Connect, Collaborate & Create.
Current President International
Registration
Vesper Pre-Function
Standing TO/EH Committee
Vesper A
Standing Stats Committee
Vesper B
FPAC & ExCommittee
Vesper C
Lunch
Vesper B
APS BOD
Vesper A
AS/EMEAS BOD
Vesper B
Welcome Reception
Terrace / Sol 7 Green
**Joint Activity
Registration
Vesper Pre-Function
Mobility Trends
Vesper A/B
By: TBD
Auto Industry Trends & Needs
Vesper A/B
By: TBD
World Economy Outlook
Vesper A/B
By: Michael Weidokal | ISA
Coffee Break
Vesper Pre-Function
Synthetic Rubber Market
Vesper A/B
By: Angie Joe & Steve Williams | Argus Media
Beyond Compliance: Competing in the Age of Regulation
Vesper A/B
By: Michael Ulbrich | IISRP Sustainability Advisor
AI in Manufacturing
Vesper A/B
By: TBD
Lunch
Vesper C
City Tour & Casual Dinner
George Ranch
Registration
Vesper Pre-Function
General Meeting
Vesper A/B
Coffee Break
Vesper Pre-Function
Tire Industry Trends & Needs
Vesper A/B
By: TBD
Tire Market Situation
Vesper A/B
By: John Sherwin | Smithers
Technical Presentation
Vesper A/B
By: Dr. Anil K. Bhowmick | University of Houston
Farewell Lunch
Vesper C
Bio-Medical Applications
Vesper A/B
By: Dr. Soumya Vinod | Rice University
Bio-Butadiene
Vesper A/B
By: David H. Witte < BioVerde Tech LLC
Raw Materials
Vesper A/B
By: Bill Hyde | Chemical Markets Analytics
Gala Dinner & Awards
Crystal Ballroom
Places to visit:
Places to visit:
Places to visit:
Places to visit:
Places to visit:
Places to visit:
Houston is the largest city in Texas and a dynamic hub for energy, innovation, and culture. Known for its diverse population, world-class dining, and thriving arts scene, the city offers a unique blend of Southern charm and global influence. Home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center and a strong economy driven by energy, healthcare, and technology, Houston stands out as one of the most vibrant and fast-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.
Nicknamed the "Bayou City", "Space City", "H-Town", and "the 713", Houston has become a global city, with strengths in culture, medicine, and research. The city's population comprises various ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as a large and growing international community. Houston is the most diverse metropolitan area in Texas and has been described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major city in the U.S. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, such as the Houston Museum District and the Houston Theater District.
If you’re planning to travel to the United States, your visa requirements will depend on your nationality. Citizens of certain countries may need to apply for a U.S. visa before departure. This visa acts as a pre-entry requirement, allowing you to travel to a U.S. port of entry.
For detailed information based on your citizenship and travel purpose, please visit the official U.S. Department of State website: VISITOR VISAIf you need an invitation letter for your visa, please fill in the attached form and email the completed form to: roxanna@iisrp.com Please include all the necessary information and full name as it appears on the passport (first name, middle name, and last name).
Download the LOI request - AGM 2026Thompson Houston is a 36-story architectural marvel in scenic Buffalo Bayou Park that will impress guests at every turn, offering an unparalleled hotel experience with personalized hospitality, originally designed rooms, outstanding culinary options, a full-service spa and one of the city’s largest rooftop pool decks.
For a truly unforgettable entrance, our new boutique hotel also boasts its own heliport. This remarkable luxury oasis is perfectly positioned for exploring the best of Houston with walking and biking trails, art installations and exciting downtown attractions nearby.
1717 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019, United States of America
Open in Google MapsBuffalo Bayou Park
Toca Madera - Mexican Steakhouse
Brasserie 19 - French Restaurant
Oporto Fooding House & Wine - Portuguese Restaurant
Single or Double room – 350 Dollars
Rate per room per night
No Breakfast Included
No Valet included
Exclusive of Tax
Wi-Fi
Valid until March 14th 2026 or until all blocked rooms are occupied.
IISRP Technical Award Winner 2025
IISRP Technical Award Winner 2025
The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, Inc. (the “Institute”) has as its primary purpose the promotion of the synthetic rubber industry, in the furtherance of which the Institute and its members engage in a variety of joint activities. These activities, which necessarily involve the participation of competitors, must be done in such a way that they do not violate the antitrust laws of countries in which Institute members do business. Those laws generally proscribe agreements among competitors with anticompetitive effects.
