Grants from the SPE Foundation

Grants from the SPE Foundation is sponsored by SPE Foundation (Society of Plastics Engineers Foundation). Grants from the SPE Foundation are available for programs/projects that benefit members of the Society of Plastics Engineers, the plastics industry, and/or the general public.

Our Mission: The SPE Foundation supports the development of plastics professionals by funding quality educational programs, grants, and scholarships emphasizing science, engineering, sustainability, and manufacturing while working to create STEM opportunities for students around the world.

SPE Foundation Impact Report SPE & Girl Scout Councils SPE Foundation Impact Report 2025 Ambassador Giving Society Senior Research Engineer, Global Materials Science A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy Kim drives technology programs at Braskem to develop advanced polyolefins with improved recyclability and sustainability.

As Principal Investigator on a REMADE-funded collaboration, Kim leads a diverse industry-academic team that is developing a process to recycle elastomers as secondary feedstock. Kim has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. She is an inventor on more than 25 patents and applications for novel polyolefin technologies.

Kim is on the Board of Directors of SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, where she has served as Education Chair and Councilor. Assistant Professor, Plastics Engineering Technology Penn State Erie, The Behrend College A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy Gamini has a BS and PhD from Purdue University in Materials Engineering and Sustainability.

He joined Penn State as a Post Doctorate Scholar in 2020 prior to his professorship appointment. He works closely with PA plastics manufacturers to implement sustainability programs in their plants.

Technical Service Engineer, Injection and Rotational Molding and CAE Chevron Phillips Chemcial Company A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy Tom Giovannetti holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa and for the last 26 years has worked for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company.

Tom started his plastics career by designing various injection molded products for the chemical industry including explosion proof plugs and receptacles, panel boards and detonation arrestors for 24 inch pipelines. Tom also holds a patent for design of a polyphenylene sulfide sleeve in a nylon coolant cross-over of an air intake manifold and is a Certified Plastic Technologist through the Society of Plastic Engineers.

Tom serves on the Oklahoma Section Board as Councilor, is also the past president of the local Oklahoma SPE Section, and as well serves on the SPE Injection Molding Division board.

Senior Director and Research Professor A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy Dr. Joseph Lawrence is a Research Professor and Senior Director of the Polymer Institute and the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization at the University of Toledo. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and after working in the process industry, he has been engaged in polymers and composites research for 18+ years.

In the Polymer Institute he leads research on renewably sourced polymers, plastics recycling, and additive manufacturing. He is also the lead investigator of the Polyesters and Barrier Materials Research Consortium funded by industry. Dr. Lawrence has advised 20 graduate students, mentored 8 staff scientists and several undergraduate students.

He is a peer reviewer in several journals, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications and serves on the board of the Injection Molding Division of SPE. Northeast Account Manager A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy Matt Hammernik serves as Hasco America’s Northeast Area Account Manager covering the states Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

He started with Hasco America at the beginning of March 2022. Matt started in the Injection Mold Industry roughly 10 years ago as an estimator quoting injection mold base steel, components and machining. He advanced into outside sales and has been serving molders, mold builders and mold makers for about 7 years.

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