Six individuals received Industry Statesman Awards during the American Coatings Association’s (ACA) Welcome Reception & Dinner. The Industry Statesman Award is an honor given by ACA to persons at or near retirement in recognition and appreciation of their long and devoted service to the paint and coatings industry.The following are ACA’s 2010 Industry Statesman Award recipients.
Merom Brachman, CEO of Yenkin-Majestic Industries, is a former member of ACA’s Board of Directors and the association’s Industrial Coatings Committee for the last decade. He has been an active supporter and participant in two of ACA’s mainstay advocacy arms since their inception: PaintPAC, and the Ohio Paint Council. Brachman came from federal service to the coatings industry in 1968, through a regional manufacturer founded by his wife’s grandfather in 1920. Working with his cousin Bernard Yenkin the last 25 years as president, then as CEO of the privately-held Yenkin-Majestic Industries, the company developed new OEM & resins capabilities. From his ties to the related petroleum field, starting in the 1970s, Brachman’s focus was on growing their OPC Polymers Division into a national supplier of vehicles in our industry. During his career, Brachman has kept a steady interest in public policy, chairing the bi-partisan Ohio Ethics Commission during 30 years of appointments by governors of both parties. Brachman also served on the U.S. Delegation sent in 1988 by President Reagan to monitor the 1st free national election in El Salvador, and assess U.S. funding operations for the democratic government. He has twice been a member of the Presidential Electoral College, and had a long tenure as trustee of the $2 billion Ohio State University Hospitals System. A veteran of the U. S. Air Force, he holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Harvard and, with his wife, enjoys a family of three daughters, their husbands and five grandchildren.
Edward J. Donnelly, Jr., retired group vice president for DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies, is the president of the International Paint and Printing Inks Council (IPPIC), for which ACA serves as Secretariat. Under his stewardship, IPPIC received non-governmental status at the International Maritime Organization, a coup for the group’s international stakeholder interest. In addition, during his tenure, IPPIC expanded to include the German Associations (VdL), and French (FIPEC), as full members, and the British (BCF), as associate members. The council also spearheaded global efforts, such as the research and report refuting the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph for professional painting, and is collaborating with the United National Environmental Program on a global program promoting curtailment of the use of lead in paints. Its Anti-fouling Working Group has extended its reach to China, actively fostering relationships and networking with the country’s Ministry of Environmental Protection. Donnelly is a former chair of ACA’s Board of Directors and member of its Executive Committee, and for his service, he was honored with the association’s George Baugh Heckel Award in 2006.
Donnelly has spent some 40 years working in the industry, 37 at DuPont. Like many who become involved in this industry, he began his career working in a research lab. His positive attitude and eagerness led him to accept a number of positions within the company. Some of his greatest accomplishments followed the company’s acquisition of Ford’s North American Paint Operations, including leading the integration and transition team and coordinating all functional activity. Donnelly also developed strategy for DuPont’s global finishes business and was lead negotiator with Hoechst for the $1.9 billion Herberts acquisition. He organized and lead the due diligence process and was the initial leader of the integration team developing both DuPont and Herberts’ functional team transition programs. Donnelly also led DuPont’s General Managers Development Program. He was also responsible for DuPont’s NASCAR Motorpsorts Program and sponsorship, with Hendrick Motorsports, of the #24 DuPont car and Jeff Gordon. A native of Philadelphia, Donnelly graduated from Villanova University. He completed several business executive and management programs, including those at the University of Michigan, Columbia University, and Pennsylvania State University. Donnelly has always kept family his main priority. He also enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, and watching NASCAR, the Eagles and college basketball.
Nancy Seymour Heatley, COB, CEO & President of Seymour of Sycamore, Inc., is a former member of ACA’s Board of Directors and Architectural Coatings Committee. She has also been a dedicated and active member of ACA’s Spray Paint Manufacturers Committee since 1994. Her father is Edward H. Seymour, the founder of Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. and acknowledged “Inventor of Aerosol Paint.” Prior to joining the family business, Heatley, who holds an Ed.D. in Psychology, practiced psychology at Pradeep Kakaad in Elgin, Ill., a private practice in Dundee, Ill., and managed the Neurotrauma Unit at Pinecrest Rehabilitation Center in Delray Beach, Fla. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association and the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association. Offering the key quality for an industry leader, Heatley says: “Set a goal and focus on it; surround yourself with people who have strengths to offset your weaknesses and listen to them and learn; and be prepared with Plan B-flexibility because Plan A doesn’t always work out.”
Albert L. Hentzen, President & CEO of Hentzen Coatings, Inc., is a longtime member of ACA’s Board of Directors, and an active member of the association’s Industrial Coatings Committee. He also served on the Board-level Governance and Committee Organization Subcommittee, which directed the association’s day-to-day and long-term structural organization. Hentzen has worked for his family’s company for over 50 years, becoming sole owner of Hentzen Coatings in 1997. Prior to that, he served for many years as co-owner with his brothers William and Herbert. All four of his children are active participants in the business. Hentzen served as U.S. Army Captain, in both active and reserve duty for eight years. He is the former president of the Wisconsin Skating Association, former Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Olympic Ice Rink in West Allis, Wisc., and a former member of the Board of the U.S. International (Olympic) Speed Skating Association.
David W. Lloyd is vice president of ACA’s Government Affairs division, and revolutionized the association’s advocacy work with his inception of the Paint Council Network in 1989. Under his leadership, the association’s Executive Committee endorsed the creation of a network of grassroots organizations at the state level. These organizations, called paint councils, represent ACA in its efforts to safeguard the interests of the paint and coatings industry, and have garnered the organization and industry many successes in states and regions throughout the country, where measures cropped up that could have negatively impacted the manufacture or sale of industry products. Lloyd is also the ACA staff liaison to the Architectural Coatings and Government Affairs Committees. Prior to joining the association, he was vice president of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association in Trenton, N.J. He is beloved by ACA staff, and feels great fondness for the industry and its members: “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to spend the last 20 years working with and for members of the association. Never have I had a paint industry person tell me ‘I don’t have time to help you’ on this or that action item. My travel to meetings and events throughout the country has allowed me to get to know a number of the people and develop wonderful relationships. I treasure these relationships.” Lloyd, who is a member of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, is also the very proud grandpa to grandsons Benjy and Henry.
Thomas White, President of United Gilsonite Laboratories (UGL) and chair of ACA’s Architectural Coatings Committee (ACC), is also a member of the association’s Board of Directors. As chair of the ACC, and vice chair before that, White has provided important leadership for the sector committee as it has faced significant challenges during the past several years, and has been a strong influence as it has experienced positive growth in membership and participation. White began his career at UGL as a salesman in1975; became Midwestern Sales Manager in 1985; and national accounts manager in 2000. He was recognized by the company in 2002 as a “25-year Executive Salesman,” before being named president later that year. White devoted his career to the industry, and says of the industry, “it was built by genuinely nice people that appreciate hard work and sincerity and still today, offers great career opportunities.”
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