ACESS-Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies

Polymer Cluster - Polymer Palooza
2025-06-08 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St, Akron, OH, 44308, United States
What is a Polymer?
Incredible substances that make up everything around us – from the rubber in your sneakers to the plastic in your water bottle.
Delve into the wonders of polymers and polymer careers!

Interactive exhibits
Hands-on experiments
Engaging demonstrations

ORG - Early Summer Golf Outing - 2025
2025-06-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Brookledge Golf Club, 1621 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221, United States
Registration: 7:00 – 7:45 am
Shotgun Start: 8:00 am
4 Golfer Scramble
Dinner: 2:00 pm – Brookledge Pavilion
Cost: $150.00
* Includes golf with cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, door prize, raffle ticket, skill awards and prizes.
Mulligan cards are available for an additional $5 each.
Registration Form deadline: June 6, 2025
******Even if you don’t golf, join us for dinner!
DINNER ONLY: $40 (Catered by “Terrible Tom’s Barbeque”)
Pay in advance at the links below for this golf outing! (preferred)
Registration Forms and Corporate Hole Sponsor Forms are available at https://www.ohiorubbergroup.org/event/early-summer-golf-outing-2025/

Late Summer Golf Outing – 2025
2025-08-25 07:30 - 20:30 | Silver Lake Country Club, 1325 Graham Rd, Stow, OH, 44224, United States
August 25 @ 7:00 am – 8:30 pm
$5 – $200

Silver Lake Golf Club
Registration: 7:00 – 7:45 am
Shotgun Start: 8:00 am & 1:30 pm – CHOOSE MORNING OR AFTERNOON
4 Golfer Scramble
Dinner: 7:00 pm
Cost: $165.00
Optional additional round: $75
* Includes golf with cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, door prize, raffle ticket, skill awards and prizes.
Mulligan cards are available for an additional $5 each.
Registration Form deadline: AUGUST 18, 2025
******Even if you don’t golf, join us for dinner!
DINNER ONLY: $45
HOLE SPONSOR: $200/hole
Pay in advance at the links below for this golf outing! (preferred)
Registration Forms and Corporate Hole Sponsor Forms are available at

Rubber Division - 2025 Global Polymer Summit
2025-09-08 - 2025-09-11 | Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44114, United States
Presented by IEC & ITEC
Register at event website.
The 2025 Global Polymer Summit (GPS) is a dynamic, all-encompassing approach to the tire, rubber and polymer industries, offering a comprehensive blend of technical sessions, engaging discussions, premier expo and valuable connections. This summit is the most valuable destination for attendees to expand their network, learn from experts and explore business opportunities.
The merging of the International Elastomer Conference (IEC) and the International Tire Exposition & Conference (ITEC) brings together top companies and programming into one exceptional event that you won’t want to miss!

Tire Society - 44th Annual Conference
2025-09-23 - 2025-09-25 | The University of Akron Student Union, 303 Carroll St, Akron, 44304, United States
2025 Conference Theme: Rolling Towards Sustainability: Tires for A Greener Future
The University of Akron, Jean Hower Taber Student Union Ball Room, Akron Ohio, USA
Register on the event website.
The Tire Society – the scientific professional organization for the tire industry – welcomes authors and interested individuals to its 44th Annual Tire Science and Technology Meeting and Conference.
This annual conference is a forum for engineers, scientists, users, policymakers, students, and advocates to learn about innovations that will drive our industry in the years ahead. By effectively communicating our knowledge and research, we can influence practices and policies and inspire innovation at all levels.
The Conference includes:

Technical paper presentations
A keynote address by an industry leader
A plenary lecture by a recognized technical speaker
Sponsor exhibits
An awards banquet with a technical speaker
Networking and continuing education

ORG - Fall Technical Meeting 2025
2025-09-23 16:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Buy tickets at the links below (preferred). Advanced Reservations: $35 each; at the door $40. (limited number available). Alternatively, email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations
“Troubleshooting Rubber to Substrate Bond Failures”; Justin Pflug, Application Specialist for Rubber and Urethane to Substrate Bonding, H.M. Royal

This presentation will elaborate on the many ways that bonded components fail, how to prevent those failures, and how to troubleshoot the failures that aren’t prevented.
“Conductive Silicone Technology”; Steve Griffin, Director of Business Development, RDAbbott

Silicone rubber is widely recognized for its exceptional insulating properties—but with the right material technologies, it can also become an excellent conductor. This presentation will explore how the electrical characteristics of silicone elastomers can be fundamentally altered using conductive fillers, enabling new solutions for industries requiring conductivity ranges from static-dissipative up to and including electrostatic dissipation (ESD), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. This session will provide practical knowledge for engineers and designers looking to leverage conductive silicone technologies for enhanced product performance and market differentiation.

