Membership Awards

Mike Gordon’s career in the composites industry has spanned over 50 years. He has taken his company’s products and materials during that time into many sports and recreation markets, infrastructure repair, trucking and RV, soldier protection, marine, and most recently aerospace grade materials. Gordon’s manufacturing company experience has grown from hand lay-up polyester to continuous fiber/epoxy processes to most recently continuous production of Thermopolomer Prepreg tapes.

The ACMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a business owner who has been in the composites industry for at least 20 years and, through their involvement, has made a significant and lasting contribution to the industry.

“Significant and lasting” contribution includes, but is not limited to, performance in any of the following areas:

· Exemplary contribution to legislative and/or regulatory affairs of significant long-term consequence to the industry.

· Invention of a process or product that has significant long-term importance.

· A very successful business career in which measurable contributions have been made to industry, government, employees or the community.

· Leadership throughout his/her career to the industry’s trade associations where lasting contributions were made, including SPI, SIRC, NMMA, ACMA, etc.

· Sitting members of the ACMA Board are not eligible for consideration of this award.

Nancy Dehmlow currently serves as Assistant Corporate Secretary for Composites One/Synergy55.  She has held various roles throughout her long career at Composites One/Synergy55, including Vice President & Corporate Secretary.  Focusing her regulatory expertise exclusively on the composites industry, she provided industry leading assistance to customers through such means as information bulletins, a regulatory compliance manual and a regulatory hot line. Dehmlow was instrumental in the development of many ACMA regulatory programs over the last 30 years and uses her expertise to advance the industry while working to keep it safe and compliant. Dehmlow has an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management and holds several certifications such as an ARM, OSHA Train-the-Trainer and Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Instructor. 

John Schweitzer has managed regulatory advocacy at composites industry trade associations since 1989. Schweitzer’s efforts have included the US EPA MACT standard for composites manufacturing, EPA adoption of the UEF emission factors, the Texas fenceline concentration screening level for styrene, and settlement of Prop 65 enforcement against industry members in California. Schweitzer received the ACMA Chairman’s Award in 2000 in recognition of his leadership of industry advocacy on the MACT standard. He has a BS in Chemistry from John Carroll University and an MBA in Finance from Fordham University.

The ACMA Hall of Fame Award recognizes a member who has attained distinction among his or her peers through their efforts, involvement and accomplishments in the composites industry and its associations.

Criteria for judging excellence shall include, but is not limited to, the individual’s performance in any of the following ways:

· Contribution to legislative and/or regulatory affairs of significant long-term consequence to the industry.

· Invention of a process or product which has commercial value to the composites or cast polymer industry.

· A successful business career in which notable contributions have been made to the composites industry.

· Participation in the industry’s trade associations, including SPI, SIRC, ACMA, etc.

· Academic contribution which has resulted in a noteworthy impact on the composites industry.

· Previous recipients of the SPI Clare E. Bacon Award are eligible.

· Sitting members of the ACMA Board are not eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.

· ACMA staff are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame

Antonio Nanni is the UM site-director of the National Science Foundation’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for the Integration of Composites into Infrastructure. During the past 35+ years, Nanni has studied concrete and advanced composite-based systems as the principal investigator on many research projects sponsored by federal and state agencies as well as private industry. Nanni is the editor-in-chief of the ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering and serves on the editorial board of other technical journals. Since returning to UM in 2006, he has advised or co-advised 31 PhD students, has published 158 papers in refereed journals, has published 216 papers in conference proceedings, and co-authored two books. Nanni was elected President of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and serves as the 100th President for the term 2023-24. He is a fellow of four technical societies and is a registered professional engineer in Italy and four U.S. states.

The Academic Pioneer Award has been created to recognize original, visionary, and innovative ideas that have been scientifically investigated, tested, and demonstrated that advance composites technology. Up to two recipients may be chosen for this award. Nominees should be academic professionals (professors, educators, etc.).

Criteria for selection shall include, but is not limited to, the individual’s performance in the following areas:

• The academic can also provide the following:
  • Performed fundamental research leading to prototyping of new composite products.
  • Active in the development of standards, specifications, design guidelines, and codes on the use and implementation of new products that support the state of the art, and practice in new applications.

• As a professor:
  • Educated undergrad, graduate, doctorates, and post doctorates on composites technology through development of coursework, special instruction, testing programs.
  • Authored technical papers, journal papers, educational presentations, chapters in books, or books to advance composites technology.
  • Actively engages the composites industry to promote market development through technical, trade, and professional associations, including but not limited to ACMA.

John Tyson II, PE is the founder and president of Trilion Quality Systems, a manufacturer and developer of advanced optical measurement systems, with offices around the country.  He has pioneered laser-based and optical inspection methods for more than 35 years, focusing on holography, shearography, digital image correlation, photogrammetry, and thermography. Mr. Tyson has twelve patents in the field, and developed test methods for the B2, Space Shuttle and other advanced aircraft and spacecraft, as well as for automotive and microelectronics.  He is a graduate of Duke University with a BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and is a Professional Engineer.

The Pioneer Award has been created to recognize individuals who have either developed, enhanced or created processes and/or materials that have advanced the composites industry.

Eligible candidates include:

· Candidates who made significant contributions to the growth of key companies in the industry, or developed key technologies and/or advanced the applications of those technologies.

· Candidates who have not been recognized previously as Lifetime Achievement or Hall of Fame Award winners.

· Awards can be made posthumously.

· ACMA membership is not required.

Dan Gillig is a problem-solving engineer at heart, with extensive global automotive B2B sales / marketing experience. He currently leads business development efforts in North America for SGL Carbon’s Composite Solutions business unit, advancing e-mobility with large scale composite structures.  He has over 25 years of experience within the global automotive industry working with various companies involving; textiles, plastics, and now composites. He is named on 3 patents and has a passion for leveraging new technology in pursuit of attractive business opportunities that solve real customer problems. Gillig holds an MBA from The Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Toledo.

ACMA’s Outstanding Volunteer Award is given to a member who has contributed significant volunteer time and effort to achieve positive results on behalf of the industry through service to ACMA.

The only requirement is that the individual be an ACMA member.