On July 10, prominent plastics leader and activist Dennis L. Hayford was the recipient of two noteworthy honors at a special retirement event to mark his achievements during 45 years in the industry.

At a celebratory luncheon, representatives of the Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA) announced the renaming of its conference center in honor of Hayford, who is retiring as CEO of the Center. In addition, Russell C. Broome, managing director of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), announced that the committee of past presidents of SPE awarded Hayford the title of Distinguished Member, the Society’s rarest and most prestigious honor.

“Having the Dennis Hayford name attached to the PCE Conference Center is a well-deserved legacy and an honor for a true veteran of our industry. Dennis has been a close personal mentor for over 20 years, solidifying in me a passion for the plastics industry and always inspiring me to do more with and for the Society,” says Broome.

“Dennis has worked tirelessly to advance the cause of plastics, playing leadership roles in many of SPE’s most important contributions to the industry, making education and training a special mission at both SPE and the PCE, and supporting the growth of recycling,” Broome adds. “On behalf of SPE and its past presidents, it brings me great pleasure to confirm the election of Dennis L. Hayford as a Distinguished Member of the Society as a means of celebrating his achievements and dedication. I look forward to many more years of mentorship from Dennis.”

PCE is a non-profit organization created and funded by the state of North Carolina focusing on the training of engineers, technicians, and operators, as well as offering assistance with part design, property testing, and processing trials. In 2012, Hayford also became president of the Polymers Technology Center, Inc., a for-profit outgrowth of the PCE.

45 Years of Plastics Industry Achievement

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, Dennis Hayford joined the plastics industry in 1971 and worked primarily in resin sales until becoming executive director of the PCE in 2001. He joined SPE in 1978 and has been an active volunteer in the Society ever since, on both local and international levels of governance. 

Hayford has served SPE on multiple section and division boards and operating committees, many as chairman, and he was the general operating chair for SPE ANTEC® 2006. He was instrumental in establishing the original scholarship program that has since grown into the SPE Foundation, a multi-million dollar resource for students. Hayford was elected an SPE Honored Service Member in its first class of 1992 and subsequently was made an emeritus member. He was accepted into the Plastics Pioneers Association in 2013. 

Besides his work in support of plastics education at SPE and the PCE, Hayford served for five years on the board of directors of the Polymer Extension Program at North Carolina State University. And since 2006 he has been a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of North Carolina.

Hayford’s support of plastics recycling began in 1987 with a two-year chairmanship of SPE’s International Recycling Division. Since 2006 he has been technical advisor to the Carpet America Recovery Effort, and he’s currently a technical advisor to the Association of Carolinas Plastics Recyclers.

For information about the Polymers Center of Excellence, visit www.polymers-center.org.