WASHINGTON — The American Coatings Association (ACA) recognized seven industry members with the Industry Statesman Award and presented Frank C. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of RPM International Inc., with the George Baugh Heckel Award — the association’s highest honor. The awards were presented during ACA’s Awards Reception & Dinner, which was held prior to the American Coatings Show in Indianapolis.
Sullivan was recognized for his leadership efforts on behalf of the association and the industry. The Industry Statesman Award is an honor given to individuals at or near retirement, in recognition and appreciation of their long and devoted service to the paint and coatings industry.
A former ACA Chairman, Vice Chairman, and member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Sullivan’s tenure as ACA Chairman, from 2012-2104, marked a period of notable milestones and growth for the association. This included passage of legislation establishing the PaintCare program in Rhode Island, Minnesota and Vermont; the launch of PaintCare program operations in Connecticut; and passage of legislation in Oregon to make the state’s PaintCare pilot program permanent. Under his leadership, ACA’s civil justice reform efforts expanded, with the association filing amicus briefs in more than a dozen potential precedent-setting cases. His term also saw the transformation and rebranding of the Graffiti Resource Council (formerly the National Council to Prevent Delinquency) with a renewed mission to provide information, education, and legislative assistance to help communities develop effective policies and comprehensive programs that prevent graffiti vandalism.
In his role at RPM, Sullivan was elected Chairman and CEO in October 2008. He joined the company in 1987 as regional sales manager for RPM’s joint venture, AGR Co. He was elected RPM’s Vice President of Corporate Development in 1991, became Chief Financial Officer in 1993, and Executive Vice President in 1995. In 1999, he was named company President, Chief Operating Officer in 2001, and President and CEO in 2002. Sullivan continues to lead RPM in a manner consistent with the legacy created by his father and grandfather, founder of RPM.
Sullivan serves on the boards of the Timken Co., U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Army War College Foundation, Ohio Business Roundtable, Greater Cleveland Partnership, and Medina County Bluecoats Chapter.
The following are ACA’s 2018 Industry Statesman Award recipients.
Brock Brownrigg, retired CEO and owner of Sheboygan Paint Co., has served multiple terms on ACA’s Board of Directors, from 2016 to the present; 2006 to 2008; and 1999 to 2001. In addition, he served on ACA’s PaintCare® Steering Committee in 2010, helping direct the association’s landmark paint stewardship program at its start. He also served on ACA’s Coatings Care® Committee from 1999 to 2006, serving as its chair in 2006; and on ACA’s Industrial Coatings Committee and Industrial Coatings Council from 2003 to the present. Brownrigg began his career at Sheboygan Paint in 1977 as a customer service manager. Through promotion he held several managerial roles, including Material Manager and Operations Manager, before becoming CEO and owner in January 2001.
James F. Calkin, retired Vice President of Key Accounts at the HORN Co., first became an ACA member in 1966, and spent 50 years as a member. During that time, he served on both ACA’s Industry Suppliers and Architectural Coatings Committees for 25 years.
After graduating in 1962, Calkin served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1966. That same year, he joined The Sherwin-Williams Co.’s Container division. In 1967, he went to work for the Titanium Pigment Division of NL Industries until 1973. Calkin then joined Borden Chemical and stayed until 1977, followed by five years at Reichhold Chemical. In 1983 he joined E.T. Horn Co. — as HORN was formerly known — where he remained until retiring in March 2017.
Calkin has been a stalwart supporter of industry as a member of the Los Angeles Society for Coatings Technology (LASCT) for 50 years, during which he served on the society’s board of directors from 1987 to 1993; and President from 1990 to 1991. For his dedication to industry, he earned an Honorary Membership from the society in 2017. He also helped establish the coatings program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and served as a member of its Industrial Advisory Committee.
John S. Gaither, retired President and CEO of Reichhold, served several terms on ACA’s Board of Directors, from 1994 to 1998; 2004 to 2005; and 2010 to 2012. He was also a member of ACA’s Executive Committee from 2010 to 2011.
