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following is a summary of previously held meetings in 2003
listed in reverse chronological order. |
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Buffet
Dinner Meeting:Wednesday,
November 19, 2003 |
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Topic:
China--A Country of Contrasts
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Speaker: Richard
L. Schauer, Schauer Associates
Dr. Richard (Dick) L. Schauer will discuss his recent visit to
China. He found China to be a country of contrasts. Modern
skyscrapers stand next to ancient cultural attractions.
Excellent freeway style roads bogged down by an overwhelming
volume of traffic and disabled trucks on the shoulders. A MagLev
train capable of speeds of 300 miles per hour versus bicycles.
Advanced telecommunication and computer technicians contrasted
with the multitude of people working the old fashioned way ---
by hand.
He will describe his visit to Shanghai, an industrial center,
with its huge financial, busy port and shopping areas. Then on
to Beijing, the nation's capital, for a view of Tiananmen
Square, The Forbidden City and a performance of the National
Acrobats. Next, a tour of The Great Wall.
Dr. Richard L. Schauer has worked in the chemical industry for
nearly 40 years. He has worked for several international
companies and has been consulting with many chemical companies
since 1992 including companies with Chinese connections. He
specializes in chemical regulations impacting industrial
chemicals (TSCA), food additives (FDA) and pesticides (FIFRA).
Additionally, much of his time is spent writing MSDSs for the US
(OSHA, DOT), Canada (WHMIS), Mexico and the European Union.
MEETING
DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 2003.
PLACE: The Chemists' Club, 40 West 45th Street, New York NY.
Telephone: (212) 626-9300
TIME: 6:00 pm Networking/Cash Bar, 6:30 pm Buffet Dinner, 7:30
pm Presentation
REGISTRATION: $35 members/guests $45 visitors
Advanced registration required. Cancellations must be
made 24 hrs in advance.
To RESERVE: Call 973-729-6671 or e-mail:
accce@chemconsult.org
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September
23, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
The Consultant As An Expert Witness
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Speaker: Ernest
A. Coleman, Ph.D.,
CP Technology
In the honorable practice of their respective professions,
scientists are very different from lawyers. While it is proper
for a lawyer to do everything he can within the law to win his
case; the scientist, on the other hand, must be case neutral and
always present the whole truth without concern for winning a
case.
For these reasons, the consultant must be totally honest and up
front when interviewed about being an expert witness. Anything
that might be considered a conflict of interest must be
disclosed and at the same time the lawyer must give the
essential facts of the case. The consultant does not have to
accept an expert witness position unless he or she feels
qualified as the best person for the work. It also helps if you
agree with the side your attorney is taking, but that is not
essential so long as you always tell the truth. It is up to the
lawyers to ask the questions and the expert to answer them. The
expert can be of immeasurable assistance to the lawyer in
formulating the questions for both direct and cross-examination.
Some interesting experiences and situations to avoid will be
given during the talk.
Ernest Coleman is past President of ACC&CE as well as the
immediate past president of the Western Connecticut Section of
the American Chemical Society. He serves on the Council of ACC&CE
and the Society of Plastics Engineers. He is the Technical
Volumes Chair of that organization. He has appeared in Federal
court as an expert witness where he was examined and cross
examined. He has also given depositions in several cases that
were settled out of court. He has been in criminal as well as
civil cases involving theft of trade secrets, commercial
disputes, failure of an attorney to disclose key information to
the USPTO, vehicle accidents, and patent infringement. He
handles about one legal case per year along with his regular
materials consulting and international teaching activities.
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September
9, 2003
Tuesday |
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ACS
Division of Small Chemical Businesses & ACC&CE will be
cosponsoring a one-day seminar on "Consulting As A Second
Career" Location:
The Javits Center, New York, New York.
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Topic: Getting started:
What Do Consultants Do? Is Consulting for You?
Speaker: Dr. Peter R. Lantos, The
Target GroupThese questions must be asked and
answered before a valid decision can be made to become a
consultant. This presentation will focus on the various types of
consultants and typical work assignments for the profession.
There are also certain operating limitations in a small business
that may make the transition more difficult for someone who has
spent all of their past career in a large corporation. This
speaker will outline the key considerations that are important
in deciding to enter consulting as a second career.
Topic:
Preparation For a Career Change; Transition to Self-employment
Speaker: Dr. Richard L. Schauer,
Schauer AssociatesToo many starting consultants
make few, if any, preparations for such a career change. This
talk will focus on the many things that can be done in the
months and even years ahead of the change to prepare for a
consulting career. Many of these steps should be done even if
someone is not expecting an immediate career change. This talk
will also consider some of the equipment and working conditions
needed for a successful entry into the field.
Topic:
Marketing Your Services, Networking
Speaker: Dr. Ernest A. Coleman,
CP TechnologyAs with any business effort, there
is a need to identify and quantify a potential market for
consulting. This presentation will help consultants define what
they want to offer and identify potential customers for their
services. It will also address questions about finding prospects
and determining the needs of potential clients.
