Ready for a fantastic year ahead
In this packed issue, we bring you a story that introduces ASC’s new Chair, Tom Stewart, and touches on some of his aims and ambitions for the association over the next few years. We also preview our Annual Convention & EXPO that will be heading to Florida this spring.
It promises to be a truly outstanding event, featuring a number of expert speakers and informative keynote presentations that capture the biggest trends affecting adhesives and sealants. There’s also an article about ASC’s Scholarship Program and the great
work it’s doing to help a group of talented young people take their first tentative steps into the industry. Some of them will also be embarking on a summer internship program, which is being introduced this year. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and have a great start to the year!
It’s a new year and a world of new possibilities...
Bostik’s Tom Stewart takes role as ASC’s new Chairman
ASC is delighted to welcome Tom Stewart, Business Director, Building Components at Bostik as its new Chair.
“Tom brings a lot of energy to the organization and has a tremendous amount of familiarity with ASC, having been involved not just at the board level but on committees, as an attendee at many ASC
events, and as a volunteer for our strategic planning,” says ASC President, Bill Allmond. “We’re really excited to have him as Chair for the next two years.”
Stewart started his twoyear term in January 2025 and says he’s honored to take this key role in the association, where he looks to draw
on his 25 years of experience in adhesives and sealants.
“Historically, we’ve had some really solid leadership in this organization, and I hope to be able to keep that going,” he says. “I've been involved with ASC – on the Board and the Executive Committee –for a number of years now and it's a really
Tom Stewart, ASC’s newly-elected Chair, has outlined several key priorities for his two-year term
talented and dedicated group of people.”
Recruitment and education are two specific areas he wants to try to help develop during his tenure. The community aspect is particularly important to ASC and the broader industry, he continues, so he hopes to be able to focus on building engagement and helping to attract more young people to the industry.
“A lot of our members have a workforce that has been around for quite a while. Within the next 5-10 years, a lot of those people are going to be leaving and it could leave some big holes in the industry,” he says. “There are a lot of other very attractive industries where people are going to, so we need to make sure that this industry is attractive to them –and then also ensure that we're helping our
members do what they can to recruit the best and the brightest, and retain them. That's the challenge.”
Stewart says he also hopes to further develop the huge pool of member resources, services, and benefits that are already available to members and provide more of the essential tools and educational opportunities to support and encourage growth in the industry.
Attracting more young people to the adhesive and sealant industry is essential, says Stewart
Annual Convention & EXPO will soon be heading to Jacksonville
It’s not too long to wait until one of the most anticipated events of the year: ASC’s Annual Convention & EXPO! If you haven’t already secured your place, head over to the website and register now for what promises to be an unforgettable three days at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.
You’ll be joining hundreds of likeminded industry professionals from April 14-16, 2025 for a program filled with technical sessions and presentations, along with plenty of opportunities for networking.
This year’s theme, Innovate to Elevate –Building a Better Future, perfectly encapsulates just how important
members’ contributions are to a successful tomorrow, says Bill Allmond, President of ASC. “Our industry is, of course, known for its innovation, and adhesives are an enabler for the success of U.S. manufacturing. Only through innovation can we set ourselves apart as a leader in this field,” he says.
“The Convention is the perfect time to highlight all the great work that's being done by members who go above and beyond to meet unmet needs of their customers in the marketplace.”
“We’re also planning a strong technical focus on sustainability, which remains a very hot topic for the North American adhesive and sealant industry. We have a very robust educational track focused on this important subject and our closing keynote from Kraton will
provide a unique perspective on the company’s strategies and best practices.”
While the event will have its usual focus on market trends, innovation, and new technologies, a common thread amongst the sessions will be how to better prepare for the future, overcome obstacles, and succeed amid difficult market conditions.
“With uncertainty about what will happen with a new administration and the economy after a tough 2024, we’re hoping to utilize the Convention
2025 ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXPO HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
General Session Opening Keynote: Succeeding in Difficult Environments
as a forum to discuss the challenges that are coming and how we can tackle them,” adds Allmond.
In addition, ASC will be hosting two short courses co-located with the Convention. The always popular one-and-a-halfday Hot Melt and Waterborne sessions will run concurrently with the meeting and offer indepth, practical training on formulation strategies, technologies, and applications. Keep checking the website for news and updates on the program.
