Soltex Reactions Q4 – 2022
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Soltex: A Look Back
2022 was a year of action for Soltex as the chemical industry seemed to swiftly pick up speed again after a few years of necessary adjustments due to the pandemic. From the growth of multiple teams to a busy schedule of conferences and trade shows, product developments and some necessary fun among it all, we’re glad to be wrapping up another fantastic year.
The year brought several changes and additions to Soltex operations. With an inside sales team being established initially in 2020, 2022 brought more growth and success to this specific department with valued Soltex employees Celina Desvard and Matthew Massoud. Their work became a particularly integral part of Soltex’s continued growth and success in the chemical industry as they spent their days selling and promoting Soltex’s innovative offerings through relationship building, and maintaining relationships with existing customers.
New additions beyond the inside sales team also included two interns who joined us over the summer, Christian Gilmore and Mia Traugott. Bringing dynamic and helpful energies to the team, both seized opportunities at Soltex to further their knowledge and gain experience.
New partnerships with two new supply chain partners, Transflo and Wolflake must also be noted. These new partnerships allowed us to fill gaps in our supply chain and work toward further success and maintenance of our reputation of providing the best service possible to all customers. We also continued to see incredible contributions coming from team members across numerous departments, from site and warehouse management to sales and marketing.
The Soltex schedule of conferences and trade shows also ramped up significantly this year. Team members were kept very busy connecting with each other as well as other industry professionals. From Florida, to California and even up north to Canada; we strengthened our presence within the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), the Electricity, Distribution, Information Systems and Technology Conference (EDIST), and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), just to name a few.
We can’t let this blog conclude without highlighting the Soltex company culture and mentioning some of the fun and comradery that was also had in 2022. As a sponsor of the Next Wave Energy Partners Charity Golf Tournament, our team was thrilled to be a part of the astonishing $225,000 that was raised and donated to Camp Hope, an organization dedicated to helping combat veterans and their families through the invisible wounds of war. The purchase of a Soltex cooker trailer affectionately named “the Catalyst” was also a highlight, being an essential part of company functions like the golf tournament, celebrations, and other gatherings.
Throughout the year, Soltex employees also enjoyed getting together for other charitable events like the earth day clean up, put on by our Canadian-based team members. This past September, members of the Soltex team participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) annual fundraiser “Out of the Darkness Walk” in Morris County, New Jersey.
This year, the Morris County Walk raised over $76,000 and the entire New Jersey chapter of AFSP has raised $1 million to date for this important cause. And last but not least, the highly anticipated Soltex Halloween costume contest and festivities were a massive success.
As the year comes to an end, we are appreciative of this time to reflect on all the success 2022 brought to Soltex and are excited to take on 2023 with an equal amount of motivation and drive.
Soltex NACD Membership Proves Valuable
In 2019 Soltex became a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (commonly referred to as NACD). The NACD is an international association made up of chemical distributors and their supply-chain partners and serves as an incredible platform for companies and individuals in the chemical industry to connect and learn while always maintaining the highest industry standards. With a mission to “enhance and communicate the professionalism and stewardship of the chemical distribution industry,” Soltex has already seen immense value in their NACD membership in the nearly four years since joining.
Becoming a member of this well-known and respected organization was a seamless process thanks to the help of the NACD membership verification team and third party auditors. Upholding long-term NACD membership involves a renewal process that takes place every three years. HSEQ Specialist at Soltex, Liz Thompson explains that members have many requirements that they have to continue to meet, including things like “providing evidence of our safety and training records, community outreach, and continued environmental improvements.”
Soltex’s NACD membership has numerous benefits. Advantages to members include networking and educational opportunities, along with regulatory compliance assistance, and even the ability to submit thoughts on pending legislation relevant to the chemical distribution industry. There are many networking and educational opportunities to take advantage of including the annual conference, an in-person event that takes place over a weekend each fall. There are also tradeshows and conferences like the annual ChemEdge Tradeshow and Conference which boasts a hefty list of attendees, presenters and sponsors. Additionally, there are numerous workshops and webinars that frequently occur throughout the year, covering a wide range of topics from hazard communication to women leaders in the industry. Programs through NACD like The Responsible Distribution program also provide an excellent framework to continue to grow and improve business.
When asked if being a part of NACD has presented any unique opportunities beyond the robust aforementioned list of benefits, Thompson explained that members of Soltex management team have even taken part in Washington fly-ins where they have “the opportunity to meet with members of Congress.”
Being a part of NACD is something that Soltex is not only proud of, but something that has brought countless benefits and opportunities for continuous improvement to the company. With a recently renewed membership, we look forward to continuing to connect with other industry leaders while working toward further growth and progress.
Meet The Team: New Year Changes
Soltex recently made internal changes to organization.
Please congratulate Matthew Massoud on his move to the newly created position of Manager-Information Technology, reporting into Glenn Bohny, President. Technology is moving so fast that we felt the need to put focused attention on it so that Soltex can be properly positioned to gain necessary efficiencies. Matthew will be looking at optimizing Soltex processes in order to be as efficient as possible while continuing to exceed our clients’ expectations. He will work with our different internal departments to help identify and implement both hardware and software improvements needed across our corporate platform so that we are moving forward with a planned and streamlined approach.
The Soltex sales team would like to congratulate Ryan Kenefic on his promotion to Inside Sales and welcome Ryan to the sales team. Ryan started with Soltex in Customer Service, moving into team lead after his first year of service. Ryan will step into Matthew Massoud’s Inside Sales territory with Matthew moving into his new role in IT. We look forward to Ryan joining the sales team and know that his efforts will only add value as he has a passion for serving our customers and ultimately helping grow Soltex.
John Grimes – Director of Sales
Mike Sokolowski, Supply Chain manager, has recently added the responsibility of managing our Customer Service department. Mike has quickly gained the respect of the entire organization with his excellent work in Supply Chain and we feel that with his unique skillset and hard work ethic, Mike will no doubt be able to manage this fine group we have serving our customer needs. Mike will continue reporting to Joseph Massoud.
As a result of the above move with Mike S., please note that Alicia Baltazar will move full-time back to the supply chain department as the PCA Inventory Manager. Her expertise and experience will continue to be an invaluable asses to Soltex, and we are thrilled to have her fully committed towards the growing PCA business and supply chain group. We thank her for her many contributions over the years to our Customer Service department.
Mike Sokolowski – Supply Chain Manager
Happy New Year to you all!
