The Metropolitan New York Coatings Association (MNYCA) honored its longtime colleagues at their annual holiday party.

“The MNYCA annual Paint Pioneer Awards honor our colleagues who have given 25, 40 and 50 years to the advancement of the protective coatings industry,” said Bruce Schimmel, president of the MNYCA.

Three people were honored for 50 years in the coatings business. Roger Blacker of Roger Blacker Sales LLC (retired 2015), Bob Rossomando of Pan Technology and Pete Tepperman of Seagrave Coatings Corp.

Roger Blacker represented the Harry Gaffney Company in Philadelphia and also sole materials in the NY Metro area. He was president of the MNYCA from 1990-1991.

Bob Rossomando became the president of Pan Technology in 1991 and was instrumental in moving the company to its present Carlstadt, NJ location in 1995. He remains active within the company driving company strategy, innovation and manufacturing excellence. Throughout his career, he has been involved in industry activities and is a strong supporter of MNYCA.

Peter Tepperman is a past president of the MNYCA and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Among his accomplishments, Tepperman is chairman and founder of the New Jersey Paint Council and past chairman of the Government Suppliers Committee of the National Paint and Coatings Association, now known as the American Coatings Association (ACA).

Four people were recognized for 40 years in the coatings industry Thomas J. Castorina of Van Horn, Metz and Company, John Ornacki of Westry Industries, Hill Pressley of Seagrave Coatings Corp. and Rohit Shah of Seagrave Coatings Corp.

Thomas J. Castorina joined Van Horn, Metz and Company in 2006, with more than 40 years of experience in the coatings industry. He sold his business, Seaboard Sales Corporation, to Van Horn, Metz and Company and became a NY/NJ area salesman. Previously he held positions in marketing and sales, leading pigment divisions for companies such as Dutch Boy Paints, BASF and Alcan Aluminum Corporation.

John Ornacki started Westdry Industries in 1989, exporting and importing chemical for the paint and plastic industries. In 1991, following changes taking place among metal carboxylate producers, Ornacki saw an opportunity by having paint driers toll-produced for his company. At that time, eight domestic companies produced driers. Today, 25 years later, three of the original companies survived in addition to the upstart Westdry Industries.

Ornacki said he sees a bright future for the paint industry, albeit the many consolidations and changes taking place and has no plans for retiring in the near future.

Hill Pressley is currently a senior R&D coatings chemist at Seagrave Coatings Corp., where he has worked since 1989. He previously was employed as a technician at the Philadelphia Paint Company – Gilbert Spruance after completing his military service in Vietnam-Southeast Asia, Army Signal Corp. with an honorable discharge.

Rohit Shah s technical directory for Seagrave Coatings Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Gujarat in India and a Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Scranton, PA. Shah was a member of the Indian Chemical Society from 1967 to 1970.

MNYCA is a coatings industry hub. With a 128-year track record and an ever-expanding number of member companies (Currently 90+), the organization strives to bring people together from every corner of the industry.  For more information on the Metropolitan New York Coatings Association contact Fern Dickey: 201-835-8653, email: fern.dickey@mnyca.org; web: www.mnyca.org.