Buy better. That's what we help resin buyers do

about-hero-ui-v2

The resin market is stacked against buyers—opaque pricing, powerful suppliers, and biased benchmarks create an uneven playing field. With over 27 years of trusted market data and expert-backed negotiation guidance, ResinSmart empowers buyers to cut costs, protect supply, and boost profitability.

Founding story

Garland Strong and Bill Bowie

Seeing the problem firsthand

RTi (Resin Technology Inc.), the owners of ResinSmart, was founded in Arlington, Texas in 1998 by Garland Strong and Bill Bowie, two resin industry professionals, who saw that across the industry, many plastic processors lacked the information & purchasing skills needed to get the right resin pricing for their business.

Purple resin pellets

A Game-Changer in Resin Procurement

The two had previously worked together at plastic ejection molding company Doskocil, where Strong realized the enormous impact resin pricing could have on their product and production costs—giving them a competitive advantage in the field. 

While seeking an expert to further inform his decision-making and focus on resin buying at Doskocil, he brought on Bowie, an experienced resin buyer from Poly-America. The two dove headlong into the world of resin— where to find it, how to use it, and most importantly, what to pay for it. Because resin was their largest cost, negotiating the best price and terms created a huge opportunity to outpace competitors and increase profits.

Abstract graphs

Bringing Truth to an Opaque Market

After years of working together, Strong and Bowie realized they could offer something to resin buyers that didn’t exist—guidance & deep market insight from advisors who had actually been in their shoes. They understood the odds that buyers were up against because they had faced those odds themselves—a volatile market, a complete lack of pricing transparency, risks to their supply chain, and the pressure to maintain positive relationships with suppliers. They wanted to help resin buyers stop overpaying for resin, while bringing transparency and honesty to the market.

about legacy trust

Building on a Legacy of Trust & Results

In the 27+ years since its founding, RTi has helped over 300+ clients save over $1 billion on commodity resins, specialty plastics, engineered resins, color concentrates and performance additives.

ResinSmart builds on RTi’s legacy by making reliable, unbiased market data more accessible and easier to analyze through a modern analytics platform—while preserving the expert guidance that helps buyers stop overpaying and make smarter buying decisions.

Founding story

Garland Strong and Bill Bowie

Seeing the problem firsthand

RTi (Resin Technology Inc.), the owners of ResinSmart, was founded in Arlington, Texas in 1998 by Garland Strong and Bill Bowie, two resin industry professionals, who saw that across the industry, many plastic processors lacked the information & purchasing skills needed to get the right resin pricing for their business.

Purple resin pellets

A Game-Changer in Resin Procurement

The two had previously worked together at plastic ejection molding company Doskocil, where Strong realized the enormous impact resin pricing could have on their product and production costs—giving them a competitive advantage in the field. 

While seeking an expert to further inform his decision-making and focus on resin buying at Doskocil, he brought on Bowie, an experienced resin buyer from Poly-America. The two dove headlong into the world of resin— where to find it, how to use it, and most importantly, what to pay for it. Because resin was their largest cost, negotiating the best price and terms created a huge opportunity to outpace competitors and increase profits.

Abstract graphs

Bringing Truth to an Opaque Market

After years of working together, Strong and Bowie realized they could offer something to resin buyers that didn’t exist—guidance & deep market insight from advisors who had actually been in their shoes. They understood the odds that buyers were up against because they had faced those odds themselves—a volatile market, a complete lack of pricing transparency, risks to their supply chain, and the pressure to maintain positive relationships with suppliers. They wanted to help resin buyers stop overpaying for resin, while bringing transparency and honesty to the market.

about legacy trust

Building on a Legacy of Trust & Results

In the 27+ years since its founding, RTi has helped over 300+ clients save over $1 billion on commodity resins, specialty plastics, engineered resins, color concentrates and performance additives.

ResinSmart builds on RTi’s legacy by making reliable, unbiased market data more accessible and easier to analyze through a modern analytics platform—while preserving the expert guidance that helps buyers stop overpaying and make smarter buying decisions.

