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Staff Bios

Technical

Roland Hernandez
Senior Engineer
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
roland.hernandez@tecotested.com

Hernandez joined TECO in September 2007 as a Senior Engineer after having been a Research Engineer with the USDA FS Forest Products Laboratory for over 17 years. He holds BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University (with specializations in structural engineering) and has completed all of his coursework and research toward earning a PhD in Civil/Structural Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While at the Forest Products Laboratory, Hernandez conducted research on glu-lam, finger-jointed lumber, and other engineered wood products and structures. Having authored or co-authored more than 50 reports and articles related to his research, he is also the author or co-author of glu-lam and panel products chapters in several wood-related books, including the USDA Wood Handbook and Marks’ Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers. He serves as the Chair of the Wood Products Standards Subcommittee of the Forest Products Working Group for the North American Forest Commission, and is a member of the Forest Products Society.

Zhaozhen Bao, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Eugene, Oregon
zhaozhen.bao@tecotested.com

Zhaozhen joined TECO in 2003 after spending several years leading and conducting research at APA's laboratory in Tacoma, Washington. He has experience in mechanical and physical property testing of a wide variety of engineered wood products, including plywood and OSB, LVL (and other structural composite lumber products), I-joists, wooden pallets, and mechanical fasteners. Dr. Bao has supervised the manufacture of plywood and particleboard in his native China; is a member of ASTM, ANSI, the Forest Products Society, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; and has authored a number of technical reports related to wood composites. He has a BS in engineering and technology from Nanjing Forestry University in China, an MS in wood products from the University of Illinois, and a PhD in wood science and technology from Purdue University.

Dave DeVallance
Staff Scientist
Eugene, Oregon
dave.devallance@tecotested.com

Mr. DeVallance joined TECO in 1998 as a Technical Services Specialist after gaining experience at PFS Corporation as a staff engineer. He has experience in wood products research testing and analysis, field claim inspections, product design value assessment, and manufactured housing and engineered wood mill inspections. DeVallance holds a BS in wood products processing and manufacturing from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in wood science (with a minor in industrial engineering) from Oregon State University. Concurrent with his position at TECO, he is pursuing a PhD in wood science from Oregon State University. DeVallance is a member of the ASTM D7 Committee, the Forest Products Society and the Society for Wood Science and Technology.