Webinars

Entec Polymers “In the Business of Better” Webinar Series

The Entec Polymers “In the Business of Better” Webinar Series provides valuable educational information on current plastic industry trends. Expert speakers deliver knowledge on a variety of cutting-edge topics, and answer questions submitted live by viewers. This is a great opportunity to learn while getting to know the team at Entec Polymers. We hope that you will join us for our next online event.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Enabling a Sustainable Future in Plastics through Application Development

Grid Block Image Size Events Sustainability

Date: August 17

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM EST

Presented by Entec's Business Development Team

Entec Polymers is committed to developing a sustainable plastics future with our customers and Brand owners through application development and the use of innovative polymer technologies. Sustainability can mean different things to different people. We are building our toolbox of polymer technologies to address these various unmet needs.

Some consumers want to know that their plastics are made from renewable resources. Others want the products they manufacture to break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. Alternatively, the strive towards a circular economy through recycling and repurposing of materials is a top priority. Entec Polymers respects all of these methods of improving sustainability by providing unique polymer solutions to develop a better future in plastics.

About Our Presenters

Cody Lawrence | Packaging Business Manager at Entec

Cody Lawrence is a Business Development and Product Manager at Entec Polymers. Cody graduated Clemson University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Science. After graduating from Clemson, Cody started his plastics career in Dow’s Technical Service and Development Department where he quickly developed expertise in Polyethylene, extrusion, and application development. Within a few years Cody was managing development opportunities at one of Dow’s largest packaging accounts. In 2016, Cody moved to Entec Polymers to pursue a career on the commercial side of the plastics business. From 2016 to 2021, he moved from Sales, to Business development and finally landed in Product Management. Cody is currently responsible for Entec’s Business Development efforts in the Packaging Industry and holds responsibility for managing Dow’s Specialty line of polyolefins and high-pressure copolymer products.


Ed Hindy | Packaging Business Manager at Entec


Jim Johnson | Compounding Business Manager & Director of Commercial Plastics Technology at Entec

Jim is the Director of Commercial Plastics Technology for Entec Polymers, a position he has held for approximately the last 17 years. In this role he manages Entec’s Technology Group which consists of 10 degreed Plastics Engineers that provide technical support to Entec’s customers and sales reps. Jim is also responsible for Business Development in the Compounding Market where his efforts are focused on impact modification and compatibilization. Jim has 38 years-experience in Plastics Engineering, Material Science and Physical Metallurgy and has undergraduate degrees in Metallurgical Science from Macomb College and Manufacturing Engineering from Wayne State University and a graduate certificate in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell.

In addition to his time at Entec, Jim has previously worked for Lati USA, BASF Plastic Materials, Allied Signal Automotive and Walker Wire & Steel. Over his career Jim has published several magazine articles and some of his microscopy work is used in the reference book Compositional and Failure Analysis of Polymers published in 2000.


Tim McGinnis | Medical Business Manager at Entec

Tim McGinnis is the Medical Business Manager at Entec Polymers, a division of Ravago and global leader in medical resin distribution. He began his medical career at Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon and Ethicon Endo-Surgery divisions as a clinical sales manager, working directly with surgeons and clinicians in the operating room before transitioning into market development roles at J&J. In 2006 he joined DSM as the Global Medical Sales and Marketing Manager, establishing DSM Biomedical, LLC and bringing a portfolio of high-value implant materials and technologies to the medical market. Prior to joining Entec in 2014, he was the North American medical market development manager at Celanese. Over the past 16 years Tim has developed a wide range of product and material expertise which he leverages with product development and engineering teams on appropriate medical material specification.

Eric Parrell | Automotive Business Manager at Entec

Eric is responsible for the North American Automotive Market for Ravago Americas and Entec Polymers. Primary responsibilities are business development with Auto OEM’s and Tier I’s, key account management and supplier development. Eric has been with Ravago Americas since 2004 and in this role since 2006. He is an Automotive plastics industry veteran, with more than 25 years of experience. Eric is based in metro Detroit.


Alex Lukshaitis | Automotive Business Manager at Entec


Alex is responsible for leading the development of Automotive Material development and applications in North America. He has a long history of working with all OEM’s and Tier molders to provide the best design solution for materials. He has been in the Automotive industry since 1991. Alex is located in Grand Rapids, MI.

Polymeric Compatibilizers for Blends and Recycled Compounds

Grid Block Image Size Events Compounding

Date: October 21

Time: 11:00 AM EST

Presenter: Jim Johnson | Compounding Business Manager & Director of Commercial Plastics Technology at Entec

This presentation will provide an introduction to polymeric compatibilizers for use in polymer blends and recycled compounds. It will cover the basic types of polymeric compatibilizers and why they are used. After the presentation you should have a good understanding of polymeric compatibilizers and how they are used to improve the properties of blends and recycled compounds. You should also be better prepared to select the best compatibilizer for your specific compound or blend. Application examples will also be discussed.

