Board Member Directory

Mr. Miller has worked in the building performance industry for the past 14 years after spending his first 8 years in management consulting and business process improvement roles with major corporations. In 2014, Mr. Miller founded North Carolina Building Performance Association (NCBPA) where he served as the state’s “green building lobbyist” and industry organizer for nearly eight years. In 2017, Mr. Miller received NAHB’s Young Green Professional of the Year award in recognition of his work. In 2020 – 2021, NCBPA merged with a partner organization to support its member companies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Mr. Miller joined MaxLife Industries as the Marketing & Business Process Director, beginning his work with magnesium oxide (MgO) building products through the ArmorWall product line. Mr. Miller’s marketing efforts played a significant role in the company being acquired by DuPont in 2021. Mr. Miller joined US MgO Company, LLC in 2023 as its first General Manager with a goal of expanding the manufacturing and specification of MgO building products in the North American construction market.  

Dr. Kitchens has more than 20 years’ experience in research and education with a focus in magnesium oxide (MgO) building products over the past eight years. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University in 2004 and an MBA from Clemson University in 2021. Dr. Kitchens’ research has long focused on the design, engineering, and sustainability of construction materials. In 2014, he began working with Jet Products, conducting fundamental research on MgO building products that resulted in three peer reviewed publications. Following the acquisition of Jet Products by MiTek Inc. in 2019, Dr. Kitchens took two years away from academia to assist MiTek with the expansion of the Triton MgO board product line. In 2022, Dr. Kitchens returned to academia as Professor and Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Villanova University. He has reestablished his research group at Villanova, which includes a focus on fundamental research on MgO cement materials.   

Mr. Rajopa specializes in research and development of magnesium oxide (MgO) building products through his current role as R&D Technical Specialist for Huber Engineered Woods and the company’s Exacor line of MgO products. Prior to his role with Huber, Mr. Rajopa supervised a shop producing steel products for the construction industry. During college, he participated in the design of controls systems, bioreactors, and other equipment for a plastic manufacturing plant in Brazil. Mr. Rajopa holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.  

Dr. Shand has worked in the magnesia industry for 33 years and has had an interest in magnesia cement for well over 20 years. He is currently employed with Premier Magnesia, LLC and is based in Ohio. Dr. Shand is responsible for product development and technical support.  He holds a PhD and BSc in Chemistry from the University of Warwick, UK. Dr. Shand has co-authored numerous patents and has written a technical book titled “The Chemistry and Technology of Magnesia” published by J. Wiley and co-authored “Magnesia Cements” published by Elsevier. 

Mr. Weinberger is a chemical engineer who has been working with magnesium oxide building products for 8 years. In his current role, he serves as the Director of Product Development for MiTek, Inc and focuses on the Triton product line, a magnesium oxide (MgO) tile backer board. Mr. Weinberger was first involved with magnesium oxide board products as a Process Engineer for JetProducts in Houston, TX, before they were acquired by MiTek in 2019. Mr. Weinberger holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.