Leadership Team
Jeff Blank
CEO
Jeff Blank, is the Chief Executive Officer at Evolve Additive Solutions.
Prior to joining Evolve, Jeff spent two decades in the 2D printing industry delivering printers for Tektronix and Xerox Corporation. While at Xerox Jeff was the VP, Entry Products Delivery Unit and
Chief Engineer and Architect for inkjet technology development and roadmap. He oversaw products ranging from consumer/desktop printers, to enterprise devices, production printing architectures, and industrial inkjet.
Jeff then moved to 3D Systems where he spent 8 years managing the worldwide engineering organization. His responsibilities included all technology and product development for the 3D Systems portfolio of plastics, metals, software, and materials.
During his professional career Jeff conceived, led, and delivered 40+ products in consumer, enterprise, and business-to-business spaces. As an industry veteran, Jeff has a diverse engineering and business background with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and MBA from the University of Portland.
Jeff Hanson
VP OF SALES & MARKETING
My experience with 3D printing and other additive manufacturing technologies spans almost three decades.
As one of the initial employees of Stratasys, I began working in the early product development, obtaining three patents on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) of the hundreds the company holds or has pending.
Co-Founded RedEye on Demand, an industry-leading additive manufacturing parts provider business now branded Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. During this time I have directed Sales/Marketing, business development and product development teams.
Innovated and lead the management of a Global Manufacturing Network a cloud connected manufacturing solution with global strategic partners in international markets. As founder of Digital 3D Manufacturing, LLC I consult the adoption of additive manufacturing solutions to the global manufacturing market.
Dr Arun Chowdry
SVP, Emerging Technologies & Applications
30+ years of Technology and Commercialization leadership experience at NexPress and Kodak
As CTO & VP of the NexPress JV, led technology and commercialization teams in US and Germany to help bring the highest quality and most reliable digital printing press to market in record time. Also created a high-value materials business for the NexPress.
As Portfolio Director of Kodak’s EP Imaging portfolio, built a 1000+ strategic patent portfolio
B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins Univ.
John Lees
VP of Engineering
25+ years of leadership experience in product and technology development and manufacturing of industrial production equipment
As Director of Engineering at Bosch Packaging Technology, led global rationalization of product lines and advanced System Engineering practice
As VP of Engineering at Optomec, developed micron-scale 5-axis-motion Aerosol Jet printers
At Tetra Pak, led development of injection molding, recycling, and numerous other technology, manufacturing, and organizational innovations
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and M.S. in Management of Technology from Chalmers University
Melissa Hanson
VP of Marketing
Melissa Hanson is a full-stack marketing executive with over 17 years of experience driving growth for industrial technology companies, including 9 years as a senior marketer in the additive manufacturing industry, by bringing to bear functional expertise in product management and positioning, branding, content strategy and demand generation.
Most recently she served as Chief Marketing Officer at PostProcess Technologies. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Product Marketing at Nexa3D, leading its positioning and commercialization strategy for new 3D printing solutions; and furthermore, has held numerous leadership roles during her tenure at Stratasys where she ultimately led marketing for its Americas region, significantly increasing marketing's contribution to revenue while also leading several M&A integrations - including within Stratasys' parts business.
A self-proclaimed builder at heart with a passion for leading high-performing teams to deliver exceptional value and growth, Melissa is incredibly passionate about uncovering and telling real stories of how additive manufacturing is creating new possibilities, improving lives, and transforming our world for the better.
Melissa has her BA in Marketing Communications Studies with a minor in Biology from Luther College. She went on to receive an Executive Education degree in Strategic Marketing from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.
Board of Directors
Joe Allison
Chairman of the Board
Joe Allison joined Evolve in 2022 as the CEO. He has dedicated over 30 years to developing the 3D printing industry by driving new technologies and new materials to meet the requirements of new applications.
He entered the industry, working as an R&D engineer for 3D Systems from 1987-1991. He then worked for 23 years as founder and CEO of Solid Concepts, the largest service provider in the 3D printing sector. After selling Solid Concepts to Stratasys, he served 3 years as CEO of Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. He is now an active investor and advisor to many companies in the Additive Manufacturing space.
Mr. Allison received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and his 26 years of experience operating a service business and brings an intimate knowledge of customer requirements to the board.
Hugh Evans II
Principal Investor, 3D Ventures
Hugh Evans is an active investor, operator and entrepreneur in the Additive Manufacturing sector. He has invested in numerous 3D Printing startups, and serves on the Board of Directors and as an Advisor to many projects. From 2013 to 2019, he served as SVP, Corporate Development and Digitization at 3D Systems Corporation. During that period, he also served on the Board of Directors at AquaVentures Holdings (NYSE: “WAAS”; sold to Culligan for $1.1 billion on 03/30/20).
