The Plastics Industry Association began to see departures from its leading members in mid-2021. The biggest indication of inner-turmoil was because of the canceling of the NPE2021 trade show, which was scheduled for May 17-21, 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Plastics News has pulled together our comprehensive coverage of the staff changes and the fallout over the last year.
- First, on Jan. 5, 2021 — Cancellation of NPE2021 trade show is announced. About 2,100 companies had made partial or full payments to exhibit at NPE
- Jan. 29, 2021 — Group tells exhibitors it would not be returning deposits for the show, and wouldn't be hosting a virtual show, while the exhibitors question the handling of deposits. PN Assistant Managing Editor Steve Toloken also opined on why canceling the trade show was such a big deal.
- March 2021 — PN reports that the industry trade group received $1.7 million from the Paycheck Protection Program. The funds were to be for payout to 50 employees, according to the coronavirus bailout loan information.
- July 2021 — Two senior executives, Brendan Thomas, former VP of advocacy and voice, and Susan Krys, former VP of trade shows, resigned from the organization.
- October 2021 — Separate trade show, Fakuma, held in Germany, takes place while adapting to COVID restrictions and bouncing back after a 2020 cancellation.
- February 2022 — Chief Economist Perc Pineda leaves the Plastics Industry Association, as the organizations then-president Tony Radoszewski blamed the "Great Resignation" for the staff turnovers.
- March 1, 2022 — The group announced it would be issuing nonrefundable credits for NPE2024 to exhibitors who had put down deposits for space in the canceled NPE2021.
- March 28, 2022 — The organization announces Tony Radoszewski, its president and CEO from 2019, had "exited" the organization. Chairpersons with the group remained tightlipped, but indications of frustrations over staff turnover was a significant reasoning for the departure.
- April 1, 2022 — The Plastics Industry Association begins the necessary task of finding a new CEO, Steve Toloken writes.
- April 26, 2022 — Matt Seaholm, former VP of governmental affairs for the group, is named the new CEO. At the time, Seaholm said he was eager to rebuild the staff and bring in top talent.
- July 14, 2022 — It's announced that former chief economist Perc Pineda is rejoining the plastics association.
- July 2022 — PN uncovers a lawsuit filed by the Plastics Industry Association against ex-CEO Tony Radoszewski, who filed a countersuit days later.