The Distinguished Service Award recognizes enduring service to ACA and the paint and coatings industry. Over his remarkable 45-year career in the industry, Penichter carved a commercial path, primarily through the distribution channel. For more than 20 years, he brought his distributor lens to his active participation with ACA. He served on the association’s Architectural and Industrial Coatings Committees, as well as the Industry Suppliers Committee. Penichter acted as Industry Suppliers Committee Chair for six years, during which he also served on ACA’s Board of Directors.

As chair of the Industry Suppliers Committee, Penichter was instrumental in bringing supplier and distributor members together to understand the industry’s most pressing challenges. Under his leadership, the committee routinely invited a manufacturer member to meetings to discuss the procurement process for raw materials and equipment, and learn how suppliers and distributors could more fully support the industry. He was also a steadfast supporter of ACA’s American Coatings Show since its debut in 2008.

Penichter began his industry career in 1980 as a sales representative for Spencer Kellogg (Textron). In 1982, he took on the same role at D.H. Litter Co., where he remained until 1989, when he joined W.R. Grace & Co/Davison Chemical Div., as regional sales manager. Penichter returned to D.H. Litter as vice president from 1998 until 2011, after which he joined Archway Sales Inc., as vice president of Marketing. He remained in that position  until 2019, when he took on the role of director of Business Development for Nexeo Solutions.

Penichter was a member and officer of the New York Society for Coatings Technology for 10 years, and the Metropolitan New York Coatings Association (MNYCA) for 15 years. He received MNYCA’s Paint Pioneer Award in 2022.

Penichter received a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Oswego, and an MBA from Wilmington University.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

In the photo above, pictured from left to right: ACA President & CEO, Mike Johnson; Dave Penichter; ACA Chairman, Jeff Powell; and ACA Vice Chairman, Chase Bean
Photo Credit: Liz Lynch

The Industry Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their specific contributions to an industry project or association effort. Vogel was honored for her leadership efforts in advancing ACA and the industry’s PaintCare program. ACA created PaintCare on behalf of paint manufacturers to plan and operate paint stewardship programs in U.S. states and jurisdictions that enact paint stewardship laws.

Vogel has been a member of PaintCare’s Board of Directors since 2017, and served as chair of its Budget and Finance Committee for a two-year term. She served as PaintCare Board Chair from 2022 to 2024.

For nine years, Vogel has been a steadfast advocate for the program’s mission and a trusted voice on complex regulatory and policy matters. She helped ACA navigate stakeholder pressure to expand product stewardship requirements for coatings. During her tenure, aerosol coatings were added to the California program, and a broader national strategy was developed for responding to future expansion initiatives.

Vogel is also an active member of ACA’s Legal & Government Affairs Committee, on which she has served since 2014. She is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Bar Association.

Vogel earned a B.A. in Political Science and Writing from Bethel University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

In the photo above, pictured from left to right: ACA President & CEO, Mike Johnson; ACA Chairman, Jeff Powell; Meika Vogel; and ACA Vice Chairman, Chase Bean
Photo Credit: Liz Lynch

The Industry Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their specific contributions to an industry project or association effort. Vanderpool was honored for his enduring efforts to advance ACA and the industry’s PaintCare program. ACA created PaintCare on behalf of paint manufacturers to plan and operate paint stewardship programs in U.S. states and jurisdictions that enact paint stewardship laws.

Vanderpool is Chairman Emeritus of PaintCare. He has been an active and impactful member of the PaintCare Board of Directors for 10 consecutive years. He served as PaintCare Board Chair from March 2020 to April 2022, and thereafter as a member of its Budget & Finance Committee. He is a member of ACA’s Board of Directors.

Throughout his decade of service to PaintCare, Vanderpool has worked diligently to advance this critical paint product stewardship program. During his leadership tenure, the program launched two of its largest state programs to date, in Washington and New York. A staunch supporter of the program, Vanderpool worked closely with True Value’s network of independent retail stores, recruiting many to serve as drop-off sites for leftover paint collected by PaintCare.

Vanderpool is a paint and coatings industry leader with more than 40 years of experience building profitable growth strategies, strengthening operations, and advancing product and regulatory initiatives across retail, manufacturing, and national accounts. As senior vice president of True Value Manufacturing and General Paint Manufacturing, Vanderpool has overseen manufacturing and business development since 2015, with a focus on sustainable growth, operational excellence, and tight alignment of strategic priorities.

Before joining True Value, Vanderpool spent three decades at Benjamin Moore & Co., where he held multiple senior roles spanning market leadership and national account development. Earlier in his career, Vanderpool served as President of J.C. Licht, leading 31 retail stores and a 275-person organization.

Vanderpool is the past President of the True Value Foundation and a committed supporter of youth-focused community organizations, including the True Value Boys & Girls Club in Chicago. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Chemistry, and English from Augustana College.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

In the photo above, pictured from left to right: ACA President & CEO, Mike Johnson; John Vanderpool; ACA Chairman, Jeff Powell; and ACA Vice Chairman, Chase Bean
Photo Credit: Liz Lynch

The Industry Achievement Award recognizes individuals for their specific contributions to an industry project or association effort. Okerberg was honored for his efforts to augment and grow ACA’s flagship magazine, CoatingsTech.

