FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tracy Cullen
(202) 974-5282
Email: tcullen@socplas.org

SPI PROMOTES TOLIVER TO VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRADE COUNSEL

WASHINGTON (April 19, 2006) – The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) announced the promotion of Karen Toliver to vice president, international affairs and trade counsel. SPI is the major trade association of the plastics industry, representing some 1,100 companies in all areas of plastics manufacturing.

“Since joining SPI in January 2005 as senior director, international trade and industry statistics, Karen has done excellent work for SPI members and the U.S. plastics industry by re-engaging our organization with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, increasing SPI’s presence in trade advocacy, and expanding trade education and information available to our members,” said SPI President Bill Carteaux. “Her promotion to this newly created vice president position reflects our organization’s recognition of the importance of international activities as a core service provided to SPI members.”

In her new role, Toliver will be responsible for leading SPI’s international trade services, broadening international awareness of SPI and its activities on behalf of the U.S. plastics industry, and helping to forge relationships with plastics associations in overseas markets. She will also continue to advocate trade issues on behalf of SPI members and the U.S. plastics industry.

Toliver has fourteen years of international trade experience in both the private and public sectors. From 1999 to 2004, she served as an attorney with the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, LLP and represented domestic and foreign producers involved in unfair trade proceedings before the U.S. Dept of Commerce and International Trade Commission. From 1996 to 1999, she was an attorney for the Office of Chief Counsel for the Import Administration with the U.S. Dept of Commerce where she served as the lead attorney on a multitude of international trade investigations, represented the agency before federal courts, and was co-counsel in negotiations pertaining to the U.S.–Canada softwood lumber dispute. Before that she served as a staff attorney with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom and began her career as a law clerk at Stewart and Stewart.

Toliver received her J.D. and M.A. in Law and International Affairs from the American University and her B.A. in American Government from the University of Virginia.

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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 1.3 million workers and provides nearly $345 billion in annual shipments.

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