Can you tell us a little about yourself? What did you do before joining Mo-Sci?
I’m a clinical pharmacist with no previous manufacturing or industrial experience prior to coming to Mo-Sci. I audited all the ceramic engineering courses offered at Missouri S&T in order to better understand the nature of the industry besides just the business side. Providing solutions for companies needing niche products allows us the opportunity to work with a wide array of companies in almost every industry space.
Tell us about your current role. What are your key focus areas and responsibilities?
Currently, I serve as the CEO/owner of the company. My key focus areas are identifying our current market situation and positioning ourselves for continued growth and innovation. Strategic planning and execution are my main responsibilities.
What inspired you to join this Mo-Sci?
My father started the company in 1985 and I joined it in 1998. I purchased it from the rest of the family in 2007 and have since started 13 additional companies, some under the Mo-Sci name and some not. My main interests in joining the company were its health care products and the innovation going on in those areas.
What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors?
Mo-Sci innovates products based on the need from our customers. We don’t seek to create new markets but identify unmet needs that already exist and develop solutions for those needs. We also strive to deliver the best customer experience we can.
What are the key opportunities and challenges your company faces at present?
The best opportunities continue to come from working closely with customers and developing custom solutions. We are always finding new customer needs that aren’t being addressed by others. Challenges include remaining a viable small business in the face of larger companies beginning to notice our success and taking interest in our existing markets.
Are there any new technology developments that you are working on at the moment? Can you tell us about them?
There are two areas that are extremely active: power generation and storage, and bioactive glasses. The need for new power generation systems such as solid oxide fuel cells creates the need for materials (sealing glasses) that allow for the performance (life cycle time) needed to make the technology economical. Bioactive glasses continue to be a large part of our total product portfolio but new applications (wound care, pharmaceuticals, coatings) are making them even more important.
What would you say most excites you about your role?
Being at the leading edge of new technology development and growing the company to new levels. Working with customers to help them create solutions that make their products perform at desired levels.
How do you think the industry will develop within the next 5 years? Do you see any key trends emerging?
I think the industry will be stable with some continued consolidation or acquisitions occurring to fill specific capability areas. Trends will continue to be product miniaturization and increased performance of existing materials.
What do you hope to achieve over the next 5 years?
Connectivity. As a small business, we continue to work on letting companies know who we are and what our capabilities are. Trade events like Ceramics Expo are helping us to make those connections, as well as a focus on building market awareness.