meta \ μετά \ - "after" or "beyond"
MetaShield produces advanced materials that are customized with embedded nanoparticles and other functional materials. These unique ingredients offer a variety of desired and scalable effects, tailored to specific industry applications.
The company was founded in 2016 with the mission of developing innovative advanced materials that would be both cost effective and practical for rapid market entry. Our core technologies are the result of several years of research and development using the combined work of theoretical physicists, chemists, and engineers. We employ a multi-disciplinary approach, often using sophisticated mathematical and particle forecast models to develop products and enable rapid prototyping and testing. Industry leading ISO certified manufacturing is used to produce and package our products.
MetaShield is at the forefront of a 'materials revolution' that is transforming the physical world and reordering the global economy. Concrete, steel, and silicon made the modern era possible; advanced materials represent the next stage of development, fulfilling technology’s fundamental promise of doing more with less.
TEAM
MARTIN BEN-DAYAN
CEO, Founder
Martin began his career at branding giant Bonjour Group International, where he was integrally involved in its reshaping of the retail apparel industry via the seminal DTR [direct-to-retail] concept, collaborating with large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Kmart in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
During this period, Bonjour Group’s licensing division achieved over (US)$50,000,000,000 in retail volume of branded goods sold, and was ranked #3 by License Magazine behind only Disney and Warner Bros.
After the company’s acquisition by Wal-Mart Stores, Martin spent several years as managing director of Glory Capital, a NYC-based private equity fund engaged in real estate and alternative asset investing. In that capacity, he served as lead principle in over 100 transactions with combined enterprise values exceeding (US)$1,500,000,000.
Martin studied finance at the NYU Stern School of Business. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and is the father of five active boys.
JACOB SCHLIESSER
Materials Chemist -PhD-
Materials Chemist Jacob Schliesser, PhD, has an integral role in the development of vast applications for the MetaShield formulation and technology. His work focuses on the mechanical properties of ceramics and enhancing various forms of glass with coatings.
Jacobs’ career began as a teaching assistant at Brigham Young University, where he earned his PhD in Physical Chemistry, with an emphasis on materials physics.
In his research, Jacob used many characterization techniques to identify physical properties of materials ranging from nanoparticles to polymers. In his four years at BYU, he has authored 22 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited at least 150 times.
Jacob was awarded the Charles E. and Margaret P. Maw Research Fellowship, recognizing advanced chemistry graduate students for outstanding scholarship achievements in research. He also won the Nicole-Maw award in 2014.
JERRETT HOLDAWAY
Synthetic Chemist
Jerrett Holdaway, Synthetic Chemist at MetaShield, is responsible for designing, proposing, and implementing research strategies pertaining to the development of novel organic compounds and click chemistries to use as thin film coatings.
He began his career as a research associate at MetaShield while working towards his undergraduate degree in Integrated Studies in Biology and Chemistry.
As a graduate researcher at Boise State University, Jerrett focused his studies towards the synthesis and chemical characterization of antitumor anthracycline analogs. This required working independently to devise new synthetic routes and methods as well as the implementation of necessary experiments.
Jerrett earned his Master's Degree at the Boise State University, where he concentrated on organic synthesis.
JERRY DES MAZES
Laboratory Technician
Jerry is responsible for assisting the research team in manufacturing, testing and measurements of coatings. His responsibilities include maintenance, and calibration & repairs of laboratory equipment and the writing of safety operational procedures.
He possesses a wide range of skill sets including electronics, fabrication, motorization application and working with various mediums including but not limited to metals, woods and composites.
Jerry worked at Phoenix Gold International for 8 years as the New Product Development Manager where he was responsible for creating new product lines 5 of which were awarded patents. While there he developed an industry first device that was awarded the prized “Innovations Award” at CES Las Vegas.
Working for TriQuint Semiconductor as an Engineering Maintenance Tech. There he was tasked with the repair and maintenance of ultra-high vacuum equipment, plasma etchers and chemical bath systems. Additionally, he refined several processes resulting in significant cost savings in production.
He resides in Saint George, Utah with his wife. He has 2 beautiful daughters and 3 wonderful granddaughters. Jerry tends to bring a humorous side to things. Hobbies include hiking, biking, bodybuilding, car audio and traveling.
