The path from volunteer to president

By Jack McKenna, STLE President | TLT President's Report June 2025

In closing my year as STLE President, I want to encourage all of you to step up and get involved.

Two photos, one of a group of 3 people in suits at a conference, and one of 6 people wearing blue baseball hats and smiling

At the STLE Annual Meeting, I think every president gets up to the podium to make a speech and says, “I can’t believe how fast that year went,” because it is true. I stood at a similar podium last year in Minneapolis and thanked the folks that got me here—and I will do it again now. My wife Barb and my children Patrick, Nora, Michael and Charlie, first and foremost. Everyone at Sea-Land Chemical Company. All the folks in the STLE Chicago Section who taught me what STLE is. All the women and men who served on the STLE Board of Directors, past and present. Those really special people who go the extra mile and spend another five years, usually 11 in all, to become what I will be next—STLE past presidents. All the people who volunteer their time in all the roles that make STLE go. The wonderful staff of our outstanding organization. A special shout out to all the STLE local sections that invited me to speak in person and virtually: Hamilton, Detroit, Virginia, Philadelphia, Houston, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Canton—and last but certainly not least, my beloved Chicago Section! 

As for achievements I can list as part of my tenure, there are two things I have been involved in that I am most proud of. As treasurer I saw an opportunity to save the organization about $30,000 per year going forward and was able to safely put this into action. The second thing I had an indirect role in was the creation of the NextGen Fund. The focus of this fund is to raise money for scholarships, travel grants and STEM activities so we can attract members of the next generation to our great organization. If you have not donated to this fund please do so at www.stle.org/donate—any amount is welcome. 

In closing I want to encourage all of you reading this to step up and get involved as an STLE volunteer. You can join a committee, volunteer in an STLE local section, present a technical paper—there are so many ways to be a contributor. You just have to ask any of the current volunteers or staff where you are needed, and we will guide you to greatness! Thanks again for allowing me to be a leader of STLE. I truly enjoyed it.

Jack McKenna is vice president of corporate accounts for Sea-Land Chemical Company located in Cleveland, Ohio, and is based in Elmhurst, Ill. You can reach him at jack.mckenna@sealandchem.com.