Our Team
Our team at API has over 250 years of combined experience in product and mold design, manufacturing, and assembly in the plastics industry.
![](images/Michael-Lax.jpg)
Michael Lax,
Chairman and CEO
BS Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester
Skills and Experience:
Management Training (Kodak, Rochester NY), YPO Universities, 11 US Patents for plastic processes and product design
Years in Plastics Industry: 43
Years with API: 38
![](images/Tim-Keuning.jpg)
Tim Keuning,
President
BS Chemical Engineering,
Polytechnic University
Skills and Experience:
Assembly and Operations Management, Computer and Information Systems, and 5 US Patents for product design
Years in Plastics Industry: 22
Years with API: 22
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![Bill Stubbs](images/Bill-Stubbs.jpg)
Bill Stubbs,
Director of Sales
BS Industrial & Systems
Engineering, State University
of New York at Binghamton
Skills and Experience:
Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Product Development, Assembly and Operations Management, Efficiency Improvement, Value Analysis, SAP
Years in Plastics Industry: 8
Years with API: 5
![LinkedIn](images/linkin.png)
![](images/Fred-Van-Koot.jpg)
Fred Van Koot,
Manufacturing
Engineer
Skills and Experience:
Assembly Automation and
Machine Design
Years in Plastics Industry: 20
Years with API: 20
![](images/Jim-Jacoby.jpg)
Jim Jacoby,
Plant Manager
Skills and Experience:
Molding Process, Facilities Management, Automotive, Hydraulics, Electric Systems, Safety
Years in Plastics Industry: 22
Years with API: 22
![](images/Suresh-Desai.jpg)
Suresh Desai,
Quality Control Manager and ISO 9001 Management Representative
BS Mechanical Engineering, L.D. Engineering College,
Gujarat University, India
Skills and Experience:
Diploma Quality Engineering, American Society for Quality. ISO9001:2000 QMS and Internal Auditing Training, OTS Quality Registrars, Inc., Design of Experiments
Years in Plastics Industry: 29
Years with API: 20
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![](images/Roy-Jacob.jpg)
Roy Jacob,
Electrical
Engineer
MS, BS Electrical Engineering
from the University of Pittsburgh
Skills and Experience:
Various experience designing with analog, digital and RF circuitry, power supplies, and solid state lighting systems
Years in Plastics Industry: 12
Years with API: 12
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![](images/Phil-Tjimos.jpg)
Phil Tjimos,
Operations Manager
BS Computer Engineering
from Columbia University
in the City of New York
Skills and Experience:
SAP, Business Objects, Business Intelligence, SQL, MS Sharepoint
Years in Plastics Industry: 7
Years with API: 7
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![](images/Rob-Epifania.jpg)
Rob Epifania,
Molding Manager
BS Mechanical Engineering,
BS Automotive Engineering & Industrial Management
BS Mechanical Engineering IP
Farmingdale State College
Skills and Experience:
EPA Certified – Universal HVAC Technician
Molding Process, Decoupled Molding, Over-molding, Insert Molding, Tig & Mig Welding, Quality Control, Robotics, Preventative Maintenance, Repair, Design & Fabrication.
Years in Plastics Industry: 6
Years with API: 6
![](images/Jerzy-Prochnicki.jpg)
Jerzy Prochnicki,
Tool Room Manager
Master Cam, NX and other CAD/CAM platforms
Skills and Experience:
Smart Cam, Master Cam, and other CAD/CAM platforms
Years in Plastics Industry: 44
Years with API: 15
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![](images/HaoPing-Qi.jpg)
HaoPing Qi,
Design Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, South China University of Technology, MS Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo
Skills and Experience:
Various CAD/CAM platforms, high volume injection mold design: insert molding, 2-shot molding, in-mold unscrewing, 2 stage ejection mold, mold with sequencing control for slider and mold plate action, improving part design, Mold Flow / MoldEX-3D analysis, CNC programming, Wire EDM programming, sourcing channel to China
Years in Plastics Industry: 19
Years with API: 14
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![](images/Agjah-Libohova.jpg)
Agjah Libohova,
Director of Research & Development
MS Mechanical Engineering,
University of Tirana (Albania)
Skills and Experience:
Product Design and Development, Application engineering, CAD/CAM/CAE in several platforms, CNC Programming, Systems, and 23 US Patents for product design
Years in Plastics Industry: 38
Years with API: 19
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![](images/Karen-LeDoux.jpg)
Karen LeDoux,
Assistant Controller
BA in Business Administration
(Eastern Nazarene College)
Skills and Experience:
Accounting, Payroll, Employee Benefits
Years in Plastics Industry: 19
Years with API: 19
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