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Robert Speirs III, professor emeritus and former chair of the Ferris State University Plastic Program, has been named the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Division (Troy, Mich., U.S.). Speir’s academic program leadership, professorship and personal guidance motivated a multitude of students to pursue successful careers in plastics engineering, which has grown the industry. Many leaders in the automotive plastics industry today were educated, encouraged and mentored by Speirs and are grateful for his inspiration.

Speirs roles at Ferris State University Plastics Program included assistant professor, associate professor and professor and coordinator of Plastics, Rubber and CAD Programs. For almost 40 years, Speirs educated plastics professionals by teaching and mentoring 1,500 graduates, inspiring 250 students to obtain Master of Science degrees, motivated 50 to obtain Ph.D.’s and led 75 legacy students (sons and daughters of Ferris State University Plastic Program graduates). Most of these graduates established successful careers in automotive industries.

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A number of Speirs’ graduates are in key leadership positions in the industry advancing automotive plastics today including:

• Scott Kushion, president, Asahi Kasei Plastics Mexico
• Kevin Chase, CEO, Chase Plastic Services Inc.
• John Hobson, president, RPM Plastics
• Corey Childs, NA director of operations, Dana Inc.
• Joe Fulsher, co-owner WAK Plastics Machinery
• Crystal Searle, global resin commodity manager, Molex
• Casey Camp, engineering group manager – exterior lighting, General Motors Co.
• Lane Lindstrom, senior manufacturing engineer, General Motors Co.
• Tom Miller, senior account manager, Celanese Engineered Materials
• Dan Fuller, senior applications and development engineer, Celanese Engineered Materials, who nominated Speirs for this award
• Tom Van Pernis, professor at Ferris State University Plastics and Rubber Program.

Prior to his tenure at Ferris State University, Speirs worked in the plastics industry as senior application development engineer at Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan, as principal engineer at Baxter Travenol Labs in Round Lake, Illinois and as market development engineer at Kay Fries Chemical in Fairlawn, New Jersey. 

Speirs’ formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree and an ABD (All But Dissertation Doctoral program status) in plastics engineering at University of Massachusetts at Lowell.  He completed his research at Army Materials & Mechanics Research Center, Watertown, Massachusetts. 

“I am honored and grateful to be recognized with this Lifetime Achievement Award from the SPE Automotive Div.,” says Speirs. “Thank you SPE, Ferris State University and especially the students I have had the honor to work with and who have earned their successes due to their individual achievements, perseverance and dedication. Thank you to my family and friends, whose support over the years, make this award possible as well.”

First given in 2001, the SPE Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the technical achievements of individuals whose work in research, design and/or engineering has led to significant integration of polymeric materials on passenger vehicles. Learn more about past winners here.