We're Going to Miss This Guy

I've been in the powder coating industry for a long time, actually longer than the Powder Coating Institute has been an institution. I’ve seen all the changes in management and culture since its inception. The first 25 years were well served by one executive director. Since his departure, there have been four directors (including co-executive directors).

These last few years have been tumultuous times for both PCI® and the powder coating industry. We all know the culprits for this upheaval—the 2008 economic crash, off-shoring, raw material price increases, overcapacity and commodification of technology. A trade association navigating this morass has not been easy. Plenty of initiatives were made to right the ship and most of them fell short. It was not until Dave Lurie took the reins of the PCI® that a turnaround was realized.

I met Dave about 15 years ago. He had built his career in the industrial publishing field working 28 years at BNP (Business News Publishing). We met as I was making my foray into technical editing. I had written a few articles for BNP’s coatings publications and was asked to become the technical editor for their Industrial Paint & Powder magazine. Dave and I didn’t work together directly, but I came to learn that he was a hard-working, no-nonsense manager with a good heart. His forte was taking a publication that was in trouble and returning it back to profitability.

It was much to my delight in 2012 when I learned Dave Lurie was enticed to come on board as an “Interim Co-Executive Director” for PCI® as they were searching for a full time Executive Director. As the search continued, it became very apparent that Dave was the man to get the job done. The PCI® Board of Directors unanimously agreed to offer Dave the position in 2013.

The PCI® that Dave inherited needed intensive care. Membership was shrinking, the annual trade show was foundering, and the mission of the institute was being debated. The turnaround that Dave crafted is nothing short of remarkable. He did an amazing job of cutting costs, adding highly qualified staff, increasing training and expanding PCI’s flagship publication, Powder Coated Tough magazine. He made the difficult decisions to trim the fat of unneeded and unprofitable initiatives but at the same time he invested in activities that promoted growth. Dave eliminated the costly overhead of the laboratory and moved the staff into more modest offices. The website was revamped, a blog was established, and webinars became one of many training options.

Dave has a legacy for hiring great people and then providing them the resources to excel at their jobs. Of particular note, Tonya Farmer revived the Powder Coating Show into the high quality, profitable event it once was. Lori Koning cultivated the spectacular growth and profitability of PCT magazine and Tamara Bayles-Hancock worked wonders in garnering new members from all aspects of our industry. It’s refreshing how Dave has always maintained that these great people don’t work for him; it is he who works for them. His dedication to their success guaranteed the success of PCI®.

As you all know, Dave is stepping down as PCI’s Executive Director effective July 1. He leaves a stronger and better association that is poised to continue to be a force in the powder coating industry, albeit under new management. Godspeed David Lurie, best of everything in your future endeavors.

Kevin Biller is technical editor of Powder Coated Tough and the president of The Powder Coating Research Group. He can be reached at kevinbiller@yahoo.com.