{"id":6757,"date":"2023-10-31T12:28:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T16:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acmanet.org\/?page_id=6757"},"modified":"2024-09-16T16:46:31","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T20:46:31","slug":"membership-awards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/acmanet.org\/events\/membership-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Membership Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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2024 ACMA MEMBERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ACMA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Membership Awards. These awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of dedicated members who have made significant contributions to the composites manufacturing industry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Chris Skinner
Vice President – Strategic Marketing and R&D,
Owen Corning Composites<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Chair’s Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This distinguished award, chosen by the ACMA Chair, recognizes an individual for exceptional contributions to ACMA and the composites industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 Chair’s Award recipient is Dr. Chris Skinner, Vice President – Strategic Marketing and R&D, Owens Corning Composites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n

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Dr. Chris Skinner is the Vice President of Strategic Marketing and R&D for the Composites business of Owens Corning.<\/p>\n

In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing strategies focused on creating growth in building and construction, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Dr. Skinner and his team lead the product lines, brand and customer experience, commercial excellence, and strategy in partnership with commercial and manufacturing teams. He is also responsible for the global R&D team for the Composites business.<\/p>\n

Prior to his current role, Dr. Skinner served as Director of Front-End Innovation from 2016 to 2018. Previously, he was the Director of Product Platforms for Composites from 2013 to 2016. He joined Owens Corning in 2009 and worked in technology and marketing roles within Composites including the global Technical Fabrics and Engineered Solutions businesses.<\/p>\n

Before working at Owens Corning, he held the role of VP of Strategic Marketing for the Rhodia Polyamide Business based in Lyon, France. He also worked for more than 10 years at ICI \/ Huntsman Polyurethanes in various international assignments in technology and marketing in the U.K., Belgium, and Germany in business units including Composites, Elastomers, and the Automotive market.<\/p>\n

Dr. Skinner graduated from the Open University Business School with an MBA in 2001. He also holds a Ph.D. and B.Sc. (Hons) in chemistry from the University of Durham, U.K.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Edward D. Pilpel<\/strong>
Principle and Co-founder,
Gordon Composites and Polystrand<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ACMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a business owner who has been in the composites industry for at least 20 years and has made a significant and lasting contribution to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Edward D. Pilpel, Principle and Co-founder, Gordon Composites and Polystrand<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n

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Mr. Pilpel holds both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering. His professional career began with several years in the aerospace industry at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, followed by over 45 years in the composites industry, initially at Olin Corporation (Olin Ski Division) and ultimately at Gordon Holdings as President of Polystrand. Pilpel has held positions including Senior Engineer, Engineering Manager, Technical Director, Executive Vice President and President. For over 25 years served as a principle at Gordon Composites and co-founder of Polystrand where he developed, manufactured and marketed new products and composite materials, utilizing a variety of matrix systems and fibers. Pilpel holds 30 U.S. patents as well as corresponding foreign patents in over 10 countries. He has also authored and presented technical papers and presentations related to composite product applications and sustainability. He has served as the Subcommittee Chairman for the ASTM Committee on snow skis and as the Delegation Chairman on Snow Skis to the ISO Standards Group. He has chaired the ACMA (American Composites Manufacturers Association) Engineered Wood Task Group and the CSC Composites Sustainability Council. He established Sustainable Composites, LLC in 2017 and is working with startup companies in advisory and Board Member capacities focused on sustainability and circularity. Mr. Pilpel has been an active member in the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), a nonprofit organization that focuses on Education in America’s Defense and National Security Affairs on a global basis since 2007. DOCA interacts with branches of the Department of Defense, Department of State, the Defense University System of colleges, the intelligence community in addition to the Department of Homeland Security and DOE national labs. The organization also contributes and supports military personnel located in installations around the world and is very active with the Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSignificant and lasting\u201d contribution includes, but is not limited to, performance in any of the following areas:<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Exemplary contribution to legislative and\/or regulatory affairs of significant long-term consequence to the industry.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Invention of a process or product that has significant long-term importance.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 A very successful business career in which measurable contributions have been made to industry, government, employees or the community.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Leadership throughout his\/her career to the industry\u2019s trade associations where lasting contributions were made, including SPI, SIRC, NMMA, ACMA, etc.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Sitting members of the ACMA Board are not eligible for consideration of this award.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Kevin McDonald
<\/strong>Former President,
Nippon Electric Gas (NEG-US)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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HALL OF FAME AWARD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ACMA Hall of Fame Award recognizes individuals who have attained distinction among their peers through their efforts, involvement and accomplishments in the composites industry and its associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 Hall of Fame recipients is Kevin McDonald
Former President, Nippon Electric Gas (NEG-US).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n