There are any number of actions, which could be anticompetitive, including otherwise legitimate activities undertaken for anticompetitive purposes, and it is not possible to describe each and every one. The general rule, however, is straightforward. Any agree- ment among competitors, which reduces competition, is illegal and could have serious consequences for the individuals involved, the companies, which they represent, as well as the Institute.
It is, therefore, important that those attending this and any other Institute meeting not participate in any activities, which could have anticompetitive effects. It is equally important that participants refrain from discussions or actions, which could be interpreted as having an anticompetitive purpose. For example, participants should avoid discussing with competitors matters relating to price, other terms or conditions of sale as well as any matter, which should be the subject of agreement between a seller and his customer.
If you have any questions regarding this important Institute policy and its applicability, please consult Institute counsel, who will be present throughout this meeting, or your corporate counsel.
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Douglas Wilson is the General Manager for LCY Elastomers LP’s Americas business, overseeing all aspects of the Styrenic Block Copolymer operations across North and South America, including the Baytown SBS plant. He joined LCY in 2023 after serving five years as Global Business Director at Vertellus (now Aurorium), where he led the Polyether Sulfones, Citrates, and Additives division. Prior to that, Doug spent 22 years at Honeywell International, holding leadership roles in Nylon-based packaging materials and Research Chemicals, were he also managed a $120M acquisition.
He began his career at Honeywell in various manufacturing engineering roles including the startup of a greenfield fluoropolymer unit, his first introduction into the world of polymer chemistry, a place he now calls home.
Dr. IrinaYurovska brings decades of experience serving the global rubber, tire, and chemical industries. After earning her BS in Chemistry, MS in Chemical Engineering, and PhD in Physics and Mechanics of Polymers in the former Soviet Union, she began her career in the tire and aerospace sectors. Since relocating to the United States in 1991, she has held leadership roles at Teknor Apex, Precix, Cabot Corporation, SI Group, and Himadri—progressing from process chemist to retiring as Global Vice President of Technical Service.
While working in New England, Dr. Yurovska completed her MBA in International Business and Finance at Bryant University. Her career has taken her across the U.S. and internationally, visiting tire and rubber plants, engaging with customers and suppliers, and mentoring rubber chemists worldwide.
Dr. Irene Yurovska is the author of many professional publications, and she holds more than 80 patents and patent applications covering polymer compounding, rubber ingredients, testing, and processes. Her research and innovations have significantly advanced the understanding of polymer applications and rubber technology.
Now based in Texas, she leads her consulting firm, YIGlobal, and she has been recognized as both a “Woman Breaking the Mold” and a national “Rubber Industry Legend.” Actively involved in the ACS Rubber Division, she serves on its Executive Committee and as Alternate Counselor to the American Chemical Society.
Dr. Elizabeth Delzell earned her MSPH in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977) and her ScD from Harvard University (1981). She went on to hold faculty positions at Duke University (1981–1984) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1984–2013), where she advanced research, teaching, and mentoring in occupational, environmental, cancer, and pharmaco epidemiology, as well as outcomes research. Her work was strengthened through collaborations with distinguished colleagues and supported by funding and data access provided by IISRP, ACC, SIRC, HEI, AHRQ, Shell Oil Company, IBM, Ford Motor Company, the NIH Fogarty International Center and others. Over her career, she authored more than 200 publications.
Dr. Delzell conducted extensive studies on cancer and disease risks among workers in diverse industries producing synthetic rubber, semiconductors, petroleum, petrochemicals, pesticides, motor vehicles and rubber products. She led a landmark long-term investigation in the North American synthetic rubber polymer industry, which identified 1,3-butadiene as a cause of human leukemia, shaping national and international regulations. Her work also revealed elevated bladder cancer risks among synthetic rubber workers and contributed to understanding potential cancer links with styrene.
Angie Joe, vice president at Argus Media, leads the butadiene and crude C4 service. Her responsibilities include the price outlooks as well as supply/demand/trade balances. Angie’s expertise of almost two decades spans the entire value chain — from market analysis and forecasting to corporate development and project execution. Her previous roles include power provider and generator Entergy and Fusion Brokerage.
