Video: Chair Jerry McCall holds court during International Elastomer Conference

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—For every chair of the ACS Rubber Division, all the years of moving up through the ranks culminates by playing host during the fall International Elastomer Conference and Rubber Expo.

This week in Louisville, the honor goes to Jerry McCall, vice president of R.D. Abbott Co. Inc.'s Integrated Solutions Business Unit. McCall said he's enjoying the week, though he acknowledged that it's a bit "bittersweet," knowing that the long years of commitment going through the series of offices leading to chair are about to end, but that the experience will be missed nonetheless.

The theme for McCall's year as the leader of the technical association has been "Investing in the Future," something that he said was demonstrated this summer when the Rubber Division moved into its new headquarters facility in Akron. He said the site, taking the association off the campus of the University of Akron, will help secure the long-term sustainability of the division.

The term officially goes through the end of the year, when McCall will be replaced by Chair-Elect Michael Morrow of MBG Associates L.L.C. Morrow will preside over the spring technical meeting April 30-May 2 in Independence, Ohio, and the fall International Elastomer Conference and Rubber Expo Oct. 8-10, 2019, in Cleveland.