Message from the ACMA President & CEO

As we begin a new year, I wanted to connect with the ACMA community and offer a few ideas for how ACMA can help achieve the professional and organizational growth goals for composite industry professionals.

As you know, senior managers and executives have a multitude of responsibilities. What you may not know is that ACMA can directly help with those responsibilities. 

Results Growth: Executives must ensure their organization grows and adapts to external changes. That requires understanding customer needs, market trends and competitive dynamics. ACMA provides a wealth of opportunities to get market trend data – from ACMA’s suite of market intelligence data (Pulse of the Industry quarterly survey, ACMA Industry Statistics and the Lucintel U.S. Composites Market Monthly Insights), its newsletters (ACMA Insider & Industry Digest) and webinars (Trade Talks, Elevate Webinar Series, ACE Award Winner Presentations andsponsored webinars).  ACMA works hard to get you the data you need. Not to mention our Composite Growth Initiative (CGI) committee meetings include discussions of the latest issues and trends specific to that market.

Leader Development: Executives are also responsible for developing future leaders within their organization. This means creating an environment where talent can thrive through challenging assignments and developmental opportunities. ACMA’s yearlong Emerging Leaders Program directly meets that need. Serving as a committee officer, volunteering to be a reviewer for ACE Awards or serving on an ACMA event or standards committee can also be an excellent development activity for your future leaders.

External Focus: Executives need to broaden their perspective beyond internal operations. This includes engaging with trade associations, attending or presenting at industry conferences and taking part in volunteer opportunities with associations. Such activities help them build networks and gain insights. Attending or presenting at an ACMA conference can directly meet that need. Make plans today to attend the Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC) in San Diego, CA, May 19 – 21, 2026; Composites 2026 Fly-In in Washington, DC, June 9 – 11, 2026; or CAMX – The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo in Atlanta, GA, September 21 – 24, 2026. Participate in a CGI or standards committee or the ACMA Family Business Network networking opportunities.

Plan this week which industry conferences you are going to attend, which committees you are going to join and how you are going to encourage your team to do the same. ACMA’s website has much of the information you need to get started, and registration is already open for TCC and the Composites Fly-In. If you want any advice or help on how to get connected to more specific volunteer opportunities please reach out to my team at membership@acmanet.orgso we can match you with the activity that meets your interest and available time commitment. 

I am excited about the upcoming year and optimistic about the outlook for the composites industry. Together, let’s make 2026 a year of innovation and growth for the composites industry.

Cindy L. Squires, Esq.