U.S. Country Council

Chairman and President
Covestro LLC

As chairman and president of Covestro LLC, Samir Hifri serves as the senior leader of Covestro’s U.S. organization.

Since Hifri joined Bayer (predecessor to Covestro) as a management trainee in Pittsburgh in 1998, his career has quite literally taken him around the world and back again. Over the last 25 years he has held various positions in North America, Europe and Asia, including director of North American product management, global product manager in Germany, commercial head for Japan and Korea and head of the Asia Pacific coatings and specialties business located in Shanghai, China. Most recently, Hifri led the Covestro Hong Kong entity as managing director and head of APAC Supply Chain & Logistics.

Hifri holds a bachelor’s degree in international finance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., and an executive degree from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. He is married with four children, and, in addition to his professional responsibilities, remains active in a number of community and academic functions.

Take Five:

What drew you to Covestro?

Without hesitation, the people and the values that the company stands for.

What’s something that you always have in your refrigerator?

As an avid film-photography enthusiast, I store my film stock in our refrigerator, often to my wife’s chagrin.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy that you live by?

Change the things that can be changed. Accept the ones that cannot and have the wisdom to know the difference.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Climbing to the summit of Mt. Fuji in Japan and hiking to Everest Base Camp with my son.

Head of Sales, Performance Materials – North America
Covestro LLC

Julia Rubino is head of sales for Performance Materials in North America. She is responsible for planning and executing the go-to-market strategy and ensuring the margin-optimized sell-out strategy for the best possible asset utilization. She is a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Julia joined Bayer (predecessor of Covestro) in 1999 as a Plastics commercial trainee before moving to Polyurethanes in 2003. She assumed positions of increasing responsibility within sales and marketing, most recently as vice president of raw materials sales for Polyurethanes in North America.

She is a member of the American Chemistry Council’s Center for Polyurethanes Industry Steering Committee and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Beaver County YMCA.

Julia holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Geneva College and master’s degree in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University.

Take Five

Prince.

Hot banana peppers. I love spicy food.

That’s difficult, because I like a lot of movies. Let’s try the top three – “The Godfather,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Stranger than Fiction.” There are many more, though.

My dad, who passed away in 2011. He was a wonderful person and great father, and I miss him every day.

The people in the Plastics division! I started as an intern and felt completely welcomed by everyone I worked with for two summers.

Global Head, Healthcare, Engineering Plastics
Covestro LLC

George Paleos is responsible for the global Healthcare business within Engineering Plastics (EP) and also serves as the business’ senior regional representative for the Americas. He is a member of the Global Engineering Plastics Leadership Team and of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

After beginning his career with Monsanto in sales and market development roles, George joined the Plastics group of Bayer Corporation (predecessor to Covestro) in 1996. He held various positions in new business development, industry and product management, eventually serving as regional business segment head for Consumer and Industrial Solutions, North America, at Bayer MaterialScience. Prior to his current position, he was vice president and global head of industrial marketing for consumer, medical and construction markets in Covestro Polycarbonates.

George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Patras, a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University and an MBA from Emory University.

Take Five

I’ve been making small batches of wine (300 to 500 bottles per year) for the last 15 years.

Medical doctor.

I was a waiter at a restaurant on a Greek island.

A good pilsner (beer).

Panathinaikos Football Club (soccer). I’ve been a fan of this club since growing up and am still sentimentally connected despite its not-so-stellar performance over the last several years.

Head, Coatings and Adhesives – North America
Covestro LLC

In his role as head of Coatings and Adhesives for the North America region, Martin Vlak is responsible for regional strategy development and execution as well as the joint development of Covestro’s global Coatings and Adhesives strategy. He is also a member of the company’s U.S. Country Council.

