Leadership

Ken Gayer is Usalco’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors. Since taking the role in 2020, Ken and his leadership team have transformed Usalco into the company it is today.

Prior to joining Usalco, Ken served as CEO of Gelest, a specialty silicones and silanes producer that was later sold to Mitsubishi Chemical Company. Before leading Gelest, Ken was Business President of Honeywell Specialty Products and had a 15-year tenure at Honeywell in a variety of leadership positions. In addition, Ken has held leadership roles at McKinsey & Company and the Polaroid Corporation.

Before his civilian career, Ken proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Nuclear Submarine Force. Ken earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and is a licensed professional engineer (PE).

Hassan Mela is Usalco’s Chief Financial Officer, guiding the company’s financial agenda to accelerate growth and elevate performance. Since joining Usalco in January 2025, Hassan has focused on commercial and operational excellence – optimizing capital discipline, strengthening financial processes, and ensuring disciplined controls that strengthen decision‑making across the enterprise.

Before Usalco, Hassan served as Vice President Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, and Interim Group CFO at Nouryon where he supported enterprise-wide transformation efforts. He also spent nearly a decade at Honeywell in various senior finance roles, including VP, Global Controller, and CFO of the Performance Materials and Technologies division. Earlier in his career, Hassan led external reporting, controls, and financial integration as Assistant Controller at Honeywell.

Hassan began his professional journey at Deloitte where he held various positions, last serving as a senior manager in the Industrial practice. He earned a B.A. in Accounting and an M.S. in Information Systems from Michigan State University. Hassan is a CPA and a Six Sigma Certified Green Belt.

Jason James is Usalco’s Chief Operating Officer, driving operational excellence and long-term growth. Since joining Usalco in February 2021, Jason has led the company’s Lean transformation, enhancing manufacturing processes, productivity, and strengthening cost controls, while upholding the highest standards of safety for our employees and the community. He also serves on Usalco’s Board of Directors, contributing strategic insight to the company’s future.

Jason brings deep expertise in global operations and supply chain leadership. Before Usalco, he held senior roles at Honeywell, including Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Vice President of Engineering and Functional Excellence, where he led complex international programs and operational transformations. His career also includes leadership roles at Covanta, Linde, and BOC, where he managed operations, engineering, and execution for critical projects.

A former U.S. Marine Corps Special Ops non-commissioned officer, Jason applies disciplined, strategic leadership to every challenge. He holds an MBA, a Master’s in Science, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Terry Waldo is Usalco’s Chief Commercial Officer, leading business development, customer relationships, and marketing across the company’s growing footprint. Since joining Usalco in July 2021, Terry has focused on strengthening partnerships, expanding into new markets, and driving sustainable revenue growth.

With more than 30 years of experience in the water treatment industry, Terry is recognized for building high-performing sales organizations and delivering results through strategic account development, process improvement, and organizational growth. Terry is passionate about mentoring teams and fostering long-term customer relationships that create mutual success.

Prior to joining Usalco, Terry held senior commercial roles at Brenntag Group, Dynamic Water Technologies,  Chem-Aqua, Inc., and Petrolite Corp. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and serves on the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Engineering Board of Advisors.

Melinda Burn is Usalco’s Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, a role she assumed in June 2025. She leads the development and execution of Usalco’s innovation strategy, building a pipeline of solutions that align with business priorities and market needs.

Melinda brings more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of technology, marketing, and customer engagement. She has a proven track record of translating complex science into practical solutions that transform businesses and deliver sustainable value.

Before joining Usalco, Melinda served as Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Innovation at Solecta, Inc., a leader in advanced membrane separation technologies. She previously held global marketing and innovation leadership roles at Solenis LLC and began her career in R&D at DuPont. Her background spans R&D, marketing, operations, product management, and commercial leadership, and she is Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

Melinda holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BSc in Honors Chemistry from the University of Alberta. She is an advocate for building innovation ecosystems and developing the next generation of scientists.

Casey Brydle is Usalco’s Chief Information Officer, a role she assumed in February 2025. She leads the company’s technology strategy, driving initiatives in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and the adoption of emerging technologies.

Casey brings deep expertise in IT leadership within the chemical and manufacturing sectors. Before joining Usalco, she served as Vice President and Deputy CIO at Solenis for more than a decade, where she played a key role in executing M&A growth strategies and major IT transformation programs. Earlier in her career, Casey held leadership roles in IT and Finance at Keystone Foods and began her career as an auditor at Ernst & Young.

She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and her MBA from The Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business.

Gloria brings over twenty-five years of extensive experience in Human Resources across various industries to her role as Chief Human Resources Officer at Usalco. In this position, she oversees all HR functions, including performance management, diversity and inclusion initiatives, compensation and benefits programs, employee relations, staffing and talent management, compliance, and succession planning.

Prior to joining USALCO, Gloria held significant leadership roles at Constellation Energy/Exelon and Dunbar Armored/Brinks, where she developed her expertise in strategic HR management. Her philosophy centers on the belief that investing in people is essential for a company's success, a principle she embodies in her daily interactions with the USALCO team.

Gloria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. As a lifelong learner, she is a graduate of the Darden School of Business Leadership and Management Program and actively collaborates with the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute to support USALCO’s training and leadership development needs.

Scott Williams is Usalco’s Vice President of Business Development, leading growth initiatives across the western United States. He joined Usalco in January 2021 following the acquisition of Al Chem Specialties and CalChem, two successful specialty chemical businesses he founded and built into leading brands for municipal water treatment and industrial applications.

Scott’s entrepreneurial vision and industry expertise were instrumental in combining his companies with Usalco to create a stronger, nationwide provider of high-quality aluminum chemicals. Today, he continues to drive growth through deep customer relationships and a keen understanding of market opportunities.

Scot Lang, Vice President of Business Development, joined USALCO in 2021 through the acquisition of G2O Technologies.

Scot has a proven track record of sucess int he specialty chemical sector, having previously held senior leadership roles, including Vice President of Sales at G2O Technologies and Vice President/General Manager at GEO Specialty Chemicals.

Scott has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA with a focus on finance from Washington University in St. Louis.