PONR Pioneer Companies New 2/02 (MM)

Pioneer Announces the Election of Richard L. Urbanowski to the Board of Directors HOUSTON, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pioneer Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PONR) reported that at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, held on May 12 in Houston, the stockholders elected Richard L. Urbanowski to serve as a Pioneer director. Mr. Urbanowski retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of ISK Biosciences Corporation, a specialty chemicals company selling crop protection chemicals and wood preservative products, in 1998. Mr. Urbanowski began his career with Diamond Alkali Company, where he held various positions in research and development, engineering, operations, production and sales. The Chairman of Pioneer's Board of Directors, David Weinstein, stated, "Dick Urbanowski is an important addition to our Board of Directors. With his broad background in the chemical business, Dick will have an immediate understanding of the challenges that face Pioneer, as well as valuable insight into the opportunities that will arise in the future. Our Board of Directors and Pioneer's management team look forward to receiving the benefit of his guidance." At the stockholders' meeting, the five individuals that previously constituted Pioneer's Board of Directors were all re-elected to new one-year terms. In addition to Mr. Weinstein, those individuals are Marvin E. Lesser, Michael Y. McGovern, Charles L. Mears and David A. Scholes. Mike McGovern also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer, and Mr. Scholes also serves as Vice President, Manufacturing of Pioneer. Pioneer, based in Houston, manufactures chlorine, caustic soda, bleach, hydrochloric acid and related products used in a variety of applications, including water treatment, plastics, pulp and paper, detergents, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical disinfectants. Pioneer owns and operates four chlor-alkali plants and several downstream manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada. Certain statements in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward- looking statements relate to matters that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in Pioneer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: Pioneer Companies, Inc. CONTACT: Gary Pittman of Pioneer Companies, Inc., +1-713-570-3200 Web site: http://www.piona.com/

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