ConventionCoverage
2021 Special Recognitions and Awards
Wayne Gono receives the Paul Davis Award of Merit from the 2020 award winner Adam Mellen
From left: Wayne Gono receives the Paul Davis Award of Merit from the 2020 award winner Adam Mellen.
Paul Davis Award of Merit
Wayne Gono
The prestigious 2021 Paul Davis Award of Merit was presented to Wayne Gono of Regal Plastic Supply, Inc. by 2020 recipient Adam Mellen of SIMONA AMERICA Group. In his role as a second-generation leader of the family business, Gono had been a disengaged member of IAPD for many years. Once he joined the IAPD Board of Directors in 2011, he realized the many benefits of being engaged in the association and has come to be a champion of association engagement, inspiring others within his company, as well as other small distributors and many more in the performance plastics supply chain. Gono joined the IAPD Executive Committee in 2013, became vice president in 2017 and served as president for the 2018-2019 term. He continues to be an active member, including serving on the IAPD Plastics PAC Board of Directors, the IAPD Government Relations Committee and the IAPD Small Distributors Round Table. IAPD thanks him for his dedication and enthusiasm to the association.
President Craig Saunders, Pacesetter Award Winner Jim Cooney and Vice President Deborah Ragsdale
From left: President Craig Saunders, Pacesetter Award Winner Jim Cooney and Vice President Deborah Ragsdale.
Pacesetter Award
Jim Cooney
The Pacesetter Award is presented in recognition of an IAPD volunteer leader who sets the pace for the association. Jim Cooney of Polymershapes was presented the award in recognition of his championing of IAPD’s government relations program. Cooney is the Central Region Director for Polymershapes, a distributor of plastic sheet, rod, tube, film and associated products. Cooney is an experienced distribution professional with more than 35 years dedicated to the performance plastics industry, holding a variety of commercial and leadership roles throughout his career. Since 2017, Cooney has served on the IAPD Government Relations Committee, with the past two years as the committee chair. Thanks to Cooney, more people on Capitol Hill know about the benefits of performance plastics and how the industry is helping make life better for all.
Group team
Top row from left to right: Whitney Nelson, Dave Blackhurst, IAPD President Deborah Ragsdale, Liz Novak, Courtney Karr. Front row from left to right: Jean McClure, Kerrie Moore, IAPD CEO Susan Avery, Lauren Fredricksen and Mackenzie Diekmann.
President’s Award
The IAPD Staff
The IAPD staff was the 2021 President’s Award recipient. The IAPD Executive Committee honored staff with this award in recognition of their creativity and hard work during the pandemic. When travel restrictions caused IAPD events to be canceled, many of those events were reimagined as virtual events, which were successful and helped many more IAPD members experience the value of their company’s membership in the association. Staff also developed two new caused-based programs, the Sustainability Champions and GenerationNext program, as well as a new digital strategy and offerings during the pandemic year. The staff is honored and humbled to be recognized by IAPD leadership for their work.
Education Circle of Champions Awards
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award was presenteed to Jane Saale and Roxanne Wittman of Cope Plastics, Inc.
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award was presenteed to Jane Saale and Roxanne Wittman of Cope Plastics, Inc.
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award was presented to Gerry Helbig, Peter DelGado, Jinny Kcehowski, Keith Hechtel and Dallas McLaughlin of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award was presented to Gerry Helbig, Peter DelGado, Jinny Kcehowski, Keith Hechtel and Dallas McLaughlin of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
The Gold Level Circle of Champions
The Gold Level Circle of Champions was presented to Alicia Spence, Peter Daumeyer, Christopher Corona, John Rogan, Deena Baker, Steve Zagami and Mick Fisher of CartierWilson LLC.
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award
The Gold Level Circle of Champions Award was presented to Tyler Booth, Chad Roberts, Christy McKinney, Brent Brelsford and Pat Barrett of Piedmont Plastics.
Craig Saunders presents the Gold Level Circle of Champions Award
Craig Saunders presents the Gold Level Circle of Champions Award to Courtney Kincaid, Brad Caplan, Suzette Plaisted and Jim Cooney of Polymershapes.
The 2021 Education Circle of Champions Award recipients are:
Gold Level — Cope Plastics, Inc.; Curbell Plastics, Inc.; CartierWilson LLC; Piedmont Plastics; Polymershapes

