Names in the News: Good things come in fives for Interplastic, Southwest Venture and for the PPINames in the News: Good things come in fives for Interplastic, Southwest Venture and for the PPI

Thermoset resins supplier Interplastic Corp. has announced the 2011 recipients of its Scholars Awards. The company provides $2000 in college tuition assistance to five recent high school graduates. This is the eleventh year Interplastic (St. Paul, MN) has awarded the scholarships.   

To be eligible for a Scholars Award, the applicant's parents, legal guardian, or the student must be employed by an ACMA (American Composites Manufacturers Association) -member company and the student must be planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university. The selection of the Scholars winners is based on merit and background, with an emphasis on excellence in academic and extracurricular activities. The scholarships must be used for tuition and/or required books, supplies and equipment.

The five high school graduates and their company affiliations are: Erik Linnell, La Crosse, Wisconsin (Advanced Fiber Products); Emily Liang, Kingsport, Tennessee (Eastman Chemical Company); Cassandra Parsons, Mission Viejo, California (PPG Industries); Kelsey Tuttle, Cary, North Carolina (Reichhold Inc.); Casey Leamon, Church Hill, Tennessee (Eastman Chemical Company).

Meanwhile, custom thermoplastic injection molder Southwest Venture Plastics Inc. is celebrating its fifth year in existence. The processor (El Paso, TX) is the southern expansion of Venture Plastics Inc. (Newton Falls, OH), which has been molding for 40 years.

Said Joel Cabral, sales manager at the El Paso facility, "Even during the recent economic turndown our operation was very busy and profitable. This is due in part to a stable, blue chip customer base with which we have long-term synergy. It is also made possible because we have effectively transferred skills and capabilities to our El Paso, Texas plant from our Newton Falls, Ohio location--- a success for more than 40 years."

Staying in Texas, The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI; Irving, TX) announced a new slate of five officers for 2011 - 2013 at its annual meeting in Hilton Head, SC.  Gary Runyan of Zurn Pex Inc. was named chairman, a two-year appointment.  Joining him are vice chairman George Zagorski of Blue Diamond Industries, Carl Baker (Dow Chemical Company) as advisory council chairman, and Frank De Alba of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company as treasurer.

That's just four but moving to the position of Past Chair is Donna Stoughton of Charter Plastics Inc.  "The Board leaders are industry professionals who have logged years of service to help drive PPI's mission:  to promote plastics as the materials of choice for piping applications" stated Tony Radoszewski, executive director of PPI.  "Their continued guidance to expand knowledge about the economical and environmental benefits inherent in plastic pipe materials and systems will have far-reaching impact." 

Runyan, who is manager, product development engineering for Zurn Pex Inc., a manufacturer of plumbing products and accessories, has spent nearly 40 years in the plastic pipe industry. 

"Our industry is faced with three key challenges at this point in time to help rebuild our infrastructure," Runyan stated.  "One is price. One is performance. Another is technical.  The PPI and our members are positioned to satisfy our nation's need for all three."