SSPC and NACE Announce Robert H. Chalker as Chief Executive Officer of New, Combined Organization
May 6, 2020
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas, May 6, 2020 —SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International announced today that Robert H. Chalker has been named Chief Executive Officer of the new, combined organization that was approved by ballot of both SSPC and NACE membership bodies in April. Bill Worms, who has served as Executive Director of SSPC since 2015 will remain at the helm of SSPC while the process of combining the organizations begins. The staff and office facilities of SSPC will remain in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chalker has nearly 20 years of association management experience and has served as CEO of NACE International since 2010. Prior to joining NACE, Bob was the Managing Director of ASQ Global where he was responsible for developing a global network of quality professionals and experts focused on educating the world on the principles of quality. Chalker also served as Director of Global Development and Strategic Planning for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International).
“I have known Bob since he took over as CEO of NACE and have worked with him in my role as a member of the NACE Education Committee,” said Joseph Walker, President of SSPC. “I have always been impressed with his leadership approach and his vision for the future. He builds great teams and has in-depth knowledge of the coatings and corrosion industries. I look forward to working with him as we bring the organizations together.”
“Bob’s association experience is tailor-made for this transition,” said Terry Greenfield, President of NACE International. “Bob’s extensive background in management and organizational leadership has resulted in a culture of high performance and success for NACE. That will be a tremendous asset as the leaders of both organizations work to strategize and develop a single organization that will serve the world’s corrosion and coatings professionals at every level of expertise.”
“I’m honored to lead these two venerated organizations through this monumental change,” said Chalker. “This is an opportunity to provide coatings and corrosion professionals worldwide with more mission-driven value, making societies safer by strengthening the standards, education and certification programs that makes our members the best at what they do.”
Referencing Mr. Worms, Walker stated, “In its 70-year history, SSPC has only had five Executive Directors. Not many people realize that. Bill came to SSPC in 2015 not only with the reputation as a steady leader, but also as someone who could take SSPC to the next level. His performance as an executive did not disappoint. He’s been aggressive in expanding SSPC’s global footprint and pushing the organization to new heights of success. Without that kind of growth, I don’t think we would be talking about combining organizations right now. Bill’s leadership has been that impactful and a true testament to his capabilities.”
“Bill has achieved extraordinary work at SSPC,” added Greenfield. “He is highly respected by members, staff and industry and has been an outstanding partner in the years we’ve worked together on mutual efforts on behalf of the organizations, and again throughout this process of considering combining NACE and SSPC.”
“In just five years, Bill has managed to build a legacy that will be foundational to success of the new organization,” said Chalker. “What Bill has done on behalf of SSPC’s members and the coatings profession has elevated the value of SSPC programs – and strengthened safety, environmental, and economic benefits afforded to industry through those important programs.
“I’ve been honored to lead SSPC over the past five years,” said Worms. “It was a new challenge for me coming from the corporate world, but it has been very fulfilling. At the start I set out to recruit a talented staff and set some aggressive growth goals for the organization. Our team really responded to the challenge, increasing engagement with members, opening up new markets and new opportunities, and making SSPC a one-stop-shop for coatings industry professionals looking for training and technical resources.” Worms continued, “I’m looking forward to working with Bob and the transition team to help the new organization take shape.” Currently, leaders of SSPC and NACE are planning on a January 4, 2021 debut for the new association. Worms is expected to remain at SSPC through the end of 2020.
Chalker earned his MBA at Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan) and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati, where he received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He also sits on the boards of the Katy Area Economic Development Council and Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) and is a member of Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Industry Advisory Board.
About SSPC
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings was founded in 1950 as the Steel Structures Painting Council, a non-profit society focused on using protective coatings to protect industrial steel structures. In 1997, the name of the association was changed to SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings to better reflect the changing nature of coatings technology and the ever-expanding types of construction materials. With 11,000 members worldwide, SSPC is the leading provider of training and certification programs for coatings professionals and source of information on surface preparation, coating selection, coating application, environmental regulations, and health and safety issues that affect the protective coatings industry. www.SSPC.org
About NACE International
Founded in 1943, NACE International, The Worldwide Corrosion Authority, is the world’s largest nonprofit of its kind with more than 38,000 members in 130 countries. Based in Houston, Texas, with offices in the U.S., the U.K., China, Malaysia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and a training center in Dubai, the organization serves all industries impacted by corrosion. NACE International provides its membership with numerous benefits and offers the world’s most specified technical training and certification programs, industry standards, reports, conferences, and publications focused on corrosion prevention and mitigation. www.nace.org
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