Dec 17, 2015

Belliveau to Retire from Summit PlasticSource: Summit Plastic Company

Norman Belliveau, president and CEO of Summit Plastic Company and JanorPot, LLC, is retiring after 25 years with the Tallmadge, Ohio-based manufacturing company.

On January 1, 2016, Chuck Snyder, Summit’s vice president of operations and a 20-year veteran at the company, will be assuming the responsibilities of vice president/general manager of the newly created Greenhouse Division – Summit/JanorPot.

This change is part of the “Nicely Blended” initiative with Nursery Supplies; Summit Plastic Company, JanorPot, LLC and Nursery Supplies, Inc. under the New NSI Holdings, Inc. umbrella led by John Collins, president/CEO, located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

“Norm has been a great friend and colleague of mine over the past several years. His leadership at Summit has had a positive effect on customers, employees and the entire industry. We will all certainly miss him in the future. I am confident that Chuck will continue to lead the organization with the product innovations and customer service which have made Summit Plastic and JanorPot the great companies that they are today,” stated John Collins.

“Funny, I still remember that first day in ‘90 when I walked into the building. What an incredible, amazing journey it’s been. Going to miss all the interactions, being involved and hands-on. I wish the very best for the company, and for the people who have become a big part of my extended family,” stated Belliveau.

Belliveau got his first plastic industry job at Foster-Grant Company in Massachusetts in 1967. During his 23 years with Foster-Grant/Sandusky Plastics Company, Belliveau was responsible for finance, material management, national sales positions and product manager for horticulture containers.

The Vaughan Seed Company owned Summit Plastic when Belliveau joined the company in 1990. The hiring of Belliveau, already known to the industry, served to assure growers of Vaughan’s commitment to re-focus on improvements to the container manufacturer.

Rather than mergers, the 1990s introduced “de-mergers” – making stand-alone companies by separating divisions. During this period, Belliveau, along with plant manager and soon-to-be partner Chuck Snyder, purchased Summit Plastic Company beginning a new era.

Taking up the new challenges, under Belliveau’s stewardship, Summit introduced many new product concepts to the horticultural market including: Full-line Duo-color offerings; Size-Wise options to max space; MarketMates for multiple plant retail sales; RootTutors for improved root development; round thin-walled containers (JanorPot); pictorial printing on round pots; and, most recently the 3D line of products.

In 1999, at OFA Short Course, Norm met with two representatives of the Desch Company, a manufacturer in The Netherlands of round, thin-walled containers. A sales agreement was drawn up that led to a Joint Venture, JanorPot, a named created from the first names of the presidents of the two companies — Jan van der Vliet and Norm Belliveau.

After 25 years of Belliveau’s leadership, Summit Plastic Company and JanorPot, LLC remain dedicated to providing the commercial grower affordable, functional and solution driven horticultural containers with minimal environmental impact.