Okerberg serves as Chair of the Publications Subcommittee for ACA’s Science & Technology Committee. In this role, he has generously lent his technical expertise and passion for coatings to the association’s CoatingsTech magazine. Under Okerberg’s direction, CoatingsTech continues to highlight advancements in coatings science R&D and has expanded to shine a light on the real people behind the science.

Okerberg received his B.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Virginia Tech.  After completing a National Research Council Postdoc in the Polymer Division at the National Institute of Standards & Technology, in 2008, he joined PPG at its Coatings Innovation Center.

At PPG, Okerberg led the Physical Chemistry group and currently serves as a formulator in the Substrate Protection Group with additional responsibilities in the Sustainability Team.  He has spent the past 18 years developing new pretreatment and electrocoat technologies, developing new measurement techniques, and solving field issues for customers. Okerberg has extensive experience developing relationships with substrate suppliers, collaborating with universities, and securing government funding to support R&D projects. He has co-authored over 10 academic publications and holds seven patents.

In addition to his service to ACA, Okerberg has been instrumental in organizing key industry key industry events, including the Detroit Society for Coatings Technology FOCUS conference for automotive coatings and the SWRI Automotive Corrosion Symposium and the SWRI Automotive Corrosion Symposium. He is also deeply committed to the future of the field, actively mentoring new professionals and supporting STEM initiatives.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

In the photo above, pictured from left to right: ACA President & CEO, Mike Johnson; ACA Chairman, Jeff Powell; Brian Okerberg; ACA Vice Chairman, Chase Bean
Photo Credit: Liz Lynch

The Industry Champion Award recognizes excellence in advancing the industry’s policy interests and priorities. Garceau has been an active member of ACA’s Legal and Government Affairs Committee since 2017, and served as Chair from 2019 to 2025. Throughout her service, she provided insightful input and direction for ACA’s Amicus Program. This program enables the association to share its views with courts on cases with significant implications for the paint and coatings industry.

As committee chair, Garceau facilitated ACA’s engagement in efforts to combat government agency overreach, as well as misguided efforts by states to enact general jurisdiction laws. In her service to ACA, she was the consummate industry champion, sharing her expansive legal acumen with the committee and piloting ACA’s participation in numerous amici filings across federal and state jurisdictions.

Garceau is Chair of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Legal & Policy Committee, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Manufacturers Association. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University’s School of Law.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes enduring service to ACA and the paint and coatings industry. Moore was a founding member of ACA’s Corporate Counsels Advisory Group from 2007 until 2018, and served as its chair for many years. He worked diligently with ACA staff to develop the committee’s mission and recruit general counsels from member companies. Moore was integral to the committee’s development of antitrust guidelines that protect the organization as well as its members during group discussions.

When the Corporate Counsels Advisory Group became ACA’s Legal and Government Affairs Committee, Moore remained an active and contributing member until his retirement in October 2024.

Prior to joining RPM, Moore was a Partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, a Cleveland, Ohio based law firm. While at Calfee, he was a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Associates Committee, and Co-Chair of the Securities and Capital Markets Group.

Moore was a member of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Board of Directors from 2014 through 2019. He is an active member of the Parkside Church Westside where he teaches Sunday School.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

In the photo above, pictured from left to right: ACA President & CEO, Mike Johnson; ACA Chairman, Jeff Powell; Ed Moore; ACA Vice Chairman, Chase Bean
Photo Credit: Liz Lynch

In their roles, Bean and Sullivan will provide strategic direction on association finances, and organizational and policy initiatives. Both Bean and Sullivan will serve 2-year terms, ending in Spring 2028.

“We are honored and grateful to Chase and Frank for their continued stewardship and guidance of our association,” said Michael W. Johnson, ACA president and CEO. “Their enduring leadership and vision for ACA’s advocacy mission will ensure the growth and welfare of a strong and dynamic U.S. paint and coatings industry.”

Bean’s extensive career in the coatings industry began in the Technical Services laboratory and on job sites supporting Tnemec customers. This early experience served as a strong foundation of product and application knowledge for his later roles in sales, business development and his time as executive vice president, where he managed the sales, marketing, research and development and technical services departments for eight years.

Bean attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where he graduated with a BA in English. He earned an MBA from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He has served on the boards of the Crittenton Children’s Center, the Sewanee Executive Alumni, and the North Kansas City Police Foundation.

Sullivan began his career with RPM in 1987 as regional sales manager for its joint venture AGR Company, before being elected to director of corporate development in 1989; vice president in 1991; and chief financial officer in 1993. He became executive vice president in 1995; president in 1999; and chief operating officer in 2001, before leading the company as president and chief executive officer in 2002. Sullivan was later elected chairman of the board in 2008. Prior to joining RPM, he held various commercial lending and corporate finance positions at Harris Bank and First Union National Bank from 1983 to1987.

