Executive Board

Dr. Amber O. Evans

Dr. Amber Evans is a cosmetic industry professional who has been impacting the consumer beauty care experience through science, technology, and leadership for over fifteen years.  She is the 2024 Chair of the New York Chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC), overseeing operations and a variety of initiatives that educate and empower within the field of cosmetic science. She is also the Technical Director at House of Cheatham where she leads the R&D, regulatory and microbiology teams supporting a portfolio of global textured hair care & body care brands.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Evans was Senior Manager of Product Development at Moroccanoil where she leveraged her technical expertise in hair and skin science, ingredient technologies and claims testing to drive the global launch of prestige hair color and hair & body care products. As a former development scientist at ingredient supplier BASF, her contributions spanned hair, body, and oral care. She also previously supported R&D efforts in hair color and hair & shave care at Procter & Gamble.

Dr. Evans earned a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Cosmetic Science focus) from University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in Chemistry from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She has authored hair care publications, co-invented patented technologies, and featured on beauty industry platforms as well as others that support aspiring scientists and early career professionals.  As a mentor, innovator, member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) and Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), Dr. Evans is dedicated to influencing the progression of the cosmetic field.

Stacey House

Stacey House is Senior Vice President Consumer Beauty, R&D with a focus on Color, Skin, Body and LATAM for COTY Inc. Concurrently, she is serving as the Chair of New York Society of Cosmetic Chemist (NYSCC). Previously, she was the Global Head of Innovation for KDC/One’s Beauty and Personal Care Division and focused on customer development of elevated, high touch formulas in categories spanning the industry.

She started her career on the brand side at Revlon and Coty, supporting all facets within R&D over a combined 14-year period. She then moved into the supplier side of the cosmetic industry as the Director of Applications for Kobo Products, managing labs in the USA, Brazil, and France. During this time, she was involved in ingredient development of sunscreen technologies, surface treatments and dispersions to optimize pigments in support of diversity & inclusivity, and of natural platforms.  Afterwards, she joined MANA Products as the Director of R&D prior to joining KDC/One. Stacey has been involved in hundreds of product launches and helping emerging brands develop product lines.

Stacey holds a patent on Low Viscosity Phenyl Trimethicone Applications. She has written several published industry articles and has given presentations globally for the Society of Cosmetic Chemist (SCC), IFSCC, and In-cosmetics.  Stacey is the 2023 Chair of NYSCC (New York Society of Cosmetics Chemists), the largest chapter of the SCC.

Stacey graduated from Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business with MBAs in International Business, Operations and Supply Chain Management. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at Rutgers University-New Brunswick with a focus on Microbiology in Cosmetics. Stacey is an active member of SCC and Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW).

John Carola

John Carola has volunteered with the NYSCC since 2010 and worked in the Personal Care industry for over 15 years.  For 13 years he worked with raw materials in HI&I, Personal Care and Pharma with a variety of contract manufacturers, brands, indie brands and distributors. In 2013, began collaborations in Europe and southeast Asia growing and improving overseas partnerships. Over the last 30 months he has been involved in a multifaceted approach, teaming together a fast-growing personal care team to include technical support, operations, customer service, marketing/advertising, warehouse/distribution, and regulatory support. John has held NYSCC roles for over a decade in the following positions: Registration, monthly events, House Arrangements, Social events, Membership Chair and currently as the Future Chemist Workshop advisor to the chair. John has attended SCC chapter monthly meetings and tradeshows in Florida, Chicago, California, Connecticut and Long Island. Following an honorable discharge in the USMC, he began his four degree in North Carolina and transferred to Montclair State University in New Jersey. For the past 4 years he has volunteered for local organizations and co-founded the annual golf outing for Hunterdon county veterans which has raised substantial scholarship assistance for vets and their families.

Mythili Nori

Mythili Nori has worked in the Personal Care industry for over a decade. Her expertise is in Product Claim Substantiation and Data Science. In her current role at BASF, she is responsible for leading Physical Claim Substantiation and Sensory evaluations for Hair & Body Care. She is instrumental in leading research and claims method development for inclusive beauty. Prior to joining BASF, she spent 5 years at TRI/Princeton as a Senior Research Associate, supporting claim substantiation and fundamental research activities for textile and hair surfaces.

She earned a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from India and received Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University focusing on purification of drinking water. She has presented at various industry events and authored articles to NYSCC blog series and cosmetic business.com. She is currently teaching the Claims Substantiation Course at Fairleigh Dickinson University for Fall 2023.

Affiliations: Society of Cosmetic Chemists (2006-present), NYSCC Scientific Committee (2021-present)

Alex Blakeman

Alex Blakeman is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. He obtained his MS in Polymer Technology from Leningrad Institute of Technology in 1983 having graduated with Honors. Moving to the US in 1986 he started his career in the wonderful world of colors. During his tenure he grew from bench chemist to technical manager, eventually assuming a role of key account manager. In 2007 he joined regional distributor, Superior Materials Inc. and is now covering a variety of industries – from building products to personal care applications. Alex has become a NYSCC member in 2010 and has been volunteering for the NYSCC for the last 5 years.

Diane Dabkowski

Diane Dabkowski is currently an adjunct at Rutgers University and co-founder of A TON Process Solutions, LLC.  She held multiple roles in Formulation, Clinical Science and Quality during her long careers with Avon and Unilever which also included receiving multiple Hair Care patents. 

In addition to over 25 years of SCC membership, Diane is also a longtime member of American Chemical Society as well as Phi Beta Kappa.  As one of her positions on Midwest SCC Board, Diane served a term as Treasurer and is excited about supporting NYSCC in the treasurer role.