Contact: Paula Weis
(202) 974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI APPOINTS PETRAKIS DIRECTOR FOR MIDWEST, NORTHEAST

WASHINGTON, DC, September 12, 2005 - The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) today announced the appointment of Stephen Petrakis as Director, Midwest and Northeast Operations, effective September 26. He will be based at SPI's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago and succeeds the late Douglas D. Halsey, who lost his battle with cancer in April, 2005.

Petrakis has had a long association with SPI, most recently serving as Vice Chairman of its Committee on Equipment Statistics and Chairman of that Committee's Auxiliary Section.

Since 1998, he has been vice president, sales and marketing, of ACS Corporation, Woodale, Ill., where he was responsible for sales, field service and customer service for multiple facilities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Earlier, he was a regional vice president and vice president and sales manager for the Automation Group, and a manufacturer's representative specializing in plastics equipment.

He received his B.S. from Western Michigan University and MBA from California Coast University in Santa Ana.

"The Midwest is the heart of this industry and Midwest Director is a key position in the SPI organization," said Catherine Randazzo, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of SPI. "Steve Petrakis knows the territory, knows our industry, and will bring the kind of dynamic leadership to this position that we need as we face the many challenges ahead. We are delighted to have him on board."

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 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.4 million workers and provides nearly $310 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

Back to Top

More About SPI:   Vision and Mission . Membership . Business Units . Regional Offices . News and Publications . Calendar of Events . Terms and Conditions of Use