WOMEN IN PLASTICS ON CAREERS, CHALLENGES AND THE FUTURE
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Bernadette Chupela, SEKISUI KYDEX, LLC
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Bernadette Chupela, SEKISUI KYDEX, LLC
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
There have been so many! In my 16 years in this industry, I have learned that things are never stagnant. Always keep your ears open and be willing to explore new things. Be excited about the journey. Ask for help when you need it. Be open to what people have to say. Finally, networking is critical.
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?

Technology today is moving at the speed of light. But all the tangible parts can be provided by performance plastics. Plastics are never stuck in one market space. We move in tandem with new technology and continually create more products to serve those markets. I see these innovations and adaptations every day. This ability to keep up and continually invent is exciting, no matter what scope of business you are in.

Performance plastics is an arena that is increasingly welcoming to women. The Women in Plastics group is an excellent forum to have your voice heard and discover all the opportunities within this industry. From extrusion operations to the executive level of leadership, the environment is now much more inclusive. It takes many different perspectives to discover and create solutions. We all work in the trenches side by side discovering solutions to the gaps we discover daily with our customers and within our own companies.

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Patsy Gono, Regal Plastic Supply Company, Inc.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?

Relationships matter. Take the time. Un-focus from your daily work and stop to develop those relationships. They are important. Maybe not in your everyday, but long term. Businesses are built on relationships!

Tough times come and go. There will always be challenges, some big and some bigger! Time has a way of moving on and some of those big challenges will be gone tomorrow. Try to take them one at a time, minute by minute and don’t think, “I’ll get to the end of that problem or situation or issue and that will be it. Done!” There will always be another “something.” That is just doing business. Life goes on and so do challenges. Times change. What is difficult now may not be difficult next week or next year.

Be kind to yourself. You are not responsible for everything. At times you feel like you are the only one, but you have an entire team behind you. Rely on them. If you don’t have that team, work on getting one. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Smart people teaching you is how you get better. Don’t feel threatened. Be thankful to have them in your life. They make you better. You can’t know everything!

Patsy Gono, Regal Plastic Supply Company, Inc.
Patsy Gono, Regal Plastic Supply Company, Inc.
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Patsy Gono, Regal Plastic Supply Company, Inc.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?

Relationships matter. Take the time. Un-focus from your daily work and stop to develop those relationships. They are important. Maybe not in your everyday, but long term. Businesses are built on relationships!

Tough times come and go. There will always be challenges, some big and some bigger! Time has a way of moving on and some of those big challenges will be gone tomorrow. Try to take them one at a time, minute by minute and don’t think, “I’ll get to the end of that problem or situation or issue and that will be it. Done!” There will always be another “something.” That is just doing business. Life goes on and so do challenges. Times change. What is difficult now may not be difficult next week or next year.

Be kind to yourself. You are not responsible for everything. At times you feel like you are the only one, but you have an entire team behind you. Rely on them. If you don’t have that team, work on getting one. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Smart people teaching you is how you get better. Don’t feel threatened. Be thankful to have them in your life. They make you better. You can’t know everything!

Brittany Pellegrene, PLASKOLITE
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Brittany Pellegrene, PLASKOLITE
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
The innovation and new product development in the Performance Plastics industry is always exciting. Moves toward more renewable resources, improved recycling capabilities, and advances in material performance are all on the horizon. It’s a great industry to be a part of right now because there is so much space for innovation and new ideas. Larger technical advances, like self-driving cars, cell phones and drones create demand for new materials with performance capabilities tailored to these applications. At PLASKOLITE, I’ve been fortunate to work on research projects for some new and exciting materials and I look forward to continued innovations in this industry.
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Andrea Herrmann, Plastifab Industries Inc.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
“There is always a solution. If you don’t have it, someone in your network will.” The industry has much to offer. A vast variety of materials that allow us to find a solution for almost everything. If the company I work for cannot supply the required parts, someone else in the industry will be able to help. The importance of a network and building the relationships between companies and its people has been crucial for my team and I to be a helpful resource to our customers and partners.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?

Raw material shortages based on natural catastrophes caused by climate change are most likely going to increase and are not easily controlled. All industries need to start working on the climate change agenda to prevent further damage to our environment and its impact on all of us.

