ANTEC® 2022 Recap: Face-to-Face - First In-Person ANTEC® in 3 Years Kicks Off
Posted: 06/15/2022
When SPE’s ANTEC® conference got under way on June 14, in Charlotte, N.C., it had been 1,185 days since the last in-person event, said Dr. Jason Lyons, SPE president and global market manager at Arkema.
Lyons was welcoming attendees to the first event of ANTEC® 2022: keynotes on topics ranging from the economy to circularity, training and new ways—for most companies—to recruit, hire and retain good workers in a tight labor market.
There was also a presentation by the new president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, Matt Seaholm, about what PIA will do to promote the industry and communicate its benefits to diverse audiences, some of whom are critical of plastics and working to restrict and even eliminate it as an industry.
The vibe in the conference room as the keynotes began was summed up by SPE CEO Pat Farrey, who asked the audience, “How cool is it to be looking at each other without a screen between us?”
This was a reference to the virtual ANTEC®s of 2020 and 2021. Lyons said Covid-19 forced SPE to “find ways to stay relevant” with learning, business opportunities and networking.
New initiatives include a leadership development course that focuses on what individuals must do to become better plastics employees. SPE will accept applications for this course in the summer.
“Teach the Geek” was developed to improve the ability of engineers to speak in front of audiences. Lyons said a National Institutes of Health survey found 75 percent of respondents ranked public speaking as their No. 1 fear. “How much information is lost because no one wants to speak?” he asked. Teach the Geek is available now.
Another development is SPE’s DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiative, from 2021. This effort to promote the hiring, mentoring and professional advancement of underrepresented groups in the industry is a plus for business, and the right thing to do. Research shows companies that embrace DEI have better operations and greater profitability than those that do not. DEI also broadens the talent pool available to the industry and introduces diverse approaches to problem-solving.
More will be posted from ANTEC®.
Kim McLoughlin Senior Research Engineer, Global Materials Science Braskem
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Kim drives technology programs at Braskem to develop advanced polyolefins with improved recyclability and sustainability. As Principal Investigator on a REMADE-funded collaboration, Kim leads a diverse industry-academic team that is developing a process to recycle elastomers as secondary feedstock. Kim has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. She is an inventor on more than 25 patents and applications for novel polyolefin technologies. Kim is on the Board of Directors of SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, where she has served as Education Chair and Councilor.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Gamini has a BS and PhD from Purdue University in Materials Engineering and Sustainability. He joined Penn State as a Post Doctorate Scholar in 2020 prior to his professorship appointment. He works closely with PA plastics manufacturers to implement sustainability programs in their plants.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Tom Giovannetti holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa and for the last 26 years has worked for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Tom started his plastics career by designing various injection molded products for the chemical industry including explosion proof plugs and receptacles, panel boards and detonation arrestors for 24 inch pipelines. Tom also holds a patent for design of a polyphenylene sulfide sleeve in a nylon coolant cross-over of an air intake manifold and is a Certified Plastic Technologist through the Society of Plastic Engineers. Tom serves on the Oklahoma Section Board as Councilor, is also the past president of the local Oklahoma SPE Section, and as well serves on the SPE Injection Molding Division board.
Joseph Lawrence, Ph.D. Senior Director and Research Professor University of Toledo
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Dr. Joseph Lawrence is a Research Professor and Senior Director of the Polymer Institute and the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization at the University of Toledo. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and after working in the process industry, he has been engaged in polymers and composites research for 18+ years. In the Polymer Institute he leads research on renewably sourced polymers, plastics recycling, and additive manufacturing. He is also the lead investigator of the Polyesters and Barrier Materials Research Consortium funded by industry. Dr. Lawrence has advised 20 graduate students, mentored 8 staff scientists and several undergraduate students. He is a peer reviewer in several journals, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications and serves on the board of the Injection Molding Division of SPE.
Matt Hammernik Northeast Account Manager Hasco America
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Matt Hammernik serves as Hasco America’s Northeast Area Account Manager covering the states Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He started with Hasco America at the beginning of March 2022. Matt started in the Injection Mold Industry roughly 10 years ago as an estimator quoting injection mold base steel, components and machining. He advanced into outside sales and has been serving molders, mold builders and mold makers for about 7 years.
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