Avian Technologies

Since our founding in 1999, Avian Technologies has been active in the development of standards for the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and optical industries. We also provide reflectance materials and coatings that are used throughout the world in a wide variety of industries, and are one of few companies engaged in active research in this area. In addition, we are involved in markets for instrumentation for the measurement of light. Our commitment is to prompt and intelligent service, with new ideas to solve old and new problems.

We are located in New London, NH, in the heart of the lakes region.

Founder

Dr. Art Springsteen

Dr. Art Springsteen, the founder of Avian Technologies, passed away on May 28, 2024.  He had served as the president and chief technical officer since 1999, and at the beginning was the sole employee of the company.   His 9 U.S. patents and 3 European patents are the basis for most of the products offered by the company today.

Avian Technologies Personnel

Dr. Kathryn R.M. Springsteen

Dr. Kathryn Springsteen is the owner, CEO, and CFO of Avian Technologies.  She joined the company in June 2007.  She holds a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from West Virginia University.  Prior to joining Avian Technologies, she worked in academia both as a professor and administrator.  She is a 50+ year member of the American Chemical Society.  Her scientific interests are in environmental chemistry and workplace safety.  Outside of work, her interests are in quilting, needlework, kayaking, and numerous fitness activities.

True H. Ricker

is the Chief Technical Officer and Senior Research Associate. True has been with Avian Technologies since the summer of 2004 but his history in the field of metrology and material development dates from 1991, when he joined Art Springsteen’s research group at Labsphere, Inc. True works as Avian Technologies principle metrologist, as well as being involved in the research, development, and bringing to market new reflectance coatings and materials. In addition, he is our resident statistician and rides herd on our array of spectrophotometers.

True holds a degree in dairy science from the Thompson School of Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, along with degrees in computer science and psychology from Franklin Pierce University. He has an eclectic variety of interests including storytelling, driving oxen, music, and politics.

Mike JergensMike Jergens

is a Calibration Laboratory Specialist for Avian Technologies.

Mike is well known in the optical metrology community, having served for 30 years at Rockwell Collins, Inc. As the primary metrologist for optical radiation measurements and standards, he was responsible for maintaining various standards for radiometry, photometry, color and appearance.

In keeping with the operating philosophy of many corporate metrology organizations, he was a jack-of-all-trades, master of a few. That included electrical, e.g. low-current DC standards; custom test equipment; and software engineering, e.g. SureCAL Metrology software and LabVIEW. He also lead various advisory committees and participating in numerous working groups with tasks ranging from analyzing quality issues, providing technical guidance for compliance to ANSI-NCSLI-Z540, to providing content for enterprise learning solutions including The Fundamentals of Light and Color Measurement published as a CBT module. He has served as a Director and as President of CORM.

Though his professional life does overlap with his personal life, he has many interests outside of metrology. Music is certainly a passion, listening, performing and writing, having played guitar (and some bass) in numerous bands over the years. He has also taught guitar in local area music stores.

Jake MicalJake Mical

Jake Mical is Avian Technologies Office and Sales Manager and is responsible for all office related functions, including but not limited to sales, purchasing, shipping, and general operations.  Jake will most likely be a customer’s first contact with the company.  He holds BS in Sports Management Administration from Keene State College and previously owned a retail business for 11 years.  His outside interests include golf, cars, and collectibles.

Dr. David R. WybleDave Wyble

is the Director of Color Science. This work includes color measurement, product development, as well as acting as Technical Specialist for the Murakami product line, the FTS fluorescent standards, and our array of color ceramic tile products. The overall focus is on gaining penetration in the color market. Dave joined Avian Tech on a part-time basis in late 2006.

Dave and his wife Patty run Avian Rochester, LLC, an independent consulting company that teams with Avian Technologies to handle much of the non-traceable custom measurements projects. Avian Rochester maintains its own client base of color and imaging projects.

For other professional activities, Dave has twice served on the board of directors of the Inter-Society Color Council, and has also been in charge of the ISCC web pages for the last 15 years, and the newsletter the 2011-2012. He is President-elect for 2019-20, and if all goes well, will serve as President 2021-22. Besides ISCC, Dave is a member of CORM, ASTM E-12, and IS&T, and as been very involved with many technical conferences for ISCC, IS&T, CORM, and AIC. He regularly teaches color measurement tutorials at IS&T meetings, including the Color and Imaging Conference, and the Archiving Conference.

Dave splits his time between Avian Rochester consulting efforts, Avian Technologies work, and maintains ties at his former full time employer
(1997-2012) as a Color Scientist in the Munsell Color Science Laboratory at Rochester Institute of Technology. Outside of all that, he is very interested in music (primarily guitar), , dogs, and outdoor activities. With Patty, Dave performs as the acoustic duo "Doctor's Orders," mostly supporting various volunteer organizations with their folks and pop rock harmonies.