About Our Presenter

Jim Johnson | Compounding Business Manager & Director of Commercial Plastics Technology at Entec

Jim is the Director of Commercial Plastics Technology for Entec Polymers, a position he has held for approximately the last 17 years. In this role he manages Entec’s Technology Group which consists of 10 degreed Plastics Engineers that provide technical support to Entec’s customers and sales reps. Jim is also responsible for Business Development in the Compounding Market where his efforts are focused on impact modification and compatibilization. Jim has 38 years-experience in Plastics Engineering, Material Science and Physical Metallurgy and has undergraduate degrees in Metallurgical Science from Macomb College and Manufacturing Engineering from Wayne State University and a graduate certificate in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell.

In addition to his time at Entec, Jim has previously worked for Lati USA, BASF Plastic Materials, Allied Signal Automotive and Walker Wire & Steel. Over his career Jim has published several magazine articles and some of his microscopy work is used in the reference book Compositional and Failure Analysis of Polymers published in 2000.

PAST WEBINARS

Automotive Industry Outlook: Staying Ahead of the Curve in a Rapidly Changing Landscape | Presented By IHS Markit

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Date: April 22

Time: 1:00 PM EST

Presenter: Mike Wall | Executive Director of Automotive Analysis at IHS Markit

Hosted By: Eric Parrell & Alex Lukshaitis | Entec Automotive Business Managers

As countries around the world rush to deploy COVID-19 vaccines on an unprecedented scale to stave off further spikes in infections, the auto industry continues in its efforts to rebuild inventories and support recovering demand. Given the production disruption related to forced shutdowns last year and the somewhat deliberate re-start in many markets, the global supply chain remains fragile with recent reports of semiconductor shortages representing only one example of challenges facing the industry as it looks to return to a profile of recovery and growth. This virtual event will discuss IHS Markit’s latest Automotive outlook with a particular focus on vehicle demand and supply conditions and trends impacting the industry.

SESSION OBJECTIVES/TAKEAWAYS

  • Review the latest economic outlook particularly as it impacts the auto industry
  • Examine the latest global light vehicle sales and production settings
  • Discuss IHS Markit’s US light vehicle sales outlook, trends influencing the market and the North American light vehicle production outlook
  • Explore broader megatrends to watch, including increasing deployment of Electric Vehicles and emerging new mobility trends

About Our Presenters

Mike Wall | Executive Director of Automotive Analysis at IHS Markit

Mike Wall serves as the Executive Director of Automotive Analysis at IHS Markit. He brings over 25 years of financial analysis, forecasting, consulting and manufacturing experience to the firm, with a primary focus on assisting financial firms and manufacturers in their evaluation and understanding of the auto industry, as well as in-depth analysis of vehicle markets and trends.

Mike has extensive experience working with both manufacturing and financial firms. With a knowledgebase established studying and covering the automotive industry as well as experience in financial analysis and banking, Mike is able to offer clients timely and relevant insight, thereby aiding their strategic planning or investment analysis processes. Moreover, he has a deep background in the area of vehicle forecasting and market trend analysis allowing him to assist clients in their assessment of near-term risks and planning scenarios.

Mike is quoted frequently in the media on a variety of automotive topics and has delivered presentations focusing on both macroeconomic and specific market outlooks to company executives and other interested groups, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in Vienna, Austria.

Prior to joining IHS Markit, Mike was the Director of Forecasting at IRN, Inc. He has also held financial and analytical positions in the manufacturing and banking sectors. Mike graduated Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Finance from Grand Valley State University. He later earned the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.

Alex Lukshaitis | Automotive Business Manager at Entec

Alex is responsible for leading the development of Automotive Material development and applications in North America. He has a long history of working with all OEM’s and Tier molders to provide the best design solution for materials. He has been in the Automotive industry since 1991. Alex is located in Grand Rapids, MI.


Eric Parrell | Automotive Business Manager at Entec

Eric is responsible for the North American Automotive Market for Ravago Americas and Entec Polymers. Primary responsibilities are business development with Auto OEM’s and Tier I’s, key account management and supplier development. Eric has been with Ravago Americas since 2004 and in this role since 2006. He is an Automotive plastics industry veteran, with more than 25 years of experience. Eric is based in metro Detroit.

