On Oct. 30, during the Honors Luncheon of its 119th Annual Meeting in Nashville, the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA), Washington, presented Edward J. Donnelly Jr., group vice president for DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies, with the George Baugh Heckel Award. This award is the association's highest honor.

Donnelly took on the role of NPCA chairman of the board in 2005. Before that, he chaired NPCA's Association Finance Strategic Planning Subcommittee. Under his leadership, the subcommittee took on the formidable task of examining the association's dues structure, operating revenue and expenses, non-dues revenues and member-consolidation policies. He recommended changes that will allow the association to meet the needs of its membership over the next five years. His focus and effort earned him NPCA's Industry Achievement Award in 2004.

Donnelly has spent close to 40 years working in the industry, with the last 37 at DuPont. Some of his greatest accomplishments followed the company's acquisition of Ford's North American Paint Operations, including leading the integration and transition team and coordinating all functional activity. Donnelly also developed strategy for DuPont's global finishes business and was lead negotiator with Hoechst for the $1.9 billion Herberts acquisition. Donnelly also led DuPont's General Managers Development Program.

Donnelly was also responsible for DuPont's NASCAR Motorsports Program and sponsorship, with Hendrick Motorsports, of the #24 DuPont car and Jeff Gordon.