Martin joined Covestro in 2021 following the company’s acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials business from the Dutch company Royal DSM. He started his professional career in 1992 with ICI Rozenburg as an R&D chemist for polyurethanes. He also worked for ICI Resins, Zeneca Resins and Avecia in several positions in applications, sales and business management before joining DSM as industry manager for coatings when DSM acquired NeoResins (part of Avecia) in 2005. He progressed through various positions that included director of global sales and global business director. Prior to his current position, he served as chairman of the board for the DSM-Niaga Joint Venture and managing director of specialty resins for DSM Coating Resins.

Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in analytical chemistry from Larenstein University of Applied Sciences Wageningen and a bachelor’s degree in business management from West Brabant University of Applied Sciences. He also completed the Executive Leadership Program at the IMD Business School Lausanne.

Outside of work, Martin enjoys squash, skiing, running and sailing as well as reading, dining, and general and art history.

Take Five

Being Dutch … cheese!

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

I’m a big fan of soccer and am a ticket holder of Ajax Amsterdam. I enjoy going to the stadium with my son and daughter on a Sunday afternoon to see the team play.

Skiing with family and friends. The combination of sport and leisure is fantastic.

My father, who passed away in 2017. I have missed our talks and his advice ever since.

Head, Elastomers – North America
Covestro LLC

As head of Elastomers for North America, Glenn McEvoy is responsible for developing regional business strategies, achieving the globally aligned goals within the region and overseeing budgets, all major project activities, personnel decisions and the allocation of resources. He is also a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

After starting his career with General Electric, Glenn joined Bayer (predecessor of Covestro) in 1989 as an account manager in the Plastics business. He held a succession of commercial and functional roles with increasing responsibility, including director positions in sales, marketing and procurement. He was named to his current position in 2015 and has developed and executed a strategy that has delivered double-digit sales growth.

Glenn received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Take Five

Billy Joel.

Tin Cup.

Wine.

Don’t worry about things you cannot change or influence.

Smoking a cigar with a nice glass of bourbon.

Head, Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Sales & Market Development – North America
Covestro LLC

Brian Long is head of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU) Sales and Market Development, holding responsibility for all non-manufacturing aspects of TPU in the North America region. He is also a member of the Covestro U.S. Country Council.

After joining one of Covestro’s predecessors in 1998 as a coatings chemist in Leverkusen, Germany, Brian served in various capacities in the research and development and commercial areas. These included working on leading-edge initiatives like the renewable energy platform within Corporate Development in Germany and managing the Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties pilot plant in New Martinsville, W. Va. Prior to his current position, he was head of Industrial Marketing for Polyurethanes in North America.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and German from Carnegie Mellon University.

Take Five

The connection that Miles/Bayer had to Germany.

Forensic scientist or spy.

Gas station attendant.

At home watching a movie with my family.

I moved my young family to Germany.

Head, Sales and Market Development, Specialty Films – North America
Covestro LLC

As head of Specialty Films for North America, Sam Shodi leads the business entity’s regional commercial activities. In his role, Sam is responsible for maximizing the organization’s talent and securing new business opportunities based on innovation and long-term customer partnerships. He is a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Sam has nearly 30 years of experience in a variety of disciplines, including process engineering, lean manufacturing, supply planning, business analysis, strategic planning, contract management and commercial operations. He previously worked at Covestro for nine years in positions of increasing responsibility in the Polycarbonates and Coatings, Adhesives & Specialties business units. Before returning to Covestro in 2022, Sam was the Director of Supply Chain for Global Laboratory Equipment at ThermoFisher Scientific.

Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Take Five

I was a caddy at the Pittsburgh Field Club.

My favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who else would you cheer for?

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This is a close one between Quentin Tarantino or Mike Tomlin.

Miami Vice, the movie - so good.

Head, Human Resources – United States
Covestro LLC

Katherine McEvilly is the U.S. head of Human Resources at Covestro LLC. In her role, Katherine is responsible for all talent management strategies in the U.S., across Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits, People Development and DEI. Katherine also sits on the Global Human Resources Leadership Team and serves as a member of the U.S. Country Council.

