s we prepare to gather in Atlanta for the 2026 IAPD Annual Convention, it is remarkable to think that we are also celebrating the association’s 70th anniversary. Despite what some may think, no, I have not attended all 70 conventions. However, after spending the past 41 years in the performance plastics industry, all as an IAPD member, I have experienced firsthand the value this association brings to our industry, our businesses and the people who make them successful.

Reaching 70 years is an accomplishment that belongs to every member who has invested time, shared knowledge and helped strengthen this association. It is also an opportunity to reflect on what has made IAPD successful for seven decades and why it continues to be a leading trade association serving the performance plastics industry.

Throughout those 70 years, our industry has continually evolved. New materials have entered the marketplace. Manufacturing technologies have advanced. Markets have shifted. Customer expectations have changed. Companies have grown, merged and expanded around the world.

Through all those changes, IAPD has stayed one of the constants. For generations, the association has provided a place where member companies collaborate, exchange ideas and help one another succeed. While the business landscape has changed dramatically over the years, bringing people together continues to bring value to IAPD members. Relationships remain the foundation of everything we do.

That commitment began with the founders of IAPD. From the beginning, they understood that the performance plastics industry would be stronger if companies had a place to learn from one another, discuss shared challenges and build professional relationships. They recognized that when members share ideas and experiences, everyone benefits. That philosophy continues to guide the association today.

Education has always been one of the core pillars of IAPD. As our industry has evolved, so have the educational needs of our members. New materials, changing regulations and legislation, emerging markets and advancing technologies require companies to continually learn and adapt. Through the annual convention, publications, webinars, market intelligence and professional development opportunities, IAPD continues to provide industry-leading education that helps members strengthen their businesses and prepare for the future.

Innovation has also defined IAPD for decades. Long before digital communication became the norm, the association recognized the importance of establishing a web presence and expanding digital resources to better serve members. Today, that same commitment continues as we embrace artificial intelligence (AI), including IAPD’s custom developed AI tool (the IAPD GPT), and other emerging technologies to enhance content, improve access to information and deliver greater value. Members’ needs are still at the forefront of every decision we make.

As we approach our 70th Annual Convention, it remains a premier annual event for the performance plastics industry. It is where lifelong business relationships are forged, new partnerships begin and future leaders emerge. Every educational session, committee meeting and networking opportunity strengthens our industry and reinforces the value of being part of IAPD.

While we have every reason to celebrate the past 70 years, I am equally excited about what lies ahead. Through our Membership Model and Trends Initiative, we are listening more closely than ever to what members need from their association. That feedback is helping shape enhanced content, expanded educational opportunities, greater use of emerging technologies, and exciting enhancements to the IAPD Annual Convention + connecX experience. Our goal is simple: continue delivering exceptional value while ensuring IAPD remains a leading association serving the performance plastics industry.

The common thread throughout our history is clear. Relationships, education and innovation have been the pillars that have sustained IAPD for seven decades, and they will continue to guide our association well into the future.

As I reflect on my own 41 years in the performance plastics industry, one lesson stands out above all others. The more involved you become, the more rewarding your membership will be. Some of the greatest opportunities in my career have come through IAPD. I have learned from outstanding leaders, served alongside dedicated volunteers and built friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

It is our responsibility as today’s leaders to look to not just our own companies’ leadership succession plans, but the broader industry’s succession plan as well.

Today’s success in the performance plastics industry was built upon our ability to develop relationships with industry suppliers, customers, legislators/regulators and other stakeholders. We had to develop the core messaging about performance plastics and refine the necessary skills to communicate about why our products matter and should be considered. We had to learn how to transition from an in-person to a digital world, while keeping the personal touch in relationships.

Now, we are having to teach the next generation of leaders how to get out from behind a phone and computer screen, to do it all in-person again.

I encourage every member to become involved. Join a committee. Attend educational programs and events. Engage in legislative advocacy. Author an article for the magazine. Present a webinar. Try out the IAPD GPT. Take your team through the IAPD Member Orientation. Get your staff teams engaged in IAPD. Volunteer your talents. Share your knowledge with someone entering the industry. Welcome a new member. Help create opportunities for others.

When we invest in one another, we strengthen the future of our industry.

In IAPD CEO Susan Avery’s article in this issue, she shares big questions on strategy that the IAPD Board and Executive Committee are considering for IAPD’s future strategy and how it delivers value to its members. But it also poses other points. What could IAPD accomplish if the industry’s most powerful advocates are the people who live and work in it every day? The member company leaders.

I will share with you during my General Session speech on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the strategic roadmap for the future of IAPD. The IAPD Board invites all members to this discussion.

The time invested in being engaged at an individual volunteer level, or as a company, is minimal compared with the ROI you receive in return. That has certainly been true throughout my career, and it is one of the many reasons I continue to encourage members to become involved and pay it forward. Every one of us has benefited from someone who shared advice, opened a door or offered encouragement. We have the same opportunity to support those who will lead this industry in the future.

As we celebrate IAPD’s 70th anniversary, we honor the generations of members, volunteers, leaders and staff whose dedication has made this milestone possible. Their vision established an association built on relationships, education and innovation. It is a legacy that we are privileged to continue. Thank you for your continued support of IAPD. I look forward to celebrating this historic anniversary with you in Atlanta as we recognize our past, celebrate our present and begin writing the next chapter in our association’s history.