FEATURE

By Karen Parker, editor-in-chief, ASI

With the theme, “Building a Sustainable Future,” the conference will focus on key issues facing manufacturers and their suppliers and facilitate informal discussion and networking.

Executives in the adhesives and sealants industry will gather at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, October 23-25 for the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s Executive Leadership Conference. With the theme, “Building a Sustainable Future,” the event will address key issues facing manufacturers and their suppliers and facilitate informal discussion and networking.

Monday events include an ASC Board of Directors meeting in the afternoon and an opening reception and dinner in the evening. A meet-and-greet event for spouses and guests will take place on Monday evening as well.

Tuesday will include a full day of presentations and networking opportunities. In the morning, attendees will enjoy hearing from Aaron Golub a consultant and motivational speaker who became the first legally blind Division One athlete to play in a game when he played football at Tulane University. Golub’s presentation, titled “Adversity-Based Leadership,” will outline how to identify challenges, overcome obstacles, and convert failures to effective lessons and successful opportunities.

Jason Hein, founder of Acumental B2B, will also speak on Tuesday morning. Hein’s presentation, “What Can AI Really Do for B2B – Today vs Tomorrow,” will explore the different types of AI being used by B2B companies and how each is used in the real world. Hein will also discuss how AI can potentially impact the role of people in the organization. Founded in 2022, Acumental B2B aims to help distributors and manufacturers of industrial business-to-business products improve their digital maturity and find new successes in the online space.

Also on Tuesday morning, Dan Murad, president and CEO of The ChemQuest Group, and Leland Harrs, managing director at Houlihan Lokey’s Chemicals, will offer the latest insights on the sell-side and buy-side of mergers and acquisition valuation.

Sustainability will be the focus of the Tuesday afternoon session, with a panel discussion, “Enabling a More Sustainable Future.” Each panel member will discuss their company’s sustainability journey. Topics will include unique or innovation approaches to sustainability, milestones and key accomplishments, and lessons learned. The panel will include: Daniel Sophiea, global sustainability lead, Adhesives and Fluids, DuPont; Molly Pilarski, vice president of sustainability, Sika Corp.; Pedro Lopes, chief sustainability officer, Kraton Chemical B.V.; Sjaak Griffioen, vice president, Innovation, Sustainability & Business Support, Covestro Coatings & Adhesives, North America; Chris Brown, vice president, Environment, Social & Governance, Synthomer; and Randy Frank, global application engineering director, 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division.

Networking opportunities will be offered throughout the day, including a networking breakfast and a networking lunch, a bocce tournament on Tuesday afternoon, and the Chair’s Reception and Dinner with the Hall of Fame Award presentation, sponsored by The ChemQuest Group.

Wednesday will kick off with Robert Fry, chief economist, Robert Fry Economics LLC, who will discuss the current outlook for the global economy. After Fry’s presentation Benjamin Trent, managing consultant at Smithers, will dig deeper into our industry with an overview of trends in the North American adhesives and sealants market. Trent will offer a high-level view of market size and growth, focusing on the report Smithers created for ASC, titled “Overview of North American Adhesives and Sealants Market Trends to 2027.” Besides an overview of the general market outlook and expected growth, the presentation will also discuss key trends and demand drivers within the adhesives and sealants space.

Kimberlee Sinclair, vice president, Digital Customer Experience, at H.B. Fuller, will wrap up the presentation portion of the conference with her talk, “Transformational Customer Experience: Empowering Businesses to Thrive in the Digital Age.” Sinclair’s presentation will address the challenging demands to business created by the digital age and how companies can leverage digital technology to transform the customer experience.

Besides compelling presentations, the conference provides opportunities for relaxing downtime, where attendees, their spouses, and guests can enjoy resort amenities and the surrounding area. Spouses and guests can experience the oldest city in America, St. Augustine, on Tuesday. A costumed tour guide will take visitors on a tour of historical hidden gems in the city. Guests will also have free time to explore all the city has to offer. Feeling competitive? Tuesday afternoon will feature a bocce tournament. Attendees can register for the double-elimination tournament, taking place from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. A golf outing at the Lagoon Course is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Another option for Wednesday afternoon is a cruise on a luxury catamaran that will take passengers along the Intracoastal Waterway to see wildlife such as dolphins and views of historic St. Augustine.

The 2023 ASC Executive Leadership conference is a must-attend event for executives within the industry. For registration and additional details, visit the Events page on ASC’s website at ascouncil.org.