Meet our experts

  • Kevin Mekaru
    Sr. Business Unit Leader - PE, PET

    Kevin has over 25 years of experience within the flexible packaging industry. His expertise is in the areas of blown film extrusion, injection molding and thermal lamination. He has sourcing experience in the areas of polyethylene resin and film substrates, as well as post-consumer resin sourcing. He previously led global supplier sourcing greater than $100 million and obtained over $5 million in savings from existing and alternative suppliers.  Providing risk mitigation strategies for secure supply chain management, as well as sourcing negotiation are among Kevin’s strengths.

    Kevin Mekaru
    Kevin Mekaru
    Sr. Business Unit Leader - PE, PET
    Read more
    Close
  • Paul Pavlov
    Vice President - PP, PS, PVC

    Paul brings over ten years of broad hydrocarbon industry expertise including resin trading, sales and marketing, international business development, risk management, hedging programs, fundamental and quantitative analysis across the entire plastics supply chain. He is driven to achieve profitable results through market research, customer focus, development of sustainable key customers and supplier relationships. His early career started in project management, planning, procurement, and operations management.

    Paul Pavlov
    Paul Pavlov
    Vice President - PP, PS, PVC
    Read more
    Close
  • Brian Balboa
    Senior Market Analyst

    Brian is the Senior Market Analyst for the resin group at RTI. Based in the global energy hub of Houston, Texas, Brian has worked within the petrochemical and resin industry for nearly 20 years as a market and research analyst. In addition to his work as an analyst, Brian’s expertise includes market engagement, product development, sales & marketing, and contract negotiation. He has covered resin markets for companies such as S&P Global, ICIS and IHS. Prior to joining RTI in 2022, Brian served as the Director of Market Intelligence for The Plastics Exchange.

    Brian Balboa
    Brian Balboa
    Senior Market Analyst
    Read more
    Close
  • Mark Kallman
    Vice President – Engineered Resins

    Mark brings over four decades of plastics industry expertise, spanning applications development, technical sales, marketing, and strategic sourcing. He has deep knowledge of engineering resins and feedstock markets, with a specialization in PVC, PET, ABS, PC, nylons, and acetal. Mark is known for developing detailed cost models that connect feedstock volatility and global supply dynamics to actual resin pricing—helping buyers optimize their procurement strategies with clarity and confidence.

    Mark Kallman
    Mark Kallman
    Vice President – Engineered Resins
    Read more
    Close
  • Lowell Huovinen
    Senior Vice President – Growth & Sustainability

    With over 45 years in the plastics industry, Lowell is a trusted authority on polypropylene and feedstock markets. He plays a key role in expanding RTi’s strategic partnerships and leads our collaboration with PureCycle Technologies (PCT). Throughout his career, Lowell has advised major buyers on resin sourcing, market timing, and risk mitigation—always bringing a practical, data-backed approach to complex supply chain challenges.

    Lowell Huovinen
    Lowell Huovinen
    Senior Vice President – Growth & Sustainability
    Read more
    Close
  • Michael Workman
    Director – Growth

    Michael recently joined RTi and has over 12 years in the thermoplastic resin and compound industry, working with commodity resins, engineered resin and compounds in a wide array of market and applications.  He previously led business development and account management activity for a custom thermoplastic compounder, responsible for over $50 million of organic sales growth over his career and managing territories of $30 million in average yearly sales. Michael leads RTi’s ResinSmart new business development, utilizing established networks as well as disciplined prospecting campaigns.

    Michael Workman
    Michael Workman
    Director – Growth
    Read more
    Close
  • Bob Vargo
    President and CEO

    Bob is an accomplished business leader with 30 years of expertise in global business development, management consulting, sales & business development, and project management.  He has experience leading businesses in the USA and Canada and has delivered client solutions throughout Asia and Australia. He joined RTi after running his own startup private equity firm for 13 years as the Chief Operating Officer, raising over $365 million from high-net-worth investors.

    Bob Vargo
    Bob Vargo
    President and CEO
    Read more
    Close

Looking to join our team?

Explore Career Options

Get early access to smarter resin buying

 

Join Waitlist