Shahram Shafie is Vice President of Technology at Austin Rubber Company. Mr. Shafie has extensive industrial experience in the fields of chemical and petro-chemical processing and design. Mr. Shafie’s fields of expertise include chemical reaction engineering, process systems engineering, energy resources conversion and metabolic engineering and biotechnology.

Previously, Mr. Shafie co-founded an energy-based technology development company, was a consultant to the U.S. Government, specializing in the development of agricultural value-added businesses and food industry projects in Central Asian countries, and served as a chemical engineer and process designer for several major international oil and gas companies. Mr. Shafie also worked as a design engineer for B.F. Goodrich Tires.

Mr. Shafie received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering with additional graduate studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Kansas State University. He has more than 30 national and international technical refereed journal articles and presentations and is credited with several U.S. and International patents.

Steve Lautenschlager Photo

Stephen Lautenschlager is President of Austin Rubber Company.  Mr. Lautenschlager has over 15 years C-Level experience overseeing operations and sales in the custom mixed rubber and engineered elastomers industry. Mr. Lautenschlager is responsible for the oversight, execution and overall management of sales as well as taking Austin Rubber to new levels of client engagement.

Prior to joining Austin Rubber, Mr. Lautenschlager held various positions in the engineered elastomer industry including Chief Operating Officer at Mitchell Rubber Products, Chief Operating Officer at Esterline Kirkhill/TA and Global Vice President at Channell Commercial Corporation.

Mr. Lautenschlager attended Northwestern University’s prestigious Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Received a Master of Science Degree from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bethany University. During his career he has received numerous business leadership and supplier excellence awards as well as recognitions in leadership & culture, operational excellence, and workforce development.