Bill Thielemann, director of plastics training at Quick Start, reports that this year's NPE convention in Chicago had the largest turnout in its 54 year history. More than 90,000 people attended, making it the five most important days for the plastics industry this year. Thielemann led a team to present Georgia to the world, literally, as a great place to learn and work. Business representatives from all over the globe, including Brazil, Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, and Mexico, joined North Americans in a steady stream by the Quick Start booth at the McCormick Center. Companies especially were curious about Georgia's plastics training and Quick Start 's role in serving the plastics industry. Georgia ranks ninth in the country in shipments in plastics and 13th in employment. Nationwide, the plastics industry is responsible for 1.5 million jobs and $304 billion in shipments of plastic goods.