Overview of Disinfectant-Resistant Durable Plastics

Grid Block Image Size Events Medical

Date: May 11

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Presenter: Tim McGinnis | Medical Business Manager

In our current global pandemic environment, the need to reduce infection transmission by keeping surfaces clean and sterile has created a need for durable plastic products of all types to withstand today’s caustic disinfecting chemicals, including those certified to kill COVID-19. Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) is a solvent-induced failure mode where chemical disinfectants attack molded-in stresses, causing cracking, crazing, loss of impact strength and eventual premature product/part failures. With nearly 25% of all plastic part failures already attributed to ESC, the frequency of these failures are expected to worsen. This webinar will discuss the need to rethink traditional material selections and a thorough review of chemically resistant options which can survive repeated cleanings with relevant ESC resistance data for dozens of materials.

About Our Presenter

Tim McGinnis | Medical Business Manager at Entec

Tim McGinnis is the Medical Business Manager at Entec Polymers, a division of Ravago and global leader in medical resin distribution. He began his medical career at Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon and Ethicon Endo-Surgery divisions as a clinical sales manager, working directly with surgeons and clinicians in the operating room before transitioning into market development roles at J&J. In 2006 he joined DSM as the Global Medical Sales and Marketing Manager, establishing DSM Biomedical, LLC and bringing a portfolio of high-value implant materials and technologies to the medical market. Prior to joining Entec in 2014, he was the North American medical market development manager at Celanese. Over the past 16 years Tim has developed a wide range of product and material expertise which he leverages with product development and engineering teams on appropriate medical material specification.

Navigating Logistics Through Today’s Supply Change

Grid Block Image Size Events Logistics

Date: June 29

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Presenters:

Sean Williams | Vice President of Operations at Ravago

Jay Pickett | Transportation Services Manager at Ravago

Alex Barrett | Maritime Procurement & Capacity Manager at Ravago

Mike Coots | AVP Sales and Marketing at Plastic Express

Andrew Greer | Worldwide Account Manager at FedEx

Matthew Johnson | Director of Business Development at Arrive Logistics


From production delays, to force majeure. From weather events, to global pandemics. There are hundreds of hurdles to overcome in order to get material available in the first place. Hurdles that have only gotten higher in today’s world. Factor in the struggles in the trucking industry, and the likelihood of not meeting expectations inevitably grows. In collaboration with several of our key logistics partners, this webinar is designed to outline the current freight environment. We’ll offer insight on our near-term projections, what we are doing to overcome the obstacles we face, as well as offer suggestions to help navigate them from beginning to end. Little changes, such as small tweaks to ordering patterns, modifying receiving availability, and production transparency can greatly minimize the supply obstacles encountered when keeping your production moving, and your inventory turning.

Guest Logos

About Our Presenters

Sean Williams | Vice President of Operations at Ravago

Sean Williams has been with the Ravago family of companies for nearly 25 years. His field of broad responsibilities within the organization have ranged from accounting, finance, information technology, and human resources. Sean is now the Vice President of Operations within Ravago. In the little spare time he finds, he enjoys spending time with his four children, coaching lacrosse, and taking care of their two Great Pyrenees.


Jay Pickett | Transportation Services Manager at Ravago

After relocating from his home state of Texas to Florida, he now resides in Orlando, FL and manages the logistics team for Ravago Americas. He has been with Ravago and the plastic industry for seven years and has been in logistics and supply chain management for nearly 20. When he finds free time, he spends it with his wife Elizabeth and their one year old Springer Doodle George, likely hiking through the Appalachian Mountains.


Mike Coots | Plastic Express

Mike Coots is the Associate Vice President of Sales and Marketing at one of the nation’s largest plastic and chemical warehousing partners, Plastic Express. Headquartered in the nation’s plastic hub, Houston, TX, Mike has been with Plastic Express for nearly a decade and has spent the majority of his professional career in the plastics industry.


Andrew Greer | FedEx

Andrew Greer is a Worldwide Account Manager for FedEx living in Gainesville, FL. In his 24 years with FedEx, he has held several roles in both sales and operations, giving him a unique perspective of the transportation industry. When he is not actively monitoring the activity within his customer’s supply chains, he is most likely actively monitoring the activity of three daughters ranging from kindergarten to college.



Matthew Johnson | Arrive Logistics

Matt Johnson joined Arrive Logistics back in 2016. He was born and raised in Canton, OH where he worked for a Direct Marketing firm. As a Business Development Manager at Arrive, I'm responsible for sales strategy, operations efficiency, and the overall development of my team. Matt currently resides in Austin, TX, where he and his team at Arrive manage some of the largest accounts in their organization.


Alex Barrett | Maritime Procurement & Capacity Manager at Ravago