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do. So, what happens is that you get a very cautious business sector that realizes that you can lose very big if there’s a re-adjustment of the exchange rate. So, the larger, cash-rich companies buy up all the foreign exchange that they can, creating a shortage. “This has happened over the last year and it has created great dif- ficulty sourcing raw materials and being able to pay for them. Hence, most of us who have been through a few recessions look towards po- sitioning ourselves for exports and this is what the next move of this company will be. And in our drive to package products for export, we are already on the way.” Quesnel says that for the last year and a half, he has been attempting to overcome various trade barriers in several Latin American countries, but hopes to enter those new mar- kets within the next few months. “It may mean very small margins, but once you have the foreign exchange, you can ensure payment for your raw materials,” he says. Quesnel also reveals that over the last year or so, Resin Converters has embarked upon an extensive management training regi- men for its supervisory per- PREFERRED VENDOR n Pacific, Ltd. Corp. www.pacific-ltd.com A leading plastic resin distributor with offices in 22 countries in Latin America n Polyethylene n Polypropylene n Polystyrene n P V C Vinyl n P.E.T Resin Our products include: We partner with our customers by supplying them with quality resins in competitive terms, to expand our network of representative offices and provide unsurpassed services ensuring shared growth and success. 825 Brickell Bay Drive Suite 1750 Miami FL 33131 Pacific Limited Corporation Headquarters Tel: 305.358.1900 Fax: 305.381.8519 www.pacific-ltd.com RESIN CONVERTERS LIMITED sonnel. “I think it was a very good opportunity to dig deep into this idea with my management team,” he states. “It was quite rewarding in the sense of bringing out the best in my team and re-emphasizing our goals and our vision com- ing out of a recessionary period. I have a man- agement team that took the training well and I think they will be well-conditioned to handle the change of direction of the company. I stand behind my team– it’s not a one-man show. I really believe that with teamwork, we can do anything.” Finally, Quesnel says that he is continuing his long-term goal of trying to get the government of Trinidad to move forward on implementing a reasonable, plastic recycling program. Even though it is a small country, between 50 and 60 million plastic bottles are disposed of into its waste stream, every month. “I do some recycling on post-industrial, but I have not been able to go to post-con- sumer, yet. And we can’t get the government to get serious about separating recyclables from waste,” he laments. “But we’re going to keep fighting. It’s been 17 years I’ve been working on it and if I have to work another 17, I will. I don’t give up easy.” Meanwhile, Quesnel believes that with its new agenda and its reinvigorated management team, Resin Converters will continue to rebound from the darker days of the Great Recession. “I do feel, very strongly, that a recession is a time when you don’t curl up and lay low. It’s a time for you to dig in, explore new opportunities, and bring the company to better profitability,” he declares. “And if we continue to do what we’re doing, we should see a very good return on investment.”