Katherine joined Covestro in 2020 and has more than 20 years of human resources management experience in a wide range of business-to-business and business-to-consumer environments. Prior to Covestro, Katherine held a number of leadership roles across Human Resources with international companies such as Kerry, General Electric and Cummins.

While born and raised in the United Kingdom, she has lived in the U.S. since 2000. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Katherine enjoys hiking, biking, reading and traveling to new places with her husband and their two sons.

Take Five

I have multiple favorite movies depending on the genre and my mood. The film I quote the most is “The American President” and a line by Michael J. Fox about communication and leadership, but I wouldn’t say that it’s my favorite film. Nobody should or will credit me as a movie aficionado with this list, but some of the ones I would watch anytime they come on are: “Jaws,” “Sliding Doors,” “Shawshank Redemption,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Pretty Woman,” “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” “The Strangers” and “Silence of the Lambs.” I also insist on “Love Actually” every Christmas.

There are two adages that I like, but they are a mixture of the same philosophy. The first is “always assume positive intent,” and the second is “assume you are 60% of the problem.” It’s easy to get caught up in frustrations, but I really aim to go into situations or issues with a positive outlook and with a solutions orientation. I find that it leads to a quicker and more successful outcome and paves the path for better future interactions.

Our family likes to alternate our vacations between ones that are very active, where we travel and see new places and try new things, and ones that are more low key, where we stay in one place by the beach and/or pool and relax, read books, play games, and bike or walk everywhere rather than using the car.

Our kids are still young, so it’s usually an activity for them. Depending on the season, it could be hockey, soccer, baseball, karate or swimming and sometimes a combination of running between multiple of those! If we do have a “night off,” then we enjoy playing games or cards (so you would think that my skill at the latter would improve…but it doesn’t!).

Other than my family and friends, with whom I very much enjoy having dinner, I think I would pick the Queen of England….as long as she would talk candidly. I am amazed by the amount of change she has seen in her lifetime and in her role and by the number of world leaders with whom she has interacted. She has had to respond and adapt a lot during her reign (albeit often not reacted/adapted quickly enough).

Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Compliance Officer
Covestro LLC

Dave Rzepecki is head of Law, Intellectual Property & Compliance for the Americas region and a member of the U.S. Country Council. His department provides corporate, litigation, compliance and intellectual property counsel to all Covestro business and service units.

Dave joined Bayer MaterialScience LLC (predecessor to Covestro) in 2007. During his tenure with Covestro, he has provided comprehensive legal support to various departments within the company. In 2010, Dave assumed the role of counsel to the Polyurethanes business unit. He also managed a team providing legal services to the procurement, government affairs, finance, accounting, controlling and tax functions.

Prior to joining the company, Dave served as assistant general counsel at Rent-Way, Inc and worked in private practice. He has also served on several non-profit boards and been active in various community organizations. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and is a member of the Executive Committee of that organization.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Gannon University in 1989 and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1992.

Take Five

I ran four marathons.

A firefighter.

Brian Fallon (formerly of The Gaslight Anthem).

The Cincinnati Reds – America’s first professional baseball team.

Probably something in the banking industry since I have a degree in finance.

Head, Corporate Communications - Americas
Covestro LLC

As head of Corporate Communications for the Americas region, Alice Sox is responsible for steering the communication activities that shape the company’s reputation in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil. She also serves as a member of the U.S. Country Council and the Global Communications Leadership Team at Covestro.

Since joining the company as an intern in 2006, Alice has led a diverse career in corporate communications. She has held a variety of roles in both internal and external communications, gaining experience across a range of disciplines, including media relations, advertising, speechwriting, public affairs, executive communications and branding. Prior to her current role, she served as director of U.S. Corporate Communications.

Alice holds a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Point Park University and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.

Take Five

I wanted to be something different depending on which day you asked, but F.B.I. agent and animated film singer were on the list for quite some time. I can still recite the Miranda warning and the lyrics to almost any Disney song from the 90s.