ACS - Joint Meeting with the Cleveland Section
2025-09-24 17:30 - 20:30 | D’Angelos Italian Ristorante, 7995 Darrow Rd, Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
Data and AI-Driven Material Development
in the Tire & Rubber Industry
Schedule:
5:30pm: Social time
6:00pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Talk
Menu: TBD
Registration: Buy tickets at the links below. $25 for members and guests; $10 for retirees and unemployed. Undergrad and grad students and award winners are free but please RSVP at the link below.
Abstract
There are over 300 million new tires produced each per year in the United States. Tires are a complex blend of materials, engineering, and design. The typical tire is made up of approximately 80-85% rubber compound by weight. These compounds require constant improvement to meet the changing demands of customers (e.g., longer lifetimes, better grip in snow/ice) and to keep up with broader changes in society (e.g., environmental sustainability, transition to battery electric vehicles). For the past century, the tire industry has accumulated vast amounts of data and expertise on rubber compounds, their compositions/properties, and how these relate to tire performance.
In the last decade, the chemical industry, including tire and rubber, have started employing data driven approaches such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) for material
development. A typical problem involves developing ML/AI models to predict compound properties using information about the raw materials in the compound formula, process parameters, and other relevant factors. The benefits of using ML/AI tools include accelerating the pace of product development by reducing the volume of experimental testing needed and using the tools in an inverse fashion to suggest compound formulas likely to achieve certain targets. However, the relationships between the rubber compound formulae and performance are complex. Nonlinearities, missing/incomplete data, noisy data, sparseness of the data, and high-dimensional feature spaces pose technical challenges requiring expertise at the intersection of material science and data science.
This presentation will discuss some of the unique opportunities and challenges faced by scientists and engineers in the tire and rubber industry responsible for data driven material
development.
BIOS
Ron Shaffer is Senior Manager, West Material Digitization (DX) and Approvals at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio. The West Material DX team develops AI-driven digital tools to accelerate material innovation and optimize rubber compound formulations. Before joining Bridgestone in 2018, Dr. Shaffer held scientific and leadership roles at the Naval Research Laboratory, General Electric Global Research Center, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Ohio University in 1996 and is the author or co-author of over 90 peer-reviewed publications (H-index = 49, 8000+ citations) and 7 US patents.
Rocco Panella is a Lead Data Tools Developer in the West Materials Digitization Team at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio. He leads development on virtual materials discovery as well as other data science efforts in materials for Bridgestone. His prior experience includes deploying manufacturing-focused machine learning systems at Intel Corp and Nestle. Rocco also developed data visualization and analytics software for NAVAIR as a principal engineer at BGI, and was the principal investigator on several Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants through the Department of Defense. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2013.

GAC - Polymer Cluster Connectivity Conference
2025-10-01 11:30 - 17:00 | House Three Thirty, 532 West Market St, Akron, OH, 44303, United States
Conference Schedule:
11:30 am – Doors Open for Registration
12:00 pm – Program begins with lunch, State of the Organization, Innovate to Accelerate Presentation
3:45 pm – Innovation Expo, Reception and Networking
5:00 pm – Events Ends
Register at this link. GAC Member $75, Non-member $100, …
Join us for the 4th annual Polymer Cluster Connectivity Conference (PC3), the signature gathering of the Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC), as we spotlight four years of bold progress and future-forward innovation. Hosted by the Polymer Industry Cluster through the Greater Akron Chamber, this is a limited-attendance event that advances and promotes a shared, industry-driven vision for Northeast Ohio’s Polymer Industry Cluster. This year’s theme, Innovate to Accelerate, focuses on how PIC-led initiatives are driving growth through key grant-funded projects and partnerships.
Attendees will benefit from hearing from a range of speakers, an insightful keynote, an update on ongoing projects and a dynamic, science-fair-style Innovation Expo, highlighting cutting-edge developments and collaborative success stories from across the region. With engaging networking opportunities, this event will connect members, prospective partners, and innovation-minded investors—all while signaling that the Greater Akron polymer region is open for business and ready to grow.
This year’s conference will feature keynote speaker John Warner, CEO & CTO of Technology Greenhouse, LLC. John is one of the founders of the field of green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry. As defined by the EPA, Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal.
Whether you’re a longtime member or exploring ways to engage, PC3 offers a powerful platform to connect, collaborate, and accelerate the future of polymer innovation.

