FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282
Email: tcullen@plasticsindustry.org

SPI REALIGNS MANAGEMENT TEAM TO SUPPORT, HARMONIZE WITH NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2007)—The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) announced a realignment of its senior management team to support a new membership governance structure that places greater emphasis on the three major sectors of the industry: equipment, material suppliers and processors. The realignment will place three top-notch industry veterans, who have a combined 53-year tenure at SPI, at the helm of these three industry groups.

"This management team realignment is both strategic and service-oriented in nature," said SPI President and CEO William Carteaux. "As the only trade association representing the entire spectrum of the plastics industry, we needed to simplify and streamline our structure to closely align our staff with our three governance councils. I am confident that these changes will allow us to meet the needs of our members, as well as the industry, more efficiently and productively."

Walt Bishop, who has been with SPI since 1985, has been promoted to the new position of vice president, Equipment Council. Bishop was formerly vice president of trade shows.

Lynne Harris, who has been with the trade association for 17 years, has been promoted to the new position of vice president, Material Suppliers Council. This new position is in addition to his continuing service as senior vice president of science and technology. As SPI’s chief technical officer, Harris ensures that SPI is well positioned to help members and the industry take advantage of new and existing technologies and to drive codes and standards that benefit the industry.

Susan Howe, who has been with SPI since 1993, has been promoted to the new position of vice president, Processors Council. Howe previously served as senior technical director, worker and product safety; executive director, color and additive compounders division; and executive director, food, drug, and cosmetic packaging materials committee.

SPI also announced the addition of Gene Sanders as its new vice president of trade shows. Sanders has more than 25 years of experience in planning, managing and marketing large association trade shows. He comes to SPI from C4-Events, a division of Stout, Causey, Horning, where he launched an entrepreneurial consulting venture that offers specialized services to trade shows, including those of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and the Toy Industry Association.

Other members of SPI’s senior management team include COO and Executive Vice President Catherine Randazzo, Chief Financial Officer Mary Hanson and Vice President of Communications & Marketing Tracy Cullen.

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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 1.1 million workers and provides nearly $341 billion in annual shipments.

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