Spring is such a great time of year. As the trees start to bud and the flowers peek up out of the dirt, we begin to feel like anything is possible. It’s definitely the season of exciting new opportunities, many of which will be found as the industry gathers April 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta for the Adhesive & Sealant Council’s (ASC) Spring Convention & Expo.

I recently spoke with ASC Chairman Rusty Thompson, president and CEO of Evans Adhesive, who shared some expected highlights of the upcoming event. Attendees can look forward to insightful and relevant keynote speakers, as well as technical sessions that detail exciting new industry developments. Multiple networking opportunities will also be available. “It’s certainly going to be a fast-paced two-and-a-half days, and we’re on our way to having a record-setting crowd of 500+,” says Thompson. Visit our podcast page at www.adhesivesmag.com/pods to listen to the full interview; additional details are also available in the preview article in this issue.

Regular readers of this column will know of my fondness for quotes. Some of the very best come to us from the legendary Mark Twain, and this one in particular resonates with me in light of our current economic and business conditions: “We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it—and stop there, lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again—and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.”

We need to strive to work smarter than that cat. Let’s learn from our challenges (and even our mistakes) without allowing them to limit our future potential. Even today, opportunities exist for companies that are willing and prepared to work toward them—and more are sure to come.

 How is your company embracing the future? Please contact me at (330) 336-4098 or suttons@bnpmedia.com to share your story.