Technical Meeting

Cosmetic Sciences Student Night

Thursday, April 18th, 2024

4 - 7 pm

Sponsorship opportunities for the April Technical Meeting & Cosmetic Sciences Student Night. 

University of Toledo Masters

Program Overview

Alison Wery

University of Toledo

Alison Wery is currently an Assistant Lecturer and the Director of the MS in Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program at the University of Toledo's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She was in the first graduating class in the University of Toledo's BS in Cosmetic Science in 2014, then received her MS in Cosmetic Science from the University of Cincinnati in 2020.  Prior joining academia in 2022, Professor Wery worked in the industry for the past 10 years working across Research and Development, Formulation, and Operations at companies such as Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Reforma Group, and ACT Solutions Corp.

Robert Graff, Ph.D.

R&D Director at CHT USA

Robert Graff is currently the Director of Research and Development for CHT USA in Cassopolis, Michigan. The Cassopolis site has production and lab facilities which specialize in the development and manufacture of silicone emulsions, amino-silicone fluids, silicone crosspolymer gels and silicone anti-foams. Robert received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Grand Valley State University in 2012. After which he pursued his PhD in polymer chemistry at the University of Notre Dame and graduated in 2017. During at his time at Notre dame he studied the polymerization of branched polymers in microemulsion publishing 17 research articles and 1 book chapter. After graduation, Robert began his career at CHT USA as a Senior Chemist developing more than 50 products and two patents. In October of 2020 he was promoted to Director of Research and Development for the team at the Cassopolis Site. He continues to work with his team to develop new silicone-based technologies for a variety of global markets. Robert currently lives in Niles, Michigan with his wife and 3 children.

Rebecca Wietting

Midwest Regional Sales Manager - Consumer Care CHT USA

Rebecca Wietting has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. She worked as a process and production engineer in petrochemical plants for 11 years for companies including OxyChem, Chevron and Cognis. While at Cognis, she transitioned into personal care sales where she covered the Midwest region for many years. After that role, she became a Global Key Account Manager at Purac America. Several sales roles followed which has lead to her current position at CHT as their Midwest Regional Sales Manager.

David Kahn

Direct Materials Sourcing Manager with Amway responsible for Specialty Chemicals

Specialty Chemicals consists of preservatives, silicones, polymers, excipients, thickeners, waxes, botanicals, emollients, emulsifiers, esters and a host of other subcategories.

I’m currently responsible for managing a portfolio of about 100 suppliers and 475 unique raw materials, about 80% of which are used in personal care and beauty products with the remaining 20% of materials used in home care and nutrition products.

Primary responsibilities include developing and executing sourcing strategies for the portfolio with support from a cross functional team, resolving supply chain/supply issues (i.e. maintaining business continuity), supporting new product development projects, building and maintaining supplier relationships, and identifying and driving risk and cost reduction initiatives.

Other professional experience includes procurement responsibility for other direct and indirect spend categories and various corporate finance roles.

Education: BBA with Finance concentration from University of Michigan, MBA with Supply Chain and General Management concentrations from Michigan State University.

Outside of work, I live with my wife in Grand Rapids. We’re currently fostering two children, a two year old and one year old brother and sister, which consumes most of our non-working, waking hours.