CHEM-MATERIALS - Key Persons


Angie Mack

Job Titles:
  • Customer Service Manager
Angie Mack joined Chem-Materials in 2014 and is our Customer Service Manager. Angie is a graduate of The Ohio State University and has over 25 years of experience in the customer service field, ranging from various positions in retail to working with customers in the banking and IT industries. Angie lives with her husband, Terry, and teenage son in North Ridgeville, Ohio. She has two award-winning German Shorthaired Pointers. She enjoys volunteering for the Sports Boosters and her son's many sports as a team mom.

Ann Bonacci

Job Titles:
  • Customer Service Representative

Bill Tranberg

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
Bill joined Chem-Materials in 2012 and previously worked for MA Hanna (now PolyOne) for 22 years as well as 17 years with Ferro Corp selling color concentrates and dry color to the plastics industry. Bill is our plastics industry expert, having served in several capacities with the SPE at the national and local levels, including President of the Chicago affiliate. Bill and his wife, Dee, live in North Royalton, Ohio, where Bill enjoys golfing and watching his grandkids play sports.

Colin Ivich

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
Colin joined Chem-Materials in 2024. He has a degree in Chemistry from Marist College and spent the last five years of his career in formulation R&D, manufacturing quality control, and supply chain and logistics management. Colin has experience with UV/EB coatings and enjoys using his prior experience to help customers develop new products and solve challenging problems together. Originally from update New York, he relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2021 to escape the snow. Colin enjoys live music, relaxing on the beach, and attending professional sporting events.

Daniel Canavan

Job Titles:
  • Chem - Materials in 2023 As Southern Sales Manager
  • General Sales Manager - South
Daniel joined Chem-Materials in 2023 as Southern Sales Manager and Business Development. With over twenty years' experience within the specialty chemical market, Daniel has served various functions including Supply Chain Management, Procurement & Sourcing, Strategic Marketing, Business Development, and Commercial Sales. Daniel brings a strong background within specialty chemicals, C.A.S.E. (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers), and allied markets along with a strong passion for chemistry & innovation. Daniel is past President for the Philadelphia Society of Coatings Technology (PSCT) and Eastern Coatings Federation (ECS). He presently is past President & collaborator for the 2025 Eastern Coatings Show, active member within the American Chemical Society, along with multiple coating and supply chain local chapters. He holds an MBA degree from Temple University, B.S. degree in Marketing and Chemistry from Monmouth University and a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).

Devin Hicks

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
  • the Technical Sales Representative
Devin is the Technical Sales Representative for Florida and Southern Alabama and joined Chem-Materials in 2022. He graduated from Clemson University with a minor in Chemistry and pursued a career in sales. He gained extensive experience in outside sales where he successfully grew the Florida market for over 8 years in the industrial supply sector. His passion for sales has been driven by building partnerships with customers and helping them find solutions that will benefit their business. He resides in St Petersburg, FL with his wife and fur child (Finley the Australian Shepherd) and enjoys golfing, boating, and a cold beverage on the beach.

Ed Santorella

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
Ed joined Chem-Materials in 2019 and is the Technical Sales Representative for Georgia. His experience in the chemical industry spans nearly four decades. He has held Director level technical and commercial positions on the supply side at large and small specialty chemical companies. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, he has contributed to and been awarded several US patents. He was the founder, and co-owner of a Georgia-based company that produces acrylic poured flooring and concrete repair systems. He grew up in northern New Jersey and has called Canton, Georgia home for the past 15 years. Ed and his wife of 28 years, have 2 grown children. He enjoys spending time with his family, and restores and races vintage motorcycles.

Ellie Stepanik - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Finance and Operations
Ellie joined Chem-Materials in 2013 and is our Director of Finance and Operations. She handles all things financial for the business - billing, receipt of payments, accounts payable, payroll, 401K administration, etc. Ellie graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. She has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance in many industries ranging from real estate, retail, and medical equipment prior to her role at Chem-Materials. She has been a volleyball coach for the last 10 years coaching both high school and competitive club volleyball. Ellie and her husband, Darrell live in Amherst, OH and they have a chocolate Labrador, Teak. In her free time, she enjoys boating, fishing, gardening, and volleyball.

Heidi Schmit

Job Titles:
  • Accountant
Heidi Schmit joined our Accounting Department in March 2021 and handles accounts payable. She has over 15 years' experience in business holding positions in Purchasing, Project Management and Finance. Heidi moved to Cleveland from Chicago and enjoys exploring the Cleveland area. In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, golfing, live music, long walks on the beach (kidding!), and spending time with family.

