AKRON, OHIO - Plastics News is adding to its sales staff with the appointment of Gary D. Judy as southern regional sales manager. Judy, 43, has served as publisher of Advanstar Communications' Plastics Compounding magazine and district manager for Plastics Machinery and Equipment, Plastics Design Forum and Advanced Composites from 1988-92.
``Gary comes to us with a thorough knowledge of the plastics industry and numerous contacts in this market. We plan to capitalize on his experience,'' said Jeff Williams, PN national sales manager.
Most recently, Judy has been district manager for Chemical Processing and Food Processing magazines, owned by Putnam Publishing.
He also has worked as a regional sales manager for the Journal of Commerce, Paperboard Packaging, Board Converting News and European Converting News.
Judy lives in Easton, Md.
Separately, Plastics News has hired Michelle Piper to fill the newly created position of research assistant.
Piper will gather data for the publication's six annual processor rankings projects and will help manage and maintain its editorial database.