A Year in Stories: How Covia’s People Drove Progress in 2025

Across plants, labs, and customer conversations, one theme kept showing up at Covia in 2025: people drive progress. 

Throughout the year, Covia team members showcased how they solved problems with curiosity, led with courage, and stayed grounded in the communities and teams that shaped them. Here’s a look back at some individuals who helped drive Covia forward--and the many ways our team members turned expertise into impact.

Robert Knight: Driving Digital Innovation with Deep Roots

Robert Knight’s story is a reminder that transformation works best when it’s built on both experience and connection. As Director of Enterprise Applications and IT Architecture, Robert helps guide the systems that power Covia’s day-to-day operations, especially the enterprise applications and ERP foundation that touches everything from maintenance to sales and accounting.

In addition to his wealth of experience, Robert also brings a personal connection to his tenure at Covia. Robert’s decision to join Covia in 2023 was more than just a good fit – it was an opportunity to return to his hometown roots. That blend of forward-looking technology leadership and deep-rooted pride captures the spirit of Covia’s evolution.

Read the full story: Driving Digital Innovation with Deep Roots

John Chee: Bridging Technology, Marketing, and Sales in Polymer Solutions

John Chee exemplifies the combination of deep technical knowledge and real commercial outcomes. With a career spanning more than three decades, John brings a rare mix of R&D, sales, and marketing experience to his role as a technical sales and application technology manager for polymers. 

A standout theme for John is his ability to translate complexity into possibility. His collaborative work across teams allows him to identify new opportunities, strengthen value propositions, and unlock performance advantages for customers. This approach includes efforts to explore the potential of nepheline syenite to evolve existing products and shape entirely new opportunities for customer-focused innovation.

Read the full story: Bridging Technology, Marketing, and Sales

Gary Vinson & Blake Rader: From Intern to Employee

Gary Vinson and Blake Rader’s journeys spotlight something Covia takes seriously: developing the next generation of leaders through real experience, mentorship, and meaningful work. The feature follows them from their internship beginnings into full-time roles, with Gary as a quality coordinator and Blake as an associate IT service desk teammate.

Gary’s story is centered on operational learning and accountability, from mapping complex plant systems as an intern to supporting environmental compliance at the Chardon plant. Blake’s path highlights connection and enablement, supporting teams today while envisioning stronger infrastructure and connectivity for remote Covia locations tomorrow. Together, their experiences reflect Covia’s commitment to being a place where questions are welcome and early career contributions truly matter.

Read the full story: From Intern to Employee

Jennifer Perry: Elevating People, Process, and Product

Jennifer Perry’s story captures Covia operations at their best: disciplined, people-first, and always improving. Starting her Covia career as a lab technician in 2013, Jennifer grew into a leadership role as the operations manager at the Troy Grove Resin plant.

Two of Jennifer’s greatest qualities are her drive and sense of shared ownership. She leads daily production scheduling, partners closely with technical and sales teams, and is always willing to help wherever needed. Her team’s mindset for continuous improvement shows up in measurable outcomes too, including efforts to reduce waste by more than 20% through smarter inventory and downtime reduction initiatives. 

Read the full story: Elevating People, Process, and Product

Bleve Willoughby: Leading with People and Purpose

Bleve Willoughby’s story reinforces a simple truth that Covia’s best leaders keep in mind: output matters, but people make it possible. As plant manager for Covia’s Elco and Tamms facilities in Illinois, Bleve leads two sites with different products, customers, and operating needs.

A defining theme of Bleve’s feature story is the strength of support systems. He speaks openly about learning through leadership training and customer interaction, and about Covia being the kind of place where help shows up when you ask for it. That culture is reflected in his team’s performance as well, including a long-standing safety record and community involvement beyond the plant’s borders. 

Read the full story: Leading with People and Purpose

 Innovation Center Team: Meet Four Team Members Powering Innovation

Innovation comes from more than just high-end equipment or spacious laboratories. It comes from people working side by side to bridge the gap between customer needs and real-world solutions. This feature introduces four leaders at the Covia Innovation Center (CIC) who are powering innovation: 

• Steve Schilling, Director of Technology & Application Development
• Lauren Helton, Director of Sales – Coatings, Polymers, Exports
• Rob Light, Director of Sales for Engineered Stone & Ceramics
• Scott Van Remortel, Senior Technical Sales Manager for Coatings, Polymers & Elastomers

Each of these people represents a different dimension of innovation, from facility design to customer translation to product evolution and lab-to-market execution. Together, they represent Covia’s belief that innovation starts with people and scales through collaboration.

Read the full story: Meet Four Team Members Powering Innovation

Terry Gwinn: Building BESTSAND, One Relationship at a Time

Terry Gwinn’s feature highlights the power of creating genuine connections in an industry built on long-term partnerships. As sales manager for sports turf, Terry is often the face of Covia’s BESTSAND® brand, tirelessly working directly with customers, distributors, and field professionals for golf courses across the country. 

What stands out most in Terry’s story is how relationship-building isn’t just part of the job; it is the job. Terry’s deep knowledge of golf sand applications is matched by an equally strong commitment to showing up, even through serious health issues. The result is an example of how reliability, integrity, and personal connection directly shape customer success and brand loyalty.

Read the full story: Building BESTSAND, One Relationship at a Time

Looking Forward to Who We Are in 2026

Taken together, these stories reflect what’s strongest about Covia’s values: deep expertise paired with genuine caring and courage, ambition grounded in teamwork, and innovation powered by people who keep learning and keep showing up for one another. We’re proud of the team who helped Covia grow in 2025, and are excited to carry that momentum into the years to come.