PROGRAMMING
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SCHEDULE
**Schedule and program subject to change.**
Sunday, November 2
Women in the Tape Industry Welcome Reception
Join your Women in the Tape Industry Colleagues and friends to celebrate this inaugural event while you enjoy time to network.
**Optional Pre-Conference Program.**
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Monday, November 3
Women in the Tape Industry Luncheon and Program
**Optional Pre-Conference Program.**
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM I Breakfast & Activity: Guitar String Jewelry with Strings For Hope **optional**
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM I Lunch
Kick off the day’s programming with a light lunchtime buffet.
12:30 - 1:30 PM I Keynote: Tracie Sponenberg
"Your Brand, Your Path: Defining Where You Are and Where You're Going"
Every woman in the tape industry has a story about how she’s seen and how she wants to be seen, whether she’s the scientist in the lab, the salesperson building relationships, or the executive at the table. Your personal brand isn’t about social media or being “on” – t’s about understanding your strengths, recognizing your blind spots, and being intentional about your next steps.
This keynote will help participants at every career stage – from recent graduates to seasoned executives – understand their current brand and align it with where they want to go. Using a brief behavioral assessment completed before the session, attendees will gain practical insights into their work style, communication patterns, and natural strengths. We’ll explore real scenarios: How do you speak up in a room full of engineers when you’re in sales? How do you transition from being “the mom who always leaves early” to “the strategic leader”? How do you leverage your scientific background when moving into management?
Key Takeaways:
· Personal brand assessment based on pre-event behavioral survey
· Practical strategies for being seen and heard in a male-dominated industry
· Tools for navigating career transitions at any stage
· Action steps for closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be
Tracie Sponenberg is a globally recognized people strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of Tracie Sponenberg LLC, a boutique HR consultancy focused on transforming people operations for companies with deskless workforces. With nearly three decades of experience—including as Chief People Officer at The Granite Group—Tracie has led organizations through acquisitions, digital transformations, and cultural reinventions.
Tracie is a four-time global OnCon Icon Top HR Professional and was named one of the “Top 100 Global Thought Leaders” by PeopleHum and one of the “20 Top HR Thought Leaders” by Compt. She’s also been recognized as one of the “35 Employer Branding Experts” by Eightfold.ai and one of “22 Innovative HR Leaders to Follow” by AIHR. Her thought leadership has been spotlighted by media outlets including BBC, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
As the former Chair of the American Supply Association’s Women in Industry, Tracie helped lead the organization through a period of significant growth, expanding its reach and impact across the industry. She is also a trusted advisor to AI and HR tech companies and a frequent speaker on leadership, culture, and the future of work.
In her keynote, Tracie brings her passion for empowering women in traditionally male-dominated industries to the forefront. She’ll guide attendees through understanding and owning their personal brand—whether they’re just starting out or leading at the executive level. With practical tools, real-world scenarios, and insights from a pre-event behavioral assessment, Tracie helps women close the gap between how they’re seen and how they want to be seen.
1:45 - 2:45 PM I Panelists
Cathy Boysko is the North American PSA Director at Bostik, where she’s been steering the pressure sensitive adhesives business with energy and vision since 2020. With over 30 years of experience—including a long and impactful career at Ashland—Cathy knows the adhesive industry inside and out. She’s led high-performing teams, driven innovation, and built strong customer partnerships across the business. Known for her collaborative leadership style, she builds strong, empowered teams and believes the best results come from listening, learning, and leading with purpose. Whether she’s driving innovation or mentoring the next generation, Cathy’s passion for adhesives is matched only by her commitment to making work meaningful and fun. Cathy brings a dynamic blend of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership, and she’s passionate about making things stick—literally and figuratively.
Zhaohui Sun has served as Vice President of the Polymer Business at Franklin International since 2019, overseeing the P&L for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, Homopolymers, and Specialty Polymers. She leads strategic growth through innovation, market expansion, and team development.
Previously, she held global leadership roles at Ashland Inc., including Global Business Leader for Transportation Composites and Industry Manager for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives. Her career spans product development, technical leadership, product management, marketing, and commercialization across multiple regions.
Zhaohui holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron.
Danielle Wiltrout is a Product Manager with Avery Dennison Performance Tapes, where she is responsible for the General Industrial, Transportation, and Electronics portfolios.
With more than 10 years of industrial experience, Danielle has a proven track record in managing P&L for high-impact product portfolios, driving revenue growth, and enhancing profitability through strategic pricing and optimized portfolio management. She is skilled in new product launches and experienced in crafting tailored communication strategies across various channels.
Danielle is a strong collaborator with cross-functional teams, including Sales, R&D, and Operations, to bring products to market and support growth initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Saint Vincent College.
3:00 - 4:00 PM I Roundtable Discussions
11:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday, November 3
Welcome Reception (hosted by Board of Directors)
Enjoy an open bar and light appetizers.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, November 4
Lunch
Kick off the day’s programming with a light lunchtime buffet.