In 1967, Gaither began his career at Reichhold Chemie AG in Austria in Eastern European sales. In 1978, he took on the role of Senior Vice President, International, for Reichhold Chemicals Inc. In 1986, he became President of the company’s Reactive Polymers division (composites), then President of the Emulsion Polymers division in 1989. From 1993 to 1998, he served as President of Reichhold’s Coatings Resins division and then left the company for six years to work with young startups. He returned to Reichhold in 2004 as President and CEO, completing the management buyout of Reichhold from DIC of Japan, and remained in his role through Reichhold’s acquisition by Black Diamond Capital Management in 2015, and merger with Polynt in 2017. Gaither retired in June 2017, but remains on the board of directors of Specialty Chemicals International LTD (owner of Polynt-Reichhold).
Jay Haines, retired President and CEO of Textured Coatings of America Incorporated (TCA), has served on several ACA committees. He was a member of ACA’s Board of Directors and PaintPAC Steering Committee from 2010 to 2012. He was also a member of ACA’s AIM VOC Committee from 2010 to 2014. In its third generation of family leadership, TCA is celebrating its 57th anniversary in 2018. Since his commitment to TCA in 1996, Haines’ vision and passion to produce new and innovative products has led to the introduction of numerous infrared heat-reflective product lines. He is the inventor of many patents related to infrared coatings, and in keeping with TCA’s commitment to environmentally friendly and energy saving coatings, his latest endeavor is a revolutionary line of patented energy saving wall, roof, and deck coating systems that TCA has added to its product offerings.
Michael J. Kenny, who served as interim CEO, Chairman, and operating partner of Henry Co., and is currently a senior advisor at AEA Investors and operating partner at Graham Partners, has a long history of industry and ACA service. He was a member of ACA’s Board of Directors from 1982 to 1987, and served additional terms on the board and ACA’s Executive Committee between 2005 and 2016. He also served on ACA’s Management Information Committee from 1980 to 1985. He was a member of the Industry Suppliers Committee from 1980 to 1990, serving as chair from 1986 to 1990.
With over 40 years of experience in the building products industry, Kenny has led half a dozen international manufacturing firms. Prior to helming Henry Co., he founded Rockwood Holdings Inc., where he served as President from 1999 to 2002. Rockwood Holdings Inc. was formed in part by specialty chemicals manufacturer Laporte, where Kenny was President and Divisional Chairman and member of the board of directors of Laporte plc (UK). Prior to joining Laporte, he served as President of the Specialty Products division of Church & Dwight Co., and President of RHEOX Inc. Prior to RHEOX, Kenny worked at NL Chemicals for more than 20 years in a variety of sales and marketing positions of increasing responsibility, rising to President of the company.
David Mazzocco, retired Global EHS Director for PPG’s Industrial Coatings segment, served on several ACA committees related to environmental health and safety. As a member of ACA’s Environmental Management Committee from 1998 to 2016, he served as Chair from 2000 to 2003. During that time, he led and participated in several subcommittees focusing on the development of U.S. EPA’s MACT standards for coatings production and applications. Mazzocco was also a member of ACA’s Industrial Coatings Air Regulatory Committee from 2009 to 2016.
During his more than 38-year long career with PPG, Mazzocco held many roles. He joined the company in 1978 as an Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Technician and advanced to the position of Industrial Hygiene Chemist before becoming Environmental Engineering Laboratory Supervisor in 1986. In 1989, he moved to PPG’s Cleveland, Ohio, facility as Environmental Manager with responsibility for the Cleveland automotive coatings plant, Strongsville powder coatings facility, and 10 automotive service facilities. Mazzocco returned to Pittsburgh in 1991 as Manager of Air Programs for PPG’s Coatings Group. In 2000, he was promoted to Global Environmental Manager for the Coatings Strategic Business Units, before being appointed Global EHS Director for PPG’s Industrial Coatings segment in 2005. Prior to retiring in April 2017, Mazzocco also held interim positions as the company’s Compliance Assurance Director and EHS Director for Architectural and Refinish Coatings.
Rich Sabatine, who will be retiring on May 1 from Covestro LLC as Vice President of Global Accounts, has served on many ACA leadership committees. He served on ACA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 2005 to 2006, and another term on ACA’s Board from 2008 to 2010. He has also been a longstanding member of ACA’s Industrial Coatings Council (formerly Committee) since 2003.
Sabatine worked in various roles at Bayer MaterialScience before it became part of Covestro — including Account Manager, Marketing Director, and Vice President of Functional Films and Specialties.
