AMUG Officers, Directors and Advisors

President

Mark Abshire
3D Print 411
President@amug.com

Mark serves as President of AMUG and presides over the Board of Directors. Recently retired, he now consults on 3D printing. Mark has worked extensively with manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia to utilize additive manufacturing successfully in their business.

Mark has held a variety of positions within the additive manufacturing industry. He has direct hands-on experience with Stereolithography, Laser Sintering, Fused Deposition Modeling, PolyJet and other AM technologies

In an additive manufactruing career of over 30 years, he has been employed at Computer Aided Technology LLC, DSM Somos, Sony Rapid Prototyping Group, 3D Systems and Texas Instruments, where he has developed applications and advanced training for others. 

Awards and honors include AMUG Presidents Award for exceptional service to the AM Industry as well as the AMUG DINO (Distinguished INnovator and Operator) Award.  He has additive manufacturing certifications from SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)—both the Additive Manufacturing Certification and RP Master certification—America Makes, MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) for its 3D Printing Certification.  He also served as a member of the ASTM F42 committee assigned to define international standards for additive manufacturing.  Other memberships have included the ICI (Investment Casting Institute), where he completed certification as an Investment Casting Specialist and AFS (American Foundry Society). Mark is also a recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.

Past President

Carl Dekker
Met-L-Flo
PastPresident@amug.com

Carl K. Dekker serves as the president of Met-L-Flo, Inc., a contract manufacturer specializing in additive manufacturing located in Sugar Grove, IL. He has been actively involved in research and product development using current technologies and innovative methods. He is constantly looking for new ways to advance manufacturing and produce products that will improve the quality of life.

Mr. Dekker has presented his work at various conferences globally, including those sponsored by 3DSNASUG, Amerimold, ANTEC, National Manufacturing Week, RAPDASA, RP&M, and SME. He has also provided training and installations at Abbott Laboratories, Delphi, Motorola and numerous other locations. Mr. Dekker’s work has been published in industry journals including Prototyping Technology, Rapid Prototyping Report, Time Compression Technologies, and the Wohlers Report (2003-8,13-19) to mention a few.

Currently President and Director of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (past VP and Secretary), Past Chair of the ASTM F42 Committee on Standards for Additive Manufacturing and a Past Chairperson of SME’s Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing (RTAM) Community (formerly the RPA). He also serves as the Chair of the Direct Digital Manufacturing Tech Group of the RTAM, a trainer for the Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Technologies Certificate Programs and remains active in the Bright Minds Program as a member and Past Co-Chair.

He has received the Master Certificate in Rapid Prototyping and is a proud recipient of the SLA “Dinosaur” award.

Vice President & Director

Shannon VanDeren
VulcanForms
VicePresident@amug.com

Shannon VanDeren is the Senior Business Development Manager at VulcanForms, which builds and operates advanced digital manufacturing infrastructure. Shannon is no stranger to metal additive manufacturing (AM) and is eager to accelerate further innovation by working with the VulcanForms leadership team to combine ground-breaking, industrially scalable, AM with integrated digital production systems.

Shannon has led her company, Layered Manufacturing and Consulting, as an AM enthusiast and evangelist, and continues to create impact by identifying applications for innovation, ideation, cost savings, throughput, and manufacturing efficiencies.

Through her AM journey, she has built strategic partnerships and strong customer relationships within our community.  She has led the AMUG Medical Track for the past 8 years and was recognized by our peers with the Distinguished Innovator Operator (DINO) Award in 2017.

Shannon contributes to the AM community with other industry organizations as well… ensuring our community grows in health and application.

Treasurer & Director

Vince Anewenter
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
Treasurer@amug.com

Vince Anewenter holds a BS in Business Finance from MSOE’s Raider School of Business and is a Journeyman toolmaker.  He is currently the Director of the Rapid Prototyping Consortium at the Milwaukee School of Engineering where he has been actively involved in the additive manufacturing industry since 2004.  As Director, Mr. Anewenter is responsible for providing strategic additive manufacturing guidance and new product development expertise to a non-compete consortium of over 45 companies located throughout the world. Areas of expertise include: additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, injection molding, stamping, castings and product design.

Vince has been attending AMUG Conferences since 2004 and has served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer since 2012.

Secretary & Director

Leslie Frost
6K
Secretary@amug.com

Leslie Frost is the Director of Marketing at 6K where she is helping to push the boundaries of additive manufacturing by educating and developing prospects for additive powders and showing the capabilities of 6K to produce sustainable powders from scrap metal.

Leslie is passionate about additive manufacturing and continues to help develop this space by amplifying the stories and journeys of AM users. Previously she held marketing positions with GE Additive, Arcam, Stratasys, Objet and SolidWorks and has been in the 3D printing industry for over 10 years.

Through her AM journey, she has gained knowledge of 3D CAD, polymer 3D printing, metal additive manufacturing and is currently promoting and helping to expand the adoption of additive manufacturing into full-scale production with a ground-breaking technology for producing AM powders using scrap metal and recycled powder.

