Pioneer Announces the Election of Richard L. Urbanowski to the Board of Directors

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., [phone]



Web site:  http://www.piona.com/ 

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