President & CEO, Petoskey Plastics
Paul Keiswetter founded Petoskey Plastics in 1969, beginning operations with five employees with one bag machine that converted purchased film into plastic bags. He is a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran who served during the Vietnam Conflict. Paul was an early post-consumer plastic bag recycling innovator, starting in 1991, overseeing the development of “closed loop recycling systems” where used plastic bags and film are collected, returned and reprocessed as raw materials in three-layer products for the same market application. Paul holds various product patents including Slip-N-Grip® plastic seat covers used extensively in the automotive industry. Petoskey Plastics now operates three manufacturing plants and employs over 400 associates. Paul currently serves as its President and CEO, focusing on corporate measurables and performance accountability.
Petoskey Plastics was named Plastics News’ 2017 Processor of the Year, achieving high marks in seven categories: financial performance, customer relations, quality, technology, employee relations, environmental performance and industry/public service. In 2018 Petoskey Plastics was recognized as the second largest veteran-owned business in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business.
Paul resides in Petoskey, Michigan, and Naples, Florida, with his wife Melissa. He is the father of Kristin, Jason, Zander, and Thomas and grandfather of Charlie, Taylor, and Christopher.
Paul enjoys all outdoor activities, especially golfing and boating. He is practically passionate about his organic 1,500-acre farm which borders the Maple River in Emmet County, a connector property linking several thousand acres of state land. The farm is managed for the benefit of wildlife and its habitat. Annually, migratory waterfowl, upland game birds, and deer are culled. They are then aged in a cooler, processed and butchered by Paul, and destined for the table throughout the year.
