Next Meeting: June 2009 Reserve Now
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Date: Thursday, June 4th, 2009
Speakers: Eric Vogelsberg, Senior Vice President and Global Practice Leader, Kline & Co. and Tom Aldred, Director of Performance Improvement, Kline & Co.
Topic: “Finding the Upside in the Downturn”
Place: Club Quarters, 40 West 45th Street, NYC (212) 626-9300
Times & Fees: • 11:30 a.m. Cocktails • 12 noon Luncheon
• 1:15 p.m. Presentation
Fees: $45 for Members who reserve by Tuesday, June 2nd
$55 for Guests and Members (at door without reservations)
To Reserve: Please reserve early to be eligible for the discount price. We now accept all major credit cards via PayPal, or call Vista Marketing at (917) 684-1659, or via E-mail to cmegroup@mac.com
The chemicals industry is no stranger to business cycles. But this downturn arrived four years too early. The cratering of demand led by automotive and construction is exerting severe downward pressure on capacity and headcount. Even lipstick sales fell 5%, invalidating the 50-years old Lauder theory that in tough times, consumers turn to affordable indulgences like cosmetics. Mergers groaning under out-size debt burdens and financial exits that counted on rosy earnings face grim choices. Demand recovery from a downturn at least as deep as the one in 1982-83, is several years away.
Sudden and severe impacts such as this, wipe out dinosaurs and make room for new species. What is the new climate going to be, and what will make for survival? Kline will share their perspective on how to find the upside in the downturn and what chemical companies need to do to weather the current global economic downturn.
Speakers: Eric Vogelsberg is Senior VP at Kline & Company with responsibility for the management and growth of the firm's Chemical and Materials Practice, and Kline's M&A activities supporting clients in growth and diversification. During his 25 years with Kline, Eric has assisted clients in the development of creative, pragmatic strategies for growth and performance, and has been directly involved in many completed chemicals M&A deals and post deal integration activities. Prior to Kline, Eric was with Hercules in their Electronic and Printing Products Division, and earlier, with the Harshaw Chemical Company, now part of Arkema. He is a frequent contributor to Chemical Week and ICIS Chemical Business. He holds an MBA in Chemical Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a BS in Chemistry from St. Francis College, NY.
Tom Aldredis a director in Kline Management Consulting's strategy practice at Kline's headquarters in Little Falls, NJ. His projects in global strategy development, performance improvement, and market research over the last 12 years have been in diverse industries such as paper, metals, chemicals manufacture, inks/coatings, rubbers/plastics and restaurants. Prior to Kline, Tom was with Accenture's Solution Engineering and Strategy and Business Architecture practices, and at National Starch and Chemicals in the adhesives division. Tom has a BS in chemical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
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