Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • MATERIALS
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • RESOURCES
  • EVENTS
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • CONTACT
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest News
  • Market Trends & Reports
  • Finishing News
  • Price Alerts
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
  • Weekly Featured Article
  • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
  • Product News
  • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
  • Additives
  • Resins/Polymers
  • Pigments
  • Equipment
  • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • Adhesives
  • Architectural Coatings
  • Finishing Articles
  • Finishing Technologies
  • Finishing Equipment
  • Industrial Coatings
  • Nanotechnology
  • Powder Coatings
  • Solventborne
  • Special Purpose Coatings
  • Sustainability
  • UV Coatings
  • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
  • Columns
  • Blogs
  • Coatings Supplier Handbook
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • PCI Store
  • Classifieds
  • eBooks
  • Sponsor Insights
  • White Papers
  • COATLE Word Game
  • Columns
  • Did you know?
  • Distribution Dive
  • Formulating With Mike
  • Innovation Insights
  • Powder Coating Perspectives
  • TiO2 Insider
  • Blogs
  • Editor's Viewpoint
  • Industry Insights
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • COAT-IT! Podcast
  • Videos/PCI TV
  • EVENTS
  • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
  • Paint and Coatings Academy
  • Webinars
  • Calendar of Events
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Equipment Directory
  • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
  • Current Issue
  • eMagazine Archive
  • China Issue Archive
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to eMagazine
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Finishing News
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • Finishing Articles
    • Finishing Technologies
    • Finishing Equipment
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!

In-Person Events are Back!

By Kristin Johansson, Chief Editor, PCI
pci editors viewpoint

Kristin Johansson, Chief Editor, PCI

June 9, 2021

I can’t tell you how great it was to attend the Southern Society for Coatings Technology’s 83rd Annual Technical Conference in Savannah, Georgia, in early May. This event is always one of my favorites to attend because of its unique format and locations, however this year had an even more exciting feel to it. This was the first in-person coatings industry event since early 2020 – and it didn’t go unnoticed. Keith Limardo, SSCT Past President, stated, “While the SSCT Annual Meeting is always a great time, this year had an air of joy that I have not experienced in my many years of attending. Everyone was so excited to see each other again, even competitors were 'virtually' hugging!”

The SSCT reports that 148 people attended the conference, which featured 31 technical presentations (24 of them in person) and 25 tabletop exhibitors. The event’s traditional welcome reception, golf outing, nightly hospitality suites and banquet all took place with excellent participation. The Silent Auction held during the final night's banquet raised $1,740 for the Scholarship Fund. And five golf awards totaling $250 were donated to the fund.

A total of $8,000 was awarded for 2020 Scholarships even though the conference was not held last year. Scholarship recipients were Candler Boland, Alex Corbett, Carlie Moore and Delaney Staack.

I spoke briefly with Ben York, SSCT 2020-2021 President, and he said, “I think this event is a step in the right direction, and it proves that live events can be successful and safe. This year’s technical sessions offer talks that are both informative and technology focused, which is what the SSCT is all about. Our organization prides itself on educating individuals within our industry on new innovations in material science while supporting academia through our scholarship

programs. I have had nothing but positive feedback from attendees, and everyone seems to be having a terrific time. Hopefully, our meeting will pave the way for success with other technical conferences scheduled later this year.”

The event's Keynote Address was given by Ben Scharff, Managing Director of Grace Matthews, Inc. He spoke on “Unmasking the Market…Coatings M&A Beyond the Pandemic.” He noted that COVID-19 has driven some different fundamentals in terms of how companies operate, however the more things change, the more they seemingly stay the same. The large global players continue to press their advantages of scale by expanding operations, capabilities and market share, requiring small to mid-size companies to be faster to innovate and provide higher levels of customer service to compete successfully. The lingering pandemic, 2020 election and resulting regulatory, economic and geopolitical changes have created a coatings landscape in flux, however the M&A landscape is still driven by the same motivations.

I also attended some excellent technical sessions and look forward to publishing a handful of articles based on these talks later this year. Many thanks to the SSCT for organizing a fun, safe and informative event. It’s always great to re-connect with industry colleagues at coatings conferences, but doing so after 14 months of pandemic isolation was fantastic.

Make plans to attend next year's SSCT Annual Technical Conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville, Florida, June 5-8, 2022.

I am happy to announce that this issue of our magazine features more details and the full agenda for our annual event, Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT). We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Lombard, Illinois, this September 8-9 for our in-person event. The conference will feature a Keynote Address by Daniel Murad, ChemQuest CEO, titled “Fundamentals to Ensure Sustainable Growth: Strategic Insights for Mid-Decade Business. Are You Ready for 2025?” CTT will also include three concurrent tracks, featuring 42 technical presentations on the latest technology available to coatings formulators. And we continue our tradition of having a Panel Discussion on the second day of the event – this year taking a deeper dive into the digital transformation of the coatings industry. Click here to go directly to the CTT brochure in this issue.