ACESS ** Event Cancelled: To be rescheduled ** - Advancing Societal Impact through I-Corps
2025-10-01 17:45 - 20:00 | University of Akron Research Foundation, 411 Wolf Ledges Pkwy, Suite 303, Akron, OH, 44311, United States
Advancing Societal Impact through I-Corps:
Case Studies and Participation Paths
Reservations: Use the links below. Dinner tickets: General public: $20 /person; Students/Retirees/unemployed: $10/person.
Location: University of Akron Research Foundation, 411 Wolf Ledges Pkwy, Suite 303, Akron OH, 4311. FREE Parking.
Abstract:
The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program is designed to accelerate the translation of research into impactful innovations by emphasizing customer discovery, market validation, and evidence-based commercialization pathways. Through structured training and mentorship, I-Corps equips teams of researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry collaborators with the methodologies necessary to bridge the gap between laboratory research and societal application.
This interactive meeting will highlight exemplary outcomes from past regional I-Corps teams, illustrating how the program has supported the advancement of diverse technologies and entrepreneurial ventures. In addition, we will provide information on upcoming opportunities for prospective participants, including researchers, professionals, and community partners who may wish to engage as members of future teams.
David Strukel, Ph.D. is the Innovation Entrepreneurship Coordinator for the University of Akron Research Foundation, where he leads outreach and teaches I-Corps courses. Previously, he directed the Burton D. Morgan Center for Integrated Entrepreneurship at Hiram College, overseeing programs, competitions, and experiential learning. His career also includes over a decade of teaching entrepreneurship and communication, supported by professional experience in broadcast journalism.
Fred Carter serves as lead instructor and recruiter for the University of Akron I-Corps program, where he has supported more than 150 teams. He brings three decades of experience in corporate product launches and market development, along with his work as founder of a cost reduction consulting firm. Based in Ohio, he also serves on nonprofit boards and actively promotes workforce development and STEM education.
If interested in forming or mentoring an I-Corps team please contact Fred Carter at fcarter@uakron.edu or 330.906.1354.

ACS - Joint Meeting of the Akron, Cleveland, and NEO Sections
2025-10-09 18:00 - 21:30 | Cebar’s Euclid Tavern, Address 595 E 185th St, Cleveland, OH, 44119, United States
Cleveland Poison Symposia – Cyanide
A Joint Meeting of the ACS Akron, Cleveland, and NEO Sections
Co-sponsored by CLE AIChE, Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies (ACESS), and Cleveland Technical Societies Council (CTSC)
6:00 PM
Cebar’s Euclid Tavern, 595 E 185th St, Cleveland, OH 44119-1673
“The Cleveland Cyanide Murder Case”
Douglas Rohde, SAS CLE Section
8:00 PM
Two Friends Brewing, 775 E 185th St, Euclid, OH 44119
“1982 Tylenol Tampering Incident”
Fred Fricke, US FDA FCC Director (retired)
No charge and open to the public. Please support the local establishments. Contact Mike Fricke at mfricke.phd@gmail.com to pre-order T-Shirts.

SPE - Simplay3 Tour and Dinner
2025-11-10 17:30 - 20:00 | Simplay3, 9450 Rosemont Drive, Strreetsboro, 44241, United States
Please join us for a tour at Simplay and a dinner. Buy dinner tickets at the link below. All Guests $20. for a taco bar with beverages following tour. Please submit reservations by November 7.
The Akron Section of SPE inducted Tom Murdough, the founder of Little Tikes, Step 2 and Simplay3, into our Plastics Hall of Fame for the pioneering work he accomplished with the rotational molding process. He took a prototyping process and developed it into a mass production process for toys, garden and other consumer products.
The Simplay3 story: Whether you’re 3 or 63, we want to bring more fun and joy to life. We know that simple play or work, no matter what, makes us smile. We built the Simplay3 and American Home brands to bring smiles and ease to life with products that are simply and smartly designed to tackle everyday needs from back-to-basics children’s play to maintaining your home and garden.
Our durable products partner with families throughout their day to reach, carry, hold, support and entertain with strength, quality and great design. Made in America by an American workforce, our products are easy to assemble too!

