Micro Powders’ Warren Pushaw Reflects on Waxes and Additives Industry, Looks Ahead to Retirement

For more than 40 years, Micro Powders, Inc. (MPI) has been developing and manufacturing specialty micronized waxes, wax dispersions and emulsions for the paint, printing ink, coatings, and personal care markets. Today, the family-owned company offers more than 200 innovative products.

Warren Pushaw has been with Micro Powders for more than 30 years. He started with MPI back in 1982, beginning on the technical side, and became the company’s president in 2005. In April, he will be retiring; however, he will remain on the company’s board of directors. His decision to join MPI came as a result of his friendship with Jim Strauss, the company’s founder and current chairman of the board.

“I was working at Equitable Bag in Long Island City as an ink chemist, and Jim Strauss was my salesman,” Pushaw recalled. “We hit it off, and needless to say, the rest is history. I went from technical to U.S. domestic sales and technical director, and in 2005, added president to my duties.”

At the time he started, MPI was located in Yonkers, NY. The company eventually moved to Scarsdale, NY and then to Tarrytown, NY 22 y