2016 World Candle Congress (WCC)

2016 World Candle Congress Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Steven West
Sales Manager
Wedo Wicks, Germany

Steven joined Wedo in 1998 and is currently responsible for wick sales world wide. In addition to building up a solid theoretical background, he has gained considerable practical experience in the most diverse aspects of candle manufacturing by visiting customers in their factories and helping to solve problems “in the field”. After completing his university education in England, Steven moved to Germany in 1985. He previously worked for two major German companies with the emphasis on capital goods export and technical project management, and also obtained further professional qualifications. This is the fourth presentation that Steven will have held at a World Candle Conference.

Michelle Lamb, Editorial Director
The Trend Curve

Michelle Lamb started her trend-forecasting career at Target. She founded Marketing Directions consultancy three years later, and launched The Trend Curve newsletter and color forecasts. As her company celebrates 28 years, Michelle travels the globe, trend-spotting and speaking about color.

Bruce Campbell, Director of Business Development
Wicks Unlimited


Bruce Campbell is one of the original founders of Wicks Unlimited and has been working in the candle industry for 17 years focusing on candle combustion. Bruce has a Bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University in New York and currently holds six patents related to the candle industry.

Lisa Wallick, Senior Fragrance Development Director, Specialty Home Fragrance
Symrise


Lisa has been a fragrance industry professional for over two decades and began her career through formal raw material training at International Flavors and Fragrances. She has since held key positions for product and fragrance development within several global fragrance companies. Although her specialty is home fragrance, she has worked in every product category. Lisa has an Executive MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business.

Danielle McDonald, Director of Marketing, Specialty Home Care
Smyrise


Since beginning her career with Dragoco 15+ years ago, Danielle has worked for several fragrance companies in almost every consumer category.  In 2006, Danielle joined Manheimer Fragrances where she began her focus on candles, and discovered she had a talent for anticipating seasonal trends within a home environment. Following the acquisition of Manheimer by Symrise, she is currently Director of Marketing for Specialty Home Care, where she is responsible for leading the marketing efforts of her category, understanding the way in which trends and dynamics will impact the future of the air care market. Danielle has a BA in Art & Psychology from the College of Saint Elizabeth, where her studies have proven essential for understanding consumer behavior and drivers, creative work, and trend forecasting.

Jeb Head, President
Atkins & Pearce, Inc.

Jeb Head is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and President of Atkins & Pearce, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of braided textiles located in Covington, Kentucky. Jeb received his Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan in 2014, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Shepherd Chemical Company and The Shepherd Color Company; and The Christ Hospital Health Network, where he chairs the Quality and Patient Safety Committee.

Greg Adamson, Senior Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Product Safety & Sustainability
Givaudan

Greg trained at Murdoch University in Veterinary Biology, and completed his Ph.D. in Biochemical Toxicology in 1990 at the University of Western Australia, located in his beloved home town of Perth. He completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nevada where he published the effects of cytokines in hepatotoxicity.
After 10 years in varying toxicology roles across Baby Care and Personal Care businesses at Proctor & Gamble, he accepted the position of Director of Product Safety & Regulatory Affairs at Avon Products where he managed the toxicology and regulatory groups for global R&D.
In 2005, Greg joined Givaudan in the role of Vice President of Global Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs, where he is the chairman of IFRA Scientific Committee, IFRA North America’s Government Relations Committee, and Joint Advisory Group. Greg is also Givaudan’s Board representative at the Consumer Specialty Products Association.

Tom Vetterly, Vice President of Technology
Mayzo


Tom Vetterly is the Vice President of Technology for Mayzo, Inc. an Atlanta-based additive company focused on stabilization. Tom has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Bogdan Comanita, President
MarketChemica, Inc.

Dr. Bogdan Comanita founded MarketChemica, to provide an outsourcing solution for global trade analysis, monitoring and forensic investigation in the fine and specialty chemicals industry.

Jacqueline Martinez, Customer Service/Candle Products
Candle Packaging USA

Jackie comes with a plethora of experience in the areas of customer service, product knowledge, development and has a full understanding of the overall thermoforming process involved in candle packaging.