Our Industry Experts

World leader in developing surface finishing additives

Industry Experts

We offer our customers full access to our industry professionals for assistance and guidance.

Our team of experts have spent decades in the industry, honing their skills from the ground up with backgrounds that include plating shop operations and management, technical service, sales and support, research and development, analytical lab management and general business development. The depth of knowledge gained through the years make them some of the foremost experts in their areas. There is very little they have not encountered as they have personally and collectively solved plating problems for customers all over the world.

Learn more on about some of our industry professionals below and contact us with any of your plating chemistry challenges at techquestions@columbiachemical.com.


Brett Larick

Brett Larick

President/CEO
Brett joined Columbia Chemical in 1999 as U.S. Sales Manager and serves as President of the company. He has over 23 years of experience in the surface finishing industry and is a member of the National Association for Surface Finishing. Brett has advised on product strategies and market trends with plating shops and distribution partners all over the world to help them grow their businesses. Brett holds a B.S. Degree in Chemistry and an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Columbia Chemical is proud to be 100% employee-owned (ESOP) and ISO 9001-certified company. Brett was involved in all phases of the ESOP transition and continues to guide the company forward, setting the strategic direction and fostering the needed financial transparency and unique ESOP ownership mentality that leads to continued growth, innovation and teamwork.


Mark Schario, CEF, CFS

Chief Technology Officer
Mark joined Columbia Chemical in 2010 as Vice President, Technologies and now serves as Chief Technology Officer for the company. He has over 30 years of experience in the surface finishing industry and is world renowned for his expertise on the subject of Decorative Trivalent Chromium Plating. Mark functions as the company’s top liaison to the automotive industry, consulting with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide. He serves on an AIAG workgroup and is Chairman to the ASTM B08.10 Technical Subcommittee on Metallic and Inorganic Coatings, which has jurisdiction over 132 standards. He is a member of the National Association for Surface Finishing and has earned the industry designation of CEF/Certified Electroplater-Finisher and CFS/Certified Fastener Specialist. Mark holds an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University.


Jeff BoehmerJeff Boehmer, CEF

Director, Business Development
Jeff joined Columbia Chemical in 2015 as Technical Support Manager and now serves as Director, Domestic Business Development for the company. He has more than 20 years of experience in the surface finishing industry; with an extensive background in plating shop management and operations, as well as experience on the supplier side. He has earned the industry designation of CEF/Certified Electroplater-Finisher. Jeff previously managed a multimillion-dollar decorative POP shop and regularly lends his expertise to organizations looking to make the switch to decorative trivalent plating. Jeff serves on the board of Ohio Association of Metal Finishers (OAMF) and he is an active member of NASF, serving on the SUR/FIN steering committee as well as the planning committee for bootcamp. He holds a B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Mount Union College and an MBA from John Carroll University.