Membership Awards

Don Massey is the founder and former CEO of Vectorply Corporation. He began his career in IT at Playtex in Dover, Delaware, before relocating to Columbus, Georgia, to work for Swift Denim. He advanced into senior leadership and ultimately served as Executive Vice President of Sales, overseeing denim sales worldwide. During this time, he developed experience in sales leadership, customer relationships, and business growth.

In the late 1980s, Massey accepted an early retirement package and began a consulting career. One of his first clients was Johnston Industries, a traditional textile manufacturer with a stitch-bond division that primarily produced polyester materials for liner applications. He was asked to investigate Fiberglass Non-Crimp Stitched Reinforcements, an emerging technology within the composites industry.

Massey spent six months researching composites applications, manufacturing requirements, performance needs, and market opportunities. Based on his findings, he recommended that Johnston Industries invest in and diversify into the composites industry. This work marked the beginning of his long-term involvement in the composites industry and preceded his founding of Vectorply Corporation.

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.

Nominees must have demonstrated lasting and outstanding contributions in one or more 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 their career to the industry’s trade associations where lasting contributions were made, including SPI, SIRC, NMMA, ACMA, etc.

Additional Considerations

• Previous recipients of the Pioneer Award are eligible for this honor.
• Sitting members of the ACMA Board are not eligible for consideration.

Dustin Troutman received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 1993. He currently serves as Chief Sales Officer for Creative Composites Group. 

With more than 30 years at CCG, Mr. Troutman has been instrumental in market development, product innovation, and the sales growth of major pultrusion products for infrastructure and custom applications. His leadership has supported the advancement of product lines including SUPERPILE™ pipe piles, SuperLoc® sheet piles, and StormStrong® FRP transmission and distribution poles, among others. 

He remains actively involved in the development of industry codes and standards supporting the fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) pultrusion industry. Mr. Troutman is a co-inventor on six patents related to pultruded structural systems. 

Mr. Troutman is a member of professional organizations including American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and ASTM International (ASTM). He is a past President of the Pultrusion Industry Council and currently serves as Chair of the Utility and Communication Structures Committee. Additionally, he served on the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) responsible for developing the ASCE/LRFD standard for pultruded structural profiles.

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

Nominees must have demonstrated outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:

• 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 contributions that have resulted in a noteworthy impact on the composites industry.

Additional Considerations

• Previous recipients of the SPI Clare E. Bacon Award or the Pioneer Award are eligible for this honor.
• 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.

Dr. Kevin Quinn Walsh is a structural engineering professional whose practice, research, and standards work center on the design, testing, and codification of pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) structural systems into the built environment. He is a Principal at Frost Engineering & Consulting in Mishawaka, Indiana (FROST), one of the only structural design firms in the world that regularly designs and specifies loadbearing structures with pultruded FRP. He is concurrently a faculty member in the University of Notre Dame Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, where he directs the professional Master of Engineering (MEng) program. 

Dr. Walsh designs or serves as the Engineer of Record (EOR) or QA/QC Engineer across the commercial, industrial, multi-residential, educational, medical, data center, and public infrastructure sectors, including on more than 200 pultruded FRP projects. This work runs through FROST’s advanced materials portfolio and includes projects such as (but not limited to) FRP industrial and data center structures, residential building systems, bridges, deep foundation piles, and the experimental testing of novel FRP members and framing connections. He has held Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) registration in 25 states. 

Dr. Walsh has been the principal investigator behind a sustained line of FRP experimental testing funded by industry partners addressing adhered semi-rigid beam-to-column connections, LRFD resistance-factor calibration for bolted FRP frames, novel long-span profiles, material testing with parametric loading vectors, and elevated-temperature performance. Dr. Walsh contributes to design-standards development, committee work, and funded research with the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials (NEx), and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). He has also served previously on ASCE and ASTM committees. He has published more than 35 peer-reviewed journal articles alongside scores of conference papers and technical reports. 

