media release

Date: September 27, 2022
Contact: Kailee Canty, Marketing and Education Manager, +913.345.1005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Performance Plastics Association (IAPD) Wraps Up Successful Convention

Overland Park, Kans. - IAPD - The Performance Plastics Association, concluded its 66th Annual Convention on September 15, 2022, at the JW Marriott in Tampa, FL, USA. This convention is the second to occur since the COVID-19 pandemic and was highly rated by attendees.

Attendance highlights
The association welcomed eight individuals from new member companies that joined the association in 2022 and 58 first-time attendees to the IAPD convention. Overall, the convention had a total of 400 attendees, an increase from the 2021 convention.

Noteworthy announcements
The IAPD Workforce Development Task Force concluded their research and work on two videos to highlight skilled trade and professional career opportunities in the performance plastics industry. This task force was created to address the challenges of attracting, hiring and retaining talent in the industry. The skilled trade and professional recruitment videos were presented to the association during the opening general session on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

The IAPD Recycling Task Force presented their design of a recycling directory on the IAPD website, and a best practices recycling document for IAPD members to identify ways to improve their sustainability efforts and how to find recyclers.

IAPD Vice President Peter DelGado of Curbell Plastics, Inc., announced IAPD’s new tagline: the performance plastics association. DelGado explained at the opening general session that the change will help reinforce the association’s membership and differentiate the materials it represents.

The association hosted two keynote speakers after the speech of IAPD President Deborah Ragsdale, Polymer Industries, during the opening general session. Keynote Alan Stein, Jr., author of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best, spoke to raising the standards on an individual and business level. Alan Beaulieu, ITR Economics, provided an economic and business trends forecast from now until 2030.

Two educational sessions were presented that afternoon. IAPD’s legislative advocacy team in Washington, D.C. was represented by Ari Storch and Tiffany Shackelford, Esq., of the Madison Group, who discussed the war on plastics — highlighting the negative perceptions of plastics and how the industry could respond. Following this session was performance plastics industry leader Chris Ranallo, Executive Vice President, Ensinger, who spoke about leadership lessons in recreating company culture, and steps to take to achieve an environment that fosters productivity and retention.

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, the association hosted two final education sessions. Dr. Keith Hechtel, DBA, Curbell Plastics, Inc., gave a successful workshop on advanced business communications for performance plastics professionals. The final education session presented by Lora Cecere, a thought leader, published author and researcher on supply chains, discussed customer service tactics during supply chain disruptions.

Throughout the convention’s schedule, suppliers and distributors hosted private meetings to cover new product launches, discuss supply chain and logistics issues, share company strategies and plans for the upcoming year. on the final afternoon of the convention, Thursday, September 15, the IAPD convention connecX trade show provided distributors, fabricators, manufacturers, resin manufacturers, equipment and other service provider members and nonmembers alike the opportunity to meet at any of the booths on the trade show floor.

To conclude the celebrations on Thursday, September 15, 2022, full convention and one-day delegates enjoyed a live band and bayfront location for the closing party.

IAPD looks forward to welcoming new and returning attendees to the 67th Annual Convention on October 23-26, 2023, in San Diego, CA, USA.

Individual and company awards given at the 2022 IAPD convention can be found in the “Press Room” on the IAPD website.

About IAPD

IAPD – The Performance Plastics Association (IAPD), established in 1956, brings together performance plastics distributors, fabricators, manufacturers, manufacturers' representatives, recyclers, resin manufacturers/distributors and service providers in an environment which encourages a free flow of ideas and information that help members build their businesses. Every program and service we provide is designed with the simple goal of helping our members increase profitability. IAPD provides training, connections with customers and suppliers and information about developments that impact the industry.

For more information, visit www.iapd.org.