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WEBINAR POSTPONED, NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

The Construction/Infrastructure industry plays a pivotal role in life as we know it. In recent years, sustainability has become a central focus in the construction/ infrastructure industry, influencing various aspects of building design, materials selection, and building processes. This shift towards sustainability is having a major impact on the construction chemicals and materials market. For this event, we have assembled a panel a number of the most respected experts and thought leaders in the field. The panelists will share their perspectives on the megatrends in the Construction/Infrastructure market, the impact that these trends are having on the chemicals and materials space, the extent to which sustainability is creating business opportunities. In addition, they will comment on the effect that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is having on the industry. Shaun Pan, a board member of Société de Chimie Industrielle, will be the moderator.

Panelists:

Jack Armstrong President ACUMEN, LLC		Amy Ericson SVP of Protective and Marine Coatings, PPG		Michael A. Mahoney Head of Euclid Chemical’s Synthetic Microfibers, RPM		Chuck Robitaille Commercial Director, Construction Chemicals, Dow

About our Panelists:

Jack Armstrong is the President of ACUMEN, LLC, a boutique sustainable marketing, advocacy, and business communication consulting practice, founded after his 24 year career with BASF – The Chemical Company. Key focus areas include energy efficiency/durability for sustainable construction in the built environment, in addition to B2B supply chain, life cycle analysis, and federal/state/city advocacy messaging along the entire value chain. Armstrong has specific public relations and speaking experience with B2C messaging linked to high performance attributes enabled via products of chemistry.

Having graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas, Armstrong began working for BASF in 1989. His posts included Nylon Polymer Manufacturing in Freeport, Texas; Nylon Fiber Intermediates Product Management and Supply Chain Manger in New Jersey; Regional Marketing Manager for BASF South American Acrylic and Dispersion Polymers located in Sao Paulo, Brazil; General Manager Polyurethane Systems Americas located in Brussels, Belgium; Business Manager Expandable Polystyrene Foams for North America; Leader Construction Markets North America; and Director, Marketing and Communications North America located in New Jersey.

He's served on the board of directors for the Sustainable Building Industries Council, the Structural Insulated Panel Association, the board and Chair of Sustainability Committee of BPA – the worldwide consumer and media audit association, Chair for the Building & Construction Materials Issues Team of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division and a member of the Chief Marketing Officers Association and the United Nations Environmental Program Sustainable Building Climate Initiative Materials Technical Advisory Committee.

Amy Ericson has dedicated her career to leading solutions-oriented businesses in global corporations. A compassionate and engaging leader, she focuses on delivering business results through products that enhance the world. Now senior vice president, Protective and Marine Coatings, Ericson champions PPG's efforts to Protect and Beautify the World.

Ericson joined PPG in 2018 as a senior vice president leading both the global Packaging Coatings and Specialty Coatings and Materials business units. In that dual role, she drove profitable growth for both businesses through a focus on sustainable metal packaging coatings innovations and an array of specialty coatings and materials that enable efficiency.

In January 2023, she was appointed SVP, Protective and Marine Coatings where she will focus on positioning PPG as a global leader in sustainable coatings that protect and beautify industrial assets exposed to extreme conditions. She also gained oversight of PPG's Latin American region.

Prior to joining PPG, Ericson was the president of SUEZ Chemical Monitoring and Solutions after SUEZ acquired General Electric’s Water Services Company, where she similarly served as president. While at General Electric, Ericson helped lead the organization’s water purification efforts while managing the growth and profitability for the $1.2 billion business composed of over 2,700 employees.

During a 20-year tenure at Alstom S.A. where she held a number of titles culminating with president and CEO of Alstom in the U.S., Ericson was instrumental in the energy and integrated transport system-focused corporation’s carbon capture efforts. She played a leading role in signing the first commercial offshore wind contract in the United States. And, at the request of the U.S. Energy Secretary, she chaired a study assessing the value proposition for global carbon capture and storage. Ericson also worked for Exxon Corporation, Mobil Oil, and DuPont in the early years of her career.

She is passionate about mentoring and supporting women in STEM education and is the executive sponsor of PPG's Women’s Leadership Network (WLN). Ericson is also a member of the Penn State College of Engineering Industrial and Professional Advisory Council.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. An avid reader, lifelong swimmer, and Pilates enthusiast, Ericson is mother to four daughters and resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and dogs.

Michael Mahoney is a Professional Engineer and Head of Euclid Chemical’s Synthetic Microfibers. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, he was previously the Director of Marketing and Technology, Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Euclid Chemical, directing marketing, research, strategic initiatives and product development for Euclid Chemical’s entire fiber reinforcement product line. Mr. Mahoney is a Fellow and member of the American Concrete Institute and has served on various committees for NPCA, ASTM and is the current president of the Fiber Reinforced Concrete Association. In 1997, he obtained his M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Canada.

Mr. Mahoney has co-authored several papers on the subjects of FRC, shotcrete, carbon footprint of fiber materials and innovative bridge systems and currently directs research and marketing projects while educating engineers and contractors on the use of FRC. In his “spare” time, he coaches hockey in the Cleveland area and makes his home in Painesville, OH with his wife and two children.

In 2023, Chuck Robitaille was named North America Commercial Director for Dow Construction Chemicals. In this role, Chuck is responsible for North America commercial leadership, regional business strategy development and implementation, and growth agenda across all construction market segments.

During his career with Dow, Chuck has made an impact through a variety of experiences across sales, marketing, and strategy within the building, construction, and infrastructure markets. As a sales leader, he shared responsibilities for leading the DCC North America Sales Team to help drive the regional commercial growth strategy. And as a Senior Marketing Manager, Chuck set the strategic vision for several construction market segments, evaluated new GTM business models, and led cross-functional teams to bring new building material product innovations to market.

Prior to joining Dow, Chuck spent 7 years as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army, and 2 years in Private Equity. Chuck is an alumnus of the University of Michigan MBA Class of 2018.

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