Chuck Herak
CEO of DCL Corporation
Board Director and Investor
Atlanta, Georgia
Chuck Herak
President, CEO and Board Director
Transformational, high impact, global leader with a consistent track record for achieving superior revenue and profit growth.
Proven ability to develop and execute new strategies, lead change, and build motivated, high performance teams in Fortune 500, private equity-owned and family-owned businesses.
Angel Investor and Advisor to Early Stage Companies.
Broad Experience:
Strategy Development and Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Restructuring, Sales Leadership, Manufacturing
Professional Experience
DCL Corporation
Chief Executive Officer, DCL Corporation 2019 - Present
DCL Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high quality color pigments and dispersions to the coatings, plastics and specialty ink markets. DCL Corporation was formed by the combination of Dominion Colour Corporation and Lansco Colors, and it is owned by H.I.G. Capital.
JM Huber
President , Huber Engineered Materials 2015-2017
A leader in acquiring, scaling and operating a global portfolio company of premium functional ingredient businesses. Portfolio included Fire retardants, Silica and Calcium Carbonate with $830 million revenue, 1850 employees and 17 plants. Preferred supplier to thousands of B2B customers in personal care, food, coatings, rubber, plastics, wire and cable, electronics, oilfield, and other markets.
- Delivered three consecutive years of record profitability.
- Led a highly engaged workforce - selected as a top workplace by Atlanta Constitution Journal
Vice President & General Manager, Silica 2009-2014
Responsible for profitability and strategic direction of Silica business ($280 million & 700 people). Global leader in dental silica and also serving food, paper and industrial markets.
- Led business to record profitability, increasing EBITDA by $35 million (135%) through growth and manufacturing improvements.
- Developed and executed new strategy to expand growth via increased capacity investments while diversifying sales into new markets.
Ashland Inc. (Ashland bought Hercules in 2008)
Vice President, Coatings Additives 2006-2009
Global responsibility for profitability and strategic direction of the Coatings Additives business unit ($270 million), serving the paints, coatings, adhesives and related industries.
- Developed & executed new growth strategy to build on the strong core by adding adjacent products.
- Achieved revenue and profit growth of 35% and 26%, respectively.
- Led team for establishing a new $100 million Hydroxyethylcellulose plant in Nanjing, China, including negotiations with Chinese government.
Global Business Director, CMC 2003-2006
Responsible for profitability and strategic direction of the Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) business with sales of $140 million to the food, personal care, paper, and oilfield industries
- Turned around declining business, increasing EBITDA $8 million by increasing sales volume and pricing while reducing manufacturing and procurement costs.
Regional Sales Director, Asia Pacific, 1998-2003
Transformed Asia Pacific business from opportunistic to $60 million strategic growth platform. Responsible for sales, technical support, customer service, supply chain, distributors, and strategic initiatives.
Various Engineering, Research and Business Management Positions, 1989-2003
Board Member Experience
Excellent communicator & relationship builder with executive presence from board room to employee meetings. More than a decade of experience working with public company and private company boards.
CEO and Board Director, DCL Corporation, Toronto, Canada
Board Director, Huber Engineered Materials, Atlanta, Georgia
Board Director, Magnifin GmbH, Vienna, Austria - Joint Venture between RHI Magnesita and JM Huber
Chairman, Huber Chemicals India Limited, Mumbai, India
Chairman, Huber Engineered Materials Qingdao, China
Chairman, Huber Engineered Materials Belgium
Chairman, Hercules Chemicals Jiangmen, China
Advisory Board Member, iFOLIO, Atlanta, GA
Board Member, Atlanta Technology Angels
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Led successful acquisition and integration of Albermarle’s $200M fire retardant business at HEM.
- Led successful $630 million sale of Silica business from JM Huber to Evonik along with comprehensive transition services agreement.
- Negotiated and completed Joint Venture with the leading producers of Methylcellulose in China, Feixiang Chemicals.
- Acquired and successfully integrated Dexter Chemicals $15 million specialty surfactants business.
- Led the successful acquisition & integration of the leading Chinese CMC producer, Jiangmen Quantum.
- Led acquisition of a $40 million guar polymer business and related 20% equity position in Benchmark Performance Group for oil and gas market.
International Experience
- Conducted business across six continents
- Traveled to over 50 countries
- Lived and worked in Singapore for 5 years
- Strong understanding of different cultures and ability to build relationships with people of diverse backgrounds
Investor in Early Stage Companies
Veritas Investments, LLC
Managing Director - 2017 to present
Veritas provides funding and advice to early stage companies. Veritas looks for innovative companies with transformative technologies to address significant market opportunities. Particular areas of interest include clean technology, advanced materials, biotechnology, industrial technology and health care.
ATL Technology Angels
Board Member
The Atlanta Technology Angels is one of the nation’s top angel investing networks. Its members invest in top tier early-stage companies in the Southeast. The investments and ATA support serve as a catalyst that helps young companies achieve success and make a positive impact on society.
Celios Corporation
Investor
Celios Corporation is focused on advanced air technologies that bring pure, safe, and breathable air to every part of our lives. Proprietary technology captures ultra-fine particulate matter down to 10 nanometers with portable devices.
Qure4u
Investor
Qure4u is an all-in-one patient app bringing healthcare into the 21st century. It eliminates paperwork and improves communication after visits with digital technology and telehealth for better patient outcomes.
Trellis
Investor
Trellis is focused on helping farmers reduce water consumption and improve crop yields. A unique combination of moisture sensors and software connected via the IoT makes it simple and convenient for farmers to make better decisions.
Qoins
Investor
Qoins uses round-up technology on daily credit card purchases to help people achieve financial freedom and pay down debt faster.
Oncolens
Investor
Oncolens is empowering a new generation of cancer centers. OncoLens delivers innovative solutions for tumor board management, survivorship care planning, accreditation and quality improvement.
iFOLIO
iFOLIO Advisory Board Member
• Increase lead gen with digital business cards
• Build credibility and digital presence with business pages
• Bridge sales & marketing with effective digital content
• Accelerate sales cycles with personalized marketing
Personal Life
Education
- University of Delaware - MBA, Business Administration
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - PhD, Chemical Engineering
- University of Delaware - BS, Chemical Engineering, Men's Varsity Tennis Team
- Kellogg Executive Education - Governing Family Enterprises
- The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Executive Education, Leadership and Strategic Impact
- University of Michigan - Ross School of Business, Executive Education, Landscape of Positive Leadership
Volunteer Service
Must Ministries - Poverty Alleviation
Mission: Serving our neighbors in need … transforming lives and communities in response to Christ's call.
Vision: To become Georgia's most respected Servant Leader -- Restoring lives one person and one community at a time.
Urban Promise - Transforming at-risk youth
The mission of UrbanPromise is to equip children and young adults through Christ with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, personal growth and servant leadership
Chuck Herak
CEO, Board Director and Investor