Mr. Hyde is a member of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS a Dow Jones Company where he leads a group focused on analyzing markets related to C4 Olefins, synthetic and natural rubber, and tire raw materials. He has been consulting in this market since 2002. Hyde began his career with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1990 where he had various positions including production engineering, optimization, planning, and logistics. In 2000, he joined Texas Petrochemicals as a Business Analyst. In 2002, Hyde joined CMAI in the Olefins Consulting Practice with an emphasis on C4 Olefins and rubber, assuming responsibility for that practice in 2006. CMAI was sold to IHS in 2011 and later became IHS Markit. The Base Chemicals Group of IHS Markit, which includes the C4 Olefins and Elastomers Practice, was divested to News Corp in June 2022 and became Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS a Down Jones Company. He has published a number of papers on the Olefins and Elastomers industries as well as presented at numerous Olefins and Elastomers Conferences around the world. Hyde has B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.
Dave Witte is a senior executive and strategist with nearly 40 years of leadership across the global energy, chemicals, analytics, and industrial biotechnology sectors. As Co-Founder and CEO of BioVerde Tech LLC, he leads the company’s efforts for commercialization of methane-to-chemicals technology and has secured major federal awards and key technology transfers. Dave previously founded Witte Consulting, advising EPC firms, private equity investors, and analytics companies on growth strategy and energy-transition opportunities. His earlier career includes CEO of MBP Titan and a decade of executive leadership at IHS Markit overseeing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. He is recognized for strategic insight, operational excellence, technological knowledge and unlocking commercial value in complex global markets.
Dr. Anil K. Bhowmick is a globally recognized authority in polymer science and engineering, with pioneering contributions to rubber technology, polymer nanocomposites, sustainable materials, and smart polymers. Educated at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata and IIT Kharagpur, he advanced his research at the University of Akron before returning to IIT Kharagpur, where he rose to Professor of Eminence and held key leadership roles, including Director of IIT Patna. Since 2019, he has been with the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering. At the Cullen College of Engineering, Dr. Bhowmick’s research interests include polymer nanocomposites and nanomaterials, thermoplastic elastomers and polymer blends, molecular dynamic simulation of polymers, new and novel sustainable polymers from renewable sources, polymer modi cation, rubber technology, failure and degradation of rubbers, adhesion and adhesives, waste rubber recycling, sustainable polymers from renewable sources, and self-healing and smart polymers. Dr. Bhowmick is the first Asian recipient of the ACS Rubber Division’s George Stafford Whitby Award and Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award and has earned numerous honors including the Fred E. Schwab International Education Award (2019) and the Syed Husain Zaheer Medal (2020). He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Indian National Science Academy, and several other prestigious institutions.
Dr. Soumya Vinod is the Executive Director of the Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI), where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the institute’s vision and impact. In this role, she drives program development, spearheads innovative initiatives, and builds strong partnerships across academia, government, and industry. She has a wealth of experience in idea generation, team leadership, and research management across diverse technology readiness levels in both industrial and academic settings., Soumya brings a unique perspective from both industrial and academic environments. Previously, she served as Director of Research and New Products at Clarkson Aerospace Corp, managing a multi-year collaborative program involving over 20 universities and sponsored by the U.S. Air Force. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Materials Scientist at Baker Hughes, developing advanced materials and technologies for downhole applications. Soumya earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science and NanoEngineering from Rice University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her academic excellence was recognized with the prestigious Nettie S. Autrey Fellowship, and she has authored several impactful publications contributing to the scientific community.
John Sherwin is a Smithers Information Project Director located in North America. John has over thirty years of experience delivering market research in a variety of settings. Before joining Smithers in 2024 he spent six years with Ernst & Young’s Center for Business Knowledge, and 19 years at the Freedonia Group as a manager and a director of their Custom Research group. He has experience in market forecasting, consumer research, value-chain, and competitor analysis. John has worked on a broad range of industries with a focus on packaging, chemicals, construction materials and other industrial markets. In his current role, John helps clients gather a deep understanding of their business goals. This is accomplished by developing in-depth research programs to provide visibility into markets and niches, gather insights, and provide an unbiased view of the key market challenges. These efforts allow our clients to evaluate their strategic plans and make decisions based upon credible data and analysis, supported by robust research conclusions and recommendations. John holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and an MBA from Cleveland State University.
Michael Weidokal is one of the world's most sought-after speakers and is renowned for his ability to clarify even the most complex economic, geopolitical and strategic issues. For over 25 years, Michael has been speaking and writing on issues ranging from the outlook for the global economy to how organizations can succeed in a rapidly changing world. Michael is also the founder and president of ISA (International Strategic Analysis), one of the world's leading economic and geopolitical advisory firms. The World's Leading Economic and Geopolitical Speaker Over 500 live speeches in more than 35 countries - Over 400 online speeches
