Business View Magazine Jan-2019

42 Like so many other industries, the cultured marble industry was adversely affected by the Great Reces- sion.“There used to be hundreds of manufacturers of cultured marble throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the early 2000s,when the industry was booming, and the demand for product was high,” says Jennifer Towner, ICPA’s Executive Director.“But, after 2008, the building market halted, the hospitality industry slowed, and many plants closed.”Because of this, the ICPABoard of Directors and the voting membership decided to form an al- liance under the American Composites Manufactur- ing Association, (ACMA) as it was a more economical way to administer the Association. As the economy improved, and the cultured marble industry began to grow again with increased de- mand for its products, the Association decided in 2005 to return to a member-managed organization and incorporated as its own non-profit, 501(c)(6) entity as the International Cast Polymer Association -now referred to as the “new” ICPA. From 14 manu- facturer members, the new ICPA grew quickly to today’s total of 81 members, two thirds of which are manufacturers of cultured marble, granite, and solid surface products,with the remaining number being suppliers, distributors, and affiliates. “The ICPA exists to enhance the cast polymer industry and we do that by training, education, and THE INTERNATIONAL CAST POLYMER ASSOCIATION ATGLANCE WHO: The International Cast Polymer Association WHAT: A nonprofit trade association WHERE: Arlington,Virginia WEBSITE: www.theicpa.com