Norm Murray, CEO

Who is Norm Murray? He's our CEO and Chairman of the Board here at U·C Coatings!

As you may already know, Norm is the son of Gerard "Red" Murray, founder of U·C Coatings. Born and raised just outside of Buffalo in Western New York, Norm joined his father's business in 1976 after obtaining History and Data Processing degrees from New Mexico State University and serving as an interpreter-interrogator for the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Norm initially handled the sales and manufacturing for the BATES line of products. But when his Dad developed ANCHORSEAL, Norm began traveling and began his deeper involvement with the forest products industry. Additional products were developed, sales increased, and he was promoted to President of U·C Coatings in 1986 and has guided the growth and expansion of the company since that time. In 1999, with the appointment of Tom Johel as President, Norm became CEO and Chairman of U·C Coatings.

As a member of, and 100% dependent on, the forest products community, Norm became increasingly aware of the realities of resource use and stewardship issues. In 1989, he began addressing local business groups and elementary school classes, combining forest facts with a musical presentation. (Norm has been singing and playing guitar semi-professionally since 1960)

In 1991, Norm composed and recorded the songs 'I'm A Tree' and 'We're the Forest Families of this Country', and then developed a formal classroom presentation based on the songs. For his work, he has received the Kentucky Forest Industries Association "Communicator of the Year" award and the Northeastern Loggers' Association award for "Outstanding Contribution to Forest Industry Education," and has sold over 10,000 copies. Norm is also the former President and a current board member of the Hardwood Forest Foundation. The HFF's mission is to provide forestry and forest products educational programs to elementary, middle, and high school students.

In 1997, Norm completed the Owner/President Management Program, a three-year program at Harvard Business School. The course of study is designed to help owner/managers of fast growing small companies to meet the challenges and problems of becoming larger and more far-reaching companies. He was also a member of Vistage, the world's largest membership organization of company CEOs.

Norm lives with his wife and their two children in Clarence Center, NY, where for 13 years he was Cubmaster for a local Cub Scout Pack and Assistant Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop. In addition to scouting activities, Norm is active with the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross and, with his wife Thuy, supports numerous charitable and educational institutions.

In 2006, Norm, Thuy, and U·C Coatings were recognized as Outstanding Small Business Philanthropists by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for the company's long-standing and broad reaching contributions to the Western New York community.