A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
MNYCA FALL FoRUM
HOLIDAY PARTY 2025
scholarship 2025 winners
member spotlight
2025 mnyca golf outing
welcome new members
afternoon at yankee game
MNYCA EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MEMBER COMPANIES
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
John Messina, MNYCA President
Dear Members of MNYCA,
As we look ahead to the coming season, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your continued commitment and support of our organization. It is through the dedication and engagement of our members that MNYCA continues to grow, thrive, and serve as a leading professional community.
I am honored to be serving as your President for a second year. This role is a privilege, and I remain deeply committed to advancing the mission of MNYCA and supporting the success of our members.
We are pleased to share details of two exciting upcoming events. On September 25th, our Fall Forum will focus on the timely and impactful topic of Artificial Intelligence, offering valuable insights and discussion on how this rapidly evolving field is shaping our industry and beyond.
Later this year, on December 3rd, we will gather for our annual Holiday Party at the beautiful Liberty House, once again providing a festive setting to celebrate our collective accomplishments, strengthen relationships, and close the year together in fellowship.
Thank you once again for your active involvement in MNYCA. Together, we will continue to build on our strong foundation and create meaningful opportunities for professional growth and community. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Kind regards,
John Messina, President MNYCA
MNYCA Fall Forum - Can’t be Missed
Topic: Artificial Intelligence: AI tools and strategies to help your company succeed
Join us for this exciting in-person event hosted by MNYCA on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 3:00 PM atthe Marriott Saddle Brook, NJ. This forum will explore how AI is transforming business operations, product development, and laboratory innovation.
Why You Should Attend:
• Hear from top industry experts on how AI is driving success across sectors.
• Engage in a dynamic Q&A session.
• Network with peers during the cocktail hour starting at 5:00 PM.
Featured Speakers:
• Jeff Sundheim – AI Business Strategist, Google
• Gary Dandreaux – Expert in AI & Digital Transformation in the Laboratory
• Mark Maimone – Specialist in Accelerating Product Development through AI & Machine Learning
Register Today: Visit our website https://www.mnyca.org/upcoming-events or, email: Patty.Paletto@mnyca.org
holiday party - hold the date
This year’s MNYCA Holiday Party will be held on
December 3, 2025.
The venue will again be at The Liberty House
Jersey City, NJ
scholarship 2025 winners
The MNYCA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Michael A. Granito Scholarship and the newly established MNYCA College/University Scholarship. Thanks to the continued support and generosity of our members, we were able to recognize four outstanding students for their academic achievements, leadership, and dedication.
We received a remarkable pool of applicants this year, making the selection process both inspiring and challenging. Ultimately, we awarded scholarships to three exceptional high school seniors and one matriculating college student.
Michael A. Granito Scholarship Recipients
• Connor White – Son of Dave White, Pan Technology
• Emilia Pentlicky – Daughter of Jason Anagnostis, POR Products
• Connor Landzettel – Son of Walter Landzettel, Landzettel and Son Inc.
MNYCA College/University Scholarship Recipient
• Emilie Claeson – Daughter of Michele Claeson, Trust Chem USA
We congratulate these students and their families, and we wish them continued success in their academic journeys. The future of our industry is bright with such promising young talent on the horizon!
A few thank you notes from this year’s recipients . . . .
Dear MNYCA,
Thank you for your gift! It’s an honor to be chosen for the award. . . . Connor Landzettel
(2025 winner of the Michael A. Granito Scholarship. Freshman at Purdue University)
Dear MNYCA,
Thank you so much for the scholarship money! I am extremely grateful to be able to use it for my education. I am truly honored to be a recipient of the 2025 College Scholarship award. Thank you again for your generosity and encouragement!
Sincerely, Emilie Claeson
(2025 winner of the College Scholarship – Attending Salve Regina University, Newport RI)
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Wego Chemical Group
Founded in 1978 as a two-person office in New York, Wego Chemical Group has evolved into a global supplier, importer, and distributor of chemicals, minerals, and raw materials, now operating across four continents. From its earliest days, Wego’s focus has been on forging international partnerships, beginning with its first sourcing ventures in Asia and expanding to sales operations in Europe and Latin America. Over time, the company established a worldwide presence with offices in China, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, the Netherlands, and most recently Colombia, ensuring that customers in diverse industries have access to a reliable global supply chain.
Wego’s growth has been marked by key milestones that demonstrate its commitment to safety, compliance, and customer trust. In 2008, the company was awarded U.S. Customs and Border Protection C-TPAT Tier 2 Certification and secured its first REACH registrations in Europe, strengthening its reputation in international trade and regulatory expertise. Expansion continued with the opening of sales offices in São Paulo in 2009 and Rotterdam in 2011, providing strategic footholds in South America and Europe. In recent years, the company has extended its Latin American footprint with sales operations in Colombia, while also investing in the development of a new Global Headquarters in Great Neck, New York.
