synthesis and characterization of organometallic compounds to be used as molecular magnets. A native of Hampton, Virginia, James received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina A&T State University and Virginia Tech, respectively.

Thomas Kozikowski / Chemist, R&D

Thomas Kozikowski / Manager, Stock Production

Thomas Kozikowski is a chemist with expertise in the manufacturing, quality control, technical support, stability, and homogeneity of inorganic metals standards. His experience covers many areas including reagent synthesis and purification, trace metals analysis using ICP techniques, transpiration studies, and container cleanliness. Thomas has a B.S. degree in Chemistry and a B.S. degree in Forensic Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Michael Booth / Director, Quality Control

Michael Booth / Director, Technical

Michael Booth is a chemist with expertise in quality control and instrumentation. His experience covers areas including ICP-OES, ICP-MS, Ion Chromatography and various titration techniques. Today Mr. Booth is the Quality Control Director at Inorganic Ventures. Mike has a B.S. degree in Chemistry from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

Autumn Phillips / Chemist, R&D

Autumn Phillips / Chemist, R&D

Autumn Phillips is an R&D Chemist at Inorganic Ventures with experience in bulk scale manufacturing, reaction, and purification performance and improvement. She also has several years of experience in manufacturing custom CRM products. Autumn received a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech.

Jodie Wall / Supervisor, Quality Control

Jodie Wall / Supervisor, Quality Control

Jodie Wall has worked in IV’s Quality Control department for more than 8 years making her proficient in ICP-OES, ICP-MS, Ion Chromatography, and the various titration techniques used at IV. She has a B.A. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech, and has years of experience in water quality and environmental testing as well as other manufacturing laboratory settings such as custom DNA plasmid design and sequencing.

Ashley Jones / Technical Support Chemist

Ashley Jones / Technical Support Chemist

Ashley Jones is a chemist with experience in CRM manufacturing, product design, customer support, and occupational/lab safety. Today she is a Technical Support chemist, as well as acting Lab Safety Officer for Inorganic Ventures. Ashley is a Blacksburg, VA native, and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.

Nick Plymale / Lead Quality Control Technical

Nick Plymale / Lead Quality Control Technical

Nick Plymale joined the Manufacturing department at IV in 2013 before moving to Quality Control where he’s worked for the past 9 years. He has become proficient in the use and maintenance of ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and IC as well as several wet assay methods. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from Roanoke College where his research focused on HPLC speciation of archaea proteins.

Joey Burns / Manager, Production

Joey Burns / Manager, Custom Production

Joey Burns is a chemist with expertise in the manufacturing and documentation of aqueous metallic standards. His experience includes bulk scale reactions, purifications, and CoA and SDS generation. In addition, he has many years of experience in custom CRM manufacturing. Joey received a B.S. in chemistry from Virginia Tech.