People, Places, and Things

Sheffield Plastics Inc. announced the expansion and reorganization of their marketing and sales teams. Sheffield is adding three new industry Manager positions, a New Product Development Manager position, and a Marketing Communications Manager position. These new positions have been developed in order to accelerate and enhance market growth and penetration; improve market focus; drive new specifications; identify new applications; and, enhance efforts to develop and introduce new products on a timely basis.
To fill these positions, Sheffield has promoted Doug Mahler to Industry Manager, Architectural Glazing & Security; Brian Faul to Industry Manager, OEM Markets; Jeff Hester to Industry Manager, Sign and POP Industry; Craig Pehlert to New Product Development Manager; and D.J. Jantz, Marketing, Communications Manager.
Each position will report directly to Sheffield’s new Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Kurt Glaser.

Derek J. Garner has been promoted to General Manager for Curbell Plastics. Mr. Garner previously held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing and was promoted to General Manager after 3 years with the company. Also, Shuhartha (Art) Ghose has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer. In this newly created position Mr. Ghose will provide leadership and vision to both of Curbell’s divisions (Plastics and Electronics) to enhance strategic position, earnings, and return on investments.

MultiCam, Inc., a provider of CNC Routers, announced that John Harris has joined their sales staff. Mr. Harris will work directly with MultiCam Technology Centers, distributors, and direct users promoting the full line of MultiCam CNC Routers. He brings over 20 years of CNC router experience and has served in a variety of sales and marketing positions with leading companies in the industry.

Ensinger/Hyde names Fran Alder as Marketing Manager, Medical, and Dave Mildenstein, Marketing Manager, Semi-Conductor.

Merchandising Inventives, Inc., a supplier of P.O.P. and display hardware, announced the addition of Linda Scott to its customer service department.

Foster Brown has been named President of BP Solvay Polyethylene North America, a new joint venture for the production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) between Solvay Polymers, Inc. and BP Amoco Polymers, Inc. Also, Bob Sokol has been named Vice-President of Finance. Mr. Sokol will be responsible for the company’s financial transactions and its e-commerce activities. Concurrently, he will provide accounting services for BP’s polypropylene business.

Rich Draude was named Director of Operations for Transilwrap’s films and manufacturing facilities. Draude, who previously held the title of Films Operations Manager, will assume the duties of Director of Operations by overseeing the companies manufacturing plants as well as inventory control and asset management.

Victrex USA Inc. announced the appointment of John Getz as U.S. Marketing Manager. He will be responsible for business development as well as marketing strategies, product strategies, and new business concepts for the company. Also, announced was the appointment of two new business managers; Bill Pelke will be responsible for the Western Region’s core business as well as new account development in the aerospace and semi-conductor (back end) industries and Tim Herr will be responsible for application development throughout the semiconductor chip manufacturing industry. Thad O’Brien was also appointed Automotive Regional Business Manager.

Interior Products has recently added and promoted several key sales personnel: Eric Barnes was promoted to General Manager of Distribution Sales of North America; John Hamacher joined as Store Fixture Division Sales Manager; Michele "Missy" Perkins joined as Sales and Customer Support for the Eastern Region; and Tom Phillips, Interior Products Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing, will also be overseeing OEM accounts in addition to his regular duties that involve technical consulting, research and development, and facilities director.

Carl R. Heflin, 68, of Lee, MA, passed away September 5. Mr. Heflin worked for Phillips Petroleum from 1956 until 1967 when he joined the Sales and Marketing Department of GE Plastics in Pittsfield, MA. In the 1970’s he moved to California to become the West Coast Regional Manager for Sheffield Plastics of Sheffield, MA. Finally, in 1995 he accepted a position as Sales Manager for Rowland Technologies until retiring in January of this year. He is survived by his wife, Sheila MacDonald Heflin, a son, two daughters, and a granddaughter.

Morton R. French, Sr., 90, of Sunny Isles Beach, FL, passed away on October 14. An icon in our industry, Mr. French was the co-founder of Commercial Plastics in 1945 with only one location in New York city. He was the beloved husband of Mary and the late Mildred French and father of Morton R. French, Jr., Joan Ring, and Catherine Romano, stepfather of Raymond Skrabut, Lynn Busch, and James Skrabut. A grandfather of 20 and great-grandfather of 4, his presence will be missed.

Our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Heflin and Mr. French.

For more information, contact The Plastics Distributor & Fabricator Magazine.