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Kevin McDonald is a <\/span>retired,<\/span> composites industry executive with a <\/span>39 year<\/span> career which included sales, <\/span>marketing<\/span> and financial roles with global responsibility.\u202f His most recent assignment prior to retirement was President for NEG-US, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Electric Glass.\u202f Prior to this role he was the global vice president for the PPG Industries Fiber Glass division.\u202f Kevin also served as <\/span>Chairman<\/span> of PFG (PPG and Nan-Ya Plastics fiber glass joint venture). Kevin has a long history with the composites industry associations including the SPI and the ACMA.\u202f He served 2 non-consecutive terms on the Board of Directors of the ACMA from 1994-1996 and then again from 2011-2014.\u202f Kevin was co-chair of the Composites Growth Initiative and was on the Executive Committee in 2014.\u202f Kevin\u2019s efforts helped launch the ACMA ACE awards and PPG was the original sponsor.\u202f <\/span>Kevin is a graduate of Indiana University <\/span>and also<\/span> earned his MBA degree in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Criteria for judging excellence shall include, but is not limited to, the individual\u2019s performance in any of the following ways:<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Contribution to legislative and\/or regulatory affairs of significant long-term consequence to the industry.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Invention of a process or product which has commercial value to the composites or cast polymer industry.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 A successful business career in which notable contributions have been made to the composites industry.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Participation in the industry\u2019s trade associations, including SPI, SIRC, ACMA, etc.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Academic contribution which has resulted in a noteworthy impact on the composites industry.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Previous recipients of the SPI Clare E. Bacon Award are eligible.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Sitting members of the ACMA Board are not eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 ACMA staff are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sami Rizkalla
<\/strong>Professor,
North Carolina State University<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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ACADEMIC PIONEER AWARD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 Academic Pioneer Award recipient is Sami Rizkalla, Professor and Chair, North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n

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Professor Sami Rizkalla obtained his B.Sc. degree in Civil Engineering at Alexandria University, Egypt in 1965. He moved to the United States in 1971, and received his M.Sc. degree in 1974 and his Ph.D. degree in 1976, both from the Department of Civil Engineering at North Carolina State University. In 1978, he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba, Canada as an Assistant Professor where he moved up the academic ranks and was promoted to Full Professor in 1988and\u00a0 served as an Associate Dean (1992-1994). He established and served as the President and Scientific Director of a Canadian Network of Centers of Excellence on \u201cIntelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Professor Rizkalla established himself as a pioneer in: (1) the use of high performance reinforcing steel and concrete materials; (2) the use of novel fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials to (a) strengthen or repair existing concrete, steel, masonry, or timber infrastructure, and (b) to reinforce, or prestress new concrete infrastructure; and (3) the application of sensors, and sensing systems, for structural health monitoring and the diagnosis\/prognosis of infrastructure. While serving as President of the Centers of Excellence, Professor Rizkalla was largely responsible for the design and construction of the first \u201csmart\u201d bridge reinforced and prestressed with FRP materials in North America in 1993 and a second bridge in 1997 . In 2000, Professor Rizkalla returned to the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University as a Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering and Construction, where he has remained after his retirement in 2018 as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>During his time at NC State University, Professor Rizkalla served as the Director of the Constructed Facilities Laboratory, and the Site Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry\/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) on the Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites. He subsequently served as the Site Director of the NSF I\/UCRC on Integrating Composites into Infrastructure until his retirement. He was also among the founding members of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 440: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement, and he served as Committee Chair from 1997-2003.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The global impact of his research is significant and is published in more than 300 refereed journal publications, over 350 conference proceedings papers, and large number of technical reports. During his 50 year career in academia, Professor Rizkalla served as the Committee Chair for more than 70 M.Sc. graduate students and more than 35 Ph.D. graduates. His research and contributions to the profession have been recognized by many awards. Some of the most significant selected awards are: Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineering (1988), Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (1992), Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (1993), Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (1995), Fellow of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (2004), Fellow of the Precast\/Prestressed Concrete Institute (2009), Inducted to the \u201cHall of Fame\u201d by the Department\u00a0 of Civil, Construction and Environmental\u00a0 Engineering, North Carolina State University (2021), Elected \u201cHonorary Member\u201d of ACI (2021), and selected as a Titan of the Precast Industry by the Precast\/Prestressed Concrete Institute (2024).\u00a0 Professor Rizkalla received also several recognitions for his industrial achievements.\u00a0 Some significant selected examples include the Harry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award (1998) from the Precast\/Prestressed Concrete Institute in recognition of the design and construction of The Taylor Bridge (Manitoba, Canada), the world\u2019s first highway bridge girders using Carbon FRP prestressing strands to fully replace conventional steel reinforcement.\u00a0\u00a0 In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award from FIIC (2006), a Distinguished Educator Award in 2008 from the Precast\/Prestressed Concrete Institute, and the Mirko-Ros Award (2008) from Empa in Switzerland.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n

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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.<\/strong> Up to two recipients may be chosen for this award. Nominees should be academic professionals (professors, educators, etc.).<\/p>\n

Criteria for selection shall include, but is not limited to, the individual\u2019s performance in the following areas:<\/p>\n