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Press Room
The Vinyl Institute Recognizes 2023 Industry Partners of the Year
Washington, D.C – Nov. 30, 2023 – The Vinyl Institute (VI) presented Mike Patel of Teknor Apex and Jim Gray of Vestolit its 2023 Industry Partners of Year Awards at this year’s annual meeting in New York City. The Industry Partner of the Year award recognizes allies who have made unique and valuable contributions on behalf of the industry’s outreach, advocacy, and education programs.
“Mike and Jim have each shown an exemplary commitment to the vinyl industry in their respective decades of experience,” said Ned Monroe, president and CEO of the Vinyl Institute. “Mike has made a lasting impact on our industry, particularly when his efforts in the 2000s fended off competition and enabled PVC wire and cable materials to flourish. Jim’s four-decade commitment to sustainability, advocacy, and collaboration has helped to protect and grow our industry. The Vinyl Institute proudly congratulates Mike Patel and Jim Gray on these well-deserved honors.”
VI CEO Ned Monroe and Teknor Apex’s Mike Patel
Mike began his career in the PVC industry at Essex Wire and Cable in Indiana in 1973 as a process engineer, and joined Teknor Apex in 2004 as Industry Manager for Wire and Cable and Communications products, eventually becoming their Marketing Director. Representing Teknor Apex on the VI’s Operating Committee since 2013, Mike has dutifully represented the interests of independent compounders, which make up 15% of the U.S. PVC resin market.
Jim’s leadership has played a pivotal role in efforts to lower industry emissions. Jim’s extensive involvement with the VI, spanning various committees and initiatives, reflects his commitment to industry advancement. After identifying sources of sulfur oxide emissions at Orbia, Jim created a team that was able to reduce SO2 emissions by 30%, which led to a 5% decrease in overall emissions.
About the Vinyl Institute:
The Vinyl Institute (VI), founded in 1982, is a U.S. trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, vinyl chloride monomers, vinyl additives, and modifiers. The VI works on behalf of its members to promote the benefits of the world’s most versatile plastic, used to make everything from PVC piping to flooring, roofing, and vinyl siding. The vinyl industry in the United States employs over 350,000 highly skilled employees at nearly 3,000 facilities and generates an economic value of $54 billion. For more information, visit vinylinfo.org.