Interactive Consulting

Our Staff

The staff at Interactive Consulting, Inc. are each experts in their fields. You can learn about their backgrounds and accomplishments below.

Meyer R. Rosen, President of Interactive Consulting, Inc.

Mr. Rosen has over thirty years of experience in the Specialty Chemical and Allied industries and is a recognized expert in the technical marketing of specialty chemicals as well as their formulations and applications. He conducts strategic planning and ideation seminars for corporate groups. Mr. Rosen also serves as an expert witness and consultant for attorneys and insurance companies in the field of technical product liability issues related to: fires, explosions, hazardous chemicals, toxic exposures and clothing flammability.

Meyer is Chief Scientific Advisor for HBA Global Expo (www.hbaglobalexpo.com) and is designer and organizer of all technical conference programs. He holds 22 U.S. patents, has authored four books, edited a 1,100-page book entitled Delivery System Handbook for Personal Care and Cosmetic Products, co-authored the Rheology Modifiers Handbook, is Series Editor for Personal Care and Cosmetic Technology (www.williamandrew.com) and written over 40 peer review articles for technical publications. Mr. Rosen has served as Vice President of the Association of Consulting Chemists and Chemical Engineers and has been a Director of the American Institute of Chemists. He is a member of several ASTM standards-making committee and serves as a referee for several peer reviewed technical journals.

Mr. Rosen holds the following Certifications:

Chartered Chemist and Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry - London
Fellow: American Institute of Chemists
Certified Professional Chemist - National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Certified Professional Chemical Engineer - National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Fellow: American College of Forensic Examiners
Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Examiners
Diplomate: American Board of Forensic Engineering and Technology
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (Advanced Training)

A copy of Mr. Rosen's Curriculum Vitae can be downloaded by clicking here.

David B. Braun, Director of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care

David has over thirty years experience in the Specialty Chemical Industry. He has served as a former Development Scientist and Technology Manager with Union Carbide Corporation as well as R & D Manager for R. T. Vanderbilt Company. David is dedicated to outstanding client support and the breadth of his experience frequently provides timely breakthroughs on critical product development issues.

He is responsible for Product Development support in a broad range of technologies. These include: rubber, plastics, papermaking, mining, ceramics, personal care and pharmaceuticals. He has written numerous technical papers and been awarded eleven U.S. and several worldwide patents.

Mr. Braun is the author of two books relating to the pharmaceutical industry: Over-the-Counter Pharmaceutical Formulations and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers - A Global Directory. He has contributed chapters to the well-known Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and the Handbook of Water-Soluble Gums and Resins. Mr. Braun is a co-author with Meyer R. Rosen of the Rheology Modifier Handbook - Practical Use and Application.

Rebecca J. Citron, Director of Strategic Planning

Ms. Citron has over twenty-five years experience in Specialty Chemicals. She has managed Performance Products on both the marketing and commercial management side of the business. Rebecca served as a Global Business Manager for Union Carbide Corporation where she established and developed UCC's profitable Biocides Business in the 1990's. Later, as a Business Director she played a key role in strategizing for a wide variety of Specialty Chemical Business Areas including: water treatment, sanitizing, oil field, metal working, hospital and pharmaceutical/health care. Rebecca is committed to outstanding client support on Strategy Development and Competitive Analysis issues.

Ms. Citron has a proven track record in managing change in established businesses. She has developed new businesses and assisted organizations in cultivating essential skills such as: identifying customer needs, understanding the competitive environment and developing new products and/or services. Ms. Citron is an expert at strategic analysis, facilitation and managerial skills. She is an excellent speaker and trainer with competency in defining customer needs and identifying optimum channels via Partnering and Strategic Alliances.

Rebecca has published articles on visioning, selecting channels of distribution and integrated marketing management. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (CSMA) and chaired the CSMA's Antimicrobials Division. Ms. Citron holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from New York University and an MBA from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business.

Jon Barb, Director of Training

Mr. Barb is a well-known, energetic speaker with over twenty years experience designing and conducting corporate Business Skills Programs. He has lectured internationally on a wide range of topics including: "How to Sell Your Ideas," "Negotiating Basics," and "Do What Works™, The Secret to Self-Empowerment." Jon is dedicated to adding value for clients in the following areas: Creative Problem Solving, Change Management, Process Improvement, Team Facilitation, Leadership, Strategic Planning and Consultative Selling.

Mr. Barb is responsible for our Communicating for Results™ Seminars. He is an expert in the area of Presentation Skills for Technical Professionals and Selling Skills for Technical Professionals. Jon is also a co-leader of our Ideation Seminars and has worked with client companies throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico and the Far East.

Mr. Barb is a member of the National Speaker's Association. He has been an Adjunct Professor in the MBA Program at the University of Connecticut and taught at the Fairfield University Center for Financial Studies. Jon holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in Human Resource Development from the New School for Social Research in New York City.

Larry Plonsker, Ph.D., Director of Project Management and University Relations.

Larry Plonsker has over thirty years experience in evaluating and developing new business opportunities. Dr. Plonsker specializes in Technology Transfer and new Product Development. He is an expert at formulating and implementing custom designed Stage/Gate process techniques for corporations. This technology is a valuable project management tool that formalizes the process of bringing ideas to market in well-defined steps. Larry serves the chemical, pharmaceutical, polymer and personal care industries. His expertise includes technology searching, intellectual property valuation, acquisition and product opportunity evaluation, patent marketing and custom market research. He is skilled at custom market research and writes a quarterly column on Technology Transfer for Cosmetics and Toiletries magazine. Dr. Plonsker recently presented a paper entitled, “Sourcing New Technologies” at the International Cosmetic Expo 2002. Dr. Plonsker has a technical background in fine and specialty chemicals, biodegradable oils and lubricants, petroleum and polymer additives, cosmetic raw materials, tertiary amines, bromine chemicals and fuel dispersant additives. Larry holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, has 19 patents and has authored technical papers in the chemical field. He has served as Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Louisiana State University and is past chairman of the Licensing Executives Society Sector on Chemicals, Plastics and Associated Industries.

David Tonucci, Director of Product Safety

Dr. Tonucci has over 15 years of experience in preclinical and clinical toxicology specializing in consumer products and OTC pharmaceutical safety testing. He has served as Technical Director for Hill Top Research and his responsibilities included the design of studies focused on the development of clinical safety and efficacy studies of diverse technologies. Dr. Tonucci has expertise in transdermal/skin care, women’s health and general safety study design and conduct. While at Hill Top research he also was a consultant to numerous consumer products and pharmaceutical companies, as well as to trade associations focusing on the design and conduct of dermal clinical safety studies. Prior to joining Hill Top Research, Dr. Tonucci managed the Clinical Evaluations Department of Clairol Inc. He led a team of scientists responsible for the design and conduct of unique clinical testing programs to support pivotal claims and safety evaluations of new hair care and skin care products. Prior to his work at Clairol, Dr. Tonucci served as a toxicologist with the Colgate-Palmolive company. In this capacity he managed preclinical safety programs and prepared exposure and safety assessments for new products and FDA submissions. Dr. Tonucci is the author of several articles in peer reviewed journals, has written a book chapter on Clinical Evaluations in Delivery Systems Handbook for Cosmetic and Personal Care Products (William Andrew Publishing, Norwich, New York) and presented papers at several national scientific meetings. He is a member of the Society of Toxicology and the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Tonucci received his Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine where he was a NIH Pre-doctoral Scholar.