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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI's Trade Show V.P. Morgenstern Retiring
Directed dramatic NPE growth and globalization during 20 year tenure

WASHINGTON (May 18, 2005) - Jordan L. Morgenstern, vice president of trade shows for the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI) since 1986 will retire as of May 31, 2005, it was announced today. Under his leadership, SPI's triennial NPE consistently ranked among the top five largest manufacturing expositions in North America and emerged as a world-scale showplace for the international plastics industry, noted SPI president William Carteaux.

"Jordan's enthusiasm and instinct for the trade show business have been crucial to the success of NPE and SPI as a whole," said Carteaux. "Building an expert team of trade show specialists and working with plastics company leaders from every sector of the industry, he created a program that ultimately more than doubled the size of NPE and broadened its range to include new types of exhibitors and greater participation from other countries around the world."

During Morgenstern's leadership, for example, the number of exhibitors increased 160 percent, from 738 companies to 1,922 in 2003. During that time, the number of net square feet of exhibit space also increased, from 482,000 sq. ft. to 1,142,000 sq. ft. On his watch, the number of participants grew as well, with peak attendance of 90,000 in 2000.

Additionally, Morgenstern presided over the growing internationalization of the show, as measured by the number of exhibitors coming from outside the U.S., by the number of country pavilions, and the number of international visitors. In fact, for the upcoming NPE, more exhibit space has already been assigned to companies from outside the U.S. one year prior to the event than was assigned to non-U.S. companies in total at NPE 2003.

"While SPI and the NPE Exposition will miss Jordan's leadership, he leaves behind a dedicated, experienced team that will continue to work toward the NPE 2006 without missing a beat," said NPE 2006 Chairman Tim Stojka, CEO of Fast Heat Inc. "From the internal SPI staff, including SPI President Bill Carteaux to the external show management team of Vossworks and SmithBucklin, planning, selling and coordination of the event will continue on schedule."

Vossworks President Barbara Voss, NPE Show Director, has known Morgenstern for 20 years. "Jordan knows every aspect of trade show planning, management and promotion," Voss said. "He has been a driving force in demonstrating to the industry the benefits of trade show participation, both as exhibitors and attendees." "I've learned a lot from Jordan over the years," Voss added. "Together with the SPI staff, NPE committees and other outside contractors, we'll continue his work to make the 2006 edition the best NPE ever."

In addition to work on the NPE Show, Morgenstern and SPI's member-driven NPE committee launched Plastics USA in 1992, a triennial show developed specifically for the North American plastics market. The event, held five times since its inception, replaced a series of regional conferences and trade shows throughout the country in non-NPE years.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.4 million workers and provides nearly $310 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org.

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