Experts and leaders from all corners of the plastics industry will convene soon to assess business prospects, ponder trends, share best practices and network with colleagues and customers. The Plastics News Executive Forum will return March 9-12 to Tampa, Fla., and will include more than 25 speakers.
The event will feature three keynote presenters:
* Sabic Innovative Plastics LP President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Gladden, who, as head of the business formerly known as GE Plastics, will share his vision for the engineering thermoplastics business, in the wake of his firm's $11.6 billion sale.
* British author Ken Robinson, who uses wit, humor and passion to convey serious messages about the creative challenges facing business and education in new global economies.
* Jim Walter, senior vice president for worldwide quality assurance at Mattel Inc., who will offer his views on China sourcing challenges, and then join a panel discussion on the topic.
Other speakers will cover topics including resin prospects and purchasing strategies, sustainability, innovation, design, nanotechnology, supply-chain management and the latest merger and acquisition trends (featuring a repeat appearance by Ira Boots, chairman, CEO and president of Berry Plastics Corp.).
In addition, Plastics News will present its Processor of the Year Award to one of three recently announced finalists. Top executives from those firms - Robert Janeczko of Innovative Injection Technologies Inc. in West Des Moines, Iowa; Ron Kirscht of Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Inc. in Alexandria, Minn.; and Tom Duffey of Plastic Components Inc. in Germantown, Wis. - also will participate in a best-practices panel discussion.
See the full speaker lineup and agenda at www.plasticsnews.com/forum2008.