Dr. Walsh earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. His broader interests span resilient infrastructure, lightweight structures, seismic assessment of historic buildings, large-scale testing of in situ structures, masonry buildings, and unbonded post-tensioning systems. At Notre Dame, he primarily teaches senior and graduate design courses, including Lightweight Structural Materials, Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Structural Masonry Assessment and Design, Historic Preservation, Structural Wood Design, Principles of Practice, and Design Capstone. He received the 2023 Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

The Academic Pioneer Award has been created to recognize original, visionary, and innovative ideas that have been scientifically investigated, tested, and demonstrated to advance composites technology.

Nominees must be academic professionals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:

As an academic:

• Performed fundamental research leading to prototyping of new composite products.
• Active in the development of standards, specifications, design guidelines, and codes supporting state-of-the-art practices in new applications.

As a professor:

• Educated undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and postdoctoral students in composites technology through course development, instruction, and testing programs.
• Authored technical papers, journal articles, educational presentations, book chapters, 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.

Jim Bono is an accomplished composites industry professional with more than 35 years of experience in the composites industry. He currently serves as a Technical Manager for Polynt Composites USA Inc., where he has spent the past 18 years supporting the company’s high-temperature resin product line throughout the United States. 

In his role at Polynt (formerly Reichhold), Jim is responsible for the technical development of applications utilizing Polynt resin systems, resin product development, and providing technical support to a broad range of customers. His expertise spans numerous composite manufacturing processes, including Sheet Molding Compound (SMC), Bulk Molding Compound (BMC), Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Light RTM, prepreg processing, compression molding, injection molding, cast polymers, and pultrusion. He particularly enjoys working directly with customers to address technical challenges, develop solutions, and support the implementation of composite technologies across diverse applications. 

Prior to joining Polynt, Jim spent 19 years with Continental Structural Plastics (formerly ThyssenKrupp Budd), where he managed the company’s SMC compounding facility engineering and quality functions after having worked in R&D on the development of composite products for numerous automotive programs. His contributions included working on many automotive vehicle development platforms which involved the development of new materials and processes. These experiences provided him with a strong foundation in both manufacturing and product development, helping to advance the adoption of composite materials in demanding automotive applications. 

Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Oakland University and a Master of Science degree in Macromolecular Chemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy. Demonstrating a lifelong commitment to learning and professional development, he completed his master’s degree while working full time in the composites industry. The combination of academic study and hands-on industry experience provided him with a unique perspective, enabling him to bridge the gap between polymer chemistry and practical manufacturing applications. 

Throughout his career, Jim has been driven by a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and problem solving. He enjoys tackling complex manufacturing and design challenges, finding practical solutions, and sharing those lessons with colleagues, customers, and industry partners. He believes that some of the most valuable professional experiences come from collaborating with others and learning from the challenges presented by new opportunities. 

Outside of work, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, especially his five grandchildren. He is also an avid runner and gardener, activities that allow him to stay active, maintain balance, and enjoy time outdoors. Whether in his professional or personal life, he values growth, perseverance, and the opportunity to learn something new every day.

With 30 years of experience in the composites industry spanning academia, engineering, product development, and manufacturing, Lei Zhao, Ph.D., P.E., is a recognized leader in advanced composite materials and their applications across infrastructure, transportation, energy, marine, and industrial markets. Throughout his career, Lei has combined deep technical expertise with practical business insight to drive innovation, develop high-performance material solutions, and mentor the next generation of engineering professionals.

Since 2014, Lei has served as Senior Technology Manager within the Advanced Composites Division of Avient Corporation. In this role, he leads the development, design, and testing of composite material solutions for a wide range of applications. His work is centered on creating customized material solutions that address complex customer requirements while delivering measurable commercial value. Equally committed to organizational growth, he places strong emphasis on developing technical talent and cultivating business acumen among engineering teams, helping align technical innovation with long-term business success.

Prior to joining Avient, Lei spent six years with Gibraltar Industries, where he led the design and fabrication of FRP structures, pultrusion process development, and tooling design. He later expanded his responsibilities to include new product development for both metal and composite products, as well as manufacturing technology development.

Lei began his professional career in academia, holding research and faculty appointments at the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Central Florida. His research focused on the application of fiber-reinforced composites in civil infrastructure systems, advancing the understanding and implementation of composite technologies in construction and structural engineering. As an educator, he taught courses in structural engineering, mechanics, and composite materials.

