Chief Operating Officer of Poly-Nova Technologies, Rick Valeriote has over 45 years of “hands on” experience in the development and processing of silicones, fluorosilicones and specialty elastomers for use in automotive, aerospace, and electrical applications.Upon graduating in Chemical Engineering at Ryerson University in Toronto in 1975, Rick began his career as a Materials/Process Engineer at Silcofab, a vertically integrated silicone rubber fabricator with mixing, extruding, molding, and hose manufacturing capabilities, Silcofab had 200 employees and included operations in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. During his time there, Rick assumed additional responsibilities, first as Vice President of Engineering in 1979, then as General Manager in 1982, and finally as President and CEO in 1989 when the Dowty Group acquired Silcofab.In 1991, Rick ventured out on his own and created Novasil, a technical consulting company, where he provided silicone compound development, machinery and molds to rubber fabrication companies in France, Germany, Canada and the United States.In 1993, he formed Poly-Nova Technologies in Plymouth Michigan with two other investors, and moved the Company to Guelph, Ontario in 1996. In 2011, Starlim Spritzguss GmbH acquired Poly Nova, and appointed Rick as Chief Operating Officer at that time. In 2010, Rick was appointed to the Board of Directors of Metalumen Manufacturing, a specialty Lighting products manufacturer located in Guelph, Ontario.Rick Valeriote is the first leader of a Canadian company to receive the honour of being named Rubber & Plastics News Rubber Industry Executive of the Year for 2017.