CLEVELAND – The Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) has named Mark Schultz, Government Marine Project Development Manager for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, the winner of the 2018-2019 John D. Keane Award of Merit. The award recognizes Schultz’s 25 years of significant contributions to the development of the protective coatings industry and to SSPC.

Schultz was recognized with the award Feb. 11, 2019, at the SSPC Coatings+ Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Schultz, an SSPC Protective Coatings Specialist and active member on a variety of SSPC technical committees influencing technology updates and guides, is a contributing author to SSPC Painting Manual, Volume 1, Fifth Edition, “Good Painting Practices,” and has been a member of the SSPC Education Program Advisory Committee. In addition, he is a NACE Course Instructor for Coatings Inspector Program (CIP) Level 1 and Level 2, as well as a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3.

“As a project development manager for the marine market, Mark is a go-to resource for customers, providing coating specifications and product recommendations, while also spearheading new technology developments to address the industry’s emerging needs. He has also become a leader industry-wide through his involvement with associations like SSPC,” said Karl Jorgenrud, President and General Manager, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. “We’re proud to have Mark on our team and congratulate him on earning this distinguished honor.”

Schultz has served the protective and marine coatings industry for a quarter century, initially with a rail car manufacturer and now with Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. In his current role, Schultz is the technical liaison to the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Research Laboratory, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Watercraft, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Military Sealift Command, Maritime Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, Schultz provides technical expertise to new construction and maintenance shipyards to help them realize application efficiencies, cost reductions and life-cycle improvements through the use of high-performance coating technologies.