Ever since 1989, during the final issue of the year, Rubber & Plastics News honors our Rubber Industry Executive of the Year. Often times one or more of us on the editorial staff are well-acquainted with the winner.
But every once in awhile, the open nominating process brings us a candidate with whom we really don't have a history. That's the case with this year's winner, Rick Valeriote, chief operating officer of Poly-Nova Technologies L.P.
Meeting with Rick at the firm's headquarters in Guelph, Ontario, and hearing what those who work with him—from both inside and outside the company—convinced me we had made the right selection.
Rick's not all that different from a lot of rubber industry veterans, having started working with his father in the family firm and, after getting a taste of the rubber business, knew it was in his blood. But after more than 40 years, he still hasn't lost the curiosity to find out what's next, or the "sense of urgency" to help solve a customer's problem.