In August, Mica Corporation celebrated President Jeffrey Siegel’s 35th anniversary with the company.
As the son of Mica’s founder, Jeff watched the company grow from an idea to the global industry leader it is today. He joined Mica as a full-time employee in 1986 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College and sharpening his management skills at UST Corp. in Boston, MA.
In 1986, Mica was 15 years old and located in a small office space in Stratford, CT. Jeff saw an opportunity for growth, and used his expertise in finance and management to implement new technologies and to introduce the staff to new business practices. He replaced outdated equipment with modern systems, laid the groundwork for a more efficient business model, and had a hand in hiring and shaping Mica’s world-class team.
Jeff said, “Coming to Mica from a background in communications, finance and management, my initial tasks revolved around building systems that would allow Mica to grow.”
Jeff’s ability to manage projects and people, propelled him to the position of Operations Manager, and then to the role of Vice President. As he gained experience at Mica, he became more involved with industry groups including TAPPI and FPA, encouraging Mica employees to take part in knowledge sharing and professional development opportunities. He served numerous leadership positions across the TAPPI International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division (formerly known as the PLACE division) and served as TAPPI’s Chairman of the Board for two years.
In 1999, Jeff and his brother Andrew Siegel, current Vice President who has been with the company for more than 30 years, relocated Mica’s headquarters to a brand-new state-of-the-art facility in Shelton, CT to expand the company’s manufacturing capacity and meet increasing demand for Mica’s products. Jeff was elected as President the following year.
Jeff added, “After 35 years, I am pleased that we have a solid infrastructure and a dedicated team that still carry the values, ethics and drive toward the mission that Dan Siegel embodied.”
Earlier this year, Mica celebrated 50 years in business. Today, Mica supplies its water-based primers and coatings and provides unmatched technical service to customers in more than 60 countries around the world.
Jeff said, “It gives me great satisfaction to lead this team. Mica has been an incubator for some of the best and brightest people in our industry today, and we are working to prepare a new generation of leadership, and to continue to introduce innovative and practical products in the years to come.”