Gears already turning as Rubber Division celebrates successful IEC

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Putting together a successful International Elastomer Conference is hard, nerve-racking work. But the final product is well worth the effort.

"It's like planning your own birthday party, and you just don't know if people are going to come," said Lakisha Miller-Barclay, executive director and CEO of the ACS Rubber Division.

"You buy the food, you get the band, you get everything all set up, and you're like, 'Will they show, Mom?' It's kind of like that."

And after 15 years of working with the division, she said, she's still surprised by the event's success and "the impact that this conference gives to the industry."

"It's always exciting, even after 15 years," she said. "It's still exciting."

The 2022 IEC, which took place Oct. 10-13 in Knoxville, opened this year with the WORD (Women of the Rubber Division) Workshop before transitioning into the full conference at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Miller-Barclay said she was happy to see this year's return of the WORD Workshop on Oct. 10, after its hiatus last year in Pittsburgh.

She said it's important for women to meet and get to know each other in the industry while learning about having a strong mindset.

This year's workshop was led by Leslie Ungar, president of Electric Impulse Communications Inc., and Tamsin Astor, "chief habit scientist," international speaker and author.

Miller-Barclay said the transition to the full conference was overwhelming—but in a good way.

"I had two exhibitors tell me that Tuesday was so busy it was overwhelming for them," she said, noting one of the exhibitors said they didn't have time to talk to all the people they wanted to between the hustle and bustle of the first day of the exhibition.

"I said, 'Well, that's a great problem to have.' "

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs—better known by the ring name Kane as a WWE professional wrestler—helped open the conference and exhibition on Oct. 11 before the opening keynote address.

This year's opening keynote was delivered by Judit Puskas, distinguished professor at the Ohio State University—and the only woman to win the Rubber Division's prestigious Charles Goodyear medal. She discussed the importance of understanding the production of natural rubber for a circular economy.

Cedric Glasper, president and CEO of Mechanical Rubber Inc. and Rubber News' 2021 Executive of the Year, was the keynote speaker for the Chair's Breakfast, kicking off day two of the conference on Oct. 12, where he shared his guiding philosophies for being a successful leader and building a successful team.

Miller-Barclay said as the initial excitement of the conference settles, "Wednesday slows down a little bit, and people start having more in-depth conversations with those connections you made on Tuesday."

On the final day, Oct. 13, the IEC welcomed local high school and college students, some of them receiving their first exposure to the rubber industry as they walked the expo floor, talked to exhibitors and even conducted their own experiments to get a hands-on understanding of the industry.

By Tuesday, Miller-Barclay said, the IEC had already surpassed last year's turnout. The event totaled 1,922 registered attendees and 140 exhibitors for the entire week.

Last year, the IEC welcomed 1,864 attendees and 139 exhibitors to Pittsburgh.

Of this year's attendees, 85 percent were from the U.S. and 15 percent were international, representing 29 countries. Highest international attendance, according to the Rubber Division, came from Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, South Korea, India and Brazil.

Of the 140 exhibitors, 121 were from the U.S. and 19 were international, representing eight countries.

Miller-Barclay said the number of virtual attendees this year dropped significantly, from a couple hundred last year to less than 40 this year.

"That shows you that in-person meetings are still essential to the industry," she said. "Even with all the technology that's available, being able to shake a hand, sit down, have a cup of coffee and reach across a table or lunch counter, that still matters."

While still deemed a successful return to in-person following the 2020 lockdowns from COVID-19, Miller-Barclay said last year's IEC attendance was disheartening due to the emergence of the Delta variant.

"We were tracking so well," she said of last year's registrations, noting the division was picking up exhibitors well into June.

"People were so excited to be back after a whole year of not being able to do anything, and it was the big show with the odd year," she recalled.

"We lost all of our European, all of our Chinese, our Asian attendees—everybody from that side of the pond. Even Canada," she said.

And having a suddenly reduced turnout on the division's odd year after canceling 2020's event has its financial impact.

"Part of being a nonprofit association is you have to watch the revenue and do what's best for the members," Miller-Barclay said, "because (the members are) the reason we're here."

Fortunately, she added, this year's event outpaced last year's, which helps the Rubber Division return to "a healthier state."

"Finances are starting to heal as things are starting to come back," she added.

But the finances aren't the only impact.

Miller-Barclay said attendees and exhibitors miss critical business and networking opportunities when they're unable to attend the IEC, which was the case for many companies affected by the extended border closures due the Delta variant last year.

"That was devastating for us and, obviously, the industry, too. We're the hub, bringing everybody together. And when the hub is not able to be visible, it hurts everybody."

That's why Miller-Barclay said she is excited to see the IEC return to Cleveland.

"Pittsburgh is loved, we love Pittsburgh, it's a fantastic city, but we know, statistically, that the majority of our people like to be in Cleveland," she said, noting that the city also is more accessible to attendees, including high school and college students.

She said even though Pittsburgh is only about two hours away from Cleveland, the impact of having the IEC at Cleveland is significant to attendees from Michigan, Indiana and other surrounding states.

Not to mention the return to Cleveland brings the Rubber Division back to its roots, she added.

"It's our first, and I'm absolutely excited that in 2025, it will be our 50th expo," she said. "It will be in Cleveland, so it will be back to where we started from. Back to our roots.

"I think it'll be great for the industry and great for the division," she added.

Miller-Barclay said "already the gears are turning" for next year's IEC.

She said the Rubber Division is always thinking two or three years out, and it is now looking at ways it can make 2023's IEC even better.

"We're celebrating this year," she said, "but we're also already thinking of ways to make '23 even more successful, even grander, and even more of an experience for our people that hopefully are returning."