I was the neighborhood babysitter from about the age of 12 onward. At 15, I started my first steady job working the coat check at a local restaurant.

“Wizard of Oz” was my favorite movie as a child. I have to say, it still holds up.

I have a real weakness for French fries. If they’re on the menu, I will order them. If they’re on my plate, they are the first to go.

I once went skydiving in Hawaii, which was an AMAZING experience, but one that I’m not sure I would have the courage to repeat.

Head, Group Innovation and Sustainability – North America
Covestro LLC

As head of Group Innovation and Sustainability for North America, Dr. Jim Charron leads a team of researchers, scientists and technicians to execute Covestro’s global innovation strategy for the region while leveraging global competencies. He also has the dual role of head of Digital Research and Development for North America, and he serves on Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Jim started his career in 1996 in the Polyols Process Research group of ARCO Chemical Co. In the time since Bayer (predecessor to Covestro) acquired that business in 2000, he has held several roles in research and business development. He was general manager of the Thermoplastic Polyurethane Resins business, where he was responsible for product management, research and development, and sales and marketing. Within our Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties (CAS) business in North America, he served as head of application development and later led the automotive coatings and adhesives segment.

Jim graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and received a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

He has served on the Advisory Board of the Bidwell Training Center and was on the Science and Technology committees with both the American Coatings Association and the Adhesive and Sealants Council. Currently, he is an elder on the session of his church and serves on the board of directors for Sparks House, a small non-profit that helps people express faith through artistic creations.

Jim plays the trumpet and is an avid tennis player.

Take Five

A summer job working on the grounds crew at Covestro’s Pittsburgh campus (it was Mobay at the time).

There are several islands that I return to frequently or would love to visit again – Martha’s Vineyard, Manhattan, Bermuda, St. Croix – and others that I would love to visit for the first time, like New Zealand and Iceland.

A brass medallion commemorating the 100th anniversary of Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Chemical Engineering in 2005. I especially admire the quote from Andrew Carnegie on the back – “My heart is in the work” – which I think fits well with our What Makes Us Covestro values.

Playing trumpet in the horn line of some local rock/blues/jazz band.

C.S. Lewis, though not necessarily dinner. A pint would be more fitting

Head, Public Affairs, Covestro LLC

As head of Covestro’s Public Affairs (PA) in North America, Richard Skorpenske leads the company’s sustainability, circular economy, government affairs and advocacy efforts at the regional level. He is also responsible for proactively addressing social topics and driving engagement, donations and reporting in line with the overarching sustainability and circularity strategy. He is a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Richard joined Bayer MaterialScience (predecessor to Covestro) in 2000 as director of Flexible Foam Raw Material business development and most recently served as head of Polyurethane advocacy and sustainability. He had previously worked for Lyondell Chemical Company and The Dow Chemical Company.

During his more than 30-year industrial career, Richard has focused on product research and development, new business development, global technology management, business team strategy and employee growth. He has led the development of technologies that eliminated ozone-depleting blowing agents, enhanced combustion-resistant foams and improved indoor air quality. In addition, he helped implement a more sustainable polyol process.

Richard serves on the Board of Directors for Cribs for Kids, which provides cribs and services to underserved families.

He holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemistry from the University of Texas and a Master of Science degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of numerous publications and patents.

Take Five

Divestiture from Bayer MaterialScience (kidding). Seriously, I joined the chemical industry with a curiosity for the unknown – that next cool polymer or application. I’ve stayed because of the people, the diverse knowledge and abilities of our employees, and the many industry relationships I’ve developed over the years.

When working from home, the oddest thing IS my desk. It’s an old air hockey table covered in a large sheet of cardboard so I don’t plug the holes with dirt. Pretty spacious and ergonomic, too!

Typically having dinner with my wife (empty nesters) at a place that we can walk to following her day job.