Leslie is a member and mentor in Women in 3D Printing where she would like to help raise the voice of women in this industry. Leslie was recognized by AMUG with the Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Award.

Director, Sponsors and Exhibitors

Tim Bell
Siemens Digital Industries USA
dspex@amug.com

Tim Bell is the Head of the CoC for Additive Manufacturing for Siemens Digital Industries USA, a seasoned manufacturing veteran, and a Cincinnati, Ohio, native.

He has spent more than 35 years in manufacturing and was trained as a journeymen toolmaker in the 1980’s. He spent the next 20 years as a machinist, programmer, designer, and entrepreneur of small contract manufacturing companies. The last 15-plus years have been focused on Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) of components and assemblies supporting the aerospace, defense, and medical industries.

He has successfully launched four US companies, two of which were foreign-owned/ joint ventures, taking them from ground zero to profitability and becoming leaders in their respective fields.

Director, Education & Conference

Jordan Weston
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
DConfEd@amug.com

Jordan Weston is the Manager of Operations of the Rapid Prototyping Center (RPC) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). The Rapid Prototyping Center provides value to members of a non-compete consortium through additive manufacturing services, OEM beta testing/applications development, applied research efforts, product/process development, and education.

Jordan holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering and an MBA, both from MSOE.  He has been in the additive manufacturing industry since 2008 and has attended AMUG since 2012, where he has participated in numerous volunteer roles such as presenter, moderator, Track Leader Committee chair, and Agenda Committee member.  His years of service earned him an AMUG Distinguished INnovative Operator (DINO) Award in 2019.

Director, Events & Hospitality

Thomas Sorovetz
T. A. Sorovetz, LLC
EventManager@amug.com

Thomas has been with Stellantis, formerly FCA, LLC, for more than 34 years, with 24 years as Supervisor – Vehicle Engineering Development, Rapid Prototyping Development, Wood, Plastic, CNC, and Carbon Fiber Shops. He has over 35 years of experience in automotive design and engineering and more than 30 years of experience in rapid prototyping/additive manufacturing. Along with publishing numerous articles in the field of rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, additive manufacturing and photoelastic stress analysis using stereolithography, he has been a presenter/speaker at many technical conferences.

Thomas has been on the AMUG Executive Board as Event Manager since 1993. He is the recipient of the AMUG Distinguished INnovative Operator (DINO) Award, the AMUG President’s Award, and the AMUG Distinguished Service Award for his 25+ years on the Executive Board. In addition to his service to AMUG, Thomas has served as an SME advisor on several committees spanning 25 years, including the Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference, Rapid Prototyping Association of SME, AUTOFACT Advisory Board; and, he was co-chair of the Bright Minds Mentor Program. Currently, Thomas is an advisor for the RAPID + TCT Conference and he holds the Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Master level certificate. In 2007, Thomas was voted by his industry peers as one of the Top 25 Most Influential People in Rapid Product Development and Rapid Manufacturing by TCT Magazine (UK). TCT Magazine is the leader in RP/AM and RP/AM related technologies.

Director, Membership

Jason Dickman
ClassIQmfg.com
DMembership@amug.com

Jason Dickman is the Chief Technology Officer for ClassIQmfg.com where he is leveraging his engineering and Additive Manufacturing experience to provide reverse engineering and investment casting patterns using various AM technologies. Under Jason’s leadership, the team at ClassIQmfg.com provides prototype, production and patterns from Vat polymerization, metal and polymer powder-bed fusion and material-jetting processes.

Jason’s 30+ year career in Rapid Prototyping, 3D Printing, and Additive Manufacturing starts back at General Electric Aircraft Engines in the late 1980’s.  Through his AM journey, Jason has held positions as part finisher, machine operator, 3D CAD designer, service bureau owner and investor.  Jason has held leadership positions at several OEMs and service providers throughout his career. He is an industry-recognized AM veteran.

Jason has been attending and participating in the User Group since the 1990s. He is part of several Oklahoma manufacturing groups helping educate local manufacturers about the benefits of AM. Jason was recognized in 2014 by AMUG with the Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Award.

Director at Large

Gary Rabinovitz
Reebok International
DatLarge@amug.com

Gary Rabinovitz holds a degree in Physical Education from Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH. He has managed the Additive Manufacturing Lab at Reebok International Ltd’s world headquarters for over 24 years. This lab operates HP Jet Fusion, 3D printing technology (Z-Corp), PolyJet technology and FDM.

Gary held the position of president of the SLS Users Group from November 2001 through the September 2002 conference. In the fall of 2002, Gary accepted the position of Z Corporation User Group president, a position that he held for four years. Gary has also been a member of SME for the past 22 years and has served two terms as president of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group. Gary is currently serving as AMUG Director at Large.

At the 2014 AMUG Conference, Gary was presented with the prestigious President’s Award for long time service to the additive manufacturing industry and the users group.  Gary is one of 10 recipients of this award in the 34-year history of AMUG.  In September 2014, Gary also received the Plymouth State University Alumni Achievement Award for all of his work at Reebok and in the additive manufacturing industry.