Leaders of the adhesives and sealants industry will meet at the historic Don Cesar resort and spa in St. Pete Beach, Florida, this October 20–22 for the 2025 ASC Leadership Conference . With the theme, "Leading Through Disruption," the event will offer a program that promises to give industry executives the tools they need to lead their companies through today’s challenges.

In discussing the theme of this year’s conference, Bill Allmond, president of the ASC, talked about how the theme addresses the current moment. "When we were thinking about what themes would match the conference in 2025, the word disruption came right to the top. Disruption from the environment in which the manufacturing industry here in the U.S. still operates, coming out of covid and the supply chain disruptions that occurred, and now we have the massive changes to our trade policy,” he said.

Allmond went on to explain, “So leading through disruption came to mind for us; because we not only have to focus on the disruption, but how do we as an industry lead ourselves through it and out of it."

The conference kicks off with an ASC Board of Directors meeting on Monday afternoon, followed by an opening reception and dinner that evening from 7:00 to 9:30. A meet-and-greet event for spouses and guests will also take place on Monday from 6:30 to 7:00.

Tuesday promises a full day of presentations and activities. The day will start off early with a yoga class at 6:15, which will be directed by Megan Gluth, a leadership and motivational speaker. A networking breakfast will be followed by a fireside chat with Dr. Jayshree Seth, chief science advocate and corporate scientist at 3M, who will talk about innovation leadership. With over 80 patents and 30+ years of experience in product and technology development, Seth will offer a practical viewpoint on topics including innovation, leadership, culture, and careers. A book signing break will follow her presentation.

Stephan Liozu, founder of Value Disruption Advisors, will give the second presentation of the morning. Liozu will discuss some of the forces reshaping the adhesives and sealants industry and offer attendees new tools to help leaders show resilience and agility to navigate through these challenges. Alain Harfouche, senior managing director, Guggenheim Securities LLC will finish out the morning session with a presentation on the adhesives and sealants M&A market, highlighting current drivers in M&A activities within the industry. Harfouche’s presentation will be followed by a networking lunch for all attendees and registered guests.

The Tuesday afternoon session will focus on AI, with a presentation by Lisa Yu, founder and president of American Gold Standard. Yu’s presentation, “The AI Imperative: Reimagining Supply Chain, Profit Margins, and Customer Experience,” will use real-world examples to demonstrate how AI can be used to predict supply chain disruptions and optimize inventory management.

The popular cornhole tournament is returning for 2025 and will follow the afternoon session. It will take place from 2:45 to 5:45. Attendees are encouraged to put together a team and register.

Tuesday will end with the Chair’s Reception and Dinner, taking place from 6:30 to 9:00. The dinner includes the annual presentation of the newest inductees into the ASC’s Hall of Fame. Attendees and guests are invited to attend the reception and dinner.

Wednesday will kick off with a networking breakfast, and presentations covering a variety of topics. Kicking off the Wednesday morning session is Megan Gluth who will discuss resilience and how to lead through disruptions. Following Gluth, Kevin Swift, managing director, Swift Economic LLC, will give an overview of the performance of the U.S. economy and provide his outlook for the overall economy as well as the adhesive and sealant industry. He will also look at megatrends that are shaping the prospects for the industry going forward. The morning session will conclude with a CEO panel that discusses how the economy and tariffs are impacting their companies.

Wednesday afternoon is another opportunity for networking with colleagues. The annual golf outing will be held at the Bardmoor Golf Club, a premier golf course in the Tampa Bay area that has been host to PGA and LPGA tournaments. If attendees and their guests are looking for an activity besides golf, they can take advantage of the Egmont Key Island tour, a boat ride and lunch that offers the possibility of seeing dolphins, sea turtles, and even manatees.

Wednesday evening rounds out the conference with a Havana networking reception and dinner from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

For registration and additional details about the conference, visit the Events page on ASC’s website at www.ascouncil.org.