ACS - Technical Lecture
2025-11-18 15:00 - 16:30 | MGH 111, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, United States
The Akron Section Award winner will give a technical lecture in the afternoon at the University of Akron.
(Note that the Akron Section Award Lecture itself is in the evening at Missing Falls Brewery and is listed as a separate event on this website.)
Professor Kevin Noonan, Carnegie Mellon University
Mary Gladwin Hall 111
3 PM, November 18, 2025
No ticket or reservation required

ACS - Akron Section Award Lecture
2025-11-18 17:30 - 20:30 | Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St. Suite 112, Akron, OH, 44311, United States
2025 Akron Section Award winner
Professor Kevin Noonan, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
“Materials Design for Energy Technologies: Leveraging Insights Across the Periodic Table”
Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St., Suite 112, Akron OH 44311
5:30 PM Networking
6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM The Akron Section Award Lecture
The lecture is free and open to the public. Please buy dinner tickets at the links below.
Abstract: (7 PM at Missing Falls Brewery) Over the past 15 years, the Noonan Lab has pursued two complementary directions in materials design: (1) the development of novel cationic polymers for anion transport and (2) the synthesis of precise semiconducting polymers for charge transport. A central theme in both efforts has been the deliberate use of heteroatoms to tailor structure, properties, and performance. Our work on cationic polymers is motivated by low-carbon energy technologies such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, and redox-flow batteries. Polymer design is critical to achieving high performance and long-term stability for these applications. I will highlight how our approach to anion-exchange membrane (AEM) design has evolved, with particular emphasis on appending heavy main-group element-based phosphorus and sulfur as cationic head groups to polyolefins. In addition, I will discuss the advantages of polyolefin backbones, especially polynorbornenes, which have recently emerged as promising platforms for AEMs.
Bio: Kevin Noonan is a Professor and Associate Department Head, Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University. He completed his BSc at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia working with John Coxon. His PhD work on phosphorus-containing polymers was completed under the supervision of Derek Gates at the University of British Columbia with an NSERC doctoral fellowship. His postdoctoral work on ion-containing polymers was carried out under Geoff Coates’ supervision at Cornell University with an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship. His interests combine aspects of chemistry and material science with an emphasis on creation of new polymeric materials.

ACESS - Board Meeting
2025-11-19 17:30 - 18:45 | ACS Rubber Division office, 306 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Akron, OH, 44333, United States
Regular monthly board meeting for the ACESS executive, society reps and advisors. Meet in person at 306 N Cleveland Massillon Rd. or virtually via the TEAMS link sent to Board members.

ORG - Winter Technical Meeting
2026-01-27 16:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Tickets:
Advanced Reservations: $35 each. Tickets at the door without prior reservation: $40 each (limited number available)
Use the links below for online purchase of tickets (preferred). Alternatively, email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations:
“Advanced Rheological Characterization of SBR with Recovered and Carbon Black Fillers Using Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA)”
Unal Yilmazoglu, Applications Engineering Manager, Alpha Technologies
With rising interest in sustainable fillers for rubber compounds, there is a growing need for detailed rheological characterization. Using RPA with Sub-Zero technology, this study provides a comparative rheological analysis of SBR compounds filled with recovered carbon and conventional carbon black at various filler loadings. Additionally, Fourier Transform (FT) rheology provides distinct viscoelastic fingerprints that differentiate recovered carbon from carbon black-filled formulations.
“Stiffness-Hysteresis Tradeoff in the Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Rubber Compounds Reinforced with Precipitated Silica, Carbon Black, and Other Nanofillers”
Christopher G. Robertson, Principal Consultant, Polymer Technology Services LLC
A review of numerous data sets for temperature-dependent dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of various nanofiller-reinforced rubber compounds reveals that the peak height for loss tangent (tand) in the glass transition region is inversely related to the dynamic storage modulus in the rubbery state, the latter influenced strongly by the type and concentration of filler. The results that illustrate this stiffness-hysteresis tradeoff include recent DMA data for a model passenger tire tread compound, based on styrene-butadiene rubber reinforced with different loadings of precipitated silica and silane coupling agent. This general trend is also noted for published data for various rubber compounds filled with precipitated silica or carbon black and with data for various elastomer nanocomposites from scientific literature. Viscoelastic models show the same inverse relationship, independent of any material-related interpretation. This viscoelastic tradeoff will be discussed along with implications for the performance of tire treads and other rubber applications.
“Synthesis of Carboxyl Terminated Polymyrcene by Anionic Polymerization using CO2”
Trishna K Chengappa, PhD student and Scholarship Winner, The University of Akron
This work investigates the termination of anionically polymerized myrcene with carbon dioxide to produce carboxylic acid–terminated polymers, aiming to enable further functionalization and non-linear architectures like graft copolymers. Challenges such as maximizing carboxylation in bulk, managing side reactions with THF, and optimizing CO₂ addition are addressed through tailored reaction conditions and characterization methods.

SPE - Americhem Tour
2026-02-23 17:00 - 20:00 | Americhem – World Headquarters, 2000 Americhem Way, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221
Gather and Tour 5:00 PM
Buy tickets at the link below $10. Reserve by Feb. 20.
Dinner following at Rockne’s, 1203 Bailey Rd., Cuyahoga Falls.
Optional and individually purchased.
Come join us on February 23rd for a tour of our Headquarters in Cuyahoga Falls, including our Innovation Center, Analytical Lab, and Weathering Facility!