Still difficult but a little more in our control is the HR challenge we are facing. The performance plastics industry still fights the stigma of a wasteful industry lead by the anti-plastics groups of this world. Differentiating ourselves, bringing younger team members on board and making the industry appealing for talent will be a continuous challenge. A lot of companies have done very well in changing the perception of our industry and I compliment everyone that has worked so hard to change the hearts and minds of people.

Andrea Herrmann, Plastifab Industries Inc.
Andrea Herrmann, Plastifab Industries Inc.
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Andrea Herrmann, Plastifab Industries Inc.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
“There is always a solution. If you don’t have it, someone in your network will.” The industry has much to offer. A vast variety of materials that allow us to find a solution for almost everything. If the company I work for cannot supply the required parts, someone else in the industry will be able to help. The importance of a network and building the relationships between companies and its people has been crucial for my team and I to be a helpful resource to our customers and partners.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?

Raw material shortages based on natural catastrophes caused by climate change are most likely going to increase and are not easily controlled. All industries need to start working on the climate change agenda to prevent further damage to our environment and its impact on all of us.

Still difficult but a little more in our control is the HR challenge we are facing. The performance plastics industry still fights the stigma of a wasteful industry lead by the anti-plastics groups of this world. Differentiating ourselves, bringing younger team members on board and making the industry appealing for talent will be a continuous challenge. A lot of companies have done very well in changing the perception of our industry and I compliment everyone that has worked so hard to change the hearts and minds of people.

Kimberley Edwards, PLASKOLITE
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Kimberley Edwards, PLASKOLITE
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?

Biggest lesson is two-fold: the plastic market is ever-changing, and customers don’t want to know “what’s now” but “what’s new.” To remain viable, there must be continuous improvement and development of products. New products keep the industry fresh, interesting and relevant.

What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?

A major challenge that we face is the increasing need to make our products more environmentally friendly. Plastic products have been a mainstay for decades, but current views often paint the industry as landfill and waste contributors. As the world becomes more conscious of sustainability and recycling, the industry will need to ensure we consider bio-based or plant-derived ingredients in our products. We should challenge ourselves to evaluate and assess the life cycle of our materials. The good news is that most of the industry has begun to pivot to environmental programs that examine their carbon footprint and effect on the environment.

What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?

The future of plastics hinges on diversity in the industry. I’m excited to see more women entering the field in areas from engineering to technical. When I first began more than 25 years ago, often I was the only woman present in most situations. I’m happy to see that is changing and there is an embracing of women in the plastics workforce. Indeed, the fact that this issue of your magazine focuses on women is quite encouraging. I think we are in for new beginnings with more women at the helm.

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Stacy Torpey, Braskem America
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
One of the biggest lessons I learned earlier in my career is that you don’t have to lead people to be a leader. There are so many ways to learn and enhance your leadership skills such as taking lead on a project or being a problem solver and sharing your knowledge with others. And always listen more than you talk!
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
What I find exciting about the plastics industry in general is the ingenuity and innovation coming from companies that are finding solutions for waste plastics and reducing their carbon footprints. It’s an exciting time to be in this industry and watch the evolution of plastics, which is one of our vital resources for food preservation, medical supplies, building equipment, etc.
Stacy Torpey, Braskem America
Stacy Torpey, Braskem America
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Stacy Torpey, Braskem America
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
One of the biggest lessons I learned earlier in my career is that you don’t have to lead people to be a leader. There are so many ways to learn and enhance your leadership skills such as taking lead on a project or being a problem solver and sharing your knowledge with others. And always listen more than you talk!
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
What I find exciting about the plastics industry in general is the ingenuity and innovation coming from companies that are finding solutions for waste plastics and reducing their carbon footprints. It’s an exciting time to be in this industry and watch the evolution of plastics, which is one of our vital resources for food preservation, medical supplies, building equipment, etc.
Angela Rodenburgh, Redwood Plastics and Rubber
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Angela Rodenburgh, Redwood Plastics and Rubber
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
I’ve learned and continue to learn every day, but my biggest lessons so far would be to take risks, ask for what you want and always make decisions based on what you feel is right. Your gut will almost always lead you in the proper direction and if it doesn’t, there is always something to learn from it.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?
Most definitely the environmental perspective the general public has on plastics, but plastics aren’t the problem. People littering and throwing away plastics is the problem. We need proper infrastructures and new technologies to recycle these intrinsically high-valued materials. I believe some big changes are coming soon however, there are some very exciting developments happening.
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?

