Food and Beverage Membrane Experts

Ecolab’s dedicated team of membrane specialists are here to help solve your toughest membrane challenges. Our membrane experts come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from plant management, sanitation, quality and product development chemists to help with troubleshooting or program implementation in your facility.

North American Experts

Caleb Power

Years with Ecolab: 10+

Years in the Industry: 10+

Education: B.A. Chemistry Degree, University of Minnesota

Experience & Credentials:

  • 6-year innovation product development, Field trials, market tests 
  • 3-year focus on customer support including field troubleshooting 
  • Customer and Field Membrane Trainer 
  • 9-year focus on Dairy and Cheese producers

Ryon Huizenga

Years with Ecolab: 5+

Years in the Industry: 20+

Experience & Credentials:

Worked for large dairy manufacturing companies in a variety of roles: Regional Operations Manager, Plant Manager, and Quality Manager

Expertise with:

  • Dairy Membranes
  • Evaporation 
  • Spray Drying: NDFM, MPC, Whey, Cheese Powders
  • Large Scale Cheese Production: Parmesan, Blue
  • Converting: Cut and Wrap, Cup, Shaker, VFFS

Dean Shotswell

Years with Ecolab: 8+

Years in the Industry: 35+

Technical Expertise:

  • Account Manager
  • Plant Manage: Whey and Milk Powder
  • Production Manager: Dairy
  • Supervisor: Cheese, Whey (WPC, WPI)

Specialized Skills:

  • RO/NF/UF/MF Membranes
  • Cheese, Whey, Milk Powders
  • Dairy, HTST, Evaporators, Dryers
  • CIP Programming and Troubleshooting
  • Operational Savings
  • Training

Paul Miller

Years with Ecolab: 16+

Years in the Industry: 30+

Technical Expertise:

  • Account Manager
  • Plant Superintendent: Milk Powder
  • Quality Manager: Cheese
  • Sanitation Supervisor: Dairy
  • Supervisor: Cheese, Fluid Milk, Culture, Milk Powder

Specialized Skills:

  • RO/NF/UF/MF Membranes
  • Dairy (Cheese, Fluid Milk, Culture)
  • Quality Problem Solving
  • Dairy (HTST, Evaporation, Dyer)
  • Cheese, Whey, Milk Powders
  • CIP Programming and Troubleshooting
  • Operational Savings
  • Training

Steven Fry

Years with Ecolab: 13+

Years in the Industry: 30+

Education: B App Sci (Dairy Foods) University of Melbourne. Dairy Technician Class 5 – Cheesemaking, All Varieties.

Technical Expertise:

  • Membrane Operations
  • Cheese, Cultured, Fluid Milk Plants
  • Technical support and troubleshooting in variety of food and beverage manufacturing facilities
  • Lead teams on total cost of operation reduction projects within client facilities
  • Australia and New Zealand processing knowledge and expertise

Mark Garrett

Years with Ecolab: 9+

Years in the Industry: 35+

Technical Expertise:

  • Dairy Industry Supervisor/Manager
  • Sanitation Manager/Production Supervisor
  • Account Manager, Dedicated Account Manager, Account Coordinator
  • Plant Superintendent: Whey

Specialized Skills:

  • RO/NF/UF/MF Membrane Technology
  • Milk Diary: Fluid Manufacturing, Heat Treatment, HTST, UHT, CIP Design and Engineering
  • Evaporation and Spray Drying
  • CIP/COP/Boosted High Pressure Cleaning Systems
  • Ecolab and Allen Bradley Controller Systems and Programming
  • Training: MIAB, HACCP, Food Safety, CIP
  • Dairy Farm Sanitation

Rachel McGinness

Years with Ecolab: 6+

Years in the Industry: 3+

Education: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University

Technical Expertise:

  • Works with divisionally aligned resources to develop new products for CIP applications
  • Equipment and the development of our next generation Ultrasil™ membrane cleaning program
  • Trainer for Sanitization Food Safety 

Marina Tschida

Years with Ecolab: 1+

Years in the Industry: 1+

Education: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin

Technical Expertise:

  • Works closely with divisionally aligned resources to develop new products for CIP applications
  • Supported the development of our next generation Ultrasil™ membrane cleaning program
  • Trainer for Sanitization Food Safety Workshop

Europe-Based Experts

Stephan Dorries

Years with Ecolab: 9+

Years in the Industry: 11+

Education: B.Sc. and M.Sc. Business Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf

Experience & Credentials:

  • Educational and industrial background in membrane preparation, characterization
  • Global innovative product development of Ultrasil™ Membrane Cleaners as well as Monitoring Systems for Membrane Processes based on 3D Trasar™ Technology for CIP
  • Development of Ultrasil™ Membrane Care 2.0 launched in 2017
  • Extensive experiences in pilot and field testing
  • Trainer in the field of membrane cleaning
  • Global network with Sales, Tech Excellence, Regulatory, RD&E and Global Analytical services (Analysis and Membrane Autopsies) at Ecolab
  • Networking with customers, OEMs, Universities and engaging in conferences
  • Inventor of global patents and record of inventions related to membrane cleaning

Ralf Krack

Years with Ecolab: 48

Years in the Industry: 45+

Experience & Credentials:

  • Dairy, Dairy Farms and Food Processing
  • CIP Solution and Bottle Washer Solution Recycling
  • Food and Beverage Research and Development
  • Membrane Cleaning Service
  • Member of the DGMT
  • Member of Forum for Membrane Filtration Technology in Food Processing Denmark

  • Merlin Agnew, United Kingdom and Ireland
  • Joerg Brockhaus, Central Europe
  • Ivan Butti, Italy
  • Leif Knudsen, European Lead
  • Thomas Meagan, Europe
  • Armando Rodriguez López, Iberia
  • Antonin Sauvage, France
  • Terje Nygard, Norway 
  • Lars van Egmond, Benelux