FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2006

Perlite Institute Elects Board of Directors at Annual Conference

HARRISBURG- The Perlite Institute elected the 2006-2007 Board of Directors at the annual conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Roger Smith of Airlite Processing Corporation of Florida was named President of the Institute, while Bill Michalopoulos of S&B Industrial Minerals North America, Inc. was elected as Vice-President. New members elected to the board for a two-year term are Kathryn Louis of Sun Gro Horticulture Canada, Ltd. and Thevan Thuraisingam of Perlite Products Sdn. Bhd.

The following board members will continue sitting on the board- Jeff Sheehy of Whittemore Company, Inc.; Mick Stanley of Cornerstone Ind. Minerals Corp.; Niels Knudsen of Nordisk Perlite ApS; Georg Ravnoy of PULL Norway b.v; and Rick Willis of Silbrico Corporation. The members of the board of directors have responsibility for policies, financial reporting, and overall management of the Perlite Institute.

The Institute also thanked Past-President, Santosh Chowgule of Keltech Energies Limited, for his loyal and dedicated service since 2004. Outgoing board members Marvin Hess and Domenic DiNardo were also recognized.

The Perlite Institute’s annual meeting, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina included the following speakers- Jennifer Appel on perlite use on green roof construction and tips on marketing perlite to landscape architects; meeting host Fernando Freytes of Perfiltra S.A. on Perlite Pipe and Block Insulation; Eng. Eduardo Grasselli on cryogenic perlite; a coaching management session on the ways that small enterprises can be helped given by Roberto Carbonell; and several committee reports and updates from members of the Institute. Many sightseeing trips throughout Buenos Aires and the neighboring regions were included, along with a visit to Perfiltra S.A., the host plant.

The Perlite Institute serves to increase the public's awareness and knowledge of perlite. It acts as headquarters for the industry by dispensing appropriate information, technical advice and guidance, as well as fostering a strong liaison with allied industries and associations. Expanded perlite is used in many applications, particularly in the construction, horticulture, and industrial fields. The Perlite Institute mid-year meetings will be held in three regions of the world- August 14-16, 2006 in Auckland, New Zealand; September 7-9, 2006 in Portland, Oregon; and September 14-16, 2006 in Barcelona, Spain.

CONTACT: Bethany Dennis, 717.238.9723, communications@perlite.org

[back]