Adaptive Materials, Inc. | Fuel Cell Manufacturer

As co-founder and chief business officer of Adaptive Materials, Inc., Michelle Crumm’s leadership has been instrumental in helping the fuel cell company transition from start-up to second stage, fast-growing manufacturing company. In her role, Crumm is focused on leading Adaptive Materials to achieve continued high double-digit growth in revenue and profitability, as well as supporting innovation and commercialization of the company’s solid oxide fuel cells.

Under Crumm’s leadership, Adaptive Materials has achieved double-digit growth in revenue and profitability. Without outside funding, Adaptive Materials has attracted more than $34 million in investments to advance its fuel cell innovations.

Widely recognized for her leadership, Crumm was named one of “Most Influential Women” by Crain’s Detroit Business and one of Enterprising Women’s “2008 Women of the Year.” Crumm was also recently awarded “Leader to Watch” by Women in Public Policy. Adaptive Materials has been recognized for its dynamic growth with Ann Arbor SPARK FastTrack, Inc. 5,000, and Inc. 100 Energy Company awards.

Prior to founding Adaptive Materials, Crumm spent nearly 5 years at Kellogg Company. During her tenure at Kellogg, Crumm was able to accelerate her career with experiences in internal audit, investor relations, and procurement. In addition to Kellogg Company, Crumm has served as an accountant at an automotive supplier and obtained her Certified Public Accountant license while working as an auditor with Plante and Moran.

As a dynamic community participant, Crumm is an active board member for the Washtenaw County American Red Cross and currently serves as treasurer for the Great Lakes Entrepreneur Quest executive board of directors. She is an enthusiastic participant of Women’s President Organization and Women in Public Policy.

Crumm earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Purdue University and a master of business administration degree from University of Michigan.

Adaptive Materials was borne from Aaron Crumm’s PhD work at the University of Michigan to become the de facto standard within the alternative energy market. Crumm’s simple, yet radical, business proposition was to develop a fuel cell system that ran off of real fuel.

Crumm’s research led to the invention of the micro fabrication by co-extrusion process used to make Adaptive Materials’ micro tubular fuel cells; Adaptive Materials’ technology fundamentally builds from ceramic powders that can be purchased for pennies a watt. Crumm’s innovations provided the catalyst for Adaptive Materials’ affordable and portable fuel cell systems powered by propane, a readily available fuel source.

To date, Crumm’s work has attracted more than $34 million in contract to support the growth of Adaptive Materials. Crumm’s success in leveraging research grants as part of Adaptive Materials’ business acceleration strategy is integral to the company’s ability to remain privately-held and focused on fuel cell product development.

Adaptive Materials has been recognized for its dynamic growth with Ann Arbor SPARK FastTrack, Inc. 5,000, and Inc. 100 Energy Company awards.

Prior to founding Adaptive Materials, Crumm gained insight into electric power generation as a nuclear engineer. He earned his bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering from Purdue University and a PhD in material science from the University of Michigan. Crumm is a highly regarded and respected speaker at many alternative energy symposiums and fuel cell conferences

Dr. Halloran oversees the ongoing development efforts of core technologies at Adaptive Materials. With tremendous success in ceramic processing techniques, Dr. Halloran has been integral in developing Adaptive Materials’ patent portfolio.

He received his BS in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has successfully established and spun out several high tech ventures surrounding his ongoing research efforts in the areas of ceramics processing and manufacturing.