Name

Education

Work Experience

Why I want to be elected:

I would like to serve the SPE –  CAD and its members as a pay back for nearly 20 years of my membership. I feel that I will bring a unique blend of ideas from the business/creativity/technical sides of the plastics colorant industry. As a consumer and a supplier of Specialty pigments/resins for plastics, I feel that I could help supply solutions for the needs and desires of the CAD membership. EMD chemicals in dedicated to the SPE and will continue to support me and the society. This will allow me to be a valuable and very active member.

Graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemistry from the King’s College (US).

In May, 2002 she earned a Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) from the New School University in New York City

Doreen Becker is A. Schulman’s Strategic Accounts Manager for the Custom Compounding Division of New England.  Becker comes to A. Schulman with more than two decades of experience in color and effect development in the plastics and coatings industries for Americhem & BASF.  She has delivered papers and presentations throughout the world and actively participates in several related industry organizations, such as the Color Marketing Group, Society for Plastics Engineers, Applied Masterbatch Industries and many others. Prior to her tenure at BASF, Becker worked with pigments as an analytical chemist for Engelhard/Mearl Corporation.Becker monitors and develops trends through these industry groups, conferences, annual meetings and trade shows. She also participates in industry events, regularly interacting with customers and suppliers.

Since I was trained as an analytical chemist but recieved my masters degree in Fine Arts, I think I bring a unique perspective to the color industry.  I believe that creativity without science is lame but science without creativity is blind.  The Color and Appearance division should be the most inspired and inspiring division of the Society of plastics engineers and I would like to enable the CAD group to have a more creative perspective on color and its applications in plastics.  

Graduated in 2005 from Montana State University with a BS in Chemistry and Chemistry Education.
In 2010 she earned her PhD in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University.

I have worked for BASF for 6 years. I have been in my current role as Technical Specialist in the Coatings, Plastics and Inks group for 2 years where I focus on technical service for the distribution network.

I truly feel like I have found what I should be doing. I love colors and creating interesting things with colors. I am fairly new to the industry and am eager to get more involved with my peers in the pigments industry.

Chuck Depew

Graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor’s of Psychology Degree from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.

Chuck has been the Purchasing Manager for Holland Colours Americas, Inc. (HCA) since early 2007.   Chuck joined HCA in 2002 and during his tenure has held both Purchasing Manager and Logistics Manager roles within the organization.

I have 14 years of experience in the colorant industry. I have been a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers since 2002 and have attended the previous 14 CAD Retec conferences.  I have served as the chair on several committees within my organization, but am eager to expand these efforts beyond the walls of HCA.  Being in Purchasing has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people within the industry and for that I am grateful.  I would be honored to have the opportunity to give back to the industry that has provided me with so much over the past 14 years.  Thank you in advance for considering me for the CAD Board of Directors.

25 Years  – LTL Color Compounders, Inc – Morrisville, PA – serving in a variety roles, including President, General Manager, and various technical and commercial roles. 

7 Years – President – Dongguan LTL Color Compounders, LLC – Dongguan, China.

1 Year – General Manager – Infinity LTL Engineered Compounders, LLC – Morrisville, PA

Scott Heitzman(Incumbent)

Construction Technology & Industrial Technology from Morehead State University

Scott has over 25 years of experience in the pigment and color industry. He is currently employed by Sun Chemical Corporation. During his career with Sun Chemical, Scott has held positions in Technical, Purchasing, Product Management and Sales

Scott has been a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers since 1987 and currently sits on the board. Scott is a very active member of the board (recently completed his term as Chair, contributes to the newsletter, serves on several committees and has chaired RETEC and ANTEC conferences. He is interested in continuing his efforts to provide greater value to current members and open opportunity for Jr. employees to get involved.. Please give Scott your vote!

I feel like I would be a great addition to SPE CAD as I consider the Plastic Industry as my area of concentration. Today, as Technical Manager for Nubiola USA the applications experience learned over the last 22 years helps current and new customers understand the art and science of plastic, coating, and construction application coloration.

