SPI South -- Distinguished Service Award Winner 1998

Previous Recepients

1999
1998

North Carolina Plastics Industry Leader's Distinguished Service Recognized

Seabrook Island, South Carolina (November 3, 1998) Joseph Bennett, president of United Southern Industries, Inc. of Forest City, North Carolina received the first SPI Southern Region Distinguished Service Award at The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. annual conference's awards gala and celebration. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding dedication and initiative to promoting the plastics industry in the South.

Bennett has been involved with the plastics industry for over 36 years. He is an active supporter of plastics industry workforce education and training initiative and has personally established and directed several programs that have promoted plastics education in the South and nationwide. In 1988, Mr. Bennett accepted a challenge to match a $100,000 donation to establish the Richard Goolsby Foundation for promoting plastics education. A matching amount of $200,000 was achieved in 1991 as a result of his efforts.

Bennett also helped to establish a curriculum for plastics programs at the Isothermal Community College in Forest City, NC and contributes to two local scholarships to help student pursue careers in plastics. He actively lobbied the North Carolina State legislature for funds to support the Polymers extension Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Bennett has also hosted several PlastiVan visits to local schools to help pique students interest in plastics.

Bennett founded United Southern Industries, Inc. (USI) in 1970 and has been its president since 1979. He purchased the company in 1983. Bennett also served as vice president of R.P. industries beginning in 1975 and became its president and general manager in 1982 when the company's Isoplast Custom Molding Division was purchased by USI. In 1992, Bennett co-founded Everbhan, Inc., a precision injection molded thermoplastics company.

In addition to his support of SPI Southern Region activities, Bennett also serves as an Eastern Regional representative to SPI's Molders Division board of directors. He also has been a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers since 1966. As SPE's Virginia/Carolinas Section Education Chairman, he helped form a public outreach program a student summer placement program at local plastics companies.