SOCMA President Leaving Association

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) announced Tuesday that president and CEO Lawrence D. Sloan will be leaving the association in mid-October to accept a position with the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the premier association of occupational hygienists and environmental health and safety professionals.

"Mr. Sloan has been a dedicated leader for SOCMA, and we wish him success in his future endeavors," said Charles "Chuck" Bennett, vice chairman of Dixie Chemical and chair of SOCMA's Board of Governors.

Under Sloan's direction, SOCMA has continued to transform itself as a member-driven organization by focusing on its three core pillars of value - Membership, Government Relations, and Networking - which support member business growth and ChemStewards/operational excellence activities aimed at improving environmental, health, safety, and security efforts and operational best practices.

"Mr. Sloan has been an effective steward of the SOCMA business activities by enacting board-driven initiatives to right size the organization and enhance the association's financial condition," said J. Steel Hutchinson, president and CEO of GFS Chemicals and past chair of SOCMA's Board of Governors. "With efficiencies in staffing and the pending move to Crystal City, VA, next year, SOCMA is within reach of the board's strategic goal to provide a stable financial foundation that will benefit its membership for years to come."

Under Sloan's direction and years of dedicated effort from the SOCMA staff, the association has seen numerous advocacy wins, including Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform, multi-year reauthorization of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), permanent extension of the R&D Tax Credit, and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) authorization process now structured to better reflect the rules in the House of Representatives.

SOCMA membership retention has also been strengthened during Sloan's tenure through extensive outreach by the SOCMA staff and its active Board of Governors. And new member programs, such as regional meetings built around the plant operational excellence concept, are helping SOCMA further deliver added value to employees at all levels of its membership.

SOCMA will immediately begin a formal search for a new president and CEO. "The timing is right for a fresh new CEO with a fresh 'set of eyes' to take SOCMA to the next level," Bennett said. "More than ever the fine and specialty batch chemical industry, ranging from small family businesses to large multinational companies, is relying on SOCMA to represent its interests in a tumultuous regulatory environment. The next CEO will inherit a trade association well-positioned for success as SOCMA approaches its centennial celebration in 2021."

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