On the job, seeing things through means not only leading the research and development of a new product, but also evaluating its potential applications with clients.

"As much as I enjoy lab work, it's nice to get out and see how our products are used by food manufacturers," says Grazaitis, who in the past few years has traveled to China, the Philippines, Japan, and the Netherlands for customer trials and promotions.

"TIC Gums encourages researchers and developers to do customer visits, to see the products we help develop used by clients. These visits are beneficial to both us and our customers."

It is this emphasis on customer service that has made TIC Gums an industry leader, as the company continues to provide its clients much-needed, hands-on support from food scientists like Dan.

In his more than five years at TIC Gums, Dan's responsibility has increased along with his knowledge of the products and their applications. "I like to be challenged and stay busy. So, I enjoy working on new projects that are out of the norm, since it gives me a chance to learn new material. I also like to see a product evolve from an idea to an ingredient in a client's product."

Dan earned his degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry from Towson University. After graduation, he found himself choosing between the food industry or a lab job in public health. Looking back, he knows his decision to join TIC Gums was the right one.

"I really do enjoy the food industry. The more I learn about it, the more I realize it is constantly changing and challenging," he explains. Development of a new gum system, for example, may be impacted by physical challenges, like drought conditions, or political considerations, such as instability in a specific region.