Plastics all-stars at NPE

At SPE Antec, co-located with NPE, the Society of Plastics Engineers introduces six new Honored Service Members who are being recognised for their contributions to the Society.

The new honorees are:

Dr. Paul Andersen. Nominated by the Extrusion Division, Dr. Andersen is a Past President of the Society (2009-10), and served on the Executive Committee from 2004 - 2011, holding the additional positions of Secretary and Treasurer of the Society. Additionally, he has been an active member of the SPE Extrusion Division Board of Directors since 1990. Dr. Anderson has authored numerous ANTEC and TopCon technical papers, served as technical consultant for the SPE Twin-screw Extrusion educational video and wrote the chapter on Twin-screw Extrusion for the SPE Plastics Technician’s Toolbox.

Dr. Brian Landes. Nominated by the Engineering Properties and Structures Division for his long-time service to the Division and to the Society, Dr. Landes has served the Division in a variety of roles since 1997, including Chair, Councilor, TPC, and TopCon Technical Chair.  He has also served as Division Chair for the Society for two years.  He is especially recognized for his passion for student activities, mentoring, teaching and networking.  He has been active in Best Paper, Best Student Paper, and Best Student Poster Award committees and judging since the late 1990s. He also volunteers with the Next Generation Advisory Board (NGAB) to implement new programs and opportunities for young professionals in the Society.

Dr. Prithu Mukhopadhyay. Nominated by the Quebec Section Dr. Mukhopadhyay has had long involvement with SPE, and he has provided leadership to the Quebec Section as President and Councilor and to the Plastics Pipe and Fittings SIG as the TPC. He was instrumental in the creation and growth of the Plastics in Building and Construction SIG. Dr. Mukhopadhyay has been a member of the New Technology Committee (NTC) since 1998. His key contribution to SPE has been in providing guidance to the NTC, where he served as Chair in 2005-2007. Dr. Mukhopadhyay helped to develop the ANTEC New Technology Forums since 2000; these forums now occupy a prominent place in the ANTEC programming and help to attract registrants to SPE’s annual conferences.

Kimberly Rush. She was nominated by the Chicago Section for her long-time service to the Chicago Section, most notably in the Chicago Section Educational Foundation, where she served in a variety of positions, including multiple terms as President. Ms. Rush is recognized for her efforts with the Foundation’s annual fundraiser Supplier’s Night EXPO, raising tens of thousands of dollars for matching grants and scholarships.  As a two-term President of the Chicago Section she is recognized for her efforts to increase the number of technical conference programs sponsored and co-sponsored by the Chicago Section, raising revenue and increasing attendance for each program.

John R. Wagner, Jr. Nominated by the Flexible Packaging Division, Mr. Wagner joined SPE in 1969, and has served on the Extrusion Division Board since 1984. He was elected SPE Fellow of the Society in 1998.  He has served on various Extrusion Division committees, was the Extrusion Division Board Chair in 1996 and became Treasurer of the Division in 2001.  He was also involved in forming and transitioning the Flexible Packaging Division from a SIG to one of SPE’s top Divisions. Mr. Wagner is the editor of the Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting and is President of Crescent Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in innovation, product and process development, intellectual property and expert witness services.

Mark P. Wolverton. Nominated by the Chicago Section and the Product Design and Development Division, Mr. Wolverton has made significant contributions through his service as an officer for both his Section and his Division.  His success as Section President and Division Treasurer is the result of reason, risk assessment and compliance.  He develops and demonstrates the value of SPE to members, employers and students, contributing as an officer, moderator and speaker.  Mr. Wolverton facilitates successful events in cooperation with Divisions and other Sections.  He is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association and is known for his industrial leadership in applications and process development, technical service and failure analysis for engineering, and commodity thermoplastics resins and composites.