I would like to take this opportunity to officially congratulate the Class of 2015 at all of our SPE Student Chapters. It has been over twenty years since I walked across that stage as an SPE student member, but I remember well that elevated level of mixed emotion on what was next to come.

Most of you entered college at a very volatile time based on the global economy, yet you seem to be starting your career at a much more optimistic time with great opportunity. This coincides with a time where we are all collectively focused on closing the workforce shortage skills gap. Many futurists have revealed that the pace of innovation over the next decade will far exceed that of innovation over the past ten decades, combined. Given this fact, you should be excited to have chosen a career path founded in plastics, as it will inevitably touch every innovation niche going forward.

It’s a nice trend we’re seeing, with the unemployment rate going down and the number of job listings targeted at new grads going up. Almost 100% of students graduating with plastics engineering/technology degrees receive multiple job offers during their senior year, with a formal commitment already in place prior to their graduation.

Just remember, you’re not going to reach the heights of your career based simply on what you already know. Your true success will be based on what you continue to learn after graduation. Now that you have learned how to learn, go pursue that next big idea in plastics!

SPE is very proud to have been a part of your education and hopes you and your schools were able to take full advantage of the many scholarships and grants through SPE’s Foundation. Beyond philanthropy, SPE continues to dedicate resources to bringing more value and purpose for our students. SPE has made a deliberate effort to further engage academia with industry through a newly formed collaboration board. Corporate interest in our annual speed interviews at ANTEC and our perpetual online job postings is at an all-time high. Autodesk has stepped up to further support student engagement with a 2015 sponsorship of the new SPE “U-Tour,” in addition to all of their complimentary software offerings for SPE students. Upon matriculation, make sure to mentor your undergraduate friends and remind them of what all SPE has to offer.

Just announced at NPE2015, the dues of every SPE student member will now be sponsored by our partner, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. In addition, SPE students will be welcomed into the interactions with SPI as virtual members, putting them in direct contact with leading plastics companies searching for the specific talent our students possess. Also, SPE students will be highly recruited for SPI’s FLIP (Future Leaders in Plastics) as well as SPE’s NGAB (Next Generation Advisory Board), which, by working together, will ensure a solid future for our industry.

Instead of suggesting you “wear sunscreen,” my advice would be to “embrace change and stay connected in real time.” While emailing, texting, and social media are all great tools and have their purpose in the workplace, nothing can replace a live phone call or, more importantly, a face to face meeting when you really need to accomplish your more important objectives. Also, make a conscious effort to stay involved in your industry’s technical societies and trade associations. Lastly, find a way to volunteer and give back to your industry as a means of cultivating the next generation of plastics professionals.

I’d like to leave you with a very impactful piece of advice that I took to heart upon graduation and thereafter in my career: “Do not confuse effort with accomplishment, but remember, if it was easy, anybody could do it.” (Thanks, Dad.)

—Russell Broome, Managing Director
Society of Plastics Engineers