Passion for Plastic

How do you feel about plastic? Does the very thought of plastic make your heart beat faster with excitement?

You don’t need to ask Troy Nix how he feels. As the founder and executive director of MAPP (Manufacturers Association for Plastic Processors), Troy’s passion for plastic shows in everything he does. Through MAPP, he wants to share that passion with others in the industry like you. In its fifteen years, MAPP has become a powerful network of industry movers and shakers.

October 11 and 12, MAPP held its annual “Benchmarking and Best Practices Conference” in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year I was invited to attend and document the event through photography. This fast-paced information-packed conference featured renowned speakers on topics like leadership, self-improvement, lean, information technology, and our own industry’s economic outlook. Nearly 400 attendees eagerly learned easy, actionable ideas from experts and attendees alike.

One of the most interesting parts of the conference was a dozen 5-minute success stories shared by members. Each story was about improvements inspired by last year’s conference, implemented over the past year. These were changes in management strategies, culture, organization, wellness programs, training, and employee empowerment that made significant improvements to each company’s effectiveness and bottom line.

MAPP is for plastics processors of all sizes, yet I couldn’t help thinking that anyone attending could benefit in a big way, both personally and for their company. Participation can help build your passion for plastics and for excellence. As a disciplined leader himself, a West Point graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in Engineering Management and industry experience, MAPP’s Troy Nix knows our industry and knows how to ferret out and surround himself with true leaders. Through MAPP, members of our industry have an opportunity to network with others and learn from our own industry leaders and build personal, business and management skills from proven professionals.

Looking through my lens, MAPP is a great asset for those who participate. For more information, see www.mappinc.com.