Contact: Bonnie Limbach
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Norman Receives SPI South Service Award

FORREST CITY, NC (June 10, 2002) - Steve Norman, vice president of operations for Consolidated Metco in Bryson City, NC, recently was presented the SPI South Distinguished Service Award by the Southern Regional Office of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., (SPI), the Washington, DC-based plastics trade association.

The award was made at the spring meeting of the region's Board of Directors by Joe Bennett of United Southern Industries, a colleague and past recipient. The prestigious award recognizes outstanding dedication to the promotion of the plastics industry in the South. Norman was singled out for the honor based on his long-time active participation in industry trade associations and his community.

Norman's accomplishments include leadership roles with the SPI Southern Chapter Board of Directors, where he served on planning committees for the Chapter's Annual Winter Conference and North Carolina Plastics Industry Legislative Receptions. In addition to being an exhibitor at the legislative receptions, Norman has helped educate officials about the plastics industry by hosting Congressional District breakfasts and plant tours. He also has helped educate school children in his community by sponsoring PlastiVan mobile science lab visits to local schools.

Shortly after the formation of the SPI Southern Region, Norman was elected chairman of its Board of Directors and served for three years. Under his leadership, SPI South held its first Southern Conference and established the Distinguished Service Award. The region also completed a competitiveness study that identified a need for a better-trained workforce in North and South Carolina; that effort led to the development of many SPI workforce development products. As chairman of the Southern Board, Norman also participated in National SPI Board of Directors meetings to ensure that the region was well represented and was allocated the necessary resources.

"Steve was a key driver behind the establishment of SPI's Southern Regional Office with his tireless efforts to convince SPI that it needed a stronger presence in the South due to the rapid growth of the industry here," said Bennett. "He always took off his company hat and put on his industry hat when involved in trade association business," Bennett related to the new SPI South Board members present. "Steve is a fine example of an industry leader and what can be accomplished by working with your trade association and industry colleagues."

Norman began his industry career in 1980 as an assistant controller with Cashiers Plastics in Cashiers, NC. Cashiers was acquired by Consolidated Metco in 1980. Consolidated Metco's North Carolina facilities manufacture structural plastic components for the heavy truck and transportation industry, specializing in instrument panel (dash) assemblies and complete interior cabinetry and door structure components. Other markets include telecommunications and consumer electronics.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,500 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

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