Lei is a long-standing member of ACMA and its Pultrusion Council and is actively contributing to the ongoing revision of the ACMA FRP Utility Pole Standard Specifications. He previously served on the FRP Bar Grating Committee.

In addition to his involvement with ACMA, Lei is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and is a registered Professional Engineer. He formerly served as Chair of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) Bar Grating Manual MBG 531 Subcommittee. Lei is credited with five patents covering a range of construction materials and composite technologies.

Lei resides in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife, Mei Chih, who also studied engineering in her youth. Their daughters, Audrey and Charlene, are also engineers.

The Pioneer Award honors individuals who have played a pivotal role in advancing the composites industry through hands-on innovation, technical expertise, and dedication to excellence. This award recognizes the unsung heroes—the engineers, technicians, craftsmen, and problem-solvers—who have made lasting contributions through their work, often behind the scenes.

Nominees must have demonstrated outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas:

• Process & Manufacturing Innovations – Developed or refined manufacturing processes that improved efficiency, quality, or scalability of composite materials.
• Material Advancements – Played a key role in formulating, testing, or deploying new composite materials that enhanced performance and expanded industry applications.
• Hands-On Engineering & Problem-Solving – Solved critical technical challenges in production, fabrication, or product development that enabled industry progress.
• Mentorship & Workforce Development – Trained, mentored, or influenced the next generation of composite professionals through education, training, or knowledge-sharing.
• Sustainability & Impact – Contributed to recycling initiatives, waste reduction, or sustainable material solutions within composites manufacturing.

This award is designed for doers, not just decision-makers—the engineers, shop-floor innovators, technicians, and behind-the-scenes contributors whose efforts have shaped the industry. Candidates do not need to hold executive or leadership positions but must have had a measurable impact on composites technology, manufacturing, or industry growth.

Additional Considerations

• Candidates must not have been previously recognized as Lifetime Achievement or Hall of Fame award winners.
• Pioneer Award recipients will remain eligible for these honors in the future.
• Open to individuals across all industry sectors, including R&D, manufacturing, production, and field operations.
• Awards can be made posthumously.
• Must have worked for a company that is currently or formerly a member of ACMA.

Kelly DeBusk is a seasoned expert with over 27 years of experience in environmental and safety regulations within the composites industry. As the owner of Composites Compliance, LLC, she specializes in guiding small composites companies through the complex regulatory landscape that affects their operations. Her unique background, growing up in a family-owned composites business, has equipped her with essential manufacturing skills that enhance her ability to offer practical and effective regulatory compliance solutions. 

Kelly emphasizes the importance of understanding the manufacturing process to create effective permits and implement robust safety programs. In addition to her consulting work, she has recently stepped into the role of Vice President at her family’s business, Appalachian Plastics, Inc., further cementing her commitment to the industry. 

Passionate about supporting the composites sector, Kelly advocates for businesses to ensure they can meet proposed regulatory standards and voices concerns when new regulations may negatively impact them. She has volunteered her time across the industry with ICPA and ACMA committees and boards to keep the industry informed and actively address new regulations facing it.

As Chief Technology Officer at Resilient Structures, Mr. Holmes leads the company’s research and development strategy and supports regulatory engagement at the federal and state levels. He also contributes to the advancement and refinement of industry standards. 

Mr. Holmes brings more than 35 years of composites experience across the aerospace, defense, and utility markets, including more than 18 years focused on utility structures. He is dedicated to advancing composite solutions that improve safety, performance, and service life. 

He has been a leading advocate for ACMA and the broader composites industry. As a founding member and former Chair of ACMA’s Utility & Communication Structures Council, he helped advance the adoption of composite materials in the utility market through education, industry engagement, and standards development.  

He currently chairs the committee responsible for the Specification for FRP Composite Utility Poles, which published its first edition in 2019 and is developing an expanded revised edition for publication in 2028. He has also represented ACMA through multiple code cycles of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) on the Overhead Lines subcommittee. 

Mr. Holmes has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed technical publications and holds 10 U.S. patents. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.