Brian Joseph - President and CEO of Touchstone Research Laboratory

After graduating West Liberty University in 1978 with a degree in biology, Brian Joseph attended The Ohio State University studying biophysics in the microbiology department for one year. Brian moved back to Wheeling in 1980 to own research and development business – Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd. It has grown to 4 buildings and over two acres of laboratories and prototype manufacturing space. Brian has been granted over 20 patents, with many more in process and his company has produced an average of a patent application per month for ten years. Touchstone has developed new automotive aluminum alloys, new steel products, invented a foam made from coal – CFOAM, developed a fiber reinforced aluminum material, new ways to build carbon fiber airplane parts and new ways to grow algae on large scale. In addition Touchstone has solved thousands of manufacturing problems and currently is helping to qualify parts for jet engines, wind turbines and next-generation rockets. Outside of his business activities, Brian has served as Chairman of the Board of Governors West Liberty University, 3 of the past 4 years and serves on the board of the JB Chambers Foundation. When not working, Brian enjoys playing with his 21 month old daughter and driving his hydroplane race boats at events across the eastern U.S.