SPE Announces 2026 Honored Service Members

SPE is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of its prestigious Honored Service Members (HSM) Award. 

Since the program was established in 1992, the HSM Award has recognized 367 individuals who have demonstrated long-term, outstanding service and support to SPE and its mission. To qualify as an Honored Service Member, a candidate must be nominated by the Board of Directors of an SPE Section or Division and meet the criteria of significant contributions to the society.

Recipients will be honored at ANTEC® 2026, taking place March 9-12, in Philadelphia, PA.

The following professionals have been recognized with the 2026 HSM Award:

Craig Benson - Nominated by Australia and New Zealand Section
Dr. Craig Benson has demonstrated exceptional and sustained service to the Society of Plastics Engineers, most notably through his impactful leadership as President of the Australia–New Zealand Section. Under his guidance, membership grew significantly, showcasing his ability to strengthen and expand the community even as the regional plastics industry faced major challenges, including the decline of automotive manufacturing in Australia. He provided stability, vision, and continuity during this transition while elevating Section activities and advancing SPE’s mission. His long-term volunteer commitment and measurable contributions are further underscored by the fact that, even while facing serious illness, he has continued to stay engaged and supportive of the Society. His dedication, leadership, and lasting impact make him a highly deserving candidate for recognition as an Honored Service Member.

Frank Popola– Nominated by Building and Infrastructure Division
Frank J. Popola distinguished himself as an ‌exceptionally committed leader and strategic bridge-builder‌ within SPE. He successfully spearheaded the multi-year transition of the Building and Construction Special Interest Group (SIG) into the Building and Infrastructure Division (B&I), authoring its bylaws and strategically expanding its scope with the inclusion of “Infrastructure” in the division name to attract a broader membership. Frank was also instrumental in rebranding the Bioplastics SIG to the "Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division" to promote broader sustainability goals. During the challenging COVID period, he diligently kept the B&I Division active and moving forward by maintaining regular meetings and technical programming, while concurrently serving as TPC for the Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division and assembling a successful session for the online ANTEC conference. When leadership gaps arose, he seamlessly served three consecutive terms as B&I Division Chair (2018–2023) and simultaneously took on the role of Division Treasurer to ensure operational continuity. His unwavering commitment to SPE’s mission, innovative vision, and significant contributions to division development have made him an indispensable asset to the organization.

Ann Smeltzer – Nominated by the Color and Appearance Division
Ann Smeltzer has made significant contributions to the Color and Appearance Division (CAD) of SPE, with a powerful balance of vision, execution, and adaptability. She successfully transformed the CAD scholarship process from manual to fully online, boosting applications by 45% and tripling the Endowment Fund to over 1.4 million. She has also consistently stepped beyond her comfort zone—chairing key technical programs (e.g., ANTEC 2008, RETEC 2009/2019) — and fostered industry-wide engagement by securing corporate support. As the CAD Board Chair (2013 – 2014), she drove the division's highest-attended conference in 15+ years, expanded PlastiVan? support to $35,000 annually, and led critical outreach efforts via website redesign and enduring volunteer roles. These achievements make her a transformative figure in professional and educational advancement for SPE.