Kerry Spilker - Chair
email: Kspilker@chevron.com
Ms. Spilker is a Staff Research Scientist in the Chevron Energy Technology Company. Her current roles include consulting on research teams in the areas of thermal and chemical catalytic conversion of biomass to biofuel, biofuel upgrading for refinery integration and distributed hydrogen production. She has worked in the company's R&D organizations on a variety of catalytic processes including the Single Step Reforming of natural gas to produce high purity hydrogen where she was a key contributor.
Kerry received her BS in Chemistry from Sam Houston State University in 1977. She began her industrial career in the Polymer Development Lab at Texas Eastman in Longview, TX where she formulated low molecular weight and plastic grade polymers for various applications in the automotive and plastics market. Since joining Chevron in 1980, she has used her extensive knowledge in chemistry, analytical methods and instrumentation to characterize fuels and crude oil for exploration, production, process performance and environmental compliance. She was responsible for the conceptual design and development for the Texaco’ patented Quantitative Fluorescence Technique II. In addition to her technical contributions, Kerry has also mentored a number of colleagues throughout her career.
In ACS, Kerry has served The Greater Houston Section as Treasurer during 2006, 2007, and 2008. She has served on numerous Local Section committees. She was elected as the 2009 Chair– elect and is currently serving as the Chair of Greater Houston Section for 2010.
Gina Butuc- Past Chair
email: ginabutuc@yahoo.com
Ms. Gina Butuc holds a B.S in Physical Chemistry from University of Bucharest and a M. Sc. in Organic Chemistry from the same university where she focused her research on terpenes oxidation. She authored or co-authored various scientific publications and a technical book chapter and is the inventor of six US patent applications and international patents. Ms. Butuc presented scientific papers/posters at Energy Rubber Group, Society of Cosmetic Chemists and American Chemical Society various meetings. She has been a member of the American Chemical Society since 1998, recently being involved in “Project Seed” as a mentor. Other volunteering activities include Junior Achievement and “Young Women at Work Day”.
Ms. Butuc’s professional career includes over ten years of industrial research and development experience centered on material science and inorganic/organic synthesis of Polyphosphazenes holding positions with Penreco, a joint venture of Conoco Phillips and M.E Zuckerman and GE Water and Process Technology. Currently, Gina is the Business Manager for Advanced Polymer Technology, a division of Materials Science Technology in Conroe, TX.
Ms. Butuc, her husband and their two sons live in The Woodlands, TX.
Valerie Moore - Past Chair
email: Valerie.C.Moore@gmail.com
Valerie C. Moore, Ph.D. – Dr. Moore is the Executive Director of Nano World Headquarters and maintains a visiting scholar position at Rice University through the Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Dr. Moore received a B.S. in chemistry from Centenary College in 2001 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Rice University in 2005. Her thesis project investigated the synthesis and characterization of single-walled carbon nanotubes under the direction of Richard E. Smalley, 1995 Nobel Laureate in chemistry. While at Rice University, she was awarded a Welch Fellowship and The John Margrave Outstanding Thesis Award. Dr. Moore is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Chemical Society.
Rachel Garcia - Secretary
email: rg_houston@yahoo.com
Dr. Garcia, a native Houstonian received a B.S. in chemistry and biology from Houston Baptist University in 2003 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Houston in 2008. Her thesis project investigated the synthesis and characterization of diruthenium compounds and electroanalytical studies on metalloporphyrins. While at the University of Houston, she participated in the alliance for graduate education and the professoriate (AGEP) as well as the Chemistry Graduate Student Council.
Diana Ciurea - Treasurer
Diana V Ciurea, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow at University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer in the Experimental Therapeutics Department. She received a BS in Chemistry and MS in Organic Chemistry from University of Bucharest, and in 2008 she received a PhD from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio.
While at Case Western Reserve University, she has worked on the synthesis of two natural products from the vancomycin class of antibiotics. Now, she is continuing her research work in the field of drug design and synthesis, developing new cancer therapeutic agents at MD Anderson Cancer Center.