Monthly Luncheon Presentation
SPEAKER: Hudson La Force III, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, W. R. Grace & Co.
TOPIC: "The Emerging Grace"
W. R. Grace's Chief Financial Officer, Hudson La Force, will discuss how the company has strengthened its position in its core markets as the company approaches resolution of its asbestos liability. W. R. Grace is a leading supplier of catalysts, engineered and packaging materials, and specialty construction chemicals and building materials. In 2011, revenues were $3.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.6%. Sales in emerging regions, which represented 32% of 2011 revenues, are growing at 15% per year.
SPEAKER BIO: Hudson La Force is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of W. R. Grace & Co. He is responsible for the company's worldwide financial management activities. Hudson also has responsibility for Grace's information technology activities.
Before joining Grace in April 2008, Hudson served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, Hudson was responsible for Education's finance, sourcing, human capital, information technology and risk management activities. He also served as a member of the President's Management Council.
Prior to entering public service in 2005, Hudson worked at Dell Inc. where he held business leadership and financial management positions at its headquarters in Austin, Texas and in China. From 2002 to 2005, Hudson served as a general manager for Dell in China, leading a $500 million business unit. Before joining Dell in 1997, he served in a series of increasingly responsible financial management positions at AlliedSignal, Inc. (now Honeywell) and Emerson Electric Co. Hudson began his career as a certified public accountant in the audit and business advisory practice of Arthur Andersen & Co.
Hudson holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Baylor University. He is a member of the advisory board of Madison Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm.
DATE: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
TIME: Networking and Reception 11:30 a.m. / Luncheon 12:15 p.m. / Speaker 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: The Yale Club at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue (the corner of 44th and Vanderbilt, facing Vanderbilt)
COST: $60.00 - Société Members / $85.00 - Non-members / Cash bar
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Awards
International Palladium Medal
Awarded biannually to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself by reason of outstanding contribution to the chemical industry of such character and scope as to enhance the international aims and objectives of the Société de Chimie Industrielle.
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The Othmer Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia (CHF). It recognizes an individual who has contributed in multiple ways to the world's chemical heritage. The Société de Chimie Industrielle, as a member of CHF's Heritage Council, participates in identifying and nominating candidates for this award.
Winthrop-Sears Award
Given by the Chemists´ Club. The Winthrop-Sears Medal was established in 1970 by the Chemical Industry Association to recognize individuals who, by their entrepreneurial action, contributed to the vitality of the chemical industry and the betterment of mankind.
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