Joe Makhlouf

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
  • the Technical Sales Representative
Joe is the Technical Sales Representative for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Mississippi and joined Chem-Materials in 2022. He has a degree in Polymer Chemistry and 20 years of experience in formulating Automotive OEM waterborne coatings prior to moving into a Technical Sales role, continually growing his sales territory using his extensive knowledge of chemical raw materials. Joe says the best part of his job is consulting with customers and leading them to a joint resolution. He has been a member of the Dallas Paint & Coatings Association since 2012 and calls McKinney, TX home (home is also where you will find his wife, 4 kids, and 3 dogs). Joe loves to travel with his family and is also an avid musician where he is a keyboardist with his DFW-based rock band.

Lauren Gilchrist

Job Titles:
  • Customer Service Representative
Lauren joined the Customer Service Team in 2022. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University where she played saxophone with the marching band for 3 years. She continues to play saxophone with The Bay Village Community Band. Lauren has 20 years' experience in the customer service field ranging from sales, banking, mortgage loans and front desk & billing in Pediatrics. Lauren lives in North Olmsted with her two dogs Rosie and Luna. In her spare time, she enjoys attending concerts, going to Cleveland Indians games, crocheting/crafting, and baking.

Mike Haraczy

Job Titles:
  • General Sales Manager - North
  • the Technical Sales Representative
Mike is the Technical Sales Representative in northern Ohio and the eastern Midwest territory, joining Chem-Materials in 2014. He has over 30 years' experience in paints and coatings. He previously held R&D positions in the coatings industry (ICI/Glidden; Watson Standard) as well as sales and marketing positions (RT Vanderbilt; Cary Co). He is a Past President of the Pittsburgh Society of Coatings Technology (2005 - 2006) and current Cleveland Coatings Society member. Mike has a grown son and daughter and lives in the Greater Cleveland/Akron area with his wife Peggy. He enjoys renovating houses, golfing, and riding his motorcycle in his spare time.

Phil Haagensen - President

Job Titles:
  • President
  • President and Owner of Chem - Materials
Phil is the President and Owner of Chem-Materials, starting with the company in 1991 as the northern Ohio Technical Sales Representative, moving up to General Sales Manager in 2011, and President in 2014. He has a Chemical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and has been in the CASE industry for over 30 years. He has held positions on several boards, including the Cleveland Paints & Coatings Association, Evonik Distributor Advisory Council, and Material Marketing Association. He has two adult children and lives with his wife Kathy in Westlake, Ohio. He enjoys baseball, music, and reading in his spare time along with the occasional pinball game.

Ross Waldon

Job Titles:
  • Purchasing Analyst
Ross joined the Chem-Materials team in September 2022 transferring over from a procurement role in the automotive/motorsports industry. After studying health care administration at Ohio University, he switched gears to a purchasing career where he discovered his niche. He brings 10 years' experience in domestic and international purchasing, supply chain management, and inventory control. When he's not crunching numbers, he is either planning a vacation somewhere palm trees grow naturally with his parents and fiancé, Genevieve, wrenching on his small fleet of dirt bikes, or attending a concert or sporting event with friends.

Seth McGaughy

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales
Seth joined Chem-Materials Co. in 2019 and covers the states of IL, WI, MN, IA, NE, ND and SD. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of industries with particular familiarity in the CASE, Inks, Thermoplastics, and Composites markets. He enjoys collaborating with his clients to solve problems in a unique and cost-effective manner. Originally from the Chicago area, Seth now resides in Madison, Wisconsin. He and his wife Sara have a young son named Cole and 2 crazy rescue Spaniels named Dolly Madison and Betsy Bratwurst. In his free time he enjoys travel, sports and the theater.

Tony Novello

Job Titles:
  • Technical Sales Representative in Southern Ohio
Tony is the Technical Sales Representative in Southern Ohio and the lower central Midwest territory. He joined Chem-Materials in 2014. He started out as a lab chemist at Rohm Tech in 1991, formulating dispersions and emulsions for the leather finishing industry. He has extensive technical experience in developing products for this industry and worked here until moving into specialty chemical sales in 2006 with Boehle Chemical. Tony has three grown children and lives in Madison, Indiana with his Great Dane, Bernadette. He enjoys live music, helping to organize the MadHop Music Festival, and well-made dress shoes.

Tracey Shafts

Job Titles:
  • Accounting Assistant
Tracey Shafts joined Chem-Materials in 2013 and is a Customer Service Representative at Chem Materials Company where she coordinates warehouse orders and manages existing orders. Tracey has 20 years' experience in the customer service field ranging from front desk work at a medical therapy company and city recreation facility to billing for a home health company. She helps our customers place, keep track of, and logistically coordinate their orders. Tracey has three children whom have served in the armed forces (the marines, the army and a son who graduated as an officer from the West Point Military Academy) and has 4 grandchildren that she loves to spend time with. She enjoys sewing, attending music concerts, and bike riding.