media release

Date: September 23, 2015
Contact: Liz Novak, Director of Marketing and Communications, +913.345.1005
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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IAPD Recognizes Ari Storch with Prestigious President’s Award

Overland Park, KS — The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) recognized Ari Storch, for his outstanding contributions to the organization at the opening general session for the 59th Annual IAPD Convention and Plastics Showcase on September 23 in San Diego, CA, USA.

Storch has been guiding IAPD’s government relations initiatives from the IAPD office in Washington, D.C. Thanks to his connections, IAPD has been able to quickly gain a foothold in D.C., as he has positioned IAPD to be a leading source of sound, data-based information about performance plastics. Storch’s quick intervention has helped IAPD defend the interests of IAPD member companies through revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act and other important reforms. In addition, Storch is guiding the IAPD Government Relations Committee as it explores ways to enable IAPD to play an even bigger role in defending our industry’s interests in the future.

“The President’s Award is given to an individual or company who has gone above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the association,” said IAPD CEO Susan E. Avery, CAE. “Ari truly is IAPD’s eyes and ears in Washington, D.C., plus he’s been instrumental in this year’s GR successes. We thank Ari for all his service to IAPD this year.”

Storch has more than 20 years of international and domestic political experience. He began his career in the service of the Government of Israel, working on behalf of four different Israeli Prime Ministers in various roles, first as the public relations officer and then as the congressional affairs aide at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. After leaving government service, Storch applied his international and policy experience to more domestic concerns. First, as the political and congressional affairs director for the National Jewish Coalition and, subsequently, at Cassidy & Associates, the nation’s largest federal lobbying firm. While with Cassidy, he simultaneously worked at their strategic partner National Strategies, Inc., which manages multi-state government-relations strategies. After a stint as vice president of the Rhoads/Weber Shandwick Government Relations firm, Ari co-founded Artemis Strategies, a multi-discipline government affairs firm. In 2015, Storch reestablished Cascade Strategies as his newest venture, partnering with Washington veterans. Storch has spent more than a decade as an active member of the Republican Governors Association’s National Finance Committee and is the past Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Next Generation Campaign. Storch has led lobbying teams on behalf of foreign countries, industry-leading companies and a multitude of other interests in Washington including the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association and the International Association of Plastics Distribution.

Click here to watch Ari Storch's acceptance video.

About IAPD 
The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD), established in 1956, brings together distributors, manufacturers, manufacturers' representatives, fabricators, recyclers and service providers in an environment which encourages a free flow of ideas and information that help members build their businesses. Every program and service we provide is designed with the simple goal of helping our members increase profitability. Membership in IAPD is an affordable business investment. IAPD provides training, connections with customers and suppliers and information about developments that impact the industry. What makes IAPD unique is a commitment to educating customers and other key end-users about plastics. In other words, IAPD works with members to build the demand for plastics. Central to this effort is the reinforcement of the value of distribution.

For more information, visit www.iapd.org.