InterviewSOCMA to target smaller chems under new leadership

09 December 2009 20:00  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The US-based Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) plans to target smaller companies that may not be able to fulfill requirements for larger programmes such as the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Responsible Care, SOCMA’s incoming president said on Wednesday.

“We offer an alternative to a smaller company that can raise their profile within their community,” said Larry Sloan, who will take over as the group’s president and CEO on 10 February. “It’s a three-tiered approach and not a one-size-fits-all programme.

“There are various levels of principles that fulfil and often surpass the requirements of the ACC, but are tailored to the unique needs of smaller companies,” he added.

Specifically, smaller companies targeted are likely to include inorganic and bio-based producers, he said.

“We’re broadening our focus to batch, custom and specialty chem to show that the services we provide to organic producers can be applied to others,” Sloan said. “With the name change, what that enables us to do is to broaden our membership base to include companies that supply and produce things like inorganic and biological chems.”

SOCMA had been known as the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association until this past March.

Sloan is moving to SOCMA after spending the past five years as president of the Adhesive and Sealant Council, a trade group based in Washington DC. He previously worked at companies including Air Products and Nalco.

Sloan said SOCMA’s strong reputation in Washington as a first-rate organisation that receives regular attention from legislators made it an enticing position for him.

“The combination of SOCMA’s strong advocacy platform coupled with its educational programmes made it very attractive for me, coming from a smaller niche segment that does not offer the advocacy portion that SOCMA does,” Sloan said.

Sloan said he brings a very strong background in membership growth, marketing development and new programme development, which he said will be used to capitalise on the group’s name change and broaden its reach.

In particular, the group intends to use various social networking platforms - notably, LinkedIn - to reach out to different audiences, he said.

“I felt it was a good opportunity for me to move to a larger chemical association with a broader portfolio of chems and more opportunities for growth and creativity,” Sloan said.

Joseph Acker is retiring from the president and CEO role at the end of December. Acker worked with SOCMA for 16 years and was appointed president in 2003.

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By: Ben DuBose
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