PlastiCert President and Owner Craig Porter settles down after swim officiating 9 of the last 11 weekends.
Lewiston, MN April 6, 2019 – PlastiCert, approaching 40 years of innovative and quality composite injection molding design and manufacturing services, celebrates amateur athleticism. We encourage 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 has finally settled into Spring after officiating at nine different championship caliber meets over an eleven week span. He started with a high school qualifying meet. He wrapped up with the Men’s NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships.
In January, Porter started his run as Starter for the Section 1AA High School True Team State Qualifying meet in Rochester, MN. The following weekend he officiated at the True Team State Championships at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Two weeks later, Porter was deck referee for a high school diving invitational. The following day refereeing a college Division III Diving Invitational looking to qualify athletes for their Nationals the following month.
The next weekend, back to the University of Minnesota for the 3 day MIAC (college Division III) conference championship.
Three days later, back in Rochester for the preliminaries and finals of a high school boys’ section state qualifying championship. Which naturally led to the following week’s Minnesota State Boy’s High School Swimming & Diving Championships. Porter both officiated the swimming and judged the Class AA diving competition.
Not finished yet, Porter returned to the University of Minnesota 3 days later. He was Starter at the Minnesota Swimming Winter Short Course Championships. The following weekend, back to Rochester Minnesota. He as a Chief Judge at the USA Swimming Speedo Sectionals presiding over elite swimmers from all over the country.
After a much needed weekend off, Porter culminated his winter officiating duties. Applying the previous October, he was selected to be a Stroke and Turn Judge at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships hosted by the University of Texas at Austin. Because the meet is swum in yards rather than the international meter standard, the shorter pool length means times are faster. Many of the college Division I swimmers are US and foreign Olympic Team swimmers. The meet is accurately referred to as “The Fastest Swim Meet in the World”!
“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 often find myself smiling while I am 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 youth baseball and basketball coaches as well as volunteers at other youth activities. PlastiCert works to accommodate 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 composite 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 composite components, visit www.plasticert.com or call 507-523-2300.