Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Chet Thompson, AFPM President and CEO

2023 Petrochemical Heritage Award Presentation
Jim Fitterling, CEO, Dow Chemical Company

The Petrochemical Heritage Award recognizes those whose contributions to public understanding are noteworthy, who have displayed significant entrepreneurship in the petrochemical profession or industry, and who have been active in philanthropic and/or communal affairs. This year’s honoree is Jim Fitterling, CEO Dow

Morning Keynote: Economic Forecast: Impact of Seismic Surprises
Marci Rossell, Expert Economic Forecaster, Former Chief Economist for CNBC and Co-Host of Squawk Box

One of the most trusted names in financial reporting and economics, Dr. Rossell delivers a U.S. economic outlook for the next 18-24 months. Drawing on history, theory, and her ringside seat to Wall Street, she delivers an insider’s perspective on the most important economic events of our time and discusses the impact of key factors like inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and the possibility of a recession. Get an informed outlook n the coming year and understand new opportunities that are on the horizon. Dr. Rossell outlines the current state of the economy, explaining monetary policy, movements in the stock market, oil prices and the real estate market. She highlights that current conditions are symptomatic of a larger trend: businesses today face a variety of seismic surprises, including cyberterrorism, environmental disasters, swings in the regulatory regime, and, yes, pandemics as well.

Closing Session Remarks

Join AFPM CEO Chet Thompson and CEOs of leading petrochemical companies to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry. Topics will include sustainability, workforce, market outlook and opportunities for the industry in 2023 and beyond.

Invitation Only

This is a formal meeting of the AFPM petrochemical committee open to invited guests. Luncheon attendees are provided updates on current items of interest and briefings from preeminent executives on the latest topics impacting the petrochemical industry.

The Chemical Show is a podcast focused on the business of chemicals. Featuring interviews with industry executives, you’ll hear about the key trends impacting chemicals and plastics today: growth, sustainability, innovation, transformation, digitalization, global supply chains, strategic marketing and much more. This year AFPM is partnering with The Chemical Show™ to host a live podcast at IPC. Host Victoria Meyer will lead a discussion that will bring together members of the plastics value to chain to discuss how they are partnering to create a truly circular economy for plastics.

Join this panel discussion to gain insight on the petrochemical industry’s pursuit of a sustainable future and how we’re creating a circular economy for our products. This session will include discussions of the petrochemical industry members that are partnering with consumer brands, recycling consortiums and others working to achieve a more circular economy for plastics.

Petrochemicals have played a crucial role in society for decades and this industry has constantly evolved, adopting novel technologies and processes to drive efficiency improvements and reduce environmental impacts. With the rapid growth of the petrochemical industry and the need for petrochemical based products growing exponentially, petrochemical manufacturers are focusing on meeting the needs of the growing global population while reducing the carbon footprint of the industry as a whole.

This panel will dive deep into the petrochemical and chemical sectors efforts to reduce emissions including the implementation of novel technologies such as carbon capture utilization and sequestration, hydrogen, circular feedstocks, and more.

Cyber incidents can seriously impact the delivery of critical services and recent history shows no industry is immune to such attacks. The U.S. refining and petrochemical industries, in partnership with the government, have taken extraordinary steps to ensure refineries and petrochemical facilities are safe from increasing cyber threats. Our industries develop and adhere to numerous standards, technologies, controls, strategies and processes to manage cybersecurity threats. That said, bad actors and the cyber threats they present are evolving. This panel will delve into the current and future cybersecurity landscape and what petrochemical companies can do to best position themselves to avoid cyber-related disruptions. Panelist will include leading cybersecurity experts in our industry and beyond.

Petrochemicals power the global economy with the many lifesaving and life-improving products they make possible. The demand for petrochemicals is expected to grow both considerably and rapidly as the global middle class continues to expand. Despite this, growth in the petrochemical industry faces headwinds and challenges, including supply chain issues, new domestic and international policies, and changing market dynamics.

This session will showcase leading experts’ thoughts on the current state of the petrochemical industry and the future of our industry. Specifically, four consulting and analysis firms will provide their commentary on various aspects of the petrochemical industry.

With the recent coronavirus pandemic, businesses, families, and communities at large have been changed forever. No longer is the goal to return to life as we knew it, but instead to navigate the best path forward.

“The Generations in A New World” is an uplifting conversation around what has changed and what has not for each generation. A combination of primary data, case studies and firsthand stories explain the traits that each generation can bring to the table as we repair our world. In addition, areas of concern with each generation are discussed so that we can all be more aware of how to help each other. Our global study of the generations in this new world reveals that each generation has been changed in unique and different ways. Results include Baby boomers rage against age; Gen Xers becoming the sandwiched generation; Millennials new outlook on loyalty; and Gen Z’s struggle to gain social capital.

AFPM’s Women in Industry group presents this session which will provide some key strategies on how to lead teams through change and conflict management, leading yourself and others. Not underestimating the disruption that even positive change can bring.

Join Jon Meacham, Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author for our keynote luncheon.

Hope Through History: How to Endure and Prevail When Everything Appears Hopeless: As difficult as the present is, the American past is the story of challenges overcome, crises resolved, and progress made. In this nonpartisan speech, Jon Meacham walks audiences through moments that have seemed intractable – which can include the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, the battle against polio, FDR’s reaction to the first days of the Depression, Winston Churchill’s decision to fight on against Hitler, and the Cuban Missile Crisis – to offer lessons for leaders in how to endure and prevail when everything appears hopeless.