ACS & SPE - ACESS Joint Societies Meeting
2026-03-03 17:45 - 20:30 | Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St. Suite 112, Akron, OH, 44311, United States
Dr. Torsten Hegmann, Ohio Research Scholar Professor
Director, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University
Zero-power, optical toxic gas and vapor sensors utilizing printed nematic liquid crystal patterns
Location: Missing Falls Brewery, Event Room
For a virtual option, contact education.outreach@akronacs.org
Tuesday, March 3, rescheduled from January 27
5:45 PM Networking
6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Lecture (open to the public)
Dinner cost: $20 for members and the public, $10 for retired/unemployed, $5 for students. To pay online, use the ticket links below (preferred). To pay at the door, RSVP at the link below. If you already paid for Jan 27 but cannot attend on Mar. 3, you may send a refund request to education.outreach@akronacs.org.
Networking: Come meet Dr. David Strukel, Innovation Entrepreneurship Coordinator for the University of Akron Research Foundation, discussing translating research ideas into businesses and the mentors that enable these ICORP teams. I-Corps – UARF
Abstract: Health risks affiliated with the exposure to a wide variety of toxic gases and vapors is a certainty for first responders such as firefighters and HAZMAT team members but also for military personnel in conflict zones, countless other professions from water purification and chemical manufacturing to the oil and gas industry, among others, and even the general public. To address this, we have developed several prototypes for a novel toxic gas sensor platform based on inkjet-printed nematic liquid crystal patterns. These sensors require zero power to operate and are characterized by high sensitivity down to highly relevant ppm and ppb levels, fast response times on the order of seconds, improved durability, and an overall design that is highly customizable by the potential end user. The response times of these sensors exponentially decrease with toxic gas concentration, thereby establishing the toxic gas diffusivity dependence of their mode of action. We demonstrated such prototypes for a range of toxic gases including chlorine, phosgene, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, aliphatic amines, and others, performing interference testing in high humidity and smoke conditions as well as field testing with active firefighters.
Bio: Dr. Hegmann obtained his Ph.D. from the Martin Luther University, in Halle (Germany) in 2001. He then pursued postdoctoral research supported by a DAAD-NATO scholarship at Queen’s University, in Kingston (ON, Canada) from 2001 to 2003. Thereafter, he started his independent academic career in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba in 2003, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2008, leaving for Kent State in 2011. Since July 2019, Dr. Torsten Hegmann serves as the Director of the Advanced Materials & Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI) at Kent State University. He is an Ohio Research Scholar in Science & Technology of Advanced Nanomaterials at Kent State since 2011. He is a member and Full Professor of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, the Materials Science Graduate Program, and the Brain Health Research Institute. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) since 2016, his work has garnered additional national and international awards such as the LG Mid-Career Award from the International Liquid Crystal Society or the Merck Displaying Future Award, among others. Dr. Hegmann’s research focuses on combinations and applications of liquid crystals and nanomaterials, exploring their role in programmed nanomaterial assembly, electro-optical applications, chirality amplification, and sensing as well as the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

ACESS - Celebration of STEM
2026-03-04 16:30 - 19:30 | The University of Akron Student Union, 303 Carroll St, Akron, 44304, United States
A STEM enrichment program for Akron area 4th and 5th graders with live demonstrations.
To volunteer, contact Gregg Loesch at Loesch.gregg@sbcglobal.com or Marian Rousek at mmrousek@gmail.com.

SPE - McCann Plastics
2026-04-14 17:30 - 19:30 | McCann Plastics, 5600 Mayfair Rd, North Canton, 44720, United States
McCann Plastics specializes in the custom compounding of thermoplastic materials, working closely with each customer to develop high-quality, tailor-made solutions. Their state-of-the-art lab rigorously tests all incoming and finished materials to ensure they meet their stringent quality standards. They offer flexibility and rapid response times to meet the unique needs of our customers. Founded in 1989 by Michael McCann, McCann Plastics has grown to become a leader in the thermoplastics compounding industry. With a senior management team that has a combined plastic industry experience of over 100 years, McCann is known for its quality, innovation, and excellence. In December 2022, after over three decades of family ownership, McCann Plastics proudly joined HEXPOL, one of the fastest growing international polymer groups, further strengthening our commitment to exceptional custom materials solutions.
We will walk to the training room up 14 steps and observe from the windows (no plant walking tour). Presentation following and a light meal of pizza and salad.
Cost is $10 for all. Buy tickets at the link below.
This event is open to the first 25 people that sign up.