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
PSTC Program
Keynote: JP Dinnell
JP Dinnell
JP Dinnell is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and combat veteran. Sent to the violent terrorist stronghold of Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 with SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, JP served as point man, machine gunner, and lead sniper for Delta Platoon. JP now serves as a senior Leadership Instructor and the Chief Training Officer at Echelon Front overseeing Experiential Training Programs.
PSTC Committee Updates
State of PSTC
Close out the year with PSTC President Jonathan Hirsh. See what we have accomplished this year and what you can expect in the year to come.
Committee Updates
12:45 PM - 3:30 PM
BBQ, Bourbon, and Beer Trolley Tour (optional activity)
Savoring Southern Flavor Nashville is known for many things, including our flavorful bourbon, local brews and BBQ. Foodies travel near and far to experience the unique flavors of Music City and your group will get an exclusive taste of the best. Guests will be transferred in style, on a refurbished trolley, to three stops.. Guests will sip bourbon straight from the barrel in an exclusive experience at Nashville Barrel Company, and learn why Nashville’s Bourbon is in high demand across the country! With a stop at Tennessee Brew Works. Guests will enjoy a beer from TBW taproom, choosing from a wide selection of over 24 draft beers. While sipping, guests will have the opportunity to relax in the expansive outdoor with city-defining architecture. The evening will wrap up with dinner hosted at Central BBQ in Hillsboro Village– where they will enjoy authentic Southern low and slow smoked BBQ. This is the best way to taste some of Nashville’s most famous flavors
4:00 PM - 6:00PM
Wednesday, November 5
Morning Coffee
All attendees are welcome to coffee service to start your day.
8:00 AM
PSTC Program
Keynote: ITR | Taylor St. Germain
Keynote
Taylor St. Germain, ITR Economics
Taylor spent time in the tech industry providing market intelligence to electronics OEMs, semiconductor companies, and component manufacturers. In his five years with ITR Economics, he has worked with various distributors, manufacturers, and producers, helping each client navigate the business cycle and optimize their corporate planning strategy. Taylor has also spent several years in Texas furthering his research in the industrial sector, with a specific focus on oil and gas.
Vendor Partner Presentation
Sea Logistics and the PSA Industry
William Rooney, Kuehne + Nagel Inc.
A discussion on how labor, Geopolitics, rates, and overall operations impact sea logistics. Members will have the opportunity to learn more about overall industry metrics and strategies that are affecting the supply chain.
Topics of Discussion:
- Geopolitics and Government
- Labor
- Cargo volume
- Schedule reliability and operations
- Rates
- A forecast
PSTC Updates
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Golf Outing (optional acitvity)
12:30 PM
Closing Dinner
Celebrate PSTC’s achievements this year with your industry colleagues in a business casual, plated dinner setting. Includes full open bar.
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM
SPEAKERS
KEYNOTES
JP Dinnell
Echelon Front
Taylor St. Germain
ITR Economics
His dynamic personality and extensive knowledge of economic trends and their business relevance are highly valued by clients and colleagues alike.
Taylor spent time in the tech industry providing market intelligence to electronics OEMs, semiconductor companies, and component manufacturers. In his five years with ITR Economics, he has worked with various distributors, manufacturers, and producers, helping each client navigate the business cycle and optimize their corporate planning strategy. Taylor has also spent several years in Texas furthering his research in the industrial sector, with a specific focus on oil and gas.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in statistics from the University of Vermont and is finishing a master’s degree in applied economics at Southern New Hampshire University. He has been featured in OEM Magazine and on the Fab Lab and Wealth Formula podcasts.
VENDOR PARTNERS
William F. Rooney
Kuehne + Nagel Inc.
William F. Rooney has 51 years of experience in transportation management covering a broad range business functions. He is currently Vice President, Strategic Development for Kuehne + Nagel Inc. and has been with Kuehne + Nagel for 12 years. Prior to Kuehne + Nagel Mr. Rooney’s positions have included President of Hanjin Shipping America; Senior Vice President, Service Delivery for CMA-CGM; and Vice President, Ocean Services for GT Nexus, a logistics software provider. He also held a number of senior management positions with Sea-Land Service over a span of 25 years including 5 years in Europe. Mr. Rooney started his career doing economic research for the US Department of Transportation. Mr. Rooney’s board memberships have included: the Pacific Maritime Association, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, The US Maritime Alliance, Consolidated Chassis Management, OCEMA, and the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Rooney received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Marist College in New York and a master’s degree in economics from Northeastern University in Boston.
ACTIVITIES
Wednesday, November 5
GOLF OUTING
12:30 PM Shotgun Start
Price includes green fees, cart, sleeve of balls, unlimited range balls, GPS Golf System, all tournament services (i.e. scorecards, scoreboard, cart cards, etc.) and box lunch. Drinks the responsibility of players
- Registration Closed
Deadline to register is Monday October 20. No cancellations after this date. $25.00 Cancelation fee before October 17.
Hermitage Golf Course
3939 Old Hickory Boulevard Old Hickory, TN 37138 PSTC will not be providing transportation. Allow 30 minutes to get to course due to traffic.