PCI looks forward to an incredibly busy in-person coatings conference season this year. Please look for us at the CoatingsTech Conference, Sink or Swim, Coatings Trends & Technologies, the European Coatings Show, the Pigment and Color Science Forum/TiO2 World Summit, the Powder Coating Summit, the Western Coating Show and the Eastern Coatings Show.

I can’t tell you how great it was to attend the Southern Society for Coatings Technology’s 83rd Annual Technical Conference in Savannah, Georgia, in early May. This event is always one of my favorites to attend because of its unique format and locations, however this year had an even more exciting feel to it. This was the first in-person coatings industry event since early 2020 – and it didn’t go unnoticed. Keith Limardo, SSCT Past President, stated, “While the SSCT Annual Meeting is always a great time, this year had an air of joy that I have not experienced in my many years of attending. Everyone was so excited to see each other again, even competitors were 'virtually' hugging!”

The SSCT reports that 148 people attended the conference, which featured 31 technical presentations (24 of them in person) and 25 tabletop exhibitors. The event’s traditional welcome reception, golf outing, nightly hospitality suites and banquet all took place with excellent participation. The Silent Auction held during the final night's banquet raised $1,740 for the Scholarship Fund. And five golf awards totaling $250 were donated to the fund.

A total of $8,000 was awarded for 2020 Scholarships even though the conference was not held last year. Scholarship recipients were Candler Boland, Alex Corbett, Carlie Moore and Delaney Staack.

I spoke briefly with Ben York, SSCT 2020-2021 President, and he said, “I think this event is a step in the right direction, and it proves that live events can be successful and safe. This year’s technical sessions offer talks that are both informative and technology focused, which is what the SSCT is all about. Our organization prides itself on educating individuals within our industry on new innovations in material science while supporting academia through our scholarship

programs. I have had nothing but positive feedback from attendees, and everyone seems to be having a terrific time. Hopefully, our meeting will pave the way for success with other technical conferences scheduled later this year.”

The event's Keynote Address was given by Ben Scharff, Managing Director of Grace Matthews, Inc. He spoke on “Unmasking the Market…Coatings M&A Beyond the Pandemic.” He noted that COVID-19 has driven some different fundamentals in terms of how companies operate, however the more things change, the more they seemingly stay the same. The large global players continue to press their advantages of scale by expanding operations, capabilities and market share, requiring small to mid-size companies to be faster to innovate and provide higher levels of customer service to compete successfully. The lingering pandemic, 2020 election and resulting regulatory, economic and geopolitical changes have created a coatings landscape in flux, however the M&A landscape is still driven by the same motivations.

I also attended some excellent technical sessions and look forward to publishing a handful of articles based on these talks later this year. Many thanks to the SSCT for organizing a fun, safe and informative event. It’s always great to re-connect with industry colleagues at coatings conferences, but doing so after 14 months of pandemic isolation was fantastic.

Make plans to attend next year's SSCT Annual Technical Conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville, Florida, June 5-8, 2022.

I am happy to announce that this issue of our magazine features more details and the full agenda for our annual event, Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT). We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Lombard, Illinois, this September 8-9 for our in-person event. The conference will feature a Keynote Address by Daniel Murad, ChemQuest CEO, titled “Fundamentals to Ensure Sustainable Growth: Strategic Insights for Mid-Decade Business. Are You Ready for 2025?” CTT will also include three concurrent tracks, featuring 42 technical presentations on the latest technology available to coatings formulators. And we continue our tradition of having a Panel Discussion on the second day of the event – this year taking a deeper dive into the digital transformation of the coatings industry. Click here to go directly to the CTT brochure in this issue.

PCI looks forward to an incredibly busy in-person coatings conference season this year. Please look for us at the CoatingsTech Conference, Sink or Swim, Coatings Trends & Technologies, the European Coatings Show, the Pigment and Color Science Forum/TiO2 World Summit, the Powder Coating Summit, the Western Coating Show and the Eastern Coatings Show.

KEYWORDS: coatings conferences

Share This Story

Kristin200 new

Kristin has been with BNP Media since 1992. She was named Editor of PCI in 2010 after being Managing Editor for 12 years.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Editor's Viewpoint

Journey to Sustainability

Industry Insights

Recent Comments

Speeded

Escape Road 2

Strategic maintenance recoating

clearly and in detail

Broken Planet Stargazing Hoodie

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
    Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

  • paint sprayer in a workshop
    Sponsored byallnex

    Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

Popular Stories

basf

BASF Advances Coatings Division Sales Talks

The White House in Washington DC at summer day.

Trump Grants HON Rule Exemption to Dow and Others

BCF Logo

EU Court Delivers Crucial TiO<sub>2</sub> Decision



PCI Buyers Guide

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

Start your RFP

Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

Find Suppliers

Events

September 3, 2025

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

September 4, 2025

Real-World Successes in AI-Enabled Coatings Innovation

Artificial intelligence is unlocking entirely new opportunities and business models for enterprise R&D organizations.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Longest-running laboratory experiment

What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

See More Products
pci voices from the top ebook

PCI CASE EBOOK
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Finishing News
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • Finishing Articles
    • Finishing Technologies
    • Finishing Equipment
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!