In 2015, Wego joined the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) as a candidate member, achieving full Responsible Distribution verification by 2017.
Wego supplies a broad range of markets including coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers; agriculture and animal nutrition; water treatment; electronics; lubricants; mining; and textiles. Customers value Wego’s ability to manage not only the sourcing of competitively priced materials—particularly from Asia—but also the critical aspects of regulatory compliance, customs clearance, logistics, and distribution. This integrated approach allows Wego to tailor delivery solutions to customer needs while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
After nearly five decades, Wego remains family-owned and guided by the same entrepreneurial spirit that defined its early years. The company’s combination of global reach, regulatory expertise, and customer-first philosophy continues to foster long-term partnerships and innovative solutions, ensuring that Wego is positioned as a trusted leader in chemical distribution worldwide.
2025 mnyca golf outing
June 12, 2025
The MNYCA held our annual golf outing on Thursday, June 12th at Galloping Hill Golf Course, Kenilworth, NJ. This new venue is a Rees Jones architect renovation in 2014. The club will host the 2016 NJSGA Open Championship.
We had a 9AM shot gun start on a beautiful sunny day. Sixty-five golfers came out to support our scholarship funds.
The following people won skill prizes:
1st Place Team - Michael Verzaleno, Nick Cerilli, Steve Schock, John Millard
2nd Place Team - John Kehmna, Justin Sadler, Dave Penichter, Jarrett Russell
Closest to the Pin – Mike Verzaleno Jr; Longest Drive Women - Elaine Barbetta; Longest Drive Men - Benjamin Biber; Putting Contest - Jeff Jakubowski
MNYCA would like to thank all the company members who sponsored the annual Golf outing in support of our Michale A Granito Scholarship and MNYCA College Scholarship.
Pflaumer Bothers – Platinum Sponsor
Champion Container – Gold Sponsor
MUNZING – Silver Sponsor
Hot Dog Cart – Van Horn Metz & Co
Beverage Cart – Sun Chemical Color
Putting Green Contest – Eagle Specialty
Longest Drive – Azelis
Closest to the pin - National Packaging Services
Tee / Hole Sponsors:
Barentz - Coatings World - EM Sullivan - Pan Technology - Schultz Container System
Superior Materials - Univar Solutions
Gifts – Eagle Specialty Products
welcome our newest members to mnyca
We would like to remind everyone of our newest member companies to MNYCA. As you attend our upcoming events, such as the fall forum or the holiday party, please take a moment and introduced yourself to these individuals.
Syensqo
Thomas Papasso
Regional Marketing Director, Coatings
Lawrence, NJ
WEGO CHEMICAL GROUP
Matt Iaci, Key Account Manager - CASE & Construction, Great Neck, NY
aFTERNOON AT YANKEE STADIUM july 31st, 2025 - 1 pm
On July 31 the MNYCA hosted a day at Yankee stadium for members and their guests. Attendees were able to watch the New York Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays from the comfort of the Audi Club and enjoyed a buffet lunch.
The game, which was interrupted by a rain delay for nearly three hours, saw the Yankees score early with a two-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton and a three-run homer from Ben Rice in the first two innings respectively. The Rays scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning after being held hitless until then.
The Yankees ultimately defeated the Rays
with a final score of 7-4.
mnyca employment committee
The MNYCA provides an opportunity for member companies to post links to your company job board on the MNYCA website. Several companies have already taken advantage of this benefit of membership. We encourage all our member companies patty.paletto@mnyca.org to post a link to their jobs page as part of their recruitment strategy. Please send your requests to patty.paletto@mnyca.org
If you have any employees who are need of new employment, we encourage them to send their resumes to: patty.paletto@mnyca.org MNYCA aids in placing people with member companies looking to fill open positions.
In addition to this service, MNYCA is working to make our industry more visible to local colleges and universities and encouraging new graduates to consider the coatings industry as a career.
If your company would like to be more involved, please contact Bob Whiteley at rwhiteley@jns-smithchem.com
calendar of events
Fall Forum
September 25, 2025
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Marriott Saddle Brook
138 Pehle Ave, Saddle Brook, NJ
Topic: Artificial Intelligence: AI tools and strategies to help your company succeed
Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
6:00 PM - 10:00 pm
Liberty House, 76 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, NJ
Connect with MNYCA on Linked-In:
Connect with MNYCA on Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6531944/