You might not guess it from his unassuming demeanor, but Doug Salway has built a career that has left a lasting mark on the automotive industry, the CU-ICAR campus and his own family.

After graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in textile design, Doug began his career designing fabrics for men’s and women’s apparel. Eight years later, in 1996, he relocated to South Carolina to join the automotive division of Milliken & Company, now Sage Automotive Interiors.

As a fabric designer, Doug takes immense pride in the intricate details of his craft. Developing materials for automotive interiors is often a three-year process — one that can easily go unnoticed by the average driver. Yet a few minutes in Doug’s office reveals the artistry and precision woven into every pattern. His meticulous approach has led to collaborations with global automakers, three technological patents and even the opportunity to purchase a vehicle featuring fabric of his own design.

In 2011, Sage Automotive Interiors moved its corporate headquarters to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, South Carolina. Fifteen years later, Doug still appreciates the campus’s Class A office space, amenities and community atmosphere. He also enjoys welcoming the company’s global design teams to Greenville for their biennial meetings.

Perhaps the most unexpected benefit of working on the CU-ICAR campus has been his involvement with students in Clemson’s Deep Orange program.

Deep Orange is a framework within the Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering that immerses graduate students in the role of an OEM or supplier, challenging them to design and build a fully functional prototype vehicle in just 18 months. Along the way, students conduct research, develop customer personas and gain hands-on experience in every facet of vehicle development — including interior design and fabrication. That’s where Doug steps in.

“The students are incredibly strong on the mechanical side,” Doug said, “but they’re often less experienced with the aesthetic elements. We help guide them through colors, fabrics, trims and those types of decisions.”

Doug has contributed to multiple Deep Orange projects, including Deep Orange 10, an autonomous ride-share vehicle developed in partnership with Ford. He worked with students to create a custom seat pattern — one he notes is now being echoed across the industry — and helped develop a specialized flooring material designed to withstand heavy use while providing traction for wheelchair accessibility.

The collaboration is far from one-sided.

“I’m always inspired by how forward-thinking the students are, especially at such a young age,” Doug said. “They move from ideas to cardboard models to fully functioning autonomous vehicles in a short amount of time. It’s amazing to watch.”

Doug’s curiosity and appreciation for detail extend well beyond the workplace. At home, he enjoys spending time with his family and has recently taken up bowling, discovering that beneath its simple exterior lies a game of precision and nuance — much like the intricate work that has shaped his career. Doug welcomes the opportunity to travel, which he does at least biennially when gathering with design colleagues from across the globe. When possible, he also continues to enjoy riding motorcycles, a longtime hobby that has taken him through Maui, Death Valley, the Mojave Desert and along California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway.

This year marks 30 years with Sage Automotive Interiors and 35 years of marriage to his wife, Ann. But among his proudest milestones is one that began nearly four decades ago. When Doug graduated in 1988, he became the first person in his family to earn a college degree. Today, he and Ann are the proud parents of two college graduates: one who followed her mother’s career path as a teacher, and another who plans to return to school to pursue a career as a dietitian, furthering the family’s shared commitment to education and lifelong learning.

Whether he’s shaping trends within the automotive industry, mentoring the next generation of engineers or encouraging education within his own family, Doug continues to weave together a legacy defined by craftsmanship, curiosity and a commitment to the next generation.

Multiple leaders on the CU-ICAR campus and numerous corporate partners were recognized on the inagural list of most influential business leaders in the South Carolina produced by SCBIZ. This list honors the individuals in South Carolina that are shaping business, culture, and community across the state. The following individuals on the CU-ICAR campus were highlighted and the full list can be found here.

David Clayton
Executive Director, CU-ICAR
Associate Vice President for Economic Development, Clemson University

Ramy Harik
Director, Clemson Composites Center
Exxon Mobil Employees Endowed Professor

Dan Russian
President & CEO,
Sage Automotive Interiors

A digital twin uses real-world data to power a virtual counterpart—an idea reshaping modern engineering. For Chinmay and Tanmay Samak, mirrored counterparts is not only the focus of their research at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), it’s also their daily experience as twins who are identical in virtually every way.

Natives of Pune, India, Chinmay and Tanmay have always known what they have in common truly makes them unique. “It’s always been fun to have a twin, especially one that resonates with you,” said Chinmay. “Twins generally get compared constantly so they choose a mechanism for growing apart or at least a way to differentiate themselves, but that hasn’t been the case for us.”

From favorite foods to hobbies, and even their favorite color, the Samak twins have no answer for the common question of how to differentiate them. “We’ve been together since day one and hope to keep it that way,” said Tanmay with a smile.

At a young age their shared interests included activities like swimming, cycling, hiking and tinkering in the field of robotics. What began in 8^th grade as building line-following and obstacle-avoidance robots grew into research publications and consecutive first place finishes in NASA’s space settlement design competition. By the time they reached their undergraduate studies, they found another shared fascination: autonomous ground vehicles—a passion that would eventually bring them across the world to Greenville, South Carolina.

When considering graduate programs, the brothers developed their own unique criteria to complement university rankings and notoriety.