Hugh Previously worked for 21 years as an investment analyst and portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price Associates in Baltimore, MD. He started his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Morgan Stanley & Co. He received his BA from the University of Virginia (Jefferson Scholar) and his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Arjay Miller Scholar).
Andreas Saar
VP Manufacturing Engineering Solutions, Additive Manufacturing Program Lead at Siemens PLM Software
In his current role, Andreas is responsible for the Additive Manufacturing Program Initiative within Siemens PLM Software leading the product definition, implementation and launch of the Siemens’ end-to-end additive manufacturing solution spanning from design for AM, print preparation to AM production software and technology. He also coordinates and manages Additive Manufacturing research, technology adoption, and partner / vendor relationships across Siemens PL and other Siemens business units.
Andreas has 35 years of experience in manufacturing and software development. He joined the company in 1994 and has since then worked in various leading positions across product and business development with a focus on Digital Manufacturing.
Andreas holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Business from the University Darmstadt/Germany.
Tim Hatch
Stanley Black & Decker, Chief Technology Officer Stanley Engineered Fastening Baltimore, MD
Tim is responsible for Technology and Innovation across the Stanley Engineered Fastening business a $1.8B supplier of fasteners and equipment to the Automotive and General Industrial space. He also leads the company wide initiative looking at the implementation of Additive Manufacturing within SBD. Prior to his current position he lead Breakthrough Innovation within the Global Tools and Storage division focused on finding and implementing new technologies in new markets. He also leads the Technology Council across the corporation with the aim of fostering innovation throughout SBD. Prior to this he was Vice President of Design to Value and Complexity Management, driving significant cross business initiatives at Stanley Black & Decker.
He was Vice President of Global Engineering and Program Management for 5 years at JLG Industries a construction equipment manufacturer and division of a Oshkosh Corporation.
Tim stared his career at Ford Motor Company in the UK, Germany and US with experience in vehicle body structure design, finite element analysis and vehicle crash safety.
Adam Pawloski
VP, Manufacturing Solutions, Stratasys
Adam Pawloski has enjoyed the benefits of a diverse scientific and technical leadership background within various industries, ranging from additive manufacturing to plastics to biotechnology to nanotechnology. Adam currently leads the Product Management team for Stratasys’ Manufacturing Business Unit. In this role, his team is responsible for the product life cycle of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) systems and materials targeted for growth in manufacturing market segments. Serving 11 years with the company, Adam began connections to Stratasys while working as a supplier for thermoplastic compounds and technical services, and that business was later acquired by Stratasys. Adam has served in leadership roles inside Stratasys in R&D, Product development, and Application development capacities, including responsibilities for site operations in materials production and quality.
Prior to Stratasys, Adam held leadership and technical positions in companies with a strong emphasis on materials science. At Affymetrix from 2005-2009, Adam was a technical leader for the development of novel manufacturing processes for DNA microarrays, and from 2002-2005 he was a Member of the Technical Staff at Advanced Micro Devices, responsible for next-generation photolithography materials and processes.
In 2002, Dr. Pawloski completed a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where research focused on the materials and processes used in semiconductor photolithography. Adam additionally holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin. Professional accomplishments include 23 issued patents.
2017
- Technology and feasibility
- Testing and validation
2018
- Received $19 million in funding
- Shipped first Alpha system
2019
- Material Technology Center Expansion,
Rochester, NY - Material and software partnerships emerged
- Application development for scaled manufacturing
2020
Start of commercial system sales
2021
- Received $30 million in funding
- Headquarter expansion in Minnetonka, MN
- Product portfolio expansion
- Shipped first commercial system
2022
- New material development
- Commercial availability
2023
- Launched Production Assessment Program
- Second color, gray ABS
- Debut at AMUG
- Debut at RAPID
- Material Technology Center Expansion,
Rochester, NY
HEALTH BENEFITS
✓ Medical
✓ Dental
✓ Vision
✓ STD & LTD
✓ Life insurance
✓ Pre-Tax benefits:
HSA – FSA
✓ EAP (Employee
Assistance Plan)
OTHER BENEFITS
✓ 10 paid holidays
✓ PTO
✓ Bereavement pay
✓ 401K
✓ Education assistance
✓ Training and development
✓ Career opportunities
within the organization
✓ Employee discount program