Jerry attended BYU Idaho for two years followed by ITT for a degree in Electrical Engineering.
SUSANNA PUTNAM
Operations Manager
Operations Manager Susanna Putnam is essential in the managing of daily laboratory operations. She specializes in maintaining laboratory inventory and acquiring specialty chemicals for research and development. She handles all of Metashield’s shipping and receiving and is trained to ship Dangerous Goods.
She began her career at Metashield after graduating with her undergraduate degree in Integrated Studies with emphasis on Chemistry from Dixie State University. She enjoys biking, hiking, and traveling.
CARMEN ALVARADO
Finance Administrator -MBA-
Carmen brings to MetaShield over 12 years of experience in finance and administration. She began her career with contract negotiation and startup marketing strategy, later diversifying through managing government accounts, budget and financial analysis.
As the Budget Manager for Bolivariana de Aeropuertos, Carmen oversaw implementation of new IT systems to manage and consolidate the financial operations for 7 airports. She was primarily responsible for securing approvals from the Minister of Transportation and President of Venezuela for $7,000,000,000 in new investment projects to improve infrastructure, managing teams in different cities throughout the country to implement project oversight.
While at Contalfa, a major outsource/admin firm in Venezuela, Carmen managed end to end finance operations for 8 companies simultaneously.
Carmen earned an advanced accounting degree in Venezuela and lived several years in Manchester, NH while completing her MBA with a concentration in finance from Southern New Hampshire University.
ADVISORS
SAMUEL TOBLER
PhD, Assistant Professor of Physics at DSU
Sam is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Dixie State University.
He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics from Arizona State University as well as a B.S. in Physics Brigham Young University.
PUI LEUNG
Professor of Theoretical Physics at PSU
Pui Leung is a strategic advisor to MetaShield’s R&D department. With a career in physics spanning more than 35 years, Pui has focused on Plasmonics and Metamaterials Theoretical Optical and Atomic Physics, Theoretical Surface Physics, Numerical Modeling, Semiconductor Surface Cleaning and Processing.
He has been honored and awarded 25 times throughout his research career as well as sat as a panelist and visiting scholar, and has been published in and presented in 128 journals.
Pui is currently a Professor of Theoretical Physics at Portland State University. His research covers both fundamental and applied physics, with the latter to include plasmonics and metamaterials, as well as surface optics.
ANDY LEMMON
Senior
Advisor
Andrew uses his 37-plus years of operational and engineering background to develop and maintain protocols and procedures for the company, as well as to generate an exceptional level of performance initiatives throughout the company.
Andrew began his career with Texas Instruments, where he was involved with implementing CAD/CAM tooling for military equipment contracts, then served as a CAD/CAM engineer at McDonnell Douglas. He later served as Director for IT Operations for McDATA Corp, President of Advanced Building Systems and General Manager of LDS Building Specialties.
Andrew graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Science in Design and Graphics Technology.
WILLIAM BICKMORE
Senior
Advisor
As Bill’s drive for innovation and extensive experience in the generation of novel intellectual property, has led the development of the company’s revolutionary technology. He advises technical staff on new standards and the creation of innovative initiatives, and in creating and write patents.
Bill has been a strong leader and innovator in the technology field for the past 50 years. Bill has authored multiple patents and is an active member on multiple boards, such as DxNA, where he led the design team in development of the GeneSTAT PCR device. Between the years of 1970-1975, he served as Executive VP of a successful startup company founded with three professors that was acquired by General Electric.
During his time at Del Monte, Bill was a manufacturing engineer serving the technical needs of five plants throughout Utah and Idaho, handling specification and factory automation systems. He was specially mandated by the company’s president to assist in the reduction of overhead requirements through automation.
Bill is a recognized expert in holograms, at one point designing an automation system to reduce labor factor by 99%, which was later acquired by DuPont. Twice a delegate for the UN IAEA Pandemic Prevention Forum in Vienna, Austria, and a winner of the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Bill has spent the larger portion of his career diversifying his already extensive experience throughout multiple industries.
Bill obtained multiple degrees in Finance, Economics, Electrical Engineering and Biotechnology from Utah State University and was top of his class at the Army Signal School, in Fort Monmouth, N. J.