The following received MATRIC 2008 Star awards during the reception:

Don Bunning
The MATRIC 2008 Star Employee for C&ET Star is Don Bunning. Don has been a key contributor in the development and commercialization of biodiesel technology, which was started up in the BEST Energies plant in Wisconsin. Don spent many long hours at the plant during the startup and initial operating period. He has also been a leader in the development of upgrades to the initial design and in testing new concepts in the pilot plant. In addition, Don provides a valuable service as a mentor to new MATRIC employees. For his outstanding contributions and his dedication to excellence we honor Don Bunning as a Star Employee.



Adam Lucas
The MATRIC 2008 STAR EMPLOYEE for the Advanced Engineering Systems Business Area is Adam Lucas. Our tireless system administrator goes above and beyond in carrying out his responsibilities in MATRIC's fast growing environment. Adam has instituted a new corporate domain, an internal e-mail system and a client back-up capability. He has accomplished this by putting in many after-hour sessions to reduce the impact on his fellow MATRIC team members. Adam not only provides the support for MATRIC's internal corporate infrastructure, but has proven to be an invaluable resource to our research projects as well. For all of his hard work, we honor Adam Lucas as a STAR Employee.


Mark Nunley
The second MATRIC 2008 STAR EMPLOYEE for the Chemical and Environmental Technologies Business Area is Mark Nunley. Mark has led our process engineering team in design of a second biodiesel plant for our partner BEST Energies. Mark has also led the effort to develop next-generation technology, allowing the use of less expensive raw materials. Mark's hard work, many long hours, diligent effort, and project management skills have led to improvements in our design, keeping the MATRIC technology a world leader. For all of his hard work, we honor Mark Nunley as a Star Employee.





John Skaff
The MATRIC 2008 STAR Board Member is a man whose focus is on the business of business. As part of the original BIDCO team established to explore the opportunities created by the sudden downsizing of the chemical research community in the Kanawha Valley, he immediately saw the vision for establishing a world-class private sector research enterprise here in West Virginia. As the BIDCO group's ideas coalesced into what is now MATRIC, this community leader orchestrated our first technical project with a local chemical company. Since that time, he has served on MATRIC's Board of Directors, Executive Committee and has chaired MATRIC's commercialization arm, Mid-Atlantic Holdings, since its inception. With six new start-up companies and plans to create over 500 new manufacturing jobs locally over the next five years, Mid- Atlantic Holdings is the aggressive brain-child of this thought leader in our community. His business acumen and tireless energy have allowed MATRIC to grow at a rate few would have predicted. For all of his dedication to the organization and to the community of which it is a part, John Skaff is the MATRIC 2008 STAR Board Member.