Guided by the Experts
Electroless Nickel is a unique category of surface finishing with very specific perimeters and processes for success. We engaged people widely recognized as the leading experts in electroless nickel to advise the event and ensure its quality of learning.
Learn more about our EN Experts below. If you have a question you'd like to ask our experts, use the button below to be taken to our Question Portal.
2025 ENC Technical Director
Brad Durkin
Conference Technical Director
40 years of experience
Bachelor of Science- Chemistry, anchored with 40 years of Surface Finishing Industry experience, 5 years applicator side, 34 years supplier side including Coventya, MacDermid, and Allied Kelite. Scope of experience includes technology, technical service, marketing, global product management, research/development, and business executive management. Knowledgeable of chemical manufacturing processes for surface finishing technology.
Over my career, I have active participation in many industry associations including NACE, SAE, ASTM & NASF, and authored numerous publications including patents, industry presentations, Internal/external training modules, technology webinars, established marketing materials supporting industry including NASF Surface Technology Environmental Resource Center, Plating & Surface Finishing, Metal Finishing & Products Finishing, including many other international publications, China, India, Mexico & SE Asia.
• National Association Surface Finishers: NASF Fellow, CEF, Member Technology Advisory Committee SUR/FIN Technical Conference 9 years, including the past 6 as Chairman of TAC.
• For 25 years, active member ASTM committees ASTM B08, Metallic and Inorganic Coatings, ASTM F07, Aerospace and Aircraft & ASTM G01, Corrosion of Metals.
• Memberships: Society of Automotive Engineering International (SAE), National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), ASM International & has been a member of the Electroless Nickel (EN) Steering Committee since 1993, additionally serving as Technical Director for the 2007 and 2010 EN Conference Symposiums.
2025 ENC Advisory Committee
Brad is the Product Manager for the Wear Resistant Coatings group and has been with Atotech USA, LLC for almost 20 years. His specialty has been Electroless Nickel and Functional Chrome, but he has also been involved with other applications in his career as well, such as Paint Pretreatment, Zinc Plating, and Decorative Plating. Brad has been in the plating and surface finishing industry for around 23 years overall.
Brad graduated in 1999 from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Chemistry. His hobbies and interests outside of work include reading, building scale models, and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Ambrose Schaffer is the Global Product Line Manager, Electroless Nickel at MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions. He has over 17 years of industry experience focused on the research and development of EN technologies and the rigid hard drive market. He has extensive expertise in the technical troubleshooting of EN processes and a variety of material science-related disciplines. Throughout his career, Ambrose has published articles on various topics related to EN technology and presented on EN topics at notable industry events. Ambrose currently holds 4 patents on EN technology.
Ambrose Schaffer
Macdermid Enthone
Charlie Morris brings over 35 years of expertise to his role as Sales Manager-International at Palm Commodities in LaVergne, TN. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in advancing electroless nickel technology, excelling in joint business development, process optimization, product formulation, and providing technical support across North America and international markets.
Specializing in high-performance solutions for the Petroleum and Gas industries, Charlie leverages his knowledge to align high-quality products with the ever-evolving performance demands of global markets. His commitment ensures that customers receive tailored solutions that meet their unique needs.
Charlie resides in Northeast Pennsylvania with his wife of 35 years, their four children and three grandchildren.
Joseph Zabielski is a Technical Director at Ronatec. He has over 25 years of experience in the metal finishing industry, specializing in the application of electroless nickel coatings. His industry expertise includes the aerospace, semiconductor, energy, and connector sectors.
Michael Feldstein is president and director of innovation of Surface Technology, Inc., a world-recognized leader in electroless nickel, founded in 1973. In this position, Michael directs the overall activities of the Company including the coating processes, manufacturing of proprietary electroless nickel solutions, and innovative research and development. Michael's education includes degrees from Tulane University and George Washington University. He has has been widely published, and is the inventor on multiple patents. He has presented numerous papers at technical and industrial conferences such as Sur/Fin, EN Conferences, and others worldwide. Michael is also a member of the NASF and currently serving as the Vice President of the Masters Association of Metal Finishing.
Michael J. Aleksinas is the owner and president of Metal Chem, located in Greenville, SC. He holds a B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Bucknell University, Lewisberg, PA, and an M.S. degree in Environmental Science from the University of New Haven in New Haven, CT.
For the past 45 years, Michael has been actively involved in virtually every aspect of the electroless nickel industry including research and development, sales and marketing, and the manufacture of electroless nickel chemistry.
During this time, he has authored many papers on the subject of EN which include: "Factors Affecting Quality Electroless Nickel Plating of Thin Memory Disks," "Plating Thick EN Deposits Without Pitting," "How Duplex EN Coatings Can Be Advantageous," "Plating on Magnesium with EN, Fact or Fiction?" and "Waste Treatment of Electroless Nickel".
Michael is a member of the American Chemical Society and the NASF.
Scott Francis is the Editor-In-Chief of Products Finishing and served previously as a writing editor for CompositesWorld. He has also edited for Writer's Digest, HOW, Popular Woodworking and has authored books on a range of topics. Scott has a bachelor’s degree in writing and editing and a minor in biology from Western Carolina University.