Topic:
Selling Your Services
Speaker: Dr. Efrem H. Zaret, EZ
Associates, Inc.Many people still think that
customers will beat a path to their doors. Unfortunately, this
is not the case in the real world. This talk will concentrate on
the process of selling and closing sales with prospective
clients. It will also discuss the value of advertising and what
types of ads and approaches seem to be the most effective. It
will also present the steps in the selling process that can lead
to additional business.
Topic:
Operating For Success, How to Organize the Business
Speaker: Dr. Joseph V. Porcelli,
JVP International, Inc.There are several ways any
consultant can organize the practice. Not only will the legal
ramifications be considered, but liabilities must also be
brought into the decision. How you organize may also affect the
flexibility of operations at some later point. Thus, it is a
decision to be made as a consultant establishes their all
practice. The structure finally chosen also has liability
concerns that must be addressed before a final selection is
made.
Topic:
Record Keeping, Taxes, Legal Considerations
Speaker: Dr. J. Stephen Duerr,
Libra Technical CenterRegardless of how you
organize, the tax and legal concerns require that certain
procedure be followed and certain records be maintained on a
continuing basis. This talk will discuss these record keeping
procedures and how taxes must be a factor with such operating
factors as setting fees and presenting invoices and client
reports.
Topic:
Presenting Yourself
Speaker: William E. Swartz,
ConsultantAs a professional, it is important to
present a uniform and positive impression on your clients. This
starts with a small thing like business cards and your business
stationery. It includes formal written and oral re ports on
progress and at the end of a project. Too many consultants look
more like amateurs than the professionals they want to be. This
talk will discuss some simple ways to improve this very
important part of being a consultant.
Topic:
Proposal Writing and Pricing
Speaker: Dr. Peter R. Lantos, The
Target GroupMany prospective clients want to have
a written proposal. How you do this can lead to an active
project or rejection by the client. This presentation will
discuss ways to improve the success rate. It will also consider
various ways a consultant might charge for their services. Do
you charge by the time involved or use a flat fee for a project.
Both of these possibilities will be discussed and suggestions
made regarding the best option for various type projects.
Topic:
Support: Reference Material, Helpful Organizations, and the Web!
Speaker: Ronald Zager, Ronald
Zager AssociatesMany consultants are used to
having good informational sources in a corporate setting. In a
private small business, these resources are no longer available.
This presentation will focus on possible replacement sources
that can be used to obtain needed reference materials. It will
also consider the value of organizations and continued
membership in technical and professional societies to a private
consultant. The worldwide web also can be a source of
information that can simplify completing an assignment. While
the web is a good information source, this talk will also
discuss the value of the web as a selling tool for the
consultant.
Seminar DATE: Tuesday,
September 9, 2003.
PLACE: ACS National Meeting, The Javits Center, New York, New
York
TIME: Presentations will begin at 9 am
REGISTRATION: Register Online at ACS New York Meeting website:
http://www.chemistry.org/
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June
24, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
The Newsletter As A Sales Tool For
Consulting
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Speaker:Dr.
Peter M. Hay, Aria-Chem Services
This presentation will concentrate on the newsletter as a
device with two purposes: promoting the consultant and his
knowledge and skills and keeping up and expanding a mailing list
of clients, former clients and prospective clients.
Marketing is a bed-rock essential for successful consulting.
One form is the newsletter. It can communicate the independent
consultant's command of a certain area of expertise and
resources. Telling others about that expertise in the form of a
newsletter is one element of marketing. It also shows that the
consultant keeps up with the latest events in his specialty.
The practitioner adds to his or her expertise by reading,
attending professional meetings and trade shows and by
networking with former clients, colleagues and suppliers. All of
these activities have the potential for generating news items in
the newsletter.
A newsletter may be distributed in various ways. Postal mail
and e-mail are sent from mailing lists generated from the
consultant's clients, associates and searches of databases.
Every new contact is an additional name on the mailing list and
a potential client. Extra copies of the newsletter may be
distributed at every meeting and convention the consultant
attends.
The presenter will tell of his personal routines for collecting
ideas for news items for The Chemical Consultant and how he puts
them together as a regular newsletter.
Dr. Peter M. Hay attained his degree at Ohio State University
and applied his knowledge of organic chemistry and its uses at
several corporations, mostly in the polymer, plastics and
colorant fields. He is the editor of The Chemical Consultant,
the newsletter of the Association of Consulting Chemists and
Chemical Engineers. He has served on the governing Council,
being Secretary for 10 years. His consulting practice, Aria
Chem-Services, concentrates on government regulations of
chemicals and working with attorneys.
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May
27, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
Consulting Practice Experiences
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Speaker: John C.
Bonacci, Ph.D., P.E., Fibonacci, Inc.
Dr. Bonacci has been in private practice for the past 15 years
essentially full-time. He will discuss the start-up of his
company, costs, prices and success factors. Types of clients and
typical projects will be discussed along with some apparently
current shifts in client emphasis. There have been several
expert witness assignments which can be discussed and still
maintain confidentiality.
Dr. Bonacci will provide examples of mistakes and best
practices in a lessons learned list. Conclusions will be drawn
and recommendations made. A lively Q/A period is expected based
on Dr. Bonacci's participation in past panels on this subject
and articles written. Handouts will be provided.
