CHARLOTTE, NC — In its first-ever awards program, organizers of UTECH North America recognized both longstanding and emerging leaders during its 2018 conference and convention, held Sept. 11-12, 2018, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

During the ceremony, industry leader John Televantos was named as the newest inductee to the UTECH Hall of Fame. Televantos spent much of his early career in research and development, going on to hold various executive-level positions within the chemical and polyurethane manufacturing industries before joining Arsenal Capital Partners in 2006 as Executive Vice President. He currently serves as Senior Partner at Arsenal and Co-Head of the Specialty Industrial Group, where he focuses on portfolio management and specialty industrials.

Three 2018 Rising Star Awards recipients were recognized for their contributions and impact in today’s marketplace. They were Fernando del Valle Fernandez, CEO of Grupo Valfer; Matthew Getty, VP of Business and Product Development of Romeo RIM; and James Young, Associate TS&D Scientist at The Dow Chemical Co.

The award ceremonies kicked off a two-day conference, networking and entertainment on the show floor. While Hurricane Florence forced organizers to close the show a day early, exhibitors and attendees at the show capitalized on the opportunity for substantial leads and meaningful conversations.

Several new features to the UTECH North America program, including the “Ask the Experts” stand and a new mobile app, enhanced networking and educational opportunities. These additions improved the value of the show for polyurethane suppliers and professionals in attendance.

At the “Ask the Expert” stand, exhibitors provided 15-minute educational sessions, enabling them to connect with attendees on a one-on-one basis. This additional learning opportunity complemented an already impressive line-up of sessions presented during the educational conference.

UTECH North America will return in the spring of 2020 to Chicago. UTECH Las Americas returns to Centro CitiBanamex, Mexico City on April 10-12, 2019. For a full listing of future UTECH events, visit https://utech-polyurethane.com/events/. For more information about UTECH North America 2020, visit: www.utech-north-america.com.