In 1979 John A Bunting joined with Louis Pope and Dr. Bill J. Pope and others in the startup of US Synthetic, a company involved in Ultra High Pressure Synthesis based on technology developed by H. Tracy Hall, the father of the synthetic diamond industry.
His work at US Synthetic, among other things, led to the invention of the polycrystalline (PCD) veined drill technology and the formation of Precorp, Inc. In time the company grew into a world leading cutting tool company with operations in Utah, Michigan, South Carolina, and Germany. He sold Precorp, Inc. in 2013 to Sandvik AB.
Prior to his work at US Synthetic and Precorp, he worked as a nuclear engineer for the US Navy, a manager for Pfizer, and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army.
A native of Sacramento, California, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Brigham Young University in 1968 and his MBA degree from Southern Illinois University in 1978.
John’s wife Shelby Bunting also grew up in Sacramento, California. She attended BYU and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in sociology. She then returned to BYU in 1968 and completed a teaching minor in English and certified to teach high school English.
They are the parents of five children and have twelve grandchildren.