Meet Our Staff.
Steve Benson, Ph.D., President, MTI
Dr. Benson currently is President of MTI and Professor in the
Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of North
Dakota. Dr. Benson has over 24 years of professional experience in the
behavior of trace elements in gasification systems, high temperature reaction
mechanisms, coal ash slagging and fouling, inorganic constituents in coals,
scanning electron microscopy analysis and fundamentals of coal combustion.
Dr. Benson has extensive experience in managing complex multi-disciplined
projects conducted for various federal and state departments and agencies,
such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection
Agency, and has managed numerous projects for industry and industry and
government co-funded programs. Dr. Benson is a member of several professional
organizations and has written or co-written over 200 publications.
Contact Steve / Cell: 701-213-7070
Arthur Ruud, Research Scientist
Mr. Ruud has over 20 years of experience in conducting research activities
in the area of coal conversion technologies and environmental issues.
He has worked on a wide range of projects involving development of activated
carbons from lignite, liquefaction of low-rank coals, coal gasification,
wastewater treatment, and characterization of environmental samples. He
also has extensive experience in set-up, maintenance, and operation of
laboratory-scale testing apparatus and analytical equipment. In addition,
Mr. Ruud has a strong background in analytical methods of analysis including
atomic absorption, microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy,
gas chromatography, and other instrumental and wet chemical methods of
analysis.
Stephen Lagro, SEM Applications Associate
Mr. Lagro has a B.S. in Chemistry from Dickinson State University. He has extensive experience managing and conducting chemical and physical analysis of energy system-related samples. He is currently responsible for fuel, fireside deposits, refractories, metals and other related materials analysis using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. He is also responsible for the development of improved applications for the analysis of fuels and related materials from combustion and gasification systems.
Damien Hesse, SEM Applications Assistant
Mr. Hesse is currently completing a B.S. degree in Geological Engineering at the University of North Dakota. He is responsible for the development of advanced imaging and image analysis of ash deposits and minerals.
Dawson Hahn, SEM Applications Assistant
Mr. Hahn is currently completing a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.S. in Mathematics at the
University of North Dakota. He is responsible for the development and
management of computer applications in support of our advanced fuel,
slag, ash deposit, and fly ash analysis.
Roxanne Benson, Vice President and Financial Officer
Ms. Benson is the Vice President and Financial Officer at MTI and has
been at MTI since 1992. She holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration
from the University of North Dakota and is responsible for all purchasing,
billing, and budgeting functions at MTI.
Erin Sirianni, Marketing Manager
Ms. Sirianni is the Marketing Manager at MTI and has been employed by
MTI since 2006. She has a B.A. in English from St. Olaf College and an
M.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism,
where she focused in science and health communication. She has over five
years of experience in journalism, marketing, and public relations.