1. A strong academic program in automotive engineering, autonomy, and robotics
2. A direct path into a fully funded PhD program
3. Access to full-scale test vehicles and state of the art equipment
4. An opportunity to work together, in the same lab, under the same advisor

Despite having never visited, they chose Clemson University, and specifically the Automotive Engineering program located at CU-ICAR. Three and a half years later, they are nearing the completion of their PhDs, with both focused on advancing digital twin technology. Working in the Automation, Robotics and Mechatronics (ARM) Lab under Dr. Venkat Krovi, they are helping to close the loop between real-world vehicle behavior and high-precision simulation. Tanmay specializes in translating real-world data into accurate virtual models. Chinmay’s work mirrors this from the opposite direction, ensuring simulation results can be transferred reliably to physical vehicles.

Looking back on their decision, Chinmay shared what he’d tell their 2022 selves: “In a simple statement, what you are dreaming of is about to come true.”

Due to COVID-19, the twins arrived in Greenville knowing Dr. Krovi and CU-ICAR only through digital imagery, articles and virtual interviews. Their real-world experience far exceeded expectations.

Being welcomed with hands-on access to the Open Connected and Automated Vehicle (OpenCAV) during their first weeks on campus, months earlier than expected, made it clear they had found the mentor they hoped for. “Dr. Krovi is the ideal advisor, especially for us,” said Chinmay. “He’s provided the technical and academic direction for areas where he knows we need to learn and also given us the freedom to explore on our own and approach him when we need guidance.”

The positive surprises extended out of the lab as they began to explore the CU-ICAR campus and the surrounding Greenville community. “CU-ICAR has all the right people on campus,” noted Tanmay. “You have students, professors, and industry professionals, and they’re all headed towards the same objectives. No matter who you’re working with, you can’t go wrong.”

Off campus, Greenville quickly became their second home, one they describe as the perfect balance of modern and tranquil. They fell in love with the mild weather, vibrant downtown, access to nature, and as cyclists, the city’s 28-mile greenway known as the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Within the next year, Chinmay and Tanmay will add “Clemson graduate” to their list of accomplishments. From there, they hope to stay connected to academia while also joining industry through startup ventures. They plan to continue growing their online presence as the Tinker Twins and expand AutoDRIVE, the digital twin ecosystem they created together.

While the exact path ahead is still unfolding, one thing remains certain:
“Whatever it is, most importantly, we’ll do it together.”

What began as a personal decision to be closer to family has led Max Frantz to a career that continues to challenge and inspire him—while also allowing space for what matters most outside of work.

When Max and his wife made the decision to move from Philadelphia, their goal was simple: be closer to family and raise their children in a place with natural beauty and a strong sense of community. Greenville, South Carolina—tucked against the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains—offered just that.

Shortly after relocating, Max accepted a role as a Principal Product Development Engineer with JTEKT North America. The job proved to be a perfect fit. On the new product development team, Max works on the front end of innovation—identifying emerging needs and rapidly building proof-of-concept tests to determine what’s worth pursuing.

Eight years later, that work still excites him. Whether he’s brainstorming new solutions or rolling up his sleeves to build out an early prototype, Max continues to thrive in a role that keeps him engaged and thinking forward.

At home, he finds equal joy in his role as a dad. From family hikes at Paris Mountain State Park to weekends spent at kids’ sporting events, Max is all-in—professionally and personally.

Over time, Max began to feel a pull toward expanding his technical expertise. His interest in automated systems and advanced mechanical design kept growing, and he wanted to understand not just how things work—but why.

With encouragement and financial support from JTEKT, he enrolled in Clemson University’s Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering. The location made it even more feasible—many of his classes were held at the Carroll A. Campbell Graduate Education Center, located on the CU-ICAR campus, just steps from his office.

“It was incredibly convenient to take classes here at CU-ICAR in Greenville,” Max said. “I could be working in my office at JTEKT, simply walk across the street to class, and then return to the office.”

Left: Max enjoying his role of dad at home with his kids.
Right: Max takes part in the classic back to school tradition on his first day of his graduate coursework.

That proximity made a busy schedule more manageable—but it wasn’t the only benefit of the setting. Being based at CU-ICAR made balancing work, school, and family more manageable. The campus’s practical amenities—like nearby dining options, a fitness center, walking trails, and easy parking—helped Max stay focused, energized, and on schedule throughout his busy days.

Though the logistics were in his favor, the commitment was still demanding. Juggling a full-time role and parenting two young kids while completing graduate coursework wasn’t easy—but Max took it on with a focus geared toward growth.

“I didn’t really feel relief when I finished,” he reflected. “While I’m glad to have time to explore other things, I really enjoyed the process of continual learning.”

Since completing his degree, Max has continued to build on what he learned—both in his day-to-day work and through side projects that keep his skills sharp. He’s also taken time to share his perspective with Clemson mechanical engineering students who stop by his office looking for advice or insight into the field.

For Max, learning isn’t limited to the workplace or the classroom—it’s a mindset that carries into all aspects of his life. Whether he’s diving into new engineering challenges, taking on graduate studies, or exploring the outdoors with his family, Max thrives on discovering what’s next. That spirit of curiosity fuels his growth, keeps his work engaging, and helps him create meaningful experiences with the people who matter most.