Michael Silver is CEO of American Elements, a global manufacturer of engineered and advanced materials. He is an expert on rare earths and other critical metals such as lithium, indium and tellurium. Mr. Silver's expertise includes firsthand knowledge of the supply chain from mine to finished goods and the scientific applications that make these elements important. He is considered a pioneer in the fields of nanotechnology, materials science and alternative energy. The company has operations in Los Angeles; Salt Lake City; Monterrey, Mexico; Baotou, China and Manchester, U.K. In 2011, American Elements cosponsored 74 industry and academic conferences.