HORN, a North American distributor of specialty ingredients, chemicals and raw materials, has announced that industry expert Darin Shields has joined the company’s technical sales team. As senior account manager, Shields now supports HORN’s Industrial Division by offering his formulation skills and proficiencies to two of the company’s key business units, HORN Coatings and Building Materials and HORN Advanced Materials.

“Here at HORN, we continually pursue opportunities to enhance our capabilities not just through the technologies and services we offer, but also through investing in resources that best reflect the essence of our organization – our people,” said Vince Anderson, vice president, HORN Coatings and Building Materials. “Darin not only brings experience to the table, he comes to HORN with a genuine dedication to help keep the industries we supply at the peak of technical service and customer satisfaction. We made a significant gain by bringing Darin on board to service our valued partners.”

Shields brings to HORN more than 20 years of industry know-how with expertise spanning formulation, direct and specialty distribution sales as well as sales and business management from professional experiences at previous posts including Specialty Polymers Inc. His contributions to the industry and to the success of his customers attest the responsibility he takes on to ensure their prosperity and profitability. As a dedicated industry advocate, Shields recently retired his 10-year post as board member of the Western Coatings Societies where he shared the accomplishment of building the modern-day Western Coatings Symposium and bringing this key industry conference to Las Vegas. Currently, Shields is an 18-year board member of the Pacific Northwest Society for Coatings Technology in which he also serves as treasurer.

“The quality of HORN’s people, their vast knowledge and commitment to partners and employees alike make HORN an envy to anyone interested in working in distribution as well as to manufacturers seeking to purchase specialty raw materials,” said Shields. “HORN’s reputation precedes itself and I have every intention to continue serving and contributing to the chemical industry now backed by HORN’s reliable and first-class resources and technologies.”

Based in Washington State, Shields’ sales territory includes key accounts in the Pacific Northwest.