Joe Maglich works with wire and cable customers to identify ways of adding value, growing businesses and solving problems. “I find real joy in solving technical problems,” Joe said, “and simultaneously building relationships with the intelligent, friendly and down-to-earth colleagues and customers you find in the plastics industry.”
If you want to have cable TV installed, you call your local provider and hope the cable guy shows up within whatever window they give you. But what do you do if you need actual cables? People looking for cables and wire get to speak with Joe Maglich at M. Holland Company, where they offer a wide variety of plastic compounds, gels, tapes, and copper conductors to meet the industry’s diversified needs.
Joe is an account and product manager who works with wire and cable customers to identify ways of adding value, growing businesses and solving problems. “I find real joy in solving technical problems,” Joe said, “and simultaneously building relationships with the intelligent, friendly and down-to-earth colleagues and customers you find in the plastics industry.”
Career fair find
Joe got into the industry through a college career fair, where he came to the attention of DuPont and went to work with them in a college co-op program, going full-time with the company after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
“After graduation, I joined corporate DuPont’s exclusive rotational program,” Joe said. “I held various R&D positions in DuPont Performance Coatings, working closely with OEM automotive customers on formulations, robotic applications development and product qualifications.”
After six years at DuPont, Joe wanted to branch out, so he pursued a commercial role in technical sales to utilize both his technical background and people skills. He was also seeking the valuable experience of working more closely with customers.
“I had offers at several companies and selected T&T Marketing Inc., a family-owned wire and cable-focused plastics compound distributor,” Joe recalled. “There, I was able to leverage my technical background and grow into commercial roles as an account manager and product manager. A couple of years later, T&T was acquired by M. Holland, another family-owned distributor that covers several plastics markets. This turned out to be the perfect fit for T&T’s growing business, and my career.”
Consistently growing professional
Among the benefits of being with M. Holland, a PLASTICS member company, Joe discovered Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP), PLASTICS’ development initiative for professionals under the age of 40. He has been a FLiP member for nearly two years.
“FLiP offers excellent networking and industry engagement opportunities and has exposed me to the broader Plastics Industry Association,” Joe shared. “I’ve found great value in strengthening my industry knowledge and network, especially through the in-person conferences. I’m also able to participate in councils and speaker series alongside industry leaders, gaining a greater perspective.” Joe added that he recently attended an AMI expo show in Cleveland and ran into at least ten people he knows through PLASTICS.
M. Holland’s PLASTICS membership has also gotten Joe access to important voices of experience. “Through the FLiP mentorship program, I’ve been fortunate to meet an incredible mentor,” he said, “Ashley Hood-Morley, the Vice President of Industry Engagement for PLASTICS. We regularly discuss happenings across the industry, networking opportunities, how I can utilize my strengths. and areas of professional growth.”
Industry ambassador
Joe’s love for his job is obvious, and he encourages other members of his generation to explore the plastics industry, as well. “The plastics industry supplies the world with products we rely on,” he said, “such as construction and power materials, car parts and medical supplies. As the industry continues to grow, it needs younger generations to support it and fuel ongoing innovation in areas such as sustainability. There are so many exciting careers available in the industry—everything from R&D, operations, sales, IT, management and business development.”
The passion Joe expresses for the industry extends well beyond the functions of his job. Changing the public’s perception of plastics is also a priority. “We need to communicate the vast benefits of plastics in our lives,” he said, “including how plastics enable life-saving applications such as healthcare products, access to fresh food, and electrical power for all our homes and industries we depend on.
And proving that you can take the guy away from cable but you can’t take cable out of the guy, Joe confesses to a regular off-the-clock habit: “When I come across cables, I’m curious to read the print on them to understand which specifications it meets and who makes it!”
PLASTICS and the Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) Committee are devoted to supporting and encouraging the next generation of plastics leaders who will play a crucial role in the innovation, technology and future of the plastics industry. FLiP’s mission is to provide young professionals under the age of 40 the exposure, education and resources they need to build lifelong careers in plastics. Want to join? Want to get your employees involved? Email: [email protected]