Sullivan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina as a Morehead Scholar. He serves on the boards of the Timken Company, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Army War College Foundation, the Ohio Business Roundtable, the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and the Medina County Bluecoats Chapter.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

Throughout his career, Heise has led high-impact initiatives for major corporate PACs at both Aflac and Deloitte, overseeing day-to-day operations, managing millions in yearly disbursements, and cultivating relationships with thousands of individual donors. He also brings expertise working on one of the nation’s largest super PACs.

“We are thrilled to welcome Garrett to the ACA team,” said Michael Johnson, ACA President & CEO. “Garrett’s deep experience and proven ability to build and scale an effective political action program that cultivates lasting relationships will be instrumental in advancing our mission to elevate the profile of the U.S. paint and coatings industry. By expanding PaintPAC’s reach and engagement at both the federal and state levels, we will strengthen our collective voice, deepen connections with policymakers, and drive more impactful, effective advocacy on behalf of the industry.”

A graduate of Central Michigan University and a Michigan native, Heise was active in state politics and numerous campaigns before relocating to Washington, D.C. He is an active and engaged member of the D.C. community through various professional and social organizations.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

ACA has made the new PCR for Powder Coatings and PCR for Resinous Floor Coatings available for free download on its website.

PCRs provide an agreed–upon framework for measuring the environmental impacts of a product based on a defined set of criteria, enabling manufacturers to conduct life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of their products in a standardized way, and publish this information in an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), if they choose.

PCRs are timely and useful resources given that many sustainability guidelines and green certification programs provide preferential treatment to products with verified EPDs. Additionally, LCA results can be used to demonstrate performance attributes of products, including durability. LCA also provides paint and coating manufacturers with the opportunity to exhibit improvements in resource efficiency across the supply chain.

Notably, the PCR for Resinous Floor Coatings specifies that the type of EPD created is dependent upon whether single-layer product results or multilayer system results are used. The PCR for Powder Coatings specifies that the type of EPD created shall be cradle to gate. Moreover, this PCR requires powder coatings to be assessed as a single-layer product, as opposed to a multiple-layer system.

Both PCRs are valid for a period of five years from the date of publication. Learn more about the ACA-developed PCRs here.

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it, including: manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.

Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025 — The American Coatings Association (ACA) today presented its 2025 CoatingsTech Best Paper Award to David Fairhurst, Ph.D., president of Colloid Consultants, Ltd. Fairhurst received the honor at the 2025 CoatingsTech Conference for his paper, “Low Field (LF)-NMR Relaxation – A Useful Technique for QC and to Determine the Equivalency of Materials for Coatings Formulations,” coauthored by Ravi Sharma, Ph.D., and principal research fellow at Mageleka Inc.; and Ralph Jan Wörheide, M.Eng., and president and founder of Metromation Inc.

The CoatingsTech Best Paper Award recognizes the best overall paper contributed to the CoatingsTech Conference and is accompanied by a cash prize. Criteria considered includes the technical nature of the content, originality, and relevance to the conference theme as well as to improving the state-of-the-science pertinent to the coatings industry.

Fairhurst and his co-authors’ paper presents the application of Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) relaxation as a powerful, fast, and non-destructive analytical tool for evaluating and routinely characterizing the performance of aqueous and non-aqueous dispersions of colored materials, particularly in the context of coatings formulations. Utilizing a small, benchtop LF-NMR spectrometer, the case studies presented emphasize how meaningful physicochemical information and insights can be obtained under real-use conditions, without the need for dilution, extensive sample preparation or destructive testing.

The paper highlights how LF-NMR relaxation supports improvements in formulation efficiency and establishes robust, quantitative metrics for quality control. Notably, traditional methods often struggle with opaque, high-solid suspensions; LF-NMR circumvents these limitations and enables direct assessments of wettability, dispersibility, surface treatments, and batch-to-batch equivalency.

This research demonstrates that LF-NMR can distinguish subtle yet significant differences in commercial paint batches, making it a useful tool across all stages of formulation.

Fairhurst received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Liverpool John Moores University in 1967 and his decades-long career has focused on applying the principles of colloid and interface chemistry to elevate formulation from a black art to a science. His interest in the field began in 1960 as a laboratory assistant with Shell Research, U.K and he retired in 2015 as executive vice president of Particle Sciences, Inc. (a CRDMO division of LUBRIZOL Life Sciences, USA). He developed the first commercial instrument to measure the zeta potential of colloidal suspensions, as well as a wide range of other particle characterization devices and holds 10 patents.

Through a series of specialized lectures from notable industry experts and focused technical sessions, ACA’s CoatingsTech Conference provides a forum for all levels of coatings professionals and students to participate and learn from each other. Embracing the theme, “Coatings and Technologies for a Resilient Future,” the 2025 conference featured the latest science and technology developments to help industry set a sustainable trajectory for the future.

About ACA

The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association working to advance the needs of the paint and coatings industry and the professionals who work in it. The organization represents paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, and technical professionals. ACA serves as an advocate and ally for members on legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues, and provides forums for the advancement and promotion of the industry and coatings science.