The complexity of the plastics pipe industry is somewhat daunting even for those with decades of experience, and even more so for new people joining the ranks. Numerous associations. Codes and regulations plus standards that continually evolve. New materials being developed. Polymer additives and compounding formulas being changed and developed. To that end, the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) has established the Emerging Professionals Group (EPG). It is focused on providing a way to learn more about how plastic piping systems provide sustainable and resilient solutions for a wide range of building environment applications.

PPI is the major North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry. Formed in 1950, it has five divisions that are focused on specific areas:  Building & Construction, Energy Piping Systems, Drainage, Municipal & Industrial plus Power & Communications. The EPG is made up of members from each of those divisions.  

Starting in the hotel lobby during the 2024 PPI Annual Meeting, a group of young PPI members got together to discuss innovative ways for newer members of the plastic pipe industry to learn knowledge quickly, while gaining new friends and contacts through their PPI participation. What started as a casual gathering quickly evolved into a powerful initiative.

This group of young, ambitious members from a wide range of firms from across Canada and USA spent the next months working with PPI staff to define what would become the PPI Emerging Professionals Group. This group of founders became known as the EPG Steering Committee and grew to include ten members.

After months of careful planning, the Steering Committee members adopted their mission statement: “Building relationships among emerging industry professionals to foster professional development, engagement, and networking while building on PPI's existing strengths and messaging.” The group met formally for the first time in May 2025 with an opening reception and a special roundtable workshop luncheon to get to know each other and the PPI staff. Evidently, it was a hit, leading to rapid growth with more than 100 emerging professionals participating the next year.

A cornerstone presentation at the 2026 Annual Meeting on "Plastic Piping Industry Associations" described how PPI members collaborate with dozens of standards development organizations, code developers, certifiers, allied associations and other related organizations. The importance of following industry standards and complying with codes for plastic piping products was stressed by presenter and PPI’s Building & Construction Division (BCD) Director of Engineering Lance MacNevin, P.Eng. EPG members were also advised which organizations they should join or follow for specific types of products and applications. This content was developed with the input of all five PPI division engineers.

“From the beginnings of the EPG as a late-night idea,” stated Michael Conrad, EPG Advisor, NSF International (Ann Arbor, Michigan), “it has been amazing watching it become a place for those newer to the industry to meet others in a similar situation. It continues to build on the camaraderie already within the industry, as you see familiar faces from the EPG at both PPI and other industry meetings.”

The idea caught on quickly and provided exactly what the younger members of the association were looking for and needed.

The group conducts annual member surveys to help guide development of the next set of EPG member tools, events, and programs, and then uses AI to help summarize the results. Networking, technical expertise, career growth, and leadership development were the top needs expressed by respondents, so EPG events are being designed to fulfill those needs.

“I was tasked to become more involved with PPI by my company, and to increase my understanding of what's going on in the industry,” explained Dallas Geddes, product management specialist, Dura-Line, LLC (Knoxville, Tennessee). “So, this was a perfect avenue for me to do what my assigned task was and also gain some professional development skills.”

The 35-year-old Geddes, who has participated in PPI for six years, was named the 2025 Member of the Year for the PPI Power & Communications Division. Similarly, Daniel Pierce of Reliance Worldwide (Atlanta), who has chaired the EPG since its inception, was named the 2025 BCD Member of the Year. Vice Chair is Laura Schell of NSF International.

“Our members are involved with 15 different types of plastics from PEX and high-density polyethylene to engineering resins such as polyphenylene sulfide,” said PPI President David M. Fink. “Plus, some 20 relevant standards organizations and nearly ten allied associations and organizations for piping. It is PPI’s goal to make sure all of our members, both new and those with decades of membership, are educated on all aspects of our industry, and provided with fresh, accurate data and information. The Emerging Professionals Group is part of that objective.

“Like many organizations these days,” he continued, “the almost two hundred companies that make up the PPI membership are faced with shifting demographics and the imminent retirement of many senior engineers, scientists, and other professionals. Even when hiring young people as eventual replacements, the challenge of knowledge transfer is real, trying to share lessons learned from decades of industry growth and maturity.”

Members of the group mirror Fink’s observation. Sara Stone of Crossroads Engineering Services LLC (Breezy Point, Minnesota) said, “My involvement in PPI’s Emerging Professionals Group has deepened my engagement with the industry by providing valuable opportunities for learning, leadership, and meaningful professional connections. It has also given me a supportive community of peers and mentors whose relationships will continue to enrich and guide my career for years to come.”

Camille Duvalle, business unit manager for SACO AEI Polymers (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) who, in addition to being a member of the EPG is an active member of ASTM International, CSA Group, NSF, and the BCD Management Committee, offered, “I can't wait to see the future impact the emerging professionals group is going to have on the plastics piping industry as a result of building a strong network and learning together.”

PPI’s MacNevin said that he has been impressed by emerging members that are bringing their passion, talent, and fresh perspectives regarding sustainable plastic piping solutions to PPI. Young professionals wanting to find out more should contact him. “We’d be more than happy to host anyone as a guest to one of our membership meetings.”