José A. Colucci Ríos is the NIST MEP Southeast Regional Manager that includes nine states along the east coast and the gulf of Mexico from North Carolina to Louisiana, inland Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Previously, he was a professor and held several administrative positions at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez such as Department Director, Associate R&D Dean and R&D Center Director. In addition, he worked for Union Carbide for eight years from Research Engineer to Market Manager in the Polymers, Specialty Chemicals and Solvents & Coatings divisions.