PLASTICS: Faces of the future
Many people’s image of the plastics industry is still based on that tired old scene from “The Graduate,” where a male executive out of central casting pulls Ben aside and gives him that sage piece of one-word advice, “Plastics.”
No real passion about it. Just one more suit giving a suit-in-training the benefit of his wisdom.
Were that scene to be filmed today, things would look very different. Our industry is anything but a stale, dry business. And Ben would find dynamic young people who could talk to him about plastics with a genuine passion for everything they’re doing to make life better for people worldwide.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has a committee called Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) that focuses on networking and professional development for plastics professionals under the age of 40.
“The pace of Baby Boomer retirements has accelerated in the past year and Millennials continue to increase their representation as the largest generation in the workforce,” said Leslie Jutte, Director of PLASTICS Material Suppliers Council, a FLiP member herself and the committee’s staff liaison at PLASTICS. “With mentorship from veteran colleagues, support for personal development, opportunities to practice leadership skills, and all the other benefits FLiP has to offer, we are ensuring a successful transition as our generation moves into the positions and leadership roles our Boomer colleagues are opening up for us.”
Here are just some of the advantages FLiP offers its members.
Speaker Series: FLiP regularly invites seasoned professionals from both inside and outside the association to share insights relevant to building productive careers
Mentorship Program: Experienced professionals from throughout the plastics supply chain pair up with younger mentees to share the benefit of their experience with up-and-coming younger professionals.
Book Club: Several times a year, FLiP members select a book that focuses on an aspect of career/personal development and then gather for in-depth discussions of the content.
Networking Opportunities: Throughout the year, both online and at in-person events, FLiP members gather to build relationships that will prove beneficial throughout their careers.
Committed to making a difference
FLiP is also an externally proactive organization. Recently, the committee announced the formation of a Community Impact Task Group with the goal of fostering collaboration among PLASTICS member companies and external organizations to provide an outlet for the industry to give back and positively impact the environment and communities in which the plastics industry serves. The task group’s first project will be a litter cleanup this coming fall.
“Those of us in the plastics industry are committed to programs that help protect the world we live in,” said Jon Smalling, FliP chair and director of sales and automation at Nalle Automation Systems. “This cause is very important to our group as it provides the opportunity to give back to local communities and do our part to remove litter and mismanaged trash from our environment.”
The FLiP roster is filled with intelligent, talented, dedicated women and men who are committed to furthering the role plastics play in society, helping people understand the value of plastics and making sure the public understands that plastic is an environmentally responsible choice that is key to a establishing a sustainable, circular economy.
Another important goal of FliP is to make young people aware of the excellent career opportunities available in the plastics industry. A PLASTICS blog series called The FliP Files introduces readers to various young plastics professionals, in part to show younger job seekers that the plastics industry is a great place to build a rewarding career. Visit the blog section of plasticsindustry.org to meet some of the outstanding young professionals who are building the future of our industry.