Our Staff
Larry has 35+ years of experience in failure analysis, materials characterization, product evaluation, and research and development with expertise in engineering evaluation of failures in metallic and nonmetallic materials by deformation, fracture, corrosion, and wear. Larry has been performing forensic engineering evaluations and testifying as an expert witness for close to 30 years
Larry is active in multiple professional societies including ASM International where he is currently serving on the Board of Trustees. He is a Fellow of the Materials Society of ASM International and founding member of the Failure Analysis Society.
Favorite Pastime: Planting and harvesting garlic…lots of garlic.
Neal has been consulting on materials-related problems and conducting materials testing and forensic investigations with MEE since 2011. He provides expertise in failure analysis and materials characterization for clients from a wide range of industries that include: medical devices, automotive equipment, industrial machinery, and consumer products. He has a special interest in metallurgical analysis for fire and explosion investigations and has published articles and presented at training and educational seminars highlighting the importance of metallurgical characterization in a successful artifact investigation. Along with being a licensed professional engineer, Neal is board certified as a Diplomate in Forensic Engineering by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers and the Council of Engineering Scientific Specialty Board.
Favorite Pastime: Cross Country Skiing
Ryan joined MEE in 2007. He has experience and expertise in the analysis and evaluation of failures in metallic and nonmetallic materials, materials characterization, product evaluation, and research and development. Ryan provides clients with product support through failure analysis of industrial components, product development through component testing and material selection, and manufacturing support through consultation on materials-related problems. Ryan is a founding member of the ASM Failure Analysis Society.
Favorite Pastime: America’s favorite pastime…Baseball!
Dan’s expertise in failure analysis and SEM/EDS characterization supports a wide range of clients in industrial processes and forensic investigations. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been with MEE since 2014, and considers himself a jack-of-all-trades failure analyst who is willing to go down the rabbit hole to learn about a new materials system or process to help diagnose the causes of problems. Dan is an active speaker at technical conferences, particularly through ASM International. He has previously served on the Failure Analysis Society Board of Directors, and currently serves on the Material Advantage Committee and the Advanced Materials & Processes Editorial Committee. In addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states, Dan is also trained as a Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel Inspector through the American Galvanizers Association.
Favorite Pastime: Singing, currently with The Journeymen Chorus
Matthew Hartline
Senior Polymer Engineer
Matthew, joined MEE in 2026, has 17+ years in polymer research and characterization.
Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi
M.S. and B.S. in Chemistry from Texas State University
Specializes in polymers, material characterization, mechanical testing, research and development
Thermoplastic and thermoset formulation development and characterization
Plastics processing- extrusion/coextrusion, die design, injection molding, prepreg, film casting
Composites and nanocomposite experience (development and testing)
Member of: SPE (Society of Plastics Engineers) (since 2010) and
SAMPE (Society for Advancement of Material and Process Engineering) (since 2017)
Kurt has 30+ years of experience as a Metallurgical Technologist with expertise in metallographic sample preparation, microstructure evaluation, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microanalysis and metallurgical testing. He is highly specialized in the design of custom testing to evaluate product performance and simulate failure mechanisms.
Kurt provides materials testing support to solve product and manufacturing problems for medical device, high-technology electronic, and industrial clients.
Favorite Pastime: Camping and Gardening.
Dieter has been with MEE for 25+ years. His expertise includes analytical chemistry, materials characterization, product evaluation, and research and development. Dieter specializes in electrochemical corrosion testing, metallographic sample preparation, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis. As Quality Manager, he ensures that the lab meets the quality requirements for instrumentation, calibration, auditing, and employee training.
Favorite Pastime: Reading and traveling.
Jennifer joined MEE in 2023, bringing with her over 30 years of experience with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and other types of organic analyses, such as thermal analysis and GC/MS. Clients will benefit from her extensive experience helping customers select the best analytical technique to use when solving manufacturing issues and then applying the data to resolve the issue at hand.
Favorite Pastime: Animal Therapy with her llamas and dog & Gardening (flowers, not food).
Jason, hired in 2017, has 10+ years of experience in failure analysis laboratories supporting the electronics and medical device industries. With a degree in computer engineering, he has a detailed understanding of the range of failure modes in computer systems and electronic components, such as processors and printed circuit boards. At MEE, he conducts failure analysis of electronic and microelectronic components utilizing optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and metallography.
Favorite Pastime: Trail Running and Cycling
Eric Schultz
Engineering Technician
Eric, hired in 2012, has 12+ years of experience and expertise in metallographic sample prep, microstructure evaluation, and product testing. Eric is instrumental in the design of custom test apparatus involving mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic components and systems. He assists in the development of testing protocol, conducts the testing, and provides the valuable documents data needed to provide a detailed engineering report.
Favorite Pastime: Boating on Lake Minnetonka
Your first contact with MEE might have been through Vicki. Vicki interacts with visitors, clients, vendors and employees every day while overseeing the day to day operations of the office. She has developed many new systems and procedures ensuring efficient administration of all filing, billing, accounts payable and payroll. Before working at MEE, Vicki ran her own small business and worked as a paralegal in a busy attorney’s office. Vicki’s professionalism and office management skills support MEE’s goal to deliver the best client experience.
Charles veith
Metallurgical Engineer
Charles joined MEE in 2026 with a background in forging and cast ferrous product manufacturing. Charles has a degree in Metallurgical Engineering and works with the forensic failure analysis team for materials characterization, failure mode analysis, and fractography. He specializes in forged and cast products, and mechanical failures of metallic components.
Favorite Pastimes: Reading and Backpacking
Visit the HAMM for more information
The Handbook of Analytical Methods for Materials (HAMM) is a brief tutorial on techniques for materials characterization. The HAMM is intended to provide our visitors with enough information on a technique to determine whether it has the potential to help solve a materials problem.
