A farewell to two exceptional colleagues
When someone who helped shape an entire field retires, it’s a significant milestone. When two such people retire together, it’s the end of an era. In this blog post, we bid farewell to Gwen and Phil Spencer as they begin their well-deserved retirement.
For many years, Gwen and Phil, in their role as FactSage sales representative, were the face of GTT-Technologies in the United States. Though their backgrounds and strengths are different, they always operated as a true team: equal, complementary, and indispensable.
Gwen Spencer: clarity, strategy, and lasting impact
Gwen pairs a sharp business mind with effortless clarity of communication. She has an exceptional ability to structure complex situations and distill them to their essence. Her guidance has shaped countless discussions, decisions, and strategic directions – and we are very glad that she continues to be a sparring partner for us at GTT-Technologies.
Phil Spencer: scientific depth and a legacy across material systems
Phil’s scientific contributions are widely recognized, but he is also an exceptional person, the kind one encounters only rarely in a career. His scientific depth, calm authority, and genuine openness to new ideas make him an exceptional and truly special discussion partner.
He was a founding member of CALPHAD and SGTE and a driving force behind the COST 507 program, the largest European initiative for developing thermodynamic data for metallurgical applications in the 1990s. He developed key thermodynamic databases, including FSstel, SGnobl, and SpMCBN. His publications span 35 elements and cover everything from experimental work to multicomponent phase diagram calculations and practical industrial applications. The SpMCBN database alone includes assessments of 670 ternary systems. We should also mention that he, along with Marek Kowalski and Dieter Neuschütz, wrote the “Phase Diagrams” chapter of the VdEh Slag Atlas, which contains nearly 200 densely packed pages of phase diagrams. The scope of his work spanning all inorganic material systems is extraordinary.
A partnership built on integrity and sound judgment
Gwen and Phil built something extraordinary together, going far beyond any formal role. They are exceptional scientific and business partners, creating trust and offering clarity when situations become complex. They combine deep technical insight with sound judgment. Their integrity, steadiness, and honesty have shaped our collaboration for many years.
Looking ahead: welcoming Alex Holtzapple
Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that Alex Holtzapple from Metsim International will take over sales representation in the United States. We look forward to working with him and are confident that he will maintain the strong relationships that Gwen and Phil established.
Thank you, Phil and Gwen
Gwen and Phil, thank you for your decades of expertise, wisdom, perspective, and unwavering support. Thank you for the conversations, guidance, and trust in past, present and future. You have left a mark on GTT and on many of us personally. We wish you both a long, healthy, and enjoyable retirement. You have earned it many times over.
On behalf of the entire GTT-Technologies Team,
Moritz to Baben, Stephan Petersen, and Klaus Hack