The Cleveland Section would like to recognize our two longest standing members – Dr Eric Baer and Mr. Nick Hotujac – both of whom joined the SPE in the 1950’s, before most of our members were born!

Dr. Eric Baer is the Distinguished University Professor of the Center of Layered Polymeric Systems at Case Western University. In addition, Dr.Baer has advised many top polymer scientists.  Dr. Baer joined the SPE to gain applied knowledge and professional development and he recommends the SPE for all plastics professionals as “it is a wonderful platform for networking with colleagues in the U.S. and around the world.”

Mr. Nick Hotujac is owner and founder of Kennick Mold and Die Inc of Cleveland OH.  The firm was founded in 1956 and Mr. Hotujac became the sole owner in 1970.  Mr. Hotujac served in the Marines in WWII and studied mechanical drawing and mechanical design at East High School in Cleveland. He served as an SPE board member for many years and found it to be a very positive experience. Mr. Hotujac joined the SPE as his business grew, partly to learn more about mold making and to develop both technical and commercial contacts – “you never know where or when an SPE colleague will be able to help you, or you will be able to help them”.

Please congratulate both of these gentlemen for their long and successful careers and best of luck to them and their families.

Due to the current coronavirus protocols in place in the state of Ohio, the SPE programs and meetings planned for April and May are cancelled.  The tour of SmartShape will be rescheduled sometime in the 2020-20121 season. In addition, due to the cancellation of the Northeast Ohio Science Fair, we will not award prizes to the winners this season either.

Most upcoming SPE events nationally are either cancelled for the time being or are being offered as a virtual event, in which you can participate in via the internet.  Please check the event or SPE site for relevant details.

Our 2020-2021 season starts on September 14, 2020 – hope to see you there!

Bryan K. Smith
Director of the Space Flight Systems Directorate

Bryan K. Smith is director of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He assumed this position in 2011 and is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the space missions assigned to the center with an annual budget of approximately $425 million.

Glenn is engaged in research, technology and flight systems development in support of the nation’s space propulsion, space power, space communications, microgravity sciences and materials development programs.

Prior to this appointment, Smith served as chief of Glenn’s Systems Engineering and Analysis Division, which provides systems engineering expertise for Glenn projects, and Chief Engineer for the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, which provides independent testing and analysis of NASA’s high-risk projects.

The Cleveland section is pleased to announce that we now have an official student chapter – the Case Western Reserve University student chapter of SPE.  As of late January, the students have established their chapter and have completed all the necessary paperwork and registration with the National organization and have a governing body.

Student leaders consists of Alison Kennedy (Chapter President) and Nathan McMullen (Student Organization Liaison and Communications Chair).  The Cleveland Section plans to host a speaker at a student meeting yet this season.