Member Spotlight: Meet Roger Nahas
Member Spotlight is a regular INFORM magazine column that features members who play critical roles in AOCS.
| Name | Roger Nahas |
| Joined AOCS | 2008 |
| Education | PhD in chemistry, University of Missouri; MS in natural products from Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Crete, Greece; BS in chemistry from the Université Libanaise, Beirut, Lebanon |
| Job title | Senior Vice President of Global R&D |
| Employer | Kalsec (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) |
| AOCS involvement | Member of the AOCS Governing Board |
Professional
What’s a typical day like for you?
A mix of strategic planning, organizational management, technology scouting, innovation programs, and operational issues and opportunities. A lot of emails, meetings, and reading, with an occasional stroll through the lab, or tasting of a food with Kalsec ingredients.
My favorite part of my job is…
I sit at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, through science. I love why we do what we do, and I love how we do it—with a tremendous team and awesome colleagues. Also, I get to work with herbs, spices, and various plant extracts and see them getting converted into high-end extracts and food ingredients.
Is there an achievement or contribution you are most proud of? Why?
I am proud of helping to create various new programs and leading the effort to establish a pilot plant facility named after my mentor at Kalsec—the Don Berdahl Center for New Technology. But it is the little moments that give me long-lasting pleasure, such as the critical experiences I’ve been through with my colleagues: securing intellectual property rights together, discovering new processes, and even going through and overcoming crises every now and then.
What event, person, or life experience has had the most influence on the direction of your life?
The civil war in Lebanon when I was growing up made me determined to spread my wings and seek out opportunities to grow, wherever they existed in the world, through science and innovation.
Personal
How do you relax after a hard day of work?
I enjoy time with my kids and watch Netflix with my wife.
What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?
I doubt many people at AOCS can beat me in foosball. When I was a teenager, I won tournaments in Lebanon, and I think I’ve still got the touch.
What skill would you like to master?
Mindfulness.
What are some small things that make your day better?
When I go to get coffee from the breakroom in the morning at work and the person before me just made a fresh batch and left.
What are you looking forward to in the coming months or years?
More trips and vacations with my family.
Is there anything else you’d like to say to your peers?
My personal philosophy at work is to treat every day as if it is both my first and last day. First day: full of optimism and eagerness to learn and make a good impression. Last day: getting things accomplished and tying up loose ends.