The African Continent. It must be a whole different world from what I’m used to. I would love to see the culture and people

Maybe not the MOST fun thing, but a very fun time combining a guilty pleasure movie (“Talladega Nights”) with a few laps around Lernerville Speedway near Pittsburgh. “What were those things? Were those the other cars?!”

Director of Controlling, Covestro LLC

Michael Burns is director of Controlling. In this role, he is primarily responsible for providing forward-looking insights, coordinating financial forecasts, monitoring financial performance and analyzing primary spending in conjunction with his team. He is also a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

After joining Bayer (predecessor to Covestro) in 1995 as corporate internal auditor, Michael held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility in the financial and controller functions. He also completed a three-year assignment in Leverkusen, Germany, where he conducted worldwide audits. Prior to moving into his current role in early 2014, Michael served as manager of Controlling. He started his career as a senior auditor with Deloitte & Touche.

Michael serves on the Corporate Finance Planning Committee of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. He is active with the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and previously served on the board of the Pittsburgh International Classical Theatre.

In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University, Michael is a certified public accountant, chartered global management accountant and certified information systems auditor.

Take Five:

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy that you live by?

My favorite quote is from Peter Drucker – “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

What professional sports team do you cheer for the most and why?

As a Pittsburgher, I am an avid fan of all the Pittsburgh sports teams – even the Pirates.

What’s your perfect vacation?

Exploring a new city.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

While on a work project in Indonesia, I had a photo taken of me sitting with my arm around a full-grown Bengal tiger.

Who has influenced you the most in your life and why?

My parents have been the biggest influence. They showed me how to work hard and always remain positive.

Head, Supply Chain and Logistics, Covestro LLC

Appointed head of Supply Chain and Logistics (SC&L) in 2024, Bruce Sullivan leads the entire end-to-end SC&L function in the North America region. He is accountable for customer supply chain strategies that meet the service levels customers demand at optimal cost and working capital. This requires overseeing supply chain processes, sourcing, cost and service-level agreements, risk management strategies and supply chain strategies that help advance Covestro’s global circular and sustainability targets. He is a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Bruce joined Covestro in 2017 as director of Logistics Strategy and Procurement for North America and served as vice president of Integrated Logistics for North America prior to moving into his current role. Before joining Covestro, he held various procurement and logistics roles with PPG Industries and Axiall Corporation. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, stationed primarily in Japan during his active duty.

Bruce received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University. He also holds an APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification and is an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).

Take Five

Lawn mowing and landscaping.

The Eagles.

Two movies that I can’t pass up when they’re on TV are “A Few Good Men” and the original “Top Gun.”

Franks Red Hot is a staple in our household.

While I was in the U.S. Navy, it was great diving off the ship and swimming in the South China Sea. Of course, Navy divers were in the water watching for sharks!

Senior Vice President and Head of Health, Safety & Environment,
Covestro LLC

Roderick A. Herrick is the senior vice president and global Head of Group Health, Safety & Environment and Reliability (HSE-R) for Covestro. Rod is based in Baytown, Texas, and is a member of the Covestro U.S. Country Council.

As head of HSE-R, Rod is responsible for managing Health, Safety (occupational, process and plant safety), Environmental and Reliability at Covestro sites around the world. In his role, Rod provides governance and guidance for all HSE and Reliability related topics. He provides HSE-R consulting for engineering and operations, supports global implementation of HSE-R related initiatives, while actively participating in major incident investigations, safety assessments and audits. Additionally, Rod is responsible for administration of our management systems via ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and 50001 which encompasses, quality, environment, safety and energy.

Prior to assuming his current role in 2022, Rod served as venture manager for major investment projects in North America. As venture manager, he oversaw the scope, funding and timeline of ventures as well as the integration of various project elements into the company’s global investment strategy. He also served more than eight years as the Baytown Industrial Park’s site manager, chaired the Site Leadership Team and was responsible for all activities associated with the continued success of the Baytown Industrial Park site, including Covestro operations, guest facilities, site services, employee leadership and community outreach. While in this role, Rod successfully led a site-wide initiative “BRIDGE” to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the Baytown plant.

