2026 CMC Conference

Brianna Dufek

Brianna Dufek is a chemist at Elemental Scientific, Inc. since 2019. She has specialized in automating organic contaminant determination in semiconductor-grade chemicals utilizing a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS). Her focus has been on developing online techniques to detect ppt level organic contaminants utilizing ESI’s advanced automation. Brianna received her B.S. at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

James Damico

James is a results-driven procurement professional with more than 12 years of experience leading global sourcing strategies, procurement transformation initiatives, and technology enablement across complex organizations. He currently serves as Senior Program Manager for Digital Sourcing, Technology, and Operations at onsemi, where he focuses on modernizing procurement capabilities and driving operational excellence. Previously, he spent over a decade at Intel as a Global Sourcing Category Manager and Program Manager, supporting large-scale sourcing and transformation programs. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University’s Broad School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from SUNY Albany.

James Sanders

James Sanders is a Senior Analyst at TechInsights with over 5 years of experience as an industry analyst, and 7 years of experience as a technology journalist. Before joining TechInsights, James worked as a Research Analyst on the Cloud Transformation team at 451 Research where he led the analysis of quantum computing hardware and software, quantum sensing, quantum networking, and the applicable use cases and industry impact of quantum technologies. He also developed thought leadership reports on quantum computing, cloud resource management, and the environmental sustainability of cloud computing.

Kevin Heidrich

Kevin has worked in the semiconductor industry for 30 years with a focus on semiconductor process and process integration, capital equipment, manufacturing systems, and related products and services. Kevin was formerly employed at Onto Innovation (the merger of Nanometrics Incorporated and Rudolph Technologies in 2019) holding the title of SVP, Corporate Development & Marketing. Prior to Onto, Kevin was employed at Nanometrics, from April 2006 holding the title of SVP Marketing & Business Development. He was responsible for product marketing, corporate strategy, and M&A. Kevin began his career working in process engineering at Intel and spent 10 years working in Logic Technology Development in Portland Oregon.

Kurtis Fairley

Kurtis has degrees in both Chemistry and Physics from Pacific Lutheran University followed by a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Oregon. He worked in the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry, focused on turning research into start ups. He spent time working in a biotech spin out, Nemametrix, then entered into Semiconductors working at Edwards. His focus has been on collaborating with OEMs/IDMs to develop new solutions for next generation semiconductor processes as an Applications Engineer, Technical Program Manager, North America Innovation Center Manager, and Director of Technical Programs North America.

Lita Shon-Roy

Lita Shon-Roy is President of Market Analysis with over 30 years of experience across the semiconductor supply chain in strategy, business development, marketing, and sales. She has held key roles at companies such as RASIRC/Matheson Gases, Air Products, and Hughes Aircraft, and is recognized as a leading expert in electronic materials market analysis. Widely published and quoted in outlets including the Wall Street Journal and BBC News, she holds an MBA from CSU Dominguez Hills, an MSEE from USC, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC San Diego.

Ralph Dammel

Ralph R. Dammel received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the J.W. Goethe University in Frankfurt/FRG in 1986. He has worked for EMD Electronics, the Electronics business of Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany, in the US, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Germany and is currently employed as Technology Fellow in the Chief Technology Office (CTO).Dr. Dammel is the author of over 200 scientific papers in chemistry and microlithography and is an inventor on about 500 patents in over 110 patent families in the field. His monograph “Diazonaphthoquinone-based Resists” is generally recognized as the definitive book on the subject. In spring 2009, Dr. Dammel was elected as SPIE Fellow. He received the Photopolymer Science and Technology Outstanding Achievement Award in June 2011, SPIE’s Frits Zernicke Award for Microlithography in February 2015, and Merck KGaA’s Science Award in 2020.

Robert Goodin

Robert Goodin is a Mineral Commodity Specialist for the National Minerals Information Center within the United States Geological Survey. As a Mineral Commodity Specialist, he tracks and analyzes a variety of semiconductor– and oil– and gas-related mineral commodities with a focus on understanding supply-demand dynamics, market risks, and vulnerabilities within mineral supply chains. His work involves close collaboration with multiple defense and intelligence agencies to help strengthen U.S. mineral supply chains.

Simon Elliott

Dr. Simon Elliott is a pioneer in applying atomic-scale models to the surface chemistry of materials deposition and etch. Before joining Schrödinger as product manager for the semiconductor sector, he studied chemistry in Ireland and Germany, and led a research group at Tyndall National Institute in Ireland. He was the 2023 recipient of the ALD Innovator Award.

Sriram Ramamoorthy

Sriram Ramamoorthy is a staff supply chain engineer in Intel’s Global Material Organization managing filtration and chemicals. He has been with Intel for 10 years, 5 years in Wet Etch Technology Development. He has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engg from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Stephen Russell

Stephen is the Senior Technical Fellow for Sustainability at TechInsights, offering expertise on carbon impact across the full technology life cycle, with deep insight into semiconductor manufacturing process flows and associated emissions With over 20 years in semiconductors, he is an internationally recognized researcher. He was awarded best paper for the IEEE Journal Transactions on Power Electronics paper “High Temperature Electrical and Thermal Aging Performance and Application Considerations for SiC power DMOSFETs”. He led an exploratory research project in gallium oxide for power devices, presenting findings to the Royal Institution, London. While working in industry, he led the development of a new silicon IGBT product line and instigated a research and development project to use silicon carbide JFETs in circuit protection applications.