A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
MNYCA FALL FoRUM
MNYCA Scholarships
mnyca fall forum
member spotlight
holiday party 2025
mnyca golf outing 2026
community service project
welcome new members
MNYCA EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
meet your mnyca board
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MEMBER COMPANIES
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
John Messina, MNYCA President
Dear Members of MNYCA,
As we wrap up another year together, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your continued support, participation, and enthusiasm. Everything we accomplish as an organization is driven by the energy and commitment of our members, and I’m truly grateful for the community we’ve built.
Serving as your President for a second year has been both an honor and a privilege. I remain committed to strengthening our mission, expanding opportunities for professional growth, and ensuring that MNYCA continues to be a valuable network for all of us.
This year, we had the privilege of coming together not just for professional development, but also for meaningful service. On November 14th, we partnered with Rebuilding Together North Jersey for a special Veterans Day Project, helping a deserving local veteran in Teaneck, NJ, with home repairs. Events like this remind us of the impact we can have beyond our industry - supporting those who have served our country and contributing to our wider community.
Our Fall Forum was another highlight, offering insightful discussion on the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on our industry. And, as always, our annual Holiday Party at the Liberty House provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments, strengthen relationships, and enjoy the season together.
Looking ahead, I’m excited for the year to come. With your engagement and support, we will continue building a strong, vibrant, and collaborative MNYCA community - one that drives professional growth and meaningful connections.
Thank you once again for being an essential part of MNYCA. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a successful year ahead.
Kind regards,
John Messina, President MNYCA
mnyca scholarships
The MNYCA is proud to offer two scholarship programs exclusively for our members:
• Michael A. Granito Scholarship
• MNYCA College/Univ Scholarship
Stay tuned for more details and application information, which will be posted in early 2026.
These awards are made possible thanks to the continued support and generosity of our members through donations, sponsorships, and 50/50 raffles. Your contributions truly make a difference!
MNYCA Fall Forum
September 25, 2025 - Marriott Saddle Brook
The 2025 MNYCA Fall Forum delivered one of our most timely and forward-looking programs yet - focused on the rapidly evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence across marketing, laboratory operations, and product development. The event brought together members and industry professionals eager to understand how AI is transforming the ways organizations innovate, analyze, and compete.
Program Highlights
This year’s forum featured three expert speakers, each offering a unique perspective on AI’s growing influence:
• Jeff Sundheim (Google) - AI as Your Business Multiplier: Demystifying AI Tools and Strategies for Real-World Marketing Success Practical guidance on leveraging AI to solve challenges and scale personalized experiences.
• Gary Danddreaux, Ph.D. (Polaris Chemical Consulting LLC) - AI and Digital Transformation in the Laboratory Insights on how digital tools and automation accelerate research, improve data integrity, and modernize lab operations.
• Mark Maimone (Citrine Informatics) - Accelerating Product Development Through AI and Machine Learning Demonstrating how AI-driven platforms reduce development cycles, lower experimentation costs, and drive faster innovation.
Together, their insights painted a comprehensive picture of how AI is reshaping multiple sectors and creating new opportunities for growth.
• 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
Networking & Engagement:
The forum concluded with a cocktail hour, giving attendees the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and continue discussions sparked by the day’s presentations.
Key Takeaway:
With expert speakers, strong attendee engagement, and highly relevant content, the 2025 Fall Forum was a resounding success - equipping members with practical insights and a deeper understanding of how AI is transforming business, science, and innovation.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Quaker Color
Established in 1968, Quaker Color is a fourth-generation, family-owned specialty chemical company serving the coatings industry with advanced manufacturing capabilities and innovative technologies. Guided by strong family values, Quaker Color builds lasting partnerships with customers, suppliers, employees, and the local community.
Located in historic Quakertown, PA, their mission is to develop and manufacture colorants (pigment dispersions) and polyurethane dispersions that enhance the value of customer products. They offer both standard lines and custom solutions, with colorant chemistries ranging from water-based and solvent-based to 100% solids—available in liquid and dry chip form. These products serve varied coatings applications including metal, wood, packaging, automotive, paper, textiles, rubber, electronics, and building materials.
Quaker Color’s Performance Coatings group specializes in water-based polyurethane dispersions, custom blends, and application testing, working closely with customers to meet demanding performance requirements.
