Angelo began his career in Nonwovens at Fiberweb in 1985 and progressed though positions of increasing responsibility culminating in being Spunbond Team Lead at the Simpsonville, SC location.  In 2006, he joined North Carolina State University as Laboratory Manager for NWI.  In 2013 he added to his resume a bachelor’s degree in business management and organizational development from the University of Mount Olive, Mount Olive, North Carolina, and in 2018, he added the role of Research Manager and a Certificate in Project Management from North Carolina State University.

During his career, Angelo has participated in tremendous growth in NWI’s laboratory facilities including major investments in the Meltblown (2011) and Spunbond & Hydroentangling (2016) labs which he managed.   He has contributed greatly to countless student and faculty research projects, customer R&D programs and new-product incubation efforts.  Angelo was an invaluable resource during 2020-21 when the NWI facilities supported substantial production of mask media and other nonwoven articles in support of NWI’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflecting back on his 40+ year career in the Nonwovens industry, Angelo said “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to begin my journey in nonwovens—a field I chose to stay in because of the remarkable range of technologies used to create nonwoven materials. When Fiberweb introduced me to research and development, I was immediately captivated and enjoyed discovering the many methods and applications of nonwovens. My years at NWI were especially rewarding due to the continuous opportunities to learn and grow. I truly valued working with and collaborating alongside NWI staff, the College of Textiles staff, talented students, and some of the industry’s brightest researchers.”

“His dedication and commitment to the nonwovens industry have been unwavering…”

Dr. Raoul Farer, NWI’s Executive Director noted, “Angelo has been the anchor of our pilot plants and facilities at NWI. He was always ready to pitch in, support his team and help advance the research and product development of our students and industry partners. Angelo was often the light at the end of the tunnel when challenges arose, and his steady presence will be greatly missed. His dedication and commitment to the nonwovens industry have been unwavering and we are forever grateful for his support, leadership and engagement.”

As he moves into the next chapter of life, Angelo looks forward to embracing a more relaxed stage of life; “one where I can spend more quality time with my wife, children, grandchildren, and finally make progress on the never-ending honey-do list. Ultimately, I hope to discover whether it’s possible to get tired of fishing!”

Congratulations and best wishes, Angelo!