New material innovations and processing techniques are very exciting to me as well as discovering new uses for materials that have been around for decades. Applications really are endless.

I’m also excited about how companies are coming together creating initiatives such as the Closed Loop Circular Plastics Fund and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste which invest in plastic waste recovery, infrastructure and new recycling technology. I’m confident this will lead to some significant changes for the performance plastics and single use plastics industries in the near future.

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Erica C. S. Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
When I entered this industry, I knew little to nothing about it, and like many others I grouped Performance Plastics with single use plastics. I have moved from an entry level employee to owner and am now almost to the other side of a pandemic. Through all of this I have learned that perseverance and continuing to expand my knowledge are essential to success. Change is constant and we must be ready to adapt and learn from it.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?
The biggest challenge that I see facing the Performance Plastics Industry is regulation. There is a very strong section of the population that is growing and gaining strength that sees plastics as the enemy. As Performance Plastics manufacturers and distributors, we need to find a way to make our voice louder than theirs. Thus far IAPD has done a very good job at stopping some legislation that would have been very detrimental to our industry. Looking forward, I only see more of this type of legislation and are we going to be able to stop all of it?
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
I have been in the plastics industry for more than 10 years now and what excites me most is the innovation that I am seeing in the polymer science. There seems to be no application that Performance Plastics can’t handle with the extreme rate that new materials are hitting the market. I am also seeing a lot of bright young faces, male and female, who are bringing a lot of energy and a fresh perspective to the industry.
Erica C. S. Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion
Erica C. S. Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion
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Erica C. S. Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
When I entered this industry, I knew little to nothing about it, and like many others I grouped Performance Plastics with single use plastics. I have moved from an entry level employee to owner and am now almost to the other side of a pandemic. Through all of this I have learned that perseverance and continuing to expand my knowledge are essential to success. Change is constant and we must be ready to adapt and learn from it.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?
The biggest challenge that I see facing the Performance Plastics Industry is regulation. There is a very strong section of the population that is growing and gaining strength that sees plastics as the enemy. As Performance Plastics manufacturers and distributors, we need to find a way to make our voice louder than theirs. Thus far IAPD has done a very good job at stopping some legislation that would have been very detrimental to our industry. Looking forward, I only see more of this type of legislation and are we going to be able to stop all of it?
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
I have been in the plastics industry for more than 10 years now and what excites me most is the innovation that I am seeing in the polymer science. There seems to be no application that Performance Plastics can’t handle with the extreme rate that new materials are hitting the market. I am also seeing a lot of bright young faces, male and female, who are bringing a lot of energy and a fresh perspective to the industry.
Deborah Ragsdale, Polymer Industries
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Deborah Ragsdale, Polymer Industries
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
The most important lesson I have learned in my 32 year career in the Performance Plastics Industry has been to embrace and accept change. Never be “content” with the job you are doing until you are sure you have given the very best you can give. Be always ready when the next step comes along and don’t be afraid to dive head first into it. Just remember, there is no job that is “not my job” in a career that keeps growing. Do every task with passion. My favorite quote is from life coach Gary Ryan, “In order to advance, habitually learn to do more that you were asked.” In my opinion, that says it all.
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?
The biggest challenge facing the Performance Plastics Industry today is building a workforce for tomorrow. We need to come together with a united effort to attract, enlist and train a competent work force to replace the people we are losing in all facets of our industry. Across the country, every industry is struggling to fill vacancies. We need to find enticements in our industry so we aren’t left behind and future employees choose a career in plastics. When we are able to hire the emerging workforce, our goal should be to educate them on the many benefits of plastics. We need to learn what to do to make them want to stay with us and grow with us. The future of Performance Plastics depends on it.
What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
While I am definitely in the “twilight” of my career, the Performance Plastics Industry is at the beginning. Glass, metal and wood products are everywhere and can easily be replaced with plastics. Plastics are the future for our planet. Recycling will and is becoming the “correct” way to do business. Petrochemical engineers are working diligently to ensure that plastics do not end up in the landfills, yet still have the longevity needed to make them the preferred products. Fossil fuels..metals..minerals..petroleum, these are all going away. According to Mr. Maguire in the 1967 film The Graduate, “I just want to say one word to you, just one word. PLASTICS. There’s a great future in it.”
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Tatia Wood, Polymershapes
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
Titles don’t matter but sometimes they do. Sounds a bit confusing, I know. If you are a good leader, your title doesn’t matter. There are many roles in most organizations that don’t have a manager title or direct reports, but their responsibilities require obtaining “buy in” or support from the field. A good leader can influence people by working with them, understanding their pain points, what drives them and by explaining the “why” without a title. When you do have a manager title, it matters to whom you are speaking. Sometimes, a title can be intimidating depending on what level of the organization you are talking to. Managers should always be aware of this as what they say and how they say it can have a huge impact. It is up to us to make sure it is a good one!
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?

