Lewiston, MN April 3, 2018 – PlastiCert, a 37 year veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and manufacturing services, celebrates amateur athleticism, and encourages staff to embrace that part of our mission statement that calls for “a recognized responsibility to the community around us”. Craig W. Porter, PlastiCert’s President and Owner is reenergized after officiating at three end-of-year championship swim meets.
Starting in late February, Porter started his run by officiating at the Minnesota State High School League Boy’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota, over 75 high schools from around the state qualified swimmers and divers to compete for 3 days in this edition of the championships.
In early March Porter traveled to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin for the 2018 Spring Speedo Sectional Championships. There Porter’s volunteering role was as the Head Starter. In addition to race starting duties, he oversaw deck referee and starter assignments for the 4 day event, as well as defining deck communication protocols to insure consistent and efficient handling of officials’ calls. Elite swimmers from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin that met time standards were automatically qualified, with an additional 200 swimmers from outside the Midwest meeting time standards which included teams from Nebraska, Colorado, Kentucky and even Maine.
The end of March saw Porter selected as a volunteer Stroke & Turn Official at “the fastest swim meet in the world”, the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Being held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota, 46 teams brought 235 swimmers and divers to compete over 4 days of preliminary and finals sessions. This year’s meet saw a pool record set in every swimming event, along with numerous NCAA, American and U.S. Open records being shattered due to many of the world’s top swimmers being in attendance.
“Having been a springboard diver in high school and college, my experiences were influential in becoming who I am,” remarked Porter. “I enjoy giving back to the sport that helped me, as well as take the opportunity to remove myself from the plant. Volunteering to officiate at this level helps to re-energize me. The competition is so stimulating I find myself smiling while I am officiating on deck. It definitely takes my mind off the trappings of the plant and office.”
PlastiCert encourages all its co-workers to find something they are passionate about and accommodates their getting involved. PlastiCert also has baseball and basketball coaches as well as volunteers at other youth activities and accommodates their scheduling needs to fulfill those volunteer responsibilities.
PlastiCert was founded in 1981 and is a privately held corporation with headquarters and manufacturing in Lewiston Minnesota. Initially a custom molder targeted at the electronics industry, today PlastiCert is a one-stop shop for OEMs in telecom, industrial, computer, avionics, medical markets and more. PlastiCert provides both mold development/build and custom plastic injection molding; including insert molding and over molding. Also available are a compliment of value add capabilities including decorating and electro-mechanical assembly. For more information on PlastiCert and the opportunity we present users of custom molded plastic components, visit www.plasticert.com or call 507-523-2300.