John Widders
Charleston,SC
Summary
Accomplished R&D Technology Leader & Project Manager Expertise in adhesives and specialty chemicals | Innovation | Project Execution Proven success in leading cross-functional teams, driving innovation, and managing projects from concept to commercialization. Adept at integrating R&D leadership with project management to align technical strategies with business objectives, ensuring efficient execution, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Project Manager
Ingevity
North Charleston, SC
11.2023 - Current
- Leading strategic technical initiatives by aligning R&D, manufacturing support, and business objectives through project management methodologies
- Restructured technical teams across multiple business units, enhancing efficiency while maintaining specialized expertise
- Revamped workflow and project intake, improving prioritization and increasing on-time project delivery by 21%
- Implemented Focused Project Sprints, reducing concept-to-prototype timelines by 17%
- Led adoption of alternative technologies to align with evolving business strategies, ensuring seamless transitions
- Developed a predictive costing model that provided the project team with accurate cost estimates for raw materials, in-house vs
- Toll manufacturing, packaging, freight, and yield loss—enhancing cost visibility, accelerating time to market, and improving return on investment
Innovation Manager
Ingevity
North Charleston, SC
02.2020 - 11.2023
- Bridged R&D and project management by overseeing long-term new product initiatives
- Established a Stage-Gate Management Process, improving project oversight and risk management
- Increased revenue potential by 29% through strategic project selection and resource allocation
- Delivered $23M in additional sales by optimizing prioritization and execution
- Championed fast-to-fail methodologies, accelerating innovation through OKRs
- Managed collaborations with external manufacturers for commercialization strategies
Technical Manager
Ingevity
North Charleston, SC
08.2016 - 02.2020
- Led a team of chemists in product innovation and commercialization for adhesives markets
- Launched 10 specialty tackifiers, generating over $10M in sales
- Led a cross-functional team, improving product quality, and securing $25M in new business
- Primary global technical contact, supporting customers in North America, Europe, China, and Brazil
- Evaluated technical & operational M&A opportunities, identifying synergies
Applications Manager
Ingevity
North Charleston, SC
10.2012 - 08.2016
- Founded and led the Applications Chemistry team to align R&D with market needs
- Developed customer-centric application data to support growth markets
- Created case studies and technical materials to strengthen marketing & sales
- Streamlined proof-of-concept testing, accelerating product evaluation
Product Line Manager – North America
HB Fuller
Research Triangle Park, NC
03.2012 - 10.2012
- Managed the integration of adhesive product portfolios post-merger
- Optimized product lines using comparative data analysis
- Served on the Operational Core Team, evaluating manufacturing capabilities
- Created reference materials for post-merger product training
Education
B.S. - Biology, Chemistry, History
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel HillSkills
- Project Planning & Execution
- Risk Management & Compliance
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Technology Scale-Up & Commercialization
- Resource Allocation & Team Leadership
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Agile & Fast-to-Fail Development
Certification
- Certificate in Applied Project Management, Villanova University, 2021
- Better Conversations Every Day, Center for Creative Leadership, 2021
- Leading and Inspiring Change, Emory University, 2019
- Miller Heiman Professional Selling Skills, 2019
- New Product Blueprinting, The AIM Institute, 2014
Training
- Fundamentals of Mineral & Metallurgical Processing, XXXIMPC Conference, 2024
- Neil Burns Surfactant Training, 2023
- ASC TAC Certificate, Adhesives and Sealants Council, 2017
- Surfactant Science & Technology Course, Surfactants Associates, Inc., 2015
Publicspeakingengagements
- Novel Rosin Esters with Olefinic Compatibility, Adhesives and Sealants Council Fall Expo, 2014
- Tackifiers – Rosin Esters & Terpenes, Adhesives & Sealants Thermoplastic Short Course, 2016
Patents
- Amphiphilic additives as compatibilizers for rosin tackifiers in polyolefin hotmelt adhesives, US20230087482, 03/03/23
- Carboxylic acid adducted rosin polyol ester with fatty acid functionality and its production, WO2019210036, 10/31/19
- Fatty acid and rosin acid ester compositions for use as plasticizers in adhesive formulations and associated methods of use, WO2017152188, 08/09/17
- Aliphatically Modified Rosin Resin and Tackified Adhesive, US9,303,195, 04/05/16
Timeline
Technical Project Manager
Ingevity
11.2023 - Current
Innovation Manager
Ingevity
02.2020 - 11.2023
Technical Manager
Ingevity
08.2016 - 02.2020
Applications Manager
Ingevity
10.2012 - 08.2016
Product Line Manager – North America
HB Fuller
03.2012 - 10.2012
B.S. - Biology, Chemistry, History
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Similar Profiles
Connor ForneyConnor Forney
Process Engineering Co-Op at IngevityProcess Engineering Co-Op at Ingevity
De'Trenton NewtonDe'Trenton Newton
Facility Operator at IngevityFacility Operator at Ingevity
Vivian BaileyVivian Bailey
Data Entry Operator at IngevityData Entry Operator at Ingevity