Retiring Plastics Leader has been honored by PCE and SPE.
Press Release Summary:
Plastics leader and activist Dennis L. Hayford received 2 honors at retirement event which marked his achievements during 45 years in industry. During this celebratory luncheon, representatives of Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE) announced renaming of its conference center in honor of Mr. Hayford. Russell C. Broome, managing director of SPE, announced committee of past presidents of SPE has awarded Mr. Hayford the title of Distinguished Member.
Original Press Release:
Retiring Plastics Leader Dennis l. Hayford Receives Special Honors from the Polymers Center of Excellence and SPE
At a Retirement Event Today, the North Carolina Polymers Center Names Its Conference Facility for Mr. Hayford, while SPE Announces His Election as a Distinguished Member
CHARLOTTE, NC, U.S.A. –Â Prominent plastics leader and activist Dennis L. Hayford was the recipient of two noteworthy honors today at a special retirement event to mark his achievements during 45 years in the industry.
At a celebratory luncheon held here, representatives of the Charlotte-based Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE) announced the renaming of its conference center in honor of Mr. Hayford, who is retiring as CEO of the Center. In addition, Russell C. Broome, managing director of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) announced that the committee of past presidents of SPE has awarded Mr. Hayford the title of Distinguished Member, the Society’s rarest and most prestigious honor.
“Dennis has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of plastics, playing leadership roles in many of SPE’s most important contributions to the industry, making education and training a special mission at both SPE and the PCE, and supporting the growth of recycling,” said Mr. Broome. “Speaking personally, he has also been a mentor over twenty years, solidifying in me a passion for the plastics industry and inspiring me to do more with and for SPE.”
The Polymers Center of Excellence is a nonprofit organization created and funded by the state of North Carolina and focusing on the training of engineers, technicians, and operators, as well as offering assistance with part design, property testing, and processing trials. In 2012, Dennis Hayford also became president of the Polymers Technology Center, Inc., a for-profit outgrowth of the PCE.
Today’s Honors Reflect 45 Years of Plastics Industry Achievement
After receiving a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, Dennis Hayford joined the plastics industry in 1971 and worked primarily in resin sales until becoming executive director of the PCE in 2001. He joined SPE in 1978 and has been an active volunteer in the Society ever since, on both local and international levels of governance.
Dennis Hayford has served SPE on multiple section and division boards and Society operating committees, many as chairman, and he was the general operating chairman for SPE ANTEC® 2006. He was instrumental in establishing the original scholarship program that has since grown into the SPE Foundation, a multi-million dollar resource for students. Mr. Hayford was elected an SPE Honored Service Member in its first class of 1992 and subsequently was made an emeritus member. He was accepted into the Plastics Pioneers Association in 2013.
Besides his work in support of plastics education at SPE and the PCE, Dennis Hayford served for five years on the board of directors of the Polymer Extension Program at North Carolina State University. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of North Carolina.
Mr. Hayford’s support of plastics recycling began in 1987 with a two-year chairmanship of SPE’s International Recycling Division. Since 2006 he has been technical advisor to the Carpet America Recovery Effort, and he is currently also a technical advisor to the Association of Carolinas Plastics Recyclers.
For information about the Polymers Center of Excellence, visit www.polymers-center.org.
The mission of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge relating to plastics worldwide and to educate industry, academia, and the public about these advances. SPE is active in educating, promoting, recognizing, and communicating technical accomplishments for all phases of plastics and plastic based-composite developments in the global transportation industry. Topic areas include applications, materials, processing, equipment, tooling, design, and development. Visit www.4spe.org.
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