Follow up-- I talked with the epoxy guru at the local chandelry today, he also thought that the roller type was contributing to the issue. So, I picked up some mohair rollers--the pink and the candy stripe kind. I will sand the exterior to 220, then squeegee in the first coat, the roll the next coats with the new rollers.
I'll circle back with the results in a few days.
Now off to sand, sand, sand and sand some more.
Did I mention sanding?
Thanks to everyone who chimed in.