In November, the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) welcomed 671 members and industry leaders to its 2024 Annual Meeting held in La Quinta, California. The event served as a hub for the chemical distribution industry to explore challenges, opportunities and forward-thinking solutions. With a theme centered on "Crossing the Generational Divide in Chemical Distribution," the event brought together professionals dedicated to bridging workforce gaps, driving innovation and fostering resilience within a rapidly changing industry.

Megan Gluth, CEO and Owner of Catalynt Solutions and the first woman to chair the ACD Board of Directors, set the tone for the event with her opening remarks. She discussed the escalating burden of federal regulations, noting that a record 66 economically significant rules were introduced this year, and reinforcing the ACD’s commitment to advocating for balanced regulations.

The industry’s resilience in the face of natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, was another focal point of Gluth’s remarks. She detailed ACD’s critical role in disaster response, showcasing its ability to mobilize resources, advocate for members and support rapid recovery. One of the meeting’s concurrent sessions took a deeper dive into crisis response, offering case studies that highlighted incident response readiness as well as media response preparation.

Gluth also championed diversity as a cornerstone of innovation, urging attendees to attract and empower talent reflective of the nation’s diversity. “Our evolution, both at the alliance level and within each of our own businesses, must extend beyond strategies and operations alone. Our industry must reflect the broader spectrum of individuals who contribute to its success. We have a unique opportunity to lead the way in making chemical distribution not only more innovative, but also more inclusive. By embracing diversity of thought, experience and background, we can better meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

The meeting’s line up of keynote speakers all reinforced the idea of bridging the gap between differences — different generations, genders, races and even political views. Jason Dorsey, president of The Center for Generational Kinetics, offered insights about generations and what unlocks their performance. Marcus Lemonis, entrepreneur, investor, and chairman and CEO of Camping World, shared his “Three Ps” (People, Process, Product) that emphasize how leaders can drive growth through efficient operations and a strong company culture. Asa Hutchinson, former Governor of Arkansas, provided an inside look at the political landscape post-election, discussing key outcomes and implications for the industry. And Ashley Christopher from the HBCU Week foundation, took attendees on a journey into why diversity matters, how it strengthens industry, and the significant impact it can have on growth and success. Her foundation is focused on encouraging enrollment into HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), providing scholarship dollars for matriculation and sustaining a pipeline of employment from undergraduate school to corporate America.

This was my first time attending the ACD’s annual meeting. It was truly an impressive event, with a great variety of speakers and sessions, as well as lots of networking opportunities. I truly enjoyed attending so many sessions that offered attendees insights and information that can be applied not only in the workplace, but in our personal lives as well. As the chemical distribution industry navigates the ongoing challenges and opportunities, our magazine will continue to spotlight the leaders and ideas shaping its future.

*This article was crafted in collaboration with AI.

All photos courtesy of the ACD.