Rewarding dedication

“My interest in CPIA is to promote the well-being of a great industry in Canada.” The words are from Anton Mudde, Canplast award winner and long-time industry supporter, but they exemplify the attitude of the seven dedicated individuals who were honored last month at the CPIA’s annual Blue Ribbon Gala. The association presented its Industry Leader of the Year award to Georg Nemeskeri, president of GN Plastics (see Canadian Plastics, May 2002) and a lifetime achievement award to Dennis Lauzon.

Canplast awards were presented to Anton Mudde, president/CEO of Waltec Plastics; Dominique Potelle, environmental affairs and Quebec sales manager, Amcor PET Americas; Kurt Fenske, vice-president business development, Engel Canada Inc.; Stan Rodriguez, corporate manager, health, environment and safety, IPEX; and Mario Cadorette, president, Plastibec.

Lauzon recently retired from Dow Canada. He has held senior management positions with the company in both Canada and the U.S., and was very influential in developing Alberta’s petrochemical industry. Lauzon has been a regular participant in CPIA, most recently as chairman of the association. Lauzon is also past-chairman of the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association.

Mudde is co-chair of the Sector Council for Human Resources, a member of the Ontario management committee of CPIA and a board member of CPIA. He has worked in the plastics industry for 30 years, working up through engineering, management and operations roles at both Midland Industries and Waltec Plastics.

As environmental affairs manager for Amcor PET Americas, Potelle has had tremendous industry involvement on issues relating to PET recycling. She holds positions on the executive of NAPCOR, the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California, and CPIA’s Environment and Plastic Industry Council in Quebec.

Rodriguez has played a key role in the creation and implementation of CPIA’s Sustainability Management Program. This program is a code of practice for the industry that represents a pro-active, voluntary commitment to managing health, safety, environmental and social responsibility issues.

Cadorette has served for many years on the management committee of CPIA Quebec and SPI Quebec. He is president of Plastibec, part of the Royal group of companies. His current interest is in programs to resolve the manpower shortage in Quebec.

Fenske is a member of CPIA’s Machinery Council and the Ontario Region management committee. He has been involved with organizing CPIA’s trade shows, Plast-Ex and Expoplast, for many years.

Canplast winners: (left to right) Stan Rodriguez, Dominique Potelle, Kurt Fenske and Anton Mudde. Mario Cadorette was not present.