Specialties: Coloration of most any substrate, Inorganic pigments.

Plastic Masterbatch Production

Mark Ryan

BA Chemistry, 1993, Saint Louis University

MBA, 1999, Univ. of Missouri at St. Louis

Mark Ryan is the Marketing Manager for the Shepherd Color Co. Mark is responsible for market and product development for key technologies such as IR reflective pigments, the NTP Yellow and RTZ Orange high-performance pigments along with Shepherd Color’s highly-durable and heat-stable standard pigments. Mark has spoken and been published around the world on the use of these problem-solving pigments for paints, coatings, plastics and other materials. He has been in the involved in high performance materials with various technical, sales and marketing roles for over 23 years. His favorite color is blue.

I see SPE-CAD as the premier organization in the plastics market for people to come together and further the advancement of the industry. I would like to give back to the community to honor the work of those that have come before me and to help keep SPE-CAD on the forefront of the discussions that are impacting our market.  I believe that I have the balance of technical and business experience to contribute, and help by facilitating the voices of others.  I enjoy being passionate about color technology and how it impacts our lives in general and our work in particular.  Thank you for your consideration for the SPE-CAD Board.

Ann Smeltzer (incumbent)

B.S. General Management – Purdue University

M.B.A. University of Pittsburgh

Part of the Plastics Industry for 17 years.

Present – Pigments Technical Sales Representative – Clariant Plastics and Coatings USA since 5/2012.

Previous – 29 year career with Lanxess Corporation which had been formerly a part of Bayer Corporation –positions held included being the Plastics Market Manager for the Inorganic Pigments Group and jobs in the areas of sales, marketing, product management, and controlling.

I have been member of the CAD Board of Director’s for 10 years which has included the five year commitment of rotating through the chairs starting with secretary, finance, chair elect, chairperson, and past chair. I was CAD’s technical program coordinator (TPC) for ANTEC 2008, CAD’s co-TPC for RETEC 2009, and currently am a member of the Endowment and Communication committees. I would like to continue being a part of contributing to the growth and expansion of the Plastics market by participating on the board of directors.

BS Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin

MS Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University

MBA, Kent State University

Edwin Tam is currently the Manager, Marketing & Business Development, for Teknor Apex Company, Color Division. Edwin is a member of SPE for over 30 years; he has over 30 year experience in the Plastics Industry in various positions in R&D, Technical Service, Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Past companies include Saint- Gobain, Arkema and Monsanto Chemical Company (Division now is part of Exxon/Mobil).   Edwin is the past SPE TPE SIG ANTEC Technical Program Chair (TPC) and TOPCON TPC,  Bioplastics SIG Technical Program Chair (TPC) of ANTEC 2011, 2012 and 2013; SPE Bioplastics TOPCON Chair in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Edwin will be the TPC for ANTEC 2017 in Los Angeles. In the past, Edwin is active with SPE as well as other industry groups. He has presented over 30 technical papers in various conferences.

I feel like I would be a great addition to SPE CAD as I have been very active in the other SIGs in the past. In the coming months, other than ANTEC, I will be gradually deemphasizing my participation in other SIG. If I am elected as the Board member in CAD, I like to promote our membership. As ANTEC TPC for 2017, I am also interested to promote CAD’s participation and cooperation with other divisions and/or SIGs.  Please give Edwin your vote, thanks

Brian West is the Vice President, Color Technologies of Techmer PM. Brian has over 40 years experience in the field of plastic color compounding, specializing in directing computer color matching systems, colorant technology, and process development.

Member of Society of Plastics Engineers, serving in Governance of the International Society and as Chairman of the Color and Appearance Division, Detroit Color Council, SAE Committee on Color, and ISCC. Not only is Brian one of the founders of the Smoky Mountain Section of SPE, he has served multiple terms as councilor and has served on the International Committeee as secretary and North American vice-chairman. Brian has served as a CAD Board Member for every RETEC since 1992.

     Councilor Candidate Information (No Councilor Positions are being elected this year