Committed to sustainability and social responsibility, Quaker Color aligns with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, actively reducing its carbon footprint through solar-powered production, a Combined Heat & Power system, water recovery loops, and energy-efficient facility upgrades. Their products are designed to minimize VOCs, utilize renewable resources, and comply with global environmental standards.
Quaker Color is proud to hold ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and actively participates in industry associations such as the American Coatings Association (ACA) and regional groups like MNYCA.
holiday party
The MNYCA Holiday Party was held at The Liberty House in Jersey City, NJ, kicking off the holiday season in style! Guests enjoyed breathtaking views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty, made even more spectacular by clear skies and a full moon. Many attendees took advantage of the outdoor balconies to soak in the sights.
Over 120 members and guests gathered for an evening of drinks, appetizers, and great conversation. The celebration continued in the grand ballroom with a delightful dinner, followed by service and achievement awards. This year’s 50/50 raffle broke records, with proceeds supporting MNYCA’s two annual scholarships. Congratulations to the three lucky winners—time to start holiday shopping!
Award Highlights presented by Dave White, Pan Technology :
OUTSTANDING RECOGNITIONS
COMPANY OF THE YEAR - CHAMPION CONTAINER
DAVID H. LITTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
BRUCE SCHIMMEL (SUPERIOR MATERIALS)
SERVICE AWARDS:
Merit Citation – Michele Claeson (Trust Chem)
Merit Citation – Andy Romano (Van Horn, Metz)
President’s Achievement – Alicia Colacci (MUNZING)
PAINT PIONEER AWARD
60 YEARS
PETER TEPPERMAN (SEAGRAVE COATINGS)
Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event a memorable start to the holiday season!
2026 MNYCA GOLF OUTING - HOLD THE DATE: JUNE 18, 2026
The MNYCA will be holding our annual golf outing on Thursday, June 18th at
Galloping Hill Golf Course, Kenilworth, NJ.
mnyca participates in community service project
On Friday, November 14th the MNYCA took part in a service project in partnership with Rebuilding Together North Jersey (RTNJ) and Home Depot. RTNJ’s mission is led by the belief that a safe, warm, dry, and healthy home is a quality of life that everyone deserves. The organization’s goal is to help fixed-income seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and low-income families.
Originally founded by the Junior League of Bergen County in 1998 as Rebuilding Together Bergen County, they provide low-income homeowners with critical repairs and modifications needed to live safely in their homes. In 2016, they expanded to serve high-needs communities in northern New Jersey, beginning with Paterson and Passaic County.
Members of the MNYCA spent the day working on a local veteran’s house. Participants helped prepare and repaint the house, repair a garage door and clean out the yard.
MNYCA Board Member, Dave White noted the event was quite successful. “It is no wonder that millions of gallons of paint are sold each year,” he said. “The transformation was amazing. Rebuilding Together North Jersey is done with projects for this year but will keep us in mind when the weather breaks next year. It felt great to give back to someone who served this country with honor.”
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 introduce yourself to these individuals.
Anna Diretto, Yadley, PA
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
meet your mnyca board
Alicia Colacci – Chair of the Board - Munzing
John Messina – President - Isolatek Intl
Christine Gehres – Vice President - CGI
Tom Kinlin –Sec / Treasurer - Shamrock Tech.
Board of Trustees
Jason Anagnostis - P.O.R. Products
Michele Claeson - Trust Chem USA Geoff Clay - Arxada
Thomas Daquila - Eagle Specialty
John Kehmna – Univar Solutions
Kurt Maas - Champion Container
Aida Mevoglioni - UMC
Thomas Penny - Benjamin Moore
Kerry Pianoforte - Coatings World
Andrew Romano - Van Horn, Metz & Co.
Bruce Schimmel – Superior Materials
Dave White - Pan Technology
Bob Whiteley – XA Solutions
calendar of events
Annual Meeting
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (Tentative)
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Macaluso’s, 55 4th Ave, Hawthorne, NJ
MNYCA Golf Outing
Thursday, June 18, 2026
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Galloping Hill, Kenilworth, NJ
Connect with MNYCA on Linked-In:
Connect with MNYCA on Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6531944/