Industry leaders share insights, personal histories
A successful career in the plastics industry can start in some unusual places and be fueled by unexpected opportunities. Jeff Kuhman started in professional football and Maureen Steinwall started as a certified public accountant.
The five successful plastics industry entrepreneurs profiled below felt the lure of manufacturing and took different paths to success, but they all have useful lessons to teach today’s industry leaders.
Steinwall: Kind, caring leader who is inquisitive about life
Along the way, Steinwall also earned two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in business. She has built Steinwall Inc. into a successful company on the ideals of motivating and encouraging employees to better themselves. Now she is looking ahead to new challenges.
Jackson: Blow molding machinery has been his life’s passion
Jackson has sold blow molding machinery as a distributor, founded his own company and eventually started building his own machines. He also does a big business in rebuilding blow molding machines. His customer-centric business practices have made Jackson Machinery Inc. a go-to source for blow molding machinery.
https://www.plasticsmachinerymanufacturing.com/features/article/21204927/jackson
Petrakis: Leaving his mark on the people of the plastics industry
Petrakis proved a master at meeting and giving talks to up-and-coming plastics professionals, helping them find their way as they charted their own paths. The now-retired VP of industry affairs, equipment and mold makers council for PLASTICS touched the lives of many professionals now in the upper echelons of management.
Kuhman: Plastics lured him away from pro football
Ten years later, he saw an opportunity for feed screws and barrels and formed Great Lakes Feedscrews. That business expanded and he eventually changed the name to Glycon Corp. Now it provides a full range of engineered components, along with design capabilities and field services to OEMs and processors worldwide.
Witherup: Successful plastics industry career followed by politics
Witherup retired from Conair in 2007 and two years later became a county commissioner in Venango County, Pa. Did the plastics industry prepare Witherup for politics? Read the full interview.