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The seven new members span various plastics processing technologies but they all share a passion for educating young people on career opportunities in the plastics industry.

May 18, 2022

4 Min Read
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Image courtesy of Plastics Pioneers Association

The Plastics Pioneers Association inducted seven new members at its recent meeting in San Diego, CA. The new recruits include an expert in additive manufacturing technology and the vice president of a plastics processing firm who began her career at that company as a part-time receptionist.

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Barbara Jo Arnold-Feret, an expert in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, is currently Key Account Director at Essentium Inc., where she applies her expertise in operations, project management, application engineering, plastic molding, thermoforming, casting, and machining. She is active in many industry associations, including the Society of Plastics Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Women in 3D Printing. Arnold-Feret also serves as a STEM Advisor for the Keller Independent School District in Keller, TX.

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Jill Brandts worked for the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) from 1999 until her retirement in March 2022. She held a variety of positions, including Executive Director of the Thermoforming Institute, Executive Director of Sheet Producers, Director for Member Relations and Grassroots Advocacy, and Director of Member Relations. Prior to that, she worked at Storopack in Public Relations and Environment & Regulatory Affairs. She also worked at the Thermoforming Institute and the Western Moldmaker Division in environmental and safety roles. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California.

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Troy Eubank has been in the plastics industry since 1975 and has spent his entire career at his family businesses — Modified Plastics, Color Science, and Plastics Analytical Laboratory. While attending college, he continued working for the family business and was eventually named Vice President of Operations. He conceived and helped found sister companies Color Science Inc. and Plastics Analytical Laboratory. Eubank graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor of science degree in marketing. He is also the current president of the Western Plastics Pioneers.

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Annette Lund has been a plastics industry professional for more than 42 years. She started her career as a part-time receptionist at Diversified Plastics Inc. and worked her way up to vice president in 2005. She held a variety of positions along the way, including office manager, purchasing manager, customer service manager, sales manager, and sales and marketing manager. Lund is a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

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Garrett MacKenzie started his career in plastic injection molding in 1989 as an operator and has held many positions in industry, including process engineer, supervisor, mold maker apprentice, and molding manager. MacKenzie is currently the president and owner of Plastic411 Services, which specializes in maintenance services and process training in the plastic injection industry. He is also the owner and editor of plastic411.com and provides consultation and training for plastics injection molding. He has provided process engineering expertise to many top companies, including Glock, Honda, Johnson Controls, and Rubbermaid. MacKenzie has published 50+ articles in PlasticsToday and other business-to-business media outlets. This year he started a plastics training program at Hastings High School in Hastings, MI. His various contacts have donated more than $100,000 in equipment to the school program. Ferris State University will be giving college credits to students attending the training. The staff of Hastings High School is being provided with free plastic injection training through Plastic411.

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Clyde Scherer has worked in senior management positions at multiple plastics firms, including Invetal Enterprises, Miramar Consulting, Neward Enterprises, and Third Millennium Metals LLC, where his responsibilities have included the management of plastic injection molding and assembly of medical and automotive equipment used worldwide. He also taught university-level courses while obtaining his doctorate in engineering technology-plastics from Columbia Southern University. He was an associate professor at Cal State Poly University and started the plastics program at Edison State College in Ohio. Scherer initiated the baccalaureate program in plastics at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, OH.

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Tom Zimmerman is currently President of Marval Industries, a full-service compounder in Mamaroneck, NY, offering polymer masterbatch, specialty compounding, resin distribution, and toll processing. As President of Marval, Zimmerman leads the company in developing new products for personal care, appliances, hardware, medical, displays, toy components, electrostatic dissipation, industrial components, and orthopedic braces. His late father, Alan Zimmerman, was a member of the PPA, and his grandfather, Alexander Zimmerman, is a member of the Plastics Hall of Fame. Tom has been a member of SPE since 1989.

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