Meet the Minds: Morgan Alexander, Coatings Technical Manager at King Industries

At King Industries, innovation and collaboration drive the success of our technical teams. In this installment of Meet the Minds, we sit down with Morgan Alexander, Technical Manager in the Coatings Technical Service & Development (TS&D) group. Morgan shares her inspiring journey from a new graduate to a leadership role, provides insight into her daily responsibilities, and discusses the exciting advancements and challenges in the coatings industry.

Can you share your professional journey leading to your role as Technical Manager at King Industries?

I joined King Industries in 2015 after graduating from University of Connecticut with my B.Sc. in Chemistry. I knew I wanted to find a career in the chemical industry, and when I joined the Coatings Technical Service & Development (TS&D) group as a new graduate, I honestly did not know much about coatings, beyond the very basics. But I joined a great team of managers and senior chemists who were excellent teachers and helped me grow into my role at King.

In Coatings TS&D, most chemists eventually settle in to work mostly with one or two of King’s product lines. My journey eventually led me to focus on King’s line of acid catalysts – NACURE & K-CURE. I became a Technology Leader for acid catalysts in 2020.

Starting in 2022, I began to gradually acquire more management responsibilities for the department. This process ensured that, by the time the previous manager John Florio retired in February of 2024, I was already the acting Technical Manager of the department.

I will always be very grateful to King Industries for encouraging me and helping me along this path.

What does a typical day in your position look like?

A typical workday involves a combination of both office and lab work.

I remain very active in the TS&D labs – working on my own projects as well as helping to train the newest members of our team.

Coatings TS&D collaborates with many other departments, for example: Sales & Marketing, QC & Analytical, Customer Service, Procurement, Production & Engineering, Quality, etc.

Any given day will include tasks worked on in collaboration with these other groups, as well as communication with current or prospective customers in need of technical assistance.

Something I have always enjoyed about working in TS&D is how each day can be very different, and there is always something new to get involved in.

What are some recent advancements or projects your team has been involved in?

TS&D is constantly involved with development projects; it is why our department is named “Technical Service & Development.”

Over the last few years, thanks to diligent work from our Sales team, King Industries has become a key catalyst supplier for the polyurethane foam market. TS&D has been involved with developing new catalysts as well as modifying existing products to fit the needs of customers with foam applications. It has been exciting to watch the growth and see how King’s existing chemistry can fit in new application areas, as well as expanding the portfolio with brand new products.

How do you balance managing technical projects with mentoring and leading your team?

My goal is to continue the long-established atmosphere of partnership and collaboration within TS&D. I like to say that we are a small-but-mighty team, where everyone is working on multiple technical projects at the same time – myself included. I enjoy the lab work, and being actively involved in the labs helps me stay well-attuned to the needs of the group.

To me, a good manager is someone who listens, actively participates, and strives to do everything in their power to help their group thrive. Being hands-on with lab work helps me stay up-to-date on everyone’s projects and become aware of any challenges that I can help with.

How does your team collaborate with other departments, such as marketing or sales, to bring products to market?

The majority of our projects are driven by customer feedback that our Sales team communicates to the labs.

When new products are developed by the labs, TS&D is in constant communication with Sales. In addition to often being involved in the development stage, TS&D chemists also conduct application studies. This work generates data that Sales & Marketing can then use to create technical flyers and other literature needed to launch a new product.

As the members of the team with hands-on experience working with these new products, TS&D becomes the experts for providing advice on optimal usage, product benefits, etc.

What role does sustainability play in your technical strategies and product development?

Sustainability is always front-of-mind for me these days. I think it is fair to say that most people want to live in a more sustainable future. This is true for us at King as well as our customers.

As chemists, we always strive to continue learning and stay updated to new sustainability trends in the CASE & Foam markets. A common question these days is: in what ways can King continue to incorporate green chemistry, either in existing products, or in the development of new products?

This question does not always have easy answers, but our goal is to continue trying to find the solutions.

How do you ensure King Industries stays innovative in a competitive industry?

Related to my previous statements, it is crucial for all of us to be active, involved participants in the CASE & Foam markets. For me, this means staying up-to-date on industry publications, maintaining good contacts within the Coatings industry, attending society meetings, participating in opportunities for technical presentations, etc.

King is an agile company when it comes to developing and introducing new products. By being aware of ongoing trends and regulations, we can help King stay ahead of the curve and maintain its status as a premier supplier for specialty coatings additives.

Can you share a project or initiative you’re particularly proud of and why?

There is something to get excited about in every project. It is satisfying to solve a pressing customer issue by finding the right catalyst or additive for their formulation. Or by assisting with product optimization, or when you see a new product move into the scale-up phase (sometimes after years of development work) – these are all aspects of TS&D that I find rewarding.

It is all problem-solving, at the end of the day. That’s what drew me to the field of chemistry in the first place; how it seems like such a puzzle. As chemists, we get to find how the pieces fit together, and we get to find a way to solve the puzzle – this is intrinsic to the work we do in TS&D and its something I have always found rewarding.