Recruiting, hiring and retaining talent. Most people associate plastics with bottles and that comes with a negative connotation, especially when it comes to the environment. And let’s face it, if you don’t know anything about the markets we serve, the way our products impact lives or the creative ways plastics can be used, it doesn’t seem to be very appealing. Obviously, we know different!

Once you hire the right person and get through the onboarding process, the challenge of keeping them engaged and developing them begins. Over the years, I have seen employee expectations change regarding their needs from their company and leader. Training, involving them in projects, understanding what is important to them and their lifestyle is not only vital to employee retention, but it also creates highly motivated employees. If you do not adapt to the evolving workforce, you could lose a valuable employee.

What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
I am most excited about the new talent coming into the industry. When I first started with GE, the standard practice seemed to be hiring folks who had industry experience (usually from a competitor). Over the years, I have seen that change for the better and I believe the industry is better off for it. People that come from outside our industry tend to have a different approach to business from almost every aspect. That is not to say that the way we do things are wrong, but we only know what we know or what we learned “coming up” in the business. The key is to be open to new ideas and suggestions, even if it isn’t the way you “have always done things.” I am a firm believer that learning is a two-way street. When you hire the right people, I have found that when you are willing to take someone else’s input, they feel valued and tend to be more open to learning the knowledge you have to impart.
Tatia Wood, Polymershapes
Tatia Wood, Polymershapes
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Tatia Wood, Polymershapes
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career in the Performance Plastics industry?
Titles don’t matter but sometimes they do. Sounds a bit confusing, I know. If you are a good leader, your title doesn’t matter. There are many roles in most organizations that don’t have a manager title or direct reports, but their responsibilities require obtaining “buy in” or support from the field. A good leader can influence people by working with them, understanding their pain points, what drives them and by explaining the “why” without a title. When you do have a manager title, it matters to whom you are speaking. Sometimes, a title can be intimidating depending on what level of the organization you are talking to. Managers should always be aware of this as what they say and how they say it can have a huge impact. It is up to us to make sure it is a good one!
What are the biggest challenges that you see facing the Performance Plastics industry?

Recruiting, hiring and retaining talent. Most people associate plastics with bottles and that comes with a negative connotation, especially when it comes to the environment. And let’s face it, if you don’t know anything about the markets we serve, the way our products impact lives or the creative ways plastics can be used, it doesn’t seem to be very appealing. Obviously, we know different!

Once you hire the right person and get through the onboarding process, the challenge of keeping them engaged and developing them begins. Over the years, I have seen employee expectations change regarding their needs from their company and leader. Training, involving them in projects, understanding what is important to them and their lifestyle is not only vital to employee retention, but it also creates highly motivated employees. If you do not adapt to the evolving workforce, you could lose a valuable employee.

What excites you about the future of the Performance Plastics industry?
I am most excited about the new talent coming into the industry. When I first started with GE, the standard practice seemed to be hiring folks who had industry experience (usually from a competitor). Over the years, I have seen that change for the better and I believe the industry is better off for it. People that come from outside our industry tend to have a different approach to business from almost every aspect. That is not to say that the way we do things are wrong, but we only know what we know or what we learned “coming up” in the business. The key is to be open to new ideas and suggestions, even if it isn’t the way you “have always done things.” I am a firm believer that learning is a two-way street. When you hire the right people, I have found that when you are willing to take someone else’s input, they feel valued and tend to be more open to learning the knowledge you have to impart.