The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) today announced two CPI Distinguished Leadership Award winners: Juan Carlos Medina of Dow and Richard (Dick) Werner of Cannon. These awards were announced during the closing session of the 2019 Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“CPI established this award to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding leadership and advanced the goals of CPI as well as the interests of our industry,” Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI, said. “The award is conferred when an individual’s activities, energy and commitment to innovation, product stewardship and sound science are noteworthy.

“Both Juan Carlos and Dick have devoted many years to building, promoting, and teaching the CPI Professional Development Program. Having just completed its 16th year, the CPI Professional Development Program provides information and training to professionals in the polyurethanes value chain and others interested in everything from a basic overview of the markets, to chemistry, to physical testing of finished products, and so many other things in between. The Professional Development Program is one way in which CPI serves as a knowledge center for the industry.

"Juan Carlos and Dick have both helped this program become an invaluable source of growth and knowledge for our industry. I am thrilled to honor Juan Carlos and Dick with these prestigious awards and thank them for their contributions to our success.”

Juan Carlos Medina is responsible for Dow’s strategy development and execution for North America Polyurethanes in Infrastructure, Energy, Agro, and Auto. He partners with the R&D and Sales Organizations to drive development and commercialization of Dow’s innovations as they are rolled out to the market.

Juan Carlos is well known in the polyurethanes industry for his multiple successes in new product commercialization, technical presentations, written papers, and granted patents. He is a member of the Conference Workgroup for the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry, has served as co-Chair and instructor of the Professional Development Program since 2007, and helped create and teach PU 201. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Brigham Young University.

Dick Werner has 40 years of experience in the polyurethanes industry, all of them with Cannon. He is currently the Technology Advisor for Cannon in North American and globally. He has worked extensively in the development and manufacturing of polyurethane mixing technologies, process machinery, and turn-key systems in such capacities as engineering, project management, and customer service. Dick is a graduate of Shippensburg University.

Dick has been sharing his knowledge and expertise with the industry at CPI conferences in the form of paper presentations, session organizing, and developing and growing the Professional Development Program (PDP). He is a member of the Conference Workgroup and currently serves as co-Chair of the CPI Professional Development Program as well as developing and delivering several courses and webinars each year. Dick is the creator and presenter of PU100 - Introduction to the Polyurethane Industry, which was introduced in 2015 for persons new to the PU industry. He is also co-creator of PU105 - Introduction to Polyurethane Process Equipment and has presented it since the course’s implementation in 2009.

In addition to the Distinguished Leadership Awards, the 2019 Polyurethanes Technical Conference also featured the 2019 Polyurethane Innovation Award – won by the Riddell SpeedFlex Precision Diamond Football Helmet Liner – 15 technical sessions, 16 posters, 74 presentations and 62 exhibitors, as well as the Professional Development Program.