Charles E. Sholtis, the founder and former chairman of Plastic Molding Technology Inc., died on Nov. 7 at the age of 89.
A statement from his family called Sholtis "a pioneer in the plastics industry" who "leaves behind an enduring legacy of engineering innovation, workforce development and industry mentorship."
Born into a coal-mining family in western Pennsylvania, Sholtis joined the U.S. Navy after high school, serving in New London, Conn., before working on survey crews in Appalachia.
His curiosity led him to study engineering and drafting at a community college in Jamestown, N.Y., where he earned an associate degree in technology in 1967.
Sholtis's plastics career began with positions as a tooling designer, draftsman, and engineer at well-known manufacturers including Remington and Timex. He founded Prototype Molding Co. in 1973 in rented space in Bridgeport, Conn., with a single molding press.
By 1976, the company rebranded as Plastic Molding Technology, reflecting its expanding capabilities. Over the next 15 years, PMT built a reputation as one of New England's premier molders of precision parts.
Sholtis's sons, Charles A. Sholtis and Todd Sholtis, joined the family business in the 1990s.
"He was an inspiration and extraordinary man who dedicated himself to the plastics industry. You might say plastics was his calling in life," Charles A. Sholtis said in an email. "I'm going to miss him and had the honor of working alongside him for over 30-some odd years."
In the early 2000s, Sholtis extended PMT's operations abroad, partnering with Esox SRO in Slovakia to establish a low-cost toolmaking venture, which ran until 2009. Through this partnership, Sholtis implemented an engineering exchange program, inviting Slovak students to the U.S. for hands-on industry training.
In 2001, PMT opened a satellite office in El Paso, eventually relocating the entire company to El Paso in 2003. Sholtis retired in 2013, passing leadership to his son Charles A. Sholtis.
In 2021, Tide Rock Holdings acquired PMT and continues to operate with facilities in El Paso and Denver.
Throughout his career, Sholtis was active in SPE and a strong advocate for technical education and workforce training.
In the 1990s, he established Connecticut's first plastics apprenticeship program. Working with the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Sholtis developed a curriculum that combined video coursework, on-the-job mentorship, and community college classes. His program received certification from the Connecticut Department of Labor.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marty Sholtis (Klym), sons Todd and Charles A. Sholtis, daughter-in-law Mary Sholtis (Dunphy), three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.