Ron Owen, originally from Reidsville, NC, found himself working for a coating, adhesive, sealant, and elastomer distribution company in Texas. After spending many hot days in Texas, Ron desperately wanted to return to his native NC. Using the market and product knowledge gained in Texas; Ron figured he could move back to NC and start a distribution company based on the same model as the company he worked for in Texas. Ron invited a business associate, Bill Pieper, from Cincinnati to join him, and in 1979 they started Materials Marketing Associates.
After a year into their new business they saw opportunities in the industrial container market that served as packaging for the coatings, adhesive, sealant, and elastomer products they were selling. Cliff Barton was introduced to the business in 1980. Cliff worked six years in the chemical and polymers market with Union Carbide and had spent his last 20+ years working for a raw material and container supplier in High Point, NC. Cliff also had aspirations of owning his own company and he joined Ron and Bill in 1980 and they changed the name of the company to MegaChem. After two years the partnership was not going as initially intended and Cliff bought both Ron and Bill out in 1982.