Willie is the founder and CEO of the AVEKA Group. AVEKA was founded in 1994 as a spin off from 3M with 3 people and one site. Currently, the AVEKA Group comprises 5 manufacturing sites and 290 people for industrial, chemical, food and pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and process development of particulate materials. Prior to starting AVEKA, Willie worked at 3M as the Technical Manager for Particle Processing in 3M’s Corporate Research Facility. Willie received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in organometallic synthesis. He is currently the President of the International Fine Particle Institute, a member of the executive committee of the AICHE Particle Technology Forum and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Food Science. He has authored or coauthored over 20 technical papers or book chapters and is an inventor on 50 issued or applied for US patents.