ACESS - Presidents and Advisors Meeting
2026-04-15 17:00 - 21:00 | Doubletree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn, 3180 West Market Street, Akron, OH, 44333, United States
The ACESS Presidents and Advisors meeting will feature Nick Wagner Speaking on
“Artificial Intelligence Part 2”
Stay tuned for additional agenda items to be posted here.
Dinner tickets $30. Use the link below. We need the final count by Apr 8. BBQ / Beef Brisket Buffet.

ACS - Technical Lecture by John Herbert
2026-04-21 15:00 - 16:30 | MGH 111, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, United States
Prof. John Herbert, The Ohio State University
“Multiscale Approximations in Quantum Chemistry: Sometimes a Hammer, Sometimes a Scalpel”
Mary Gladwin Hall 111 at the University of Akron at 3 PM.
(Note: John Herbert will also give the John C. Crano lecture in the evening at the University of Mount Union. The evening Crano lecture is listed as a separate event on this website and dinner tickets are available with that listing)
Afternoon talk abstract:
A family of modern “QM/QM” approximations will be described, which reduce the cost of electronic structure calculations without introducing the ambiguity of any quantum/classical interface. Among these approaches, two will be highlighted. (1) Fragment-based methods that can provide converged ab initio benchmarks in large systems, e.g., for enzymatic thermochemistry and protein–ligand binding. These calculations bring near-exact QM to bear on systems with 1,000+ atoms and enable separation of errors based on approximate quantum chemistry from errors based on finite model size. (2) Hybrid methods for noncovalent interactions, which afford accurate intermolecular interaction energies and also physically meaningful components thereof. We have used these methods to investigate the fundamental molecular physics of π-stacking, with results that upset conventional orthodoxy in supramolecular organic chemistry.
John Herbert Bio:
John Herbert grew up in Newton, KS and attended Kansas State University, initially as a chemical engineering major, before an encounter with the unnatural units of “pounds of mass” and “kilograms of force” sent him fleeing to the natural sciences. He ultimately graduated as a Mathematics and Chemistry dual major, having also been a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. (He has nothing else in common with Barry Goldwater, so far he can tell.) For graduate school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as a National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellow, where he worked with Prof. John Harriman on projects related to reduced density matrices for electronic structure theory, receiving a Ph.D. in 2003. He was briefly a postdoc with Prof. Anne McCoy at Ohio State University before moving to Prof. Martin Head-Gordon’s group at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow. He has been a faculty member at The Ohio State University since 2006, holding the rank of Professor since 2014.
Professor Herbert is a past recipient of an NSF CAREER Award and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), along with fellowships from the Henry & Camille Dreyfus Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. From the American Chemical Society, he has been awarded the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in Computational Chemistry (2010), the Journal of Physical Chemistry A Lectureship (2013), and the Edward W. Morley Medal (2020). He was the Charles A. Coulson lecturer at the University of Georgia in 2022.
Professor Herbert’s research focuses on the development and application of novel methods and algorithms in electronic structure theory, with specific focus on computational spectroscopy in condensed-phase environments, solvation modeling, photochemistry, and the molecular physics of noncovalent interactions. He has been an active contributor to the Q-Chem software since 2004 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2012.

