Greetings and Happy 2019 St. Louis Section Members.
As I look forward to 2019, and my year as Section Chair, I approach it with excitement based on the events of 2018. I find that stories make it easier to convey a message, so let me share with you my favorite ACS-related story from 2018.
One of the highlights for me this past year was attending the monthly “Coffee and Cocktails with Chemists” networking events. The brainchild of Natalie LaFranzo, these monthly events were launched in January 2018, and enthusiastically received by the local section. On a personal note, these events gave me the opportunity to meet new people (and even reconnect with some former colleagues). The best moment came in June when one of my former Pfizer colleagues, who now works in Chicago, showed up at McArthur’s in Kirkwood after seeing the event posted on my LinkedIn feed. She happened to be in St. Louis for the day on business and decided to stop by!
I tell this story as it speaks to the power of networking, and showcases one of the benefits of being part of a professional organization, such as the ACS. Though our locations and careers may have changed, we still had a common thread that held us together after so many years.
I cannot guarantee that you will find your long-lost colleagues at a networking event, but you will make some new friends. Please check the Meetup Website for updates, as well as the calendar on the STLACS Website (and of course my LinkedIn feed). We will be announcing 2019 dates soon.
In closing, I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to my fellow officers, board members, and steering committee for their ideas, guidance, and wisdom this past year. I look forward to the stories that lie ahead.
Warm regards,
Suzy Hartmann
2019 Chair, St. Louis Section ACS
Associate Director, Sourcing Biologics, MilliporeSigma
“Computers and the physics of complex biological systems”
