Cerahelix Inc., a Bangor company that develops and manufactures ceramic nanofiltration membrane products, said Thursday it has promoted Bill Paulus to the CEO position.
He steps into a role held for nine years by Susan Mackay, who co-founded the company in 2011 but resigned in March. She is now a senior program manager at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. She helps research, develop and commercialize products that use 3D printing.
Paulus, who has more than three decades’ experience in manufacturing and global operations, joined Cerahelix in January as chief operating officer. He will oversee the company’s plans to accelerate growth and “firmly establish its leadership in the growing market for ceramic nanofiltration.”
Cerahelix products are designed for companies that need to filter large quantities of water, such as food-and-beverage manufacturers, textile and paper mills, chemical manufacturers and pharmaceutical makers.
“I am grateful for the confidence that has been placed in me, and look forward to helping the company grow and also advance the use of ceramic nanofiltration as a powerful solution for a wide array of applications,” Paulus said in a news release.
Prior to joining Cerahelix, Paulus held senior management positions at Blackmore Sensors & Analytics in Bozeman, Mont.; Pittsburgh Glass Works in Pittsburgh; and Celgard in Charlotte, N.C. He started his career as a senior manufacturing engineer at General Motors. He has degrees from Indiana University, Penn State and Alfred University.
“Since joining Cerahelix, [Paulus] has leveraged his tremendous experience in manufacturing, operations and technology to put in place the infrastructure and expertise needed for the company to achieve its goals as the industry leader in ceramic nanofiltration technology,” said Alexander Crowell, managing director of PureTerra Ventures and, for several months, Cerahelix’s interim CEO.
“Now as CEO, Bill will activate that framework and oversee the implementation of Cerahelix’s commercialization and growth plans aimed at taking the company to the forefront of the ceramic nanofiltration market.”
