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Decades of expertise
from a future-ready team.

AWSM Industries is our Organic and Fluorine Division, serving the Specialty Fine Chemical industry. With expertise in Fluorides and related products, we support industries from metals and ceramics to dental, water treatment, and electronics. The advantage for you? A trusted partner who knows how to meet demanding technical requirements with precision and consistency. 

Our management team brings decades of industry experience, combining technical knowledge with a passion for helping customers succeed.

John Logue

CEO

Lisa Lindis

CFO

Nicole Cichocki

HR Director

Jeff Watson

Sales Director

Wayne Mulford

Site Manager

Kaye Bortle

EHS Manager

Malika Warner

Technical Team

Walt Bortle

Technical Team

Mark White

Customer Operations Manager

John Logue

CEO

John joined the Royale Group in 2002, after spending twelve years at International Paper, where he held various positions, including the General Manager of Strathmore Paper and the Brand Manager of Hammermill Paper. 

In addition to leading the Royale Group’s AWSM division, John is actively involved in industry advocacy. He currently serves on the Government Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) and previously served six years on the Board of Directors of the ACD. He is a member of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Advisory Committee ITAC 3 and works closely with the Federal Maritime Commission. He has also been quoted extensively in the New York Times Magazine and Washington Post regarding supply chain issues.

John holds a B.S. in Economics and History from New York University and pursued executive studies at the Kellogg School of Management and Columbia Business School.

Outside of work, John is an avid sailor and has represented various countries in international sailing championships.

Lisa Lindis

CFO

Lisa has been with the company for 29 years, bringing a wealth of experience and continuity to the organization. Prior to her work with AWSM, she worked at Becton Dickinson as a Senior Accountant. 

Outside of work, Lisa is an avid knitter and crocheter, combining both the creativity and attention to detail she is known for at work.  

Nicole Cichocki

HR Director

Nicole has more than 30 years of experience in Human Resources and has built her career supporting the manufacturing and distribution industries. She joined the AWSM team in 2022 and has become an integral part of the team, shaping a positive work environment, strengthening employee engagement, and ensuring HR strategies match the company’s long-term goals and core values. As a Delaware native, Nicole contributes both professional insight and appreciation for her community. 

When not at work, Nicole enjoys the beach, boating, and any activity that brings her closer to the ocean. 

Jeff Watson

Sales Director

Jeff brings over 20 years of experience in the chemical industry and currently serves as Sales Director at Royale Pigments & Chemicals. He leads strategic growth initiatives across a broad portfolio of specialty products and manufacturing capabilities, leveraging deep industry knowledge and a relationship-driven approach to deliver value across diverse markets.

Before joining Royale, Jeff held senior leadership roles at Solvay, including Global Key Account Director, Regional Manager, and North American Market Director. In these positions, he directed international account strategy, secured long-term contracts, and led cross-functional teams serving complex, global clients. His earlier roles at SMC Global, Arkema, and Cognis (BASF) span product management, technical service, and sales, allowing him to gain a well-rounded perspective from both commercial and technical angles.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and an MBA from Rutgers University. He is known for his ability to build lasting customer relationships, drive operational efficiency, and deliver consistent, profitable growth.

Wayne Mulford

Site Manager

Wayne Mulford has been a Site Manager at AWSM Solutions since 2024, where he has increased productivity by 50%. He has a diverse background that includes 21 years of active military service, followed by roles in the reserves and other military-related companies. 

In the civilian sector, Wayne has held management positions across several industries, including fleet management, plastics/pharmaceutical industries, and green energy, where he specialized in solid fuel and hydrogen fuel cell technology. 

Outside of work, Wayne is an adjunct professor for several different colleges and universities. He is deeply committed to conservation efforts supporting African elephants and rhinos and actively promotes sports shooting and gun safety education.

Kaye Bortle

EHS Manager

Building safety from a technical viewpoint, Kaye Bortle is a graduate of the Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University. 

Since joining AWSM Solutions in 2020, Kaye has worked on developing simple but robust safety and quality management systems for the manufacturing arm of the Royale Group. She holds a Certified Safety Manager certification from the National Association of Safety Professionals and is a Certified OSHA Outreach Trainer. Outside of work, 

Kaye enjoys gardening and crafting at her home in Pennsylvania with her husband and their dog, cats, chickens, and ducks.

Malika Warner

Technical Team

Malika joined Royale in June 2025, bringing over 25 years of experience, including 15 years in the chemical and polymer industry with DuPont. She brings expertise in process development, chemical manufacturing, and continuous improvement.

Malika holds a B.S. and M.A. in Chemistry from Fisk University and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. She partners closely with customers to deliver innovative, reliable, and cost-effective chemical solutions tailored to their needs.

Walt Bortle

Technical Team

Walt has a long history with Specialty Chemicals, starting in the labs at General Chemical/Allied Chemical in Syracuse, NY. He specialized in product development and production enhancement before running the General Chemicals Spec Fines facility in Marcus Hook, PA.  

Walt joined Royale in 2005 as our Technical Sales Manager. He’s been instrumental in developing and improving many of our core products. He’s presently working on developing manufacturing opportunities in our Seaford and Bear locations.

Mark White

Customer Operations Manager

Mark joined The Royale Group in a newly created role and brings a broad background spanning operations, project management, and finance in 2024. His previous experience includes roles in manufacturing management, business unit leadership, and new product development project management across a variety of industries, including Winc Wines, Johnson Controls (JCI), and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (Semiconductors).

Outside of work, Mark enjoys road cycling and building and flying remote-controlled airplanes.