3M's Innovation Journey – From Curiosity to Commercialization

Texas State University Innovation Week

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A slate of nationally acclaimed authors, scientists, innovators, and researchers are scheduled to participate in Innovation Week September 24-28 at Texas State University. 

The McCoy College of Business Studies in Entrepreneurship speaker series will host an Innovation Week session featuring a panel of 3M executives presenting: 3M's Innovation Journey – From Curiosity to Commercialization. 

Dr. Raha Been

Dr. Raha A. Been, Strategy and M&A Manager

Consumer Business Group, Construction & Home Improvement Markets Division

Dr. Raha Been began her 3M career in R&D as a Senior Product Developer in 3M Healthcare, Medical Solutions Division Laboratory. Dr. Been was a subject matter expert and a lead scientist in 3M’s advanced wound healing research area where she helped commercialize one of their flagship new products, 3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant. After her time in 3M Healthcare, Dr. Been transitioned into a business leadership role as a Global New Product Marketing Manager in 3M’s Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division. In this role, Dr. Been led new product development strategies, growth collaborations with key customers, and executed global go-to-market approaches on numerous new product launches for the aerospace market. Dr. Been’s current role is in 3M’s Consumer Business Group as a Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions leader where she focuses on organic and inorganic growth opportunities within the Construction and Home Improvement Markets.

Dr. Been has authored eight peer reviewed journal articles, four patents and received numerous 3M innovation awards. She was most recently featured on the Best and Brightest List of MBA graduates by Poets & Quants for 2018. Dr. Been is committed to sharing her passion for the power of science. She has served as a judge at the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair and as a mentor for several STEM programs. She serves on an advisory board for the Minnesota Medical Research Foundation. Prior to her time at 3M, Dr. Been conducted cancer research at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center.

Dr. Been has 14 years of combined R&D and business experience spread across numerous industries including healthcare, industrial and consumer segments. She earned a BS in Biology, a MS in Biological Sciences, a PhD in Comparative and Molecular Bioscience and a MBA, all from the University of Minnesota. Her PhD focused on cancer gene discovery and functional genomics. Dr. Been lives in Minnesota with her husband Clint and their son.


Dr. terry Collier

Dr. Terry Collier, Global Technical Service and Application Development Manager,

Electrical Markets Division, Electronics and Energy Business Group

Terry Collier is the Global Tech Service and Application Development Manager for 3M Electrical Markets Division. The Technical Service / Application Engineering team works to build solutions for customers to support and grow the markets we serve. As a lifelong learner, he is passionate about solving problems and working with others to challenge assumptions and what has been accepted. Terry has worked in a range of roles creating and commercializing products for solar, wind, displays, glass and even visual attention. He is an inventor with 11 issued patents and author of peer reviewed articles. He earned his Ph.D. in Macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University and MBA from University of Minnesota, Carlson School. He lives in Austin, TX and can be reached @tocollier on twitter.


Dr. Chad Henke

Chad R. Henke, Global Business Manager, Automotive Bonding & Joining Solutions

Industrial Business Group, Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division

Chad began his career in 2000 as an industrial sales representative in Jacksonville, FL and held positions of increasing responsibility as sales specialist and account representative before moving to St. Paul, MN in 2004 as the Market Segment Leader for Food & Beverage. He later became a DMAIC Lean Six Sigma Growth Black Belt in the Industrial Business Group and was certified in November 2007.

In 2008, he moved to the Packaging Systems Business Unit of 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division (IATD) and held roles as US Product Marketing Manager, Global Product Manager and Global Business Manager for the specialty packaging business. He managed global key accounts across multiple market segments, led customer inspired solutions and disruptive innovation platforms, while exceeding operating plan financial targets in each of the five years he managed the business.

In 2013, he assumed a role as a Global Business Development Manager for the Bonding Tapes and Converter Solutions Business Unit in IATD with responsibility for laminating adhesives and industrial attachment tapes. He focused on developing core industrial markets, driving new product development programs in automotive interior and managing the global portfolio. In 2016, he moved to his current role as Global Business Manager for Automotive Bonding and Joining Solutions and is responsible for a global portfolio of tapes and structural adhesives to OEMs and tier suppliers. He manages strategy, execution of marketing and operational plans and working with global cross-functional teams. His marketing team is charged with delivering growth through customer insights, accelerating the new product pipeline and assessing adjacent white space opportunities for new business model development.

Chad brings over eighteen years of 3M industrial sales and marketing experience across multiple market segments including Automotive, Apparel, Appliance, Food & Beverage, Electronics, Oil & Gas and Paper & Printing. He has earned two Golden Step Awards for commercialization programs that have delivered over $10M within the first three years of introduction and was awarded three global team Esprit Awards.

Chad received a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing from Texas A&M University was a Mays College of Business Fellow and is currently pursuing his Executive MBA at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. He has served as the Co-Sales Leader for 3M’s Frontline Initiative with Texas State University since 2015 onboarding sales, marketing and data analytics summer interns. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of thought leaders, sales professionals and marketing moguls. Chad resides in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife Kathy and their three children. 


Dr. Dan McGurran

Dan McGurran, Sales and Marketing Director

Electronics and Energy Business Group

Dan McGurran began his 3M R&D career in the Corporate Research Process Technology Laboratory (1993) and then the Film/Light Management Technology Center (1998). His area of technology focus included optics, polymer processing, and dispersions. Notable product applications include solar control window films for automotive and flat glass and longer lasting reflective road signs. During this time his research was awarded 6 US Patents and multiple 3M Golden Step Awards for new product innovation. Dan was awarded the 3M Circle of Technical Excellence Award for Technical Championing.

In 2003 he joined the 3M Specialty Film manufacturing plant in Decatur, Alabama. As a Six Sigma DMAIC Black Belt, Dan led several projects to improve growth, cost and cash for 3M. Dan was awarded the 3M Manufacturing Technical Excellence Award and is a Certified Black Belt in Six Sigma.

In 2005 Dan moved back to Saint Paul to take on the Electric Sign Segment Marketing role in the Commercial Graphics Division. This was soon followed by roles as a Regional Sales Manager and then the National Sales Manager for the same division.

In 2010 Dan became the Global Business Director for the Motor Vehicle Systems and Services Unit of the Traffic Safety Systems Division. In this role, 3M helped state and federal motor vehicle agencies improve service to citizens, increase revenue, and improve transportation safety.

In 2014, Dan and his family moved to Austin, Texas as he took on the Business Director role for the 3M Electrical Markets Division, with global business responsibility for this Heartland Division. Dan’s team partnered with customers to deliver efficient and reliable energy and as such his team has won 4 Global Marketing Excellence Awards in just two years.

In 2018, Dan took on the role of Sales and Marketing Director for the Electronics and Energy Business Group. Focused on elevating the performance of the sales and marketing function across the entire business group.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota, a minor in Chemistry, and an emphasis in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. A native of St. Paul, MN, Dan resides in MN with his wife Nicki and their 5 children.