Amy Schumacher is the Chief Executive Officer of The Heritage Group, overseeing the company’s portfolio of more than 50 companies and 6,000 employees. She is also a member of its board of trustees. Amy has been part of The Heritage Group family of businesses since 2008, when she founded Monument Chemical — THG’s specialty chemicals business — and served as Monument’s President and CEO for eight years. In that role, she was responsible for growing Monument from a small, Indianapolis-based business into a global company with operations in Europe and the US. In 2016, Amy transitioned to President of The Heritage Group and was appointed CEO in 2020, marking the fourth generation of Fehsenfeld family leadership. She graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Education and B.S. in Civil Engineering and received her M.B.A. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She serves on the boards of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Calumet Specialty Products and the Purdue Engineering Advisory Council. Amy enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Jim, and her two daughters.

Michael Lefenfeld is President and CEO of Hexion Inc., where he also serves as Chairman of the Board and on the Board of Managers for ASP Resins Holdings LP. Since 2023, he has transformed Hexion from a commodity chemical supplier into a technology-driven leader in advanced materials, embedding AI across operations and driving sustainable innovation with bio-based and circular materials. Lefenfeld has launched enterprise-wide initiatives to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and improve operational performance. A scientist and serial entrepreneur, he holds over 100 patents, previously led Cyanco International and SiGNa Chemistry, and holds advanced degrees in chemistry from Columbia University and a BSc from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently leads use-cases for Gen AI in R&D. She joined 3M in 1993 after a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and holds 80 patents. In 2020, she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award and in 2026 she was inducted to National Academy of Engineering. She is an accomplished thought-leader and was named to the 2025 Thinkers50 Radar. Jayshree is also author of The Heart of Science trilogy with over 50 actionable frameworks and mental models -- all proceeds go to scholarship for women in STEM.

Dr. John P. (Jack) Dever is the Chief Technology Officer, leads a world class staff responsible for contract chemical technology programs, including lab, pilot plant and manufacturing technology development. He joined AVN Corp. in 2011. Prior to joining AVN, he had technology development and manufacturing leadership roles at Union Carbide and subsequently the Dow Chemical Company for 28 years. Jack holds several patents and was recognized by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) with the 2023 Lawrence B. Evans Award in Chemical Engineering Practice and was elected as a Fellow in AICHE and WVU Chemical Engineering Academy. He received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Thanos Yiagopoulos is Chief Technology Officer at Momentive Performance Materials, where he leads the company’s global technology organization responsible for innovation, new product and process development, and strategic technology initiatives across a worldwide R&D network of more than 500 professionals. With more than 20 years of experience in the chemical industry, including leadership roles at Momentive, SABIC, and LyondellBasell, he has built and transformed global R&D organizations that connect technology strategy, market needs, and sustainability. Thanos is recognized for developing mature innovation systems that integrate strong processes, cross-functional collaboration, and external partnerships to accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful business impact.

Jamie L. Cohen is Vice President of R&D for Dow’s Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure business, where she leads innovation and technology development supporting the Polyurethanes, Construction Chemicals, and Industrial Solutions portfolios. She is a member of Dow’s R&D leadership team, shaping enterprise technology and organizational strategy. Since joining Dow in 2007, Cohen has held roles spanning Corporate R&D, Energy Materials, R&D and corporate strategy, and global R&D leadership across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Cornell University, is the inventor on five patents, and actively supports talent development and Dow employee resource groups.

Deepanjan Bhattacharya is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in the coatings and plastics industries, currently serving as Vice President of Plastics and Technology Operations and Vice President of Care Solutions Technology and Technology Operations at Eastman. Previously, Deepanjan held positions such as Director of Global Coatings Technology and Global Coatings Application and Research Development Leader at Eastman Chemical Company, as well as Global Market Leader for Transportation Coatings and Coatings Innovation Leader. Deepanjan began the career as a Principal Research Scientist at Eastman Chemical. In terms of education, Deepanjan earned an Executive Scholar Program degree in General Management from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and a Doctor of Philosophy in Polymer Science from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Kelly Gilroy, VP Commercial Sustainability, leads the development and commercialization of sustainable and natural ingredients across Univar Solutions. Kelly supports customers on their sustainability journeys and works closely with the Univar Solutions global supplier base to identify markets and opportunities to launch innovative ingredients that meet evolving market, regulatory and societal expectations. Kelly joined Univar Solutions in 2014 to build our Beauty and Personal Care specialties business, and previously worked at The Lubrizol Corporation and Nalco, an Ecolab Company. Kelly holds a BS, Accountancy from the University of Illinois and is a CPA.