Colton Hunt
Boiling Springs,SC
Summary
Team Leader with 14 years of progressive experience in the pressure-sensitive adhesive industry, currently leading a technical team in product development and innovation. Background spans production, quality assurance, and R&D, with hands-on expertise in coating and slitting operations, small-batch reactor polymerization, and adhesive formulation characterization. Known for combining technical depth with strong leadership to drive product innovation, improve performance, and deliver high-quality adhesive solutions.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader, Mills River Testing Center
UPM Adhesive Materials
Mills River, NC
08.2021 - Current
- Oversaw technical team operations, ensuring alignment on innovation and development goals through enhanced communication and teamwork.
- Facilitated mentorship for junior staff to enhance competencies and cultivate career advancement opportunities.
- Streamlined project scheduling and resource management processes to achieve deadlines for essential projects.
- Defined clear performance standards for the team, facilitating ongoing assessment and improvement through regular feedback.
- Analyzed and managed budgetary components by monitoring expenses, refining labor costs, and implementing waste reduction strategies.
Senior R&D Technician
UPM Raflatac
Mills River, NC
01.2017 - 08.2021
- Conducted experiments to test new adhesive formulations for product development.
- Operated laboratory equipment (DSC,Rheometer,DSA,DLS,Extractor) to characterize and analyze polymers and finished material properties and performance.
- Assisted in troubleshooting production issues related to chemistry, improving workflow efficiency.
- Directly supported global chemist and scientist on development projects.
Quality Lab Technician
UPM Raflatac
Arden, NC
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Conducted quality tests on raw materials and finished products to ensure compliance with specifications.
- Assisted in maintaining laboratory equipment to guarantee accurate testing results.
- Documented test results and findings, ensuring traceability and adherence to quality standards.
- Collaborated with production teams to resolve quality issues and improve product consistency.
Education
High School Diploma -
Central Haywood High School
Clyde, NCNo Degree - Industrial Engineering
AB Tech
Asheville, NCSkills
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Employee engagement
- Polymer formulation
- Technical assistance expertise
- Project coordination
- Project planning
- Data interpretation
- Process analysis
- Mechanical analysis (Rheology)
- Thermal analysis (DSC)
- Skilled in Microsoft Office tools
- SAP
Timeline
Team Leader, Mills River Testing Center
UPM Adhesive Materials
08.2021 - Current
Senior R&D Technician
UPM Raflatac
01.2017 - 08.2021
Quality Lab Technician
UPM Raflatac
01.2015 - 01.2017
High School Diploma -
Central Haywood High School
No Degree - Industrial Engineering
AB Tech