As the VP of Technology, Dr. Rudy Olson bridges the gap between strategic vision and daily operations, coordinating cross-functional efforts to implement technology development and streamline processes, ensuring efficient execution and integration of innovative solutions into the product plan.

Rudy’s 25-year career has been focused on R&D in manufacturing companies, where he has successfully scaled several new products and processes from concept to market and has been awarded nine patents issued in multiple countries.  He led projects that were bestowed the Corporate Environmental Award in 2009 and the Corporate Technical Achievement Award in 2017 by the American Ceramic Society.  He has been instrumental in establishing a stronger scientific-based approach to the development and manufacture of advanced carbon products made from coal, including on-going efforts in coal sourcing optimization and beneficial use of waste coal fines. Primary markets of interest include aerospace, military, energy storage, and building products. 

Dr. Olson has a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science and PhD in Materials Science from Northwestern University.