In 1947 the Portland Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association created a committee for the formation of the Pacific Northwest Paint and Varnish Production Club with Hank Bottemiller as chairman.  Other members were George Gough, Bob Norris, and Ken Duncan.  This committee circulated correspondence to all paint companies in the Pacific Northwest, laying the groundwork for organizational meetings in Portland and Seattle.  These meetings resulted in the decision to hold a two-day Technical Symposium in Seattle in the spring of 1948.  This meeting, held May 21 and 22, 1948, at the Washington Hotel attracted 88 attendees.  During this meeting the constitution was adopted and the following officers were elected:

    President:  Herman Ziessler, Cowman Campbell, Seattle, WA
    Vice-President:  John Buckinger, Miller Paint, Portland, OR
    Secretary:  Dan Jarvie, Jarvie Paint, Seattle, WA
    Treasurer:  Ted Show, Preservative Paint, Portland, OR

    In 1949 the Technical meeting was held in Portland with John Buckinger as President.  In 1950, the first meeting in Canada was held at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.  From 1951 through 1954 the meetings alternated between Portland and Seattle.  In 1955 the concept of alternating the meetings between the three sections had evolved with Vancouver becoming the B.C. section.  The society had 82 members in 1955.  The 10th annual spring symposium was held in Tacoma, WA, and for the first time included a ladies program.  Membership exceeded 100 for the first time in 1960 with 102 members.  The title of the society was changed from the PNW Paint and Varnish Production Club to PNW Society for Paint Technology, also in 1960.  The name was ultimately changed to PNW Society for Coatings Technology.  In 1967, the annual spring symposium was held in Vancouver, B.C., with a total membership exceeding 200 for the first time with 220 members In 1970, the meeting was held again in Vancouver, initiating a social event with a boat tour and dinner.