WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is pleased to announce that Mark O’Connell has been named Vice President of Government Affairs, effective immediately.
As a member of the Senior team, Mark will lead all association efforts directed to Capitol Hill, the Administration, regulatory agencies and state/municipal governments nationwide, on behalf of PLASTICS member companies. Mark will also represent the PLASTICS Political Action Committee, and lead efforts to educate state and local policymakers as to the policy priorities of PLASTICS, the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing the sixth largest manufacturing industry and nearly one-million workers in the United States.
“Strong representation throughout the country begins with a strong presence in Washington and Mark’s vast experience makes him well positioned to represent PLASTICS,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS. “Mark’s combination of Capitol Hill, federal agency, state legislative, and corporate government affairs experience will prove invaluable to our members. I’m thrilled to have Mark on board.”
Prior to joining PLASTICS, O’Connell was Director of Government Affairs for Cognizant Technology Solutions, where he combined extensive government experience with an ability to build coalitions across party and ideological divides to achieve lobbying goals and drive policy. O’Connell’s 25 years of government related experience includes corporate roles, as well as serving as Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as both Chief of Staff and Legislative Director in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the PLASTICS team at such a crucial time for the industry,” shared O’Connell. “Advocating on behalf of our membership will be an exciting undertaking. It’s imperative that the voice of PLASTICS be heard not only on Capitol Hill, but throughout the U.S. as we work to address the fiscal and environmental challenges that lie ahead.”
Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability. To learn more about PLASTICS educational initiatives, the $468 billion dollar plastics industry, sustainability insights and events, networking opportunities and policy advocacy, and the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show, visit plasticsindustry.org or go to This Is PLASTICS.