ACS - John C. Crano Lecture by Prof John Herbert
2026-04-21 17:30 - 20:00 | The University of Mount Union, Hoover-Price Campus Center, Newbold Room (Rm 50), Alliance, OH, 44601, United States
Prof. John Herbert, The Ohio State University
“The Way (Chemical) Things Work: A Quantum Chemist’s Perspective”
The John C. Crano Lecture and Dinner will be given at The University of Mount Union, Newbold Room (Room 50) located in the Hoover-Price Campus Center. The event includes appetizers with a student poster session, networking and dinner.
Schedule:
5 PM: Appetizers, networking, student poster sessions
6 PM: Dinner – vegetarian options available
7 PM: Lecture
Dinner tickets
$30 – Non-ACS Members
$25 – ACS Members
$10 – Students, unemployed, retirees
Free – virtual only attendees. Use the RSVP below; link to be sent prior to event.
Buy dinner tickets at the link below OR RSVP to StuthersRachel@bfusa.com and pay with a credit card at the door.
John Herbert Bio: John Herbert grew up in Newton, KS and attended Kansas State University, initially as a chemical engineering major, before an encounter with the unnatural units of “pounds of mass” and “kilograms of force” sent him fleeing to the natural sciences. He ultimately graduated as a Mathematics and Chemistry dual major, having also been a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. (He has nothing else in common with Barry Goldwater, so far he can tell.) For graduate school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as a National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellow, where he worked with Prof. John Harriman on projects related to reduced density matrices for electronic structure theory, receiving a Ph.D. in 2003. He was briefly a postdoc with Prof. Anne McCoy at Ohio State University before moving to Prof. Martin Head-Gordon’s group at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow. He has been a faculty member at The Ohio State University since 2006, holding the rank of Professor since 2014.
Professor Herbert is a past recipient of an NSF CAREER Award and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), along with fellowships from the Henry & Camille Dreyfus Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. From the American Chemical Society, he has been awarded the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in Computational Chemistry (2010), the Journal of Physical Chemistry A Lectureship (2013), and the Edward W. Morley Medal (2020). He was the Charles A. Coulson lecturer at the University of Georgia in 2022.
Professor Herbert’s research focuses on the development and application of novel methods and algorithms in electronic structure theory, with specific focus on computational spectroscopy in condensed-phase environments, solvation modeling, photochemistry, and the molecular physics of noncovalent interactions. He has been an active contributor to the Q-Chem software since 2004 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2012.
Evening talk abstract: “The Way (Chemical) Things Work: A Quantum Chemist’s Perspective”
This talk will provide an overview of what quantum chemistry is, targeted for an audience of chemists who don’t work on theory or computation. I will cover some aspects of my own work, such as bringing high-level quantum mechanics methods to bear on systems with hundreds or thousands of atoms (e.g., to address problems in noncovalent ligand binding to proteins, in the context of computer-aided drug discovery). However, much of this talk will focus on how fundamental chemical concepts such as reaction pathways emerge naturally from quantum chemistry calculations. I will describe quantum chemistry’s place in the scientific ecosystem and how it can be understood in simple, qualitative terms.
Note that there is also an afternoon talk at the University of Akron listed as a separate event on this website.

ORG - Spring Technical Meeting
2026-04-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St. Suite 112, Akron, OH, 44311, United States
Agenda:
5:00 – Registration, Bar Opens, Buffet Dinner Opens
5:30 – Technical Presentations
7:00 – Open Networking
CHANGE IN VENUE! This event will be held at Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St., Akron.
Tickets:
Advanced Reservations until Apr 27: $35 each (Without prior reservation: $40 each, limited number). Reduced Fee for Students: $5!
Online ticketing (preferred) will be available on this web page about one month before the event. We highly encourage you to pay in advance for this meeting, due to the setup, which is one large room.
“Pay at the Door” will only be available until 5:30 pm because the Technical Presentations start at that time.
Email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations:
“Flexoelectricity in Polyelectrolyte Elastomers as Sensors and Energy Harvesters”
Mehdi Sahami, PhD student and Scholarship Winner, The University of Akron
This work focuses on a class of elastomeric materials capable of generating electrical signals under non-uniform mechanical deformation. In other words, these materials can convert mechanical deformation into electrical output, making them promising candidates for sensing and energy harvesting applications.
“From Lab to Road: Testing Rubber for Real-World Performance”
Paul Merda, Education Coordinator/Technical Advisor, ARDL
This presentation explores how laboratory testing methods are used to evaluate and predict the real-world performance of rubber components in applications such as windshield wipers, tires, and engine mounts.
PANEL DISCUSSION: “From Passion to Profession: Paths, Pivots, and Possibilities”
Moderator: Fred Carter, Strategic-Partner, Schooley Mitchell
Panelists: Will Mars, Endurica; Jason Poulton, Semi-Retired; Eric Britton, Materials Engineer, Bridgestone Americas
The goal of the panel will be to highlight some industry professionals with Engineering or PhD backgrounds and how they have progressed to their current position in the industry. We’ll aim to highlight some struggles, victories, and tips/lessons that might be helpful for the students, but also for young professionals.

SPE - Akron Section Awards Ceremony
2026-05-18 17:30 - 20:00 | Raintree Golf and Event Center, 4350 Mayfair Rd, Uniontown, OH, 44685, United States
Please plan to join us for the last meeting of the season as we present various awards and scholarships.
Our Hall of Honor inductee is John Fellenstein, and the William C. Zekan Memorial Service Award will be presented to Fred Carter.
Program information:
5:00 Sign-up and Networking, 5:30 Welcome and Introduction, 6:00 Dinner, 6:45 Keynote Speaker, Awards and Scholarships, Wrap‐up
Deadline May 13: SPE member/guest $30; students $10. Purchase tickets online using the links below. For honorees and one guest for each honoree, the dinner is free, but please reserve the relevant number of places at the RSVP link. Also please use the RSVP link of if you experience difficulty with the online ticketing. If you have questions about the event, please contact Jenny Digiantonio at jenny.akronspe@aol.com.

