ACS National Meeting-2013 Indianapolis, IN

For all who came to the Fall 2013 ACS Meeting, we hope you will never forget the Indy 500 Race Track (and Track Laps), the Celebrate Science Indiana Festival, the ease of getting around and the overall friendliness of everyone you met, something the locals call “Hoosier Hospitality.” Behind the scenes of that great experience where nearly three years of planning, fund-raising, organizing and implementing a significant plan to ensure it would be a National Meeting the ACS would never forget! It started with a team of ACS IN members, partnering with the National M&E management team, the Indiana Visitors and Convention Association, and the Indy 500 Race Track. In addition, the team received strong support from the Indianapolis community, with over 15 unique donors contributing >$170,000 to fund all the activities associate with the meeting.

The ACS Executive Committee expanded to nearly 40 members, all working on their individual aspects of the National Meeting plan, and definitely all working together towards a common goal: a successful National Meeting. There were over a dozen technical sessions to highlight various aspects of central Indiana academic and industrial research. Due to the central location, hundreds of Midwest students and faculty were able to participate and present their research. There was even a full-day symposium co-hosted by Indy 500 race car driver Stephan Gregoire.

Having the privilege to lead this Host Team over the course of the three years to develop and deliver the Fall 2013 National Meeting was definitely one of the greatest learning experiences and highlights of my ACS career!