Cassi Chandler, Motivational Leadership Expert, FBI’s First African American Female Special Agent Assistant Director
ASC Industry Update & Awards Presentation
Tom Stewart, ASC Chair and Bill Allmond, ASC President
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
General Keynote: Trends & Forecasts for the Global Economy in the Adhesive and Sealant Industry
Chris Kuehl, Managing Director, Armada Corporate Intelligence
Emerging Challenges for Adhesion and Interfaces: Nurturing a Molecules to Manufacturing Approach to Innovation
Timothy Long, Professor, Arizona State University
Utilizing Sustainable Materials to Reduce Carbon Footprint in Adhesives
Stephanie Grant, Senior Scientist, Kraton Corporation
The latest report provides an overview of the driving forces shaping the adhesive and sealant market
ASC’s Scholarship Program offers financial support for students
Opening soon: applications for the 2025 Scholarship Program
Applications for the Rusty Thompson Memorial Scholarship for the Fall 2025 Semester will open on March 1, 2025.
ASC’s landmark Scholarship Program began in 2017 with the first scholarships being awarded in 2018. The aim of the initiative is to f th ll
highlight the many opportunities available to them – in the hope that they would consider the industry as a possible career choice after graduation.
ASC wants to help students with a science or business-related background or major to hi th i d i
pursuing a degree in a science-related or business field of study are all eligible to apply. Applicants no longer have to be related to someone working at an ASC member company, but have to submit a 750-1,000 word statement describing th i i ti
Committee will then thoroughly review all applications On average, five to six scholarships are awarded every year. The recipients receive $2,000-3,000 each towards their tuition.
An exciting addition to the program this year is the chance for the recipients to seek a summer internship at one of ASC’s member companies. This aims to offer invaluable firsthand experience and
hopefully encourage them to consider the adhesive and sealant industry as their likely destination upon graduation.
If either an ASC member or Scholarship Program recipient is interested in finding out more about arranging a placement, they can reach out to ASC President, Bill Allmond, who will be the facilitator between the two and get them connected.
Several companies have already expressed interest in offering a placement, but if you’d also like to get involved, email Allmond at bill@ascouncil.org.
If you, or your company, would like to make a donation to the Rusty Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund and support the future workforce, visit the Scholarship Program page on the website for more information.
This year, recipients also have the chance to gain industry experience at a summer work placement
Are you a Connected to ASC subscriber? Tune in today...
Our monthly Connected to ASC podcast is a great free resource that provides the latest news, views, and updates about what’s happening in the adhesive and sealant industry.
Each episode, hosted either by Bill Allmond, ASC President, or Brian Peters, Director of Membership & Industry Programs, explores the biggest issues and
trends affecting the sector, highlights an event or resource, or shares the stories and experiences of ASC’s membership.
Recent programs, for example, have focused on ASC’s visit to Taiwan for an gathering of the association’s counterparts across the globe; previewed Adhesives in Action –a major new show for manufacturers and
formulators, where ASC is partnering with ASI Magazine; interviewed Lisa Anderson, Founder and President of LMA Consulting Group about the supply chain and what to expect in 2025; as well as featuring several members of ASC’s team in its new “Meet the Staff” series. If you haven’t already benefited from this fantastic new resource, visit our website and
subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you like what you hear, please share the details with your colleagues and help us reach an even larger audience. Recent highlights were the recording about the Supply Chain, where Peters and Anderson considered the many issues impacting the supply chain, including the troubles in the Suez Canal and the lingering effect of storms such as Hurricane Helene. Anderson emphasized
the importance of diversifying risk and the different parts of the supply chain working closely together.
Communication is key, she said, in order to react quickly whenever there are disruptions
Another edition of Connected to ASC saw Allmond joined by members of the ASC team: Myranda Nikoloff, Senior Manager of Membership and Database Services, and Mani Singh, Director of Technical Services.
The 30-minute program looked at just some of the great value the membership gets for its dues investment – from the various educational resources to the breadth of support and services on offer
These and many more topics are now available to access for free from our dedicated podcast page. If you have any suggestions about issues you’d like raised or would like to take part in a future program, please reach out to us.
Introducing the team: Get to know us better by tuning in to our “Meet the ASC Staff” podcast episodes
