The NPE 2006 Free Conference is open to all NPE registrants. The conference is organized by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., underwritten by Dow Chemical Co. and sponsored by other industry leaders. Topics, speakers, times and room numbers are listed below. Sessions, which run concurrently with the trade show, are held on the fourth floor of McCormick Place's South Building.
June 22
Workforce Development
Career Development
Room 403b
9:30-10:30 a.m.
The Plastics Industry and Your Career - Dennis Gros, PlasticsJOBS by Gros Executive Search
10:45-11:45 a.m.
Beyond Lean Manufacturing: Supervisor Selection - Sustainable Competitive Advantage - Mike Lavelle, University of Minnesota
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Personality Profiles: How to Understand Yourself & Others - Sam M. McCord, McCord Consulting Group Inc.
Financial Management
9:45-11:45 a.m., Room 401d
Health Savings Accounts - TBA
Grant Workshop
Room 401d
Grant and Employer Services Workshop
Moderator: Barbara Darby, SPI
2-2:20 p.m.
High Growth Job Initiative - John Scott, Department of Labor
2:25-2:45 p.m.
Accessing State Resources - Patrick Cassidy, National Association of Workforce Boards
2:50-3:10 p.m.
Trade Adjustment Assistance - Tom Zimolzak, Applied Strategies International
3:15-3:35 p.m.
OSHA Training Grants - Cathleen Cronin, Department of Labor, OSHA
3:40-4 p.m.
Panel: Question and Answer Session
Management
9 a.m.-noon, Room 402b
Lean Executive Overview - Thomas Jarapko, Chicago Manufacturing Center
Recycling
Room 403a, 1:30-5 p.m.
Enhancing Plastics Recycling - Steve Alexander, Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers
Incentive Based Recycling - Ron Gonen, Recycle Bank
Creating Value in Your Plastics Recycling Program - Robert Render, Maine Plastics
Portal Technology Activates Community Recycling, Reuse and Proper Disposal - Anne Reichman, Earth 911
RFID
Room 403a, 9:30 a.m.-noon
Integrating RFID with Plastic Products and Packaging - Randy Stigall, UPM Raflatac; TBA, WalMart; TBA, Department of Defense
Implementing RFID in Plastic Reusable Packaging Systems to Reduce Cost & Improve Logistics; Issues, Challenges and Success - Michael McCartney, QLM
Workforce Development
Room 402a
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Building a Workforce Prepared to Compete - Joseph Barto III, Training Modernization
2:45-3:45 p.m.
The Human Competitive Advantage: The Optimist and the Bully - Maureen Steinwall, Steinwall Inc.
4-5 p.m.
Just Train the Employee! How? Multimedia is the Solution! - Maureen Steinwall, Steinwall Inc.
June 23
Student Summit
The Student Summit offers two programs, one college-level and one high-school level, to encourage entry and interest in plastics-related careers. See www.npe.org for more information.
Room 401d, 8-10 a.m.,
Importance of Education & Plastics Industry Careers - John Winzeler, Winzeler Gear