Awards Night Highlights
Awards Night Highlights The Akron Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers announced awards and scholarships at its Annual Awards Night held this year at the Firestone Country Club on May 9. The Akron Section gave out six scholarships to students and honored three industry veterans for outstanding service to the SPE and plastics industry. The keynote speaker was Dr. Matthew Becker, who is a Professor of Polymer Science and Biomedical Engineering and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at Akron University. His topic was “How Novel Polymers Are Changing Medicine”. Polymers have long been used in replacing body parts. New materials such as Polyester Urea show significant advantages over the materials currently being used. The Akron Section was recognized by SPE Int’l with three awards. The first was the Pinnacle Gold Award that recognizes Sections and Divisions that work to create and deliver member value in organization, technical programming, membership and communications. In addition the section earned the Communication Excellence Award which recognizes sections, divisions and Special Interest Groups that carry out highly effective communications. Section Treasurer Gary Taylor earned the Honored Service Member Award, which is given to members of the SPE who have demonstrated long‐ term, outstanding service and support of the SPE and its objectives. These awards were present at the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Meeting (ANTEC) in May.
The Akron Section of SPE gave out two awards. Shirish V. Patel was elected posthumously into the Akron Section Hall of Honor. This award recognizes those unsung heroes whose quiet service, support and accomplishments have contributed to the growth of the plastics industry. Shirish Patel was an executive, mentor and independent consultant in the Plastics Industry for over 40 years. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1967 and joined The Glastic Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. From 1978 to 1995, Mr. Patel was a key member of the management team at The Little Tikes Company, a leading manufacturer of children's products and one of the most recognizable brands in the United States. Mr. Patel began his career as Plant Manager. In 1980 he was promoted to Vice President of Purchasing and New Product Engineering. He held those responsibilities throughout his career at Little Tikes. In 1990 he also assumed responsibilities for the manufacturing, quality and logistics organizations of the company as Vice President of Operations, managing seven manufacturing facilities and distribution centers all over the world and over 2,000 employees. During his tenure at Little Tikes, the company’s sales grew from $10 million to over $550 million annually. His manufacturing vision helped Little Tikes become the largest rotational molder in the world. Most recently he was the Principal at Wisdom Plastics Technology. The award was accepted by Shirish’s wife Chetna and son Rocky.
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Awards Night Highlights The William C. Zekan Memorial Award is presented to members of the Akron Section who have had long‐term continuing service in the plastics industry and to the local section. The recipient this year was Robert G. Weiler, Jr. Bob has more than 40 years of continuous service in the plastics industry. He was instrumental in bringing the 2015 Vinytec Topical Conference to Akron, sponsored by the Vinyl Division of SPE and the Akron Section. Bob is President‐Elect of the Akron Section and Chair‐Elect of the Vinyl Plastics Division for 2016‐2017. The Akron Section also awarded scholarships: ● Special Merit Scholarship Awards ‐ Tanner Brahler, who will attend Stark State College ‐ Daniel Truax, who will continue his studies at Case Western Reserve University ● Goodyear Scholarship ‐ Connor O’Brian, who will continue his studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ● Rubbermaid Scholarship. ‐ Johnathon Mileski, who will continue his studies at the Ohio state University ● Jim Steiner Memorial Scholarship ‐ Gina Tubo, who will attend Hillsdale College ● Kenneth L. Sharp Memorial Scholarship ‐ Joseph Rizzo, Jr., who will begin his studies at The Ohio State University The Akron Section has given out over $340,000 to students pursuing careers in polymers or polymer engineering.
Speaker Dr. Matthew Becker
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Awards Night Highlights Other highlight photos on our web site at http://www.akronspe.org/photos-new/
Dorothy Malpass (left) and Nicole Brostowitz
Student Chapter Members
Bob Wegelin
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Awards Night Highlights Other highlight photos on our web site at http://www.akronspe.org/photos-new/
Gina Tubo Awarded Jim Steiner Memorial Scholarship Shirish Patel’s Son and Wife accept Hall of Honor Award on his behalf
Vivian Malpass Announces 2016 Zekan Award for Robert Weiler
Scholarship winner Tanner Brahler with his mother
Dave Schultz (left) and speaker Matt Becker
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The Akron Section of SPE gave out two awards. Shirish V. Patel was elected posthumously into the Akron Section Hall of Honor. This award recognizes those unsung heroes whose quiet service, support and accomplishments have contributed to the growth of the plastics industry. Shirish Patel was an executive, mentor and independent consultant in the Plastics Industry for over 40 years. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toledo in 1967 and joined The Glastic Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. From 1978 to 1995, Mr. Patel was a key member of the management team at The Little Tikes Company, a leading manufacturer of children's products and one of the most recognizable brands in the United States. Mr. Patel began his career as Plant Manager. In 1980 he was promoted to Vice President of Purchasing and New Product Engineering. He held those responsibilities throughout his career at Little Tikes. In 1990 he also assumed responsibilities for the manufacturing, quality and logistics organizations of the company as Vice President of Operations, managing seven manufacturing facilities and distribution centers all over the world and over 2,000 employees. During his tenure at Little Tikes, the company’s sales grew from $10 million to over $550 million annually. His manufacturing vision helped Little Tikes become the largest rotational molder in the world. Most recently he was the Principal at Wisdom Plastics Technology. The award was accepted by Shirish’s wife Chetna and son Rocky.
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Awards Night Highlights The William C. Zekan Memorial Award is presented to members of the Akron Section who have had long‐term continuing service in the plastics industry and to the local section. The recipient this year was Robert G. Weiler, Jr. Bob has more than 40 years of continuous service in the plastics industry. He was instrumental in bringing the 2015 Vinytec Topical Conference to Akron, sponsored by the Vinyl Division of SPE and the Akron Section. Bob is President‐Elect of the Akron Section and Chair‐Elect of the Vinyl Plastics Division for 2016‐2017. The Akron Section also awarded scholarships: ● Special Merit Scholarship Awards ‐ Tanner Brahler, who will attend Stark State College ‐ Daniel Truax, who will continue his studies at Case Western Reserve University ● Goodyear Scholarship ‐ Connor O’Brian, who will continue his studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ● Rubbermaid Scholarship. ‐ Johnathon Mileski, who will continue his studies at the Ohio state University ● Jim Steiner Memorial Scholarship ‐ Gina Tubo, who will attend Hillsdale College ● Kenneth L. Sharp Memorial Scholarship ‐ Joseph Rizzo, Jr., who will begin his studies at The Ohio State University The Akron Section has given out over $340,000 to students pursuing careers in polymers or polymer engineering.
Speaker Dr. Matthew Becker
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Awards Night Highlights Other highlight photos on our web site at http://www.akronspe.org/photos-new/
Dorothy Malpass (left) and Nicole Brostowitz
Student Chapter Members
Bob Wegelin
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Awards Night Highlights Other highlight photos on our web site at http://www.akronspe.org/photos-new/
Gina Tubo Awarded Jim Steiner Memorial Scholarship Shirish Patel’s Son and Wife accept Hall of Honor Award on his behalf
Vivian Malpass Announces 2016 Zekan Award for Robert Weiler
Scholarship winner Tanner Brahler with his mother
Dave Schultz (left) and speaker Matt Becker
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