Presenter Information
Name: Dr. Michael Huddy, Ph.D., James R. Dukart - National Sales Manager, and Robert D. Palardy – Director
Title: Dr. Michael Huddy , Ph.D. - President, CEO, Director, Barrier Technology Corporation, James R. Dukart - National Sales Manager, International Barrier Technology Corporation and Robert D. Palardy – Director, Research & Development, Louisiana-Pacific Corp, LP® Building Products
Background: Dr. Huddy joined Barrier in 1993 as the President of Barrier Technology Corporation (Barrier USA). He was elected President of International Barrier Technology (Barrier) in July 1994 and additionally elected a Director in 1995. Dr. Huddy was previously in charge of marketing and sales of Blazeguard® with Citadel and Weyerhaeuser. He was a part of Weyerhaeuser’s R&D team established to develop the Blazeguard product.
Dr. Huddy brings to Barrier considerable sales, marketing and general management experience. He joined Weyerhaeuser’s Architectural Products Group in 1988, after two years as General Manager of Weyerhaeuser’s Northwest Hardwoods operations in Wisconsin. Before joining Weyerhaeuser, Dr. Huddy worked for Crown Zellerbach Corporation for seven years in various capacities from Forestry Engineer to Research Division Manager. Dr. Huddy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from Lake Superior State College; a Masters of Science degree in Resource Administration; and a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics with a minor in Business Management from Michigan State University.
James Dukart joined Barrier Technology in 2007 as National Sales Manager for Blazeguard Fire-Rated Sheathing. Prior to Barrier, Mr. Dukart was a national sales manager for a marine products company, and prior to that, for 15 years he was a national trade magazine editor and writer focusing on the computer industry, telecommunications, energy, building materials, general business and related technologies.
He currently serves on the board of directors of the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) and is a member of the Associates Committee of the Builders’ Association of the Twin Cities in Minneapolis.
Mr. Dukart holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. in international economics from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He has lived and worked in England, Hungary, Guatemala and Italy.
Robert Palardy became the director of research and development in 2006, presiding over product and process research for the corporation. Palardy is responsible for 15-20 scientists, engineers and technicians in support of business growth, quality enhancement, and cost reduction. He joined LP in 2003 as the manager of research and development of quality and technology in the OSB business.
Palardy brings extensive management experience in the engineered wood industry to LP. Previously the vice president of operations for the engineered woods sector of J. M. Huber Corp., he’s been working in the industry for more than 27 years. Prior to his work with J.M. Huber Corp., Palardy served as a research scientist for the Institute of Wood Research at Michigan Technological University. Palardy has a Bachelor of Science in wood technology from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in wood science and technology from the University of Massachusetts.
