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John R. Hickman is founder, president and chief executive officer of Ohio-based Plastech Consulting, Inc. (PCI). Founded in 1988, PCI is a full service productivity-based engineering firm providing state-of-the-art solutions to the challenges of today’s plastic products. Mr. Hickman has over 34 years in the polymer industry in management, engineering, and consultation. He has held key engineering and management positions with Weatherchem Corporation, Scott & Fetzer, Carlisle and ITT before founding PCI. Mr. Hickman has over 30 trade secrets and four polymer component patents currently in practice, with several pending. He has been involved in multiple turn-around situations, most involving polymer-based companies. One such company under his management, Weatherchem Corporation, was recognized by Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management as being one of the 100 fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio. Mr. Hickman has significant hands-on experience with nanocomposites, productivity programs, product design/development, concurrent engineering, team building, labor partnerships, engineering value assessments, market analysis, management evaluations and advanced manufacturing and total business evaluations. Mr. Hickman has a background in chemical engineering from Ohio State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, with management courses beyond the Master's program. A significant portion of Mr. Hickman's experience in the polymer industry was obtained on the manufacturing floor, directing a problem-solving environment. In addition, Mr. Hickman completed several assignments as an executive advisor to students in the nationally recognized MBA program at Case Western and served as the Co-Chairman of the Technology Committee on the PolymerOhio, Inc. board; currently a trustee on the board. Mr. Hickman participates on various boards of directors for privately held companies and teaches several plastic-related courses for the Akron Polymer Training Center as well as other clients. Recently, the Akron Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers inducted Mr. Hickman into the Plastics Hall of Honor located at the University of Akron. | 