Effective January 1, 2001, The Plaza Group has promoted three of its employees in recognition of performance excellence. Bob Imm, formerly the company’s distribution manager, has been named Operations Manager. Stephen Willett and Mark DeGuerre, both previously sales managers, have been promoted to Sales Directors.
Randy Velarde, President of The Plaza Group, made the announcement, noting that the employees promoted have played a significant role in maintaining and improving business operations and client relationships during the company’s recent period of phenomenal growth He went on to say, “Our staff is small, but extremely dedicated. I am pleased to recognize some of our key players through these well-deserved promotions.”
Imm, The Plaza Group’s newly appointed Operations Manager, has been with the company since its inception in 1994. Involved with the chemical industry for nearly a quarter of a century, Imm began his career as an accountant with Texaco where he implemented a worldwide financial reporting system. Other assignments included customer service, plant liaison, product management, business management, business planning and quality management. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Iona Collage of New Rochelle, New York.
DeGuerre, now Sales Director, joined the company in 1999 as Sales Manager with responsibility for the midwestern United States, as well as Asia. His more than 20-year career in chemical marketing includes assignments in domestic sales and product management with a focus on solvents, intermediates, polymers and specialty resins. Prior to joining The Plaza Group, DeGuerre worked for Shell Chemicals. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business Administration degree from Illinois Benedictine College.
Willett, also named Sales Director, joined The Plaza Group in 1998 as Sales Manager with responsibility for petrochemical sales on the east and west coasts and Europe. With a focus on solvents, polymers and intermediate chemicals, his 12 years of experience in the petrochemical industry includes work for Shell Chemicals as Oxygenated Solvents Product Manager and Kraton Polymers’ Road and Roofing Account Manager. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from Baldwin Wallace College in Cleveland, Ohio.