Rod joined Bayer in 1985 at the New Martinsville, West Virginia site, after starting his career as a plant engineer at PPG Industries. He has extensive manufacturing experience and has held various positions of increasing responsibility, including plant and process engineer, reliability lead; ABS production lead in Dormagen, Germany; site manager at the Polycarbonates Compounding Facility in Newark, Ohio; and Polyurethanes production lead in Baytown. Rod also brings a wealth of management experience in areas such as strategic planning, reliability, inventory, production scheduling, budgeting, human resources, safety and environmental requirements and capital improvement. He is a goal-oriented leader with a strong desire to develop and mentor future leaders.

Rod is a member of various community organizations, as well as an executive board member of the Texas Chemical Council and the East Harris County Manufacturers Association. A native of West Virginia, Rod holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University.

Take Five

We will ensure that all North American major projects are designed and implemented with best-in-class capital expenditures and cash-cost efficiency while ensuring a safe, cost-effective and sustainable operation that reliably supplies our customers for years into the future.

AC/DC.

Beer and wine.

Break it down into component parts that you can manage!

Never forget to speak to the folks on the floor, as they have the experience and insight to solve your issues.

Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Operations in North America and Site Manager, Baytown Site
Covestro LLC

In addition to serving as senior vice president and head of Performance Materials Operations in North America, Victor Ortega is responsible for the operations of Covestro sites in Baytown and Channelview, Texas, and South Charleston, W. Va. He also manages the global Propylene Oxide Joint Venture with LyondellBasell and is a member of Covestro’s U.S. Country Council.

Victor joined Bayer (predecessor of Covestro) in 1999 as an intern in Leverkusen, Germany, before quickly transferring to our operations in Tarragona, Spain, as a process engineer. He moved back and forth between Baytown and Tarragona over the next two decades, holding positions of increasing responsibility that included project manager and unit engineer. In 2021, he moved to Germany to lead the Brunsbüttel site for three years, returning to Baytown in July 2024 to take on his current role.

A past board member of VCI Nord (North Germany Chemical Association), Victor currently serves on the board the Federacion Espanola de Profesionales de la Ingenieria Quimica (Spanish Association of Chemical Engineers).

Victor holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Granada, Spain, and an MBA from the Universidad Politecnica de Barcelona. He also completed postgraduate studies in process engineering at the Rovira I Virgili University of Tarragona, Spain.

Outside of work, Victor has coached youth soccer and basketball for many years. In addition to playing basketball himself, he enjoys world history and travel.

Take Five:

What was your first job?

My first summer job was as a Spanish language assistant teacher in Malmö, Sweden, where I basically had to go to a high school and talk to local students about teenager topics in Spanish. Being a teenager myself, it was not a hard job at all! Later as a chemical engineering student, I worked a few months at a sherry winery in Xerez, Spain, to remove KHT crystals from white wine through cooling.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy that you live by?

“Every step we take on earth brings us to a new world.” Federico Garcia Lorca

But I also very much like Mike Tysons’ “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face” – figurative speaking, of course.

With what person, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner?

Difficult question, since I’m fascinated with history. Let me say Roman emperor Trajan since we were both born in the same region. I’m curious how the Romans managed to master their engineering knowledge, government and social structure for so long. The conversation (most likely an interview with him) would be interesting.

What was the most fun thing that you’ve ever done?

The high school parents team played basketball against the junior varsity team my oldest son was on. I laugh whenever I remember the ref calling a technical foul on me after my son scored in my face. I told him he was grounded without dinner! I didn’t mean it, of course. 😊

Who has influenced you the most in your life and why?

My father was always a source of inspiration. He had to go through a lot in his life. He lived during one of the darkest times in the history of Spain, but he and his generation managed to give the next one better opportunities. I learned from him that there’s no problem – even big ones – that you can’t address with a smile.