Jerry McCall reflects on successful year as Rubber Division chairman

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.

During the Rubber Division's event in Louisville, the honor went to Jerry McCall, vice president of R.D. Abbott Co. Inc.'s Integrated Solutions Business Unit. McCall said he enjoyed 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.

McCall made the journey up the Rubber Division's leadership ladder in four years rather than the customary five because of the death of Paul Glasgow, who would have been chair during 2018.

"I love working with the division," McCall said during the International Elastomer Conference and Rubber Expo, held Oct. 9-11 in Louisville. "I think it's very rewarding from a career standpoint obviously, but also just getting connected within the industry. But it is bittersweet. It's kind of like, 'It's great it's over,' but then you're somewhat melancholy about it. Next year I won't be part of the fray, so to speak."

But the 20-year rubber industry veteran plans to stay involved during his year as past chair in 2019, and beyond that. He currently sits on the Future Sites and Exhibits Committee, and he plans to continue to do that, as well as find other possible committees to get involved with.

McCall spent the first 11 years of his career with TSE Industries in Florida, and part of his job was to organize all booth and setup responsibilities for all the expos TSE participated in, including the Rubber Division.

And during his time with R.D. Abbott, he said he has been fortunate to work for a company that supported involvement in associations. He gives particular kudos to CEO Keith Thomas and President Scott Kearns.

"These guys believe in giving back to the industry," McCall said. "It's really a privilege to work for gentlemen and a company like this. They're deeply interested in making sure the rubber industry progresses and moves forward."

And it's not just at the national level, but at the local and regional level as well. "If you look at the numbers as they stand now, you'd be hard-pressed to find a rubber group we're not involved with in North America," he said.

The R.D. Abbott officials see the long-term value in these activities, understanding that not all compensation comes in the form of monetary payment, McCall said.

The theme for McCall's year as the leader of the technical association has been "Investing in the Future," something 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.

Moving away from the university was a tough decision for the association, as the two institutions had shared a strong partnership over the years. "But to be able to own our own facility, set it up and decorate the place and pay homage to all of those who came before us was really a monumental accomplishment," McCall said. "It really solidified (Executive Director) Ed Miller's mark on the industry—not that he needed anything. He's done a fantastic job for us for almost 19 years now. But I think that was a great step for this Steering Committee and Executive Board."

This year also has been the fourth year of a five-year initiative the Rubber Division has been on that has focused on four goals, each of which has a champion and a team guiding the effort. The four goals are:

• Develop and implement a recruitment and retention plan to entice individuals, companies and organizations to be active members;

• Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with industry leaders globally;

• Assure the Rubber Division is the premier global elastomeric resource providing cutting-edge education, science, technology and business-related information, programs and activities; and

• Develop and communicate messages that convey the relevance, critical importance and value of elastomers to the global communities.

"I think it's gone extremely well," McCall said. "I think it brought a focus that the division needed in order to tackle strategic initiatives for future growth and to drive the industry forward."

One concern continues to be trying to draw younger people into the rubber industry, he said, as some studies say the average age in the industry actually continues to climb.

"Younger people are not coming around. I think we have to make the rubber industry more appealing," he said. "It's still considered a black and dirty business, like we're all making floor mats or we're all making mud flaps for trucks. It's just not the case."

Those involved in the industry need to get the word out about all the highly engineered applications of rubber, such as the roughly 5,000 pounds of engineered elastomers that go into every Boeing 737, he said. "Those are the things that are keeping us from being pulled out of the window at 30,000 feet," he said. "Those are the things that keep us safe."

McCall said it's good to see his firm and a number of others offering internships, bringing in students to work in laboratory or production settings, noting that R.D. Abbott has hired a good number of interns over the years. "It's a slow road," he said. "It takes time to make progress. It's all about designing the right environment to attract these folks to it."

His term officially ends late this year, when McCall will pass the gavel to 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 in Cleveland.

When asked what advice he would pass onto Morrow, McCall said his successor doesn't need any. "My best advice to Mike is to stay the path because he's an exemplary leader in my opinion," McCall said. "He brings a plethora of rubber experience with him. He's really got a lot of great plans to pull the division even further forward."