Dr. Bonacci's experience includes accelerated technology
transfer and commercialization in the process industries.
Expertise in catalysts, air pollution controls, licensing and
patents. Successful commercializations include both small and
large companies. "Fibonacci's credo is to provide the right
service via the right task at the right time for the right
price."
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April
22, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
The Value of Being Involved
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Speaker: David
W. Riley, Ph.D., Extrusion Engineers
The presentation will focus on the manner in which one employs
him or herself not only as a consultant, but in industry,
academia, or government as well as in society. In particular,
David Riley will speak from his own experience at ASTM, duPont's
Experimental Station in Wilmington, and his role in the Society
of Plastics Engineers and as the current President of ACC&CE.
He will elaborate for the audience how to become more involved
and make a difference. Please join us.
David Riley received his MSc and Ph.D. in Physical Organic
Chemistry from Ohio State University. He has been a consultant
in plastic processing for over twenty-two years. His field of
practice includes polymer defect technology and he has numerous
publications on PVC compounding and extrusion. Dr. Riley's
expertise also includes friction analysis, melt rheology and the
design and analysis of production extrusion equipment.
Professional Societies include: Fellow and President of
American Institute of Chemists, Fellow: American Association for
the Advancement of Science, Fellow: American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM), Fellow: Society of Plastics Engineers
(SPE), American Chemical Society.
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March
25, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
Biodegradable Lubricants
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Speaker: Neil M.
Canter, Chemical Solutions
A review of the US biodegradable lubricant market will be
presented. Included is a discussion on the definition of a
biodegradable lubricant, examples of biodegradable lubricants
and reasons for using a biodegradable lubricant. As mineral oil
based lubricants still dominate this market segment, reasons
will be provided as to why the lubricant industry has not
started to more frequently use biodegradable products.
The different performance levels of biodegradable lubricants
will be discussed along with the size of the US biodegradable
lubricant market and applications for biodegradable lubricants.
The US Government's role in expediting the use of biodegradable
lubricants will also be evaluated.
Neil Canter received his PhD in Chemistry from the University
of Michigan in 1983 and his BS in Chemistry from Brown
University in 1978. He has been involved with the chemical
industry for the past 17 years. Neil previously worked for
Stepan Company and Mayco. Presently, Neil runs his own
consulting company called Chemical Solutions. He specializes in
commercial development, marketing, and product development for
market segments such as cleaners, coatings, cosmetics,
lubricants, specialty chemicals and surfactants.
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February
24, 2003
MONDAY |
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Topic:
The History of Agriculture and the
Role of Technology
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Speaker: Joel
Kirman
Civilization was first made possible by a system for providing
a steady supply of food: Agriculture. From its beginnings in the
Neolithic era, this system has evolved and expanded to the
present focus on genetic engineering. This presentation will
broadly survey the changes of this system, with examples of the
associated technologies of traditional domestication, ploughing,
harvesting, threshing, grinding, irrigation; with the effects of
Mendelian genetics; through the expansive effects of
transportation, canning, salting and refrigeration; to the
current promise of genetic engineering. The talk will be
supplemented with slides and handouts.
Joel Kirman received his BCh E (CCNY) and MCh E (CUNY) in
Chemical Engineering, and enjoyed a long career in the petroleum
and petrochemical industries. He was a Process Manager for
Scientific Design Co., and deeply involved in the design and
sales engineering of fired heaters at Petro Chem Development
Co., and Alcorn Combustion Co. Recently he had been active doing
hazard communication work.
He has for many years maintained an interest in the history of
technology, especially its scientific and technological
underpinnings, and taught a course in the history of Invention
at the New School for several years. He is an active member of
the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society for
the History of Technology and The New York Academy of Sciences.
"I remain curious about how the material side of our
civilization got to where it is."
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January
28, 2003
Tuesday |
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Topic:
A Career In Consulting
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Speaker: Peter
R. Lantos, Ph.D.
The Target Group, Inc., Erdenheim, PA
Consulting appears to be an easy profession to enter. You lose
or quit your job, offer your services as consultant and you are
in business . . . you think.
Alternatively, you graduate from college, maybe even get an MBA
and now you go to work as a consultant . . . you think.
Neither of these two routes works because you need credibility,
specialized knowledge which is needed by others, a way to get
started and the know how for the many aspects of being a
consultant. In this presentation Peter Lantos will highlight
what it takes to get off to a successful start and to maximize
your opportunities as consultant. He will draw upon real-life
experiences of his own and of other established consultants and
will illustrate the talk with specific case histories.
Peter Lantos is president of a successful global consultancy
(The Target Group) which he brought along from inception to a
six-figure, profitable business which has served industry for 23
years. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies
(AlliedSignal, Amoco, Dexter, Shell), offshore corporations
(Nichimen, Ticona, Hosokawa Micron) and smaller firms (Ashley
Polymers, Pawnee Plastics, Repauno Products). He has executed
over 165 assignments for 75 clients. Prior to serving as
consultant, he was senior-level executive and middle-level
manager with Arco, Sun Chemical, Celanese and other
corporations.
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