MSNO - 68th Annual May Conference
2026-05-20 08:00 - 17:00 | John Carroll University, Dolan Science Center, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH, 44118
Microscopy Society of Northeastern Ohio jointly with Society of Applied Spectroscopy, the Akron Section of the American Chemical Society, and the Akron COuncil of Engineering and Scientific Societies.
For paper submission and for online registration go to the event website.
Registration fees: Society Members $40, Non-members $50, Retirees and full-time students $20. Please register by May 7 at 5 PM.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER (2026): Julianna Ly, Associate Conservator of Paintings, Cleveland Museum of Art
Title: “Beneath the Brushstrokes: Investigating Paintings with Microscopy & Spectroscopy Technologies”
CONFIRMED ​INVITED SPEAKERS (2026)
Laura Bruckman, Case Western Reserve University, “Materials Data Science Approach to Fluoroelastomer Crystallization”
Allison Christy, NASA Glenn, “Evaluating Crystallinity in Thermoplastic Composites”
Mike Dunphy, Walsh University, “TBD”
Tony Rollet, Carnegie Mellon, “Can We Predict Fatigue with a Digital Twin of Additive Manufacturing?”
Metin Uz, Cleveland State University, “Functional platforms for exosome bioproduction and isolation”
Courtney Wagner, Kent State University, “TBD”

Polymer Palooza 2026
2026-06-06 13:00 - 17:00 | OH
Join us for Polymer Palooza on June 6th from 1 PM to 5 PM at the Akron Children’s Museum and Lock3 Park. This exciting, free event is brought to you by Akron Children’s Museum, Greater Akron Chamber, Polymer Industry Cluster, The City of Akron and Lock3! Get ready for a day filled with fun, education, and community engagement!
Event Highlights

Explore the World of Polymers: Discover fascinating exhibits and activities focused on polymers and their role in our daily lives.
Meet Our Experts and Vendors: Stay tuned for a list of our amazing polymer experts and vendors who will be showcasing their knowledge and products.

Delicious Downtown Dining
While you’re here, make sure to enjoy the diverse array of downtown Akron restaurants! Check out the options here and treat yourself to a delicious meal!
Parking Information
Parking is a breeze with free parking available at the 51 S. State Street Parking Deck.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn, have fun, and connect with the community at Polymer Palooza! We can’t wait to see you there!

ORG - Early Summer Golf Outing 2026
2026-06-17 07:00 - 16:00 | Brookledge Golf Club, 1621 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221, United States
Schedule:
Registration: 7:00 – 7:45 am
Shotgun Start: 8:00 am
4 Golfer Scramble
Dinner: 2:00 pm – Brookledge Pavilion
Cost and Ticketing:
Cost: $150.00, includes golf with cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, door prize, raffle ticket, skill awards and prizes.
Mulligan cards are available for an additional $5 each.
Dinner only: $40
Registration deadline: June 8, 2026
Online ticketing (preferred): Buy tickets using the links below.

ACESS - Summer Picnic and Social Gathering
2026-08-02 12:00 - 15:00 | Cascade Park – Holden Pavillion, 130 Lynn Dr., Hudson, OH, 44236, United States
Planned meal: Hamburgers/ Hot dogs /Sausage plus sides, desserts supplied by attendees plus coffee, and soft drinks.
More information will be posted here as the time approaches.

ORG - Late Summer Golf Outing 2026
2026-08-31 07:00 - 20:00 | Silver Lake Country Club, 1325 Graham Rd, Stow, OH, 44224, United States
Event Information:
There will be two shotgun starts: AM group – 8:00 AM (Play Your Own Ball) and PM group – 1:30 PM (Scramble)
Any morning player will have the opportunity to play an additional round in the afternoon for an additional $75.
Schedule of Activities:
7:00 AM Bag Drop – Morning Shotgun Registration Opens
7:15 AM Driving Range Opens
8:00 AM MORNING SHOTGUN
9:30 AM Bag Drop – Afternoon Shotgun
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM AFTERNOON SHOTGUN
6:00 PM Cocktails! (Cash Bar)
7:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Prize Awards
Register and pay by August 24, 2026.
Cost and Ticketing:
Entry Fee of $165 includes golf, lunch and dinner. Additional round $75. Dinner only $45.
Online ticketing (preferred): Use the links below.

ORG, ACS, SPE - Fall Technical Meeting 2026
2026-09-15 16:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Tickets:
Advanced Reservations: Members and general public $35 each (Without prior reservation: $40 each, limited number available). Students $10.
Buy tickets online (preferred): Links for purchasing tickets will be available on this web page a month before the event.
Alternatively, email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations:
To be announced.