These five companies were selected for their commitment to continuing plastics education and sales training through IAPD’s Certificate Programs and education resources. The Education Circle of Champions has three award levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. The criteria are demanding, so it is significant that so many companies achieved this level of recognition.

Environmental Excellence Awards
Craig Saunders presents the Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award to Gerry Helbig, Peter DelGado, Jinny Kcehowski, Keith Hechtel and Dallas McLaughlin of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Craig Saunders presents the Gold Level Environmental Excellence Award to Gerry Helbig, Peter DelGado, Jinny Kcehowski, Keith Hechtel and Dallas McLaughlin of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Craig Saunders presents the Silver Level Environmental Excellence Awar
Craig Saunders presents the Silver Level Environmental Excellence Award to Bernnie Willms, Matt Orlando, Paul Brust, Jeff Mikitka, Jim Kohler, Scott Doherty, Michael McInerney and Derek Rohac of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials
The Bronze Level Environmental Excellence  Award
The Bronze Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Tyler Booth, Chad Roberts, Christy McKinney, Bert Hagy, Brent Brelsford and Pat Barrett of Piedmont Plastics.
The Bronze Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Jama Fabry of Cope Plastics, Inc.
The Bronze Level Environmental Excellence Award was presented to Jama Fabry of Cope Plastics, Inc.
The Environmental Excellence Impact Award was presented to Kevin Duffy, Kevin Vincent, Matt Brunner and Lisa Kreinces of Vycom.
The Environmental Excellence Impact Award was presented to Kevin Duffy, Kevin Vincent, Matt Brunner and Lisa Kreinces of Vycom.
The 2021 Environmental Excellence Award recipients are:
Gold — Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Silver — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials
Bronze — Piedmont Plastics and Cope Plastics, Inc.
Impact Award — Vycom

These awards celebrate the environmentally responsible practices of IAPD member companies. Applicants indicate their dedication to sustainable business practices via strategies such as recycling, conservation, community outreach, employee engagement and more. New this year is the Impact Award, which goes to a company or branch location that implemented a change that made a positive environmental impact.

Marketing Excellence Awards
The Marketing Excellence Award
The Marketing Excellence Award was presented to Kevin Duffy, Kevin Vincent, Matt Brunner and Lisa Kreinces of Vycom.
The Marketing Excellence Award
The Marketing Excellence Award was presented to Gerry Helbig, Peter DelGado, Jinny Kcehowski, Keith Hechtel and Dallas McLaughlin of Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Craig Saunders presents the Marketing Excellence Award
Craig Saunders presents the Marketing Excellence Award to Rick Gough, Courtney Kincaid, Brad Caplan, Suzette Plaisted and Jim Cooney Polymershapes.
The 2021 Marketing Excellence Award recipients are:
Gold — Vycom
Silver — Curbell Plastics, Inc.
Bronze — Polymershapes

The IAPD Marketing Excellence Awards celebrate the creative marketing efforts by IAPD member companies. The awards are based on a point system. The point system includes many low-cost or even free options for companies who may not have a marketing budget or even a dedicated marketing department.

Outgoing Board Members
Craig Saunders is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors.
Craig Saunders is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors.
Tim Brown is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors
Tim Brown is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors.
Gerry Helbig is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors.
Gerry Helbig is recognized for outstanding service on the IAPD Board of Directors.
The IAPD Outgoing Board Members recognition is given in appreciation to IAPD Board members whose terms have come to an end. These board members have gone above and beyond in their service to the IAPD Board of Directors. We look forward to their continued support in the committees, CIGs and councils they are involved in.