From the Chair

In a period defined by economic volatility, fast-moving regulatory change, imposed tariffs, and uncertainty in government funding, the chemical enterprise needs more than scientific excellence – it needs leaders who can translate chemistry into resilient strategy, sustainable growth, and real-world impact. BMGT is where that translation happens. We are the ACS community for professionals who are building products, scaling businesses, navigating complex compliance landscapes, leading teams, and making high-stakes decisions when the path forward is not obvious. BMGT is widely described as the professional home for scientists whose careers have expanded beyond the lab – into management, business development, and the broader business of chemistry.

ACS turns 150 in 2026, and this milestone is more than a celebration – it is a call to lead the next era of chemistry with clarity, credibility, and commercial and societal relevance.

BMGT will be part of that momentum at the ACS Spring 2026 National Meeting in Atlanta, during a week designed to celebrate the Society’s anniversary.

On Monday, March 23 2026, BMGT will host the Dr. Nina I. McClelland Emerging Leader Award Symposium: “Building and Managing Successful Teams” – a practical, leadership-focused program featuring an award recipient presentation and case-based talks on topics such as stakeholder interviews, driving cultural change, communication behavior, and rational team building.

Later in 2026, at the ACS Fall National Meeting in Chicago, BMGT will recognize excellence across the chemical enterprise by presenting three division awards at a dedicated symposium: the BMGT Nexus Award, the Henry F. Whalen, Jr. Award for Excellence in Business Development and Management in the Chemical Enterprise, and the Dr. Nina I. McClelland Emerging Leader Award. BMGT’s awards program supports all three honors, and we encourage nominations from across industry, academia, government, and the startup ecosystem. Nominations will be due in February 2026. Please consider putting forward a colleague, a collaborator, a mentor, or an emerging leader whose work deserves visibility by nominating here.

If you are already a BMGT member, thank you for investing in a division that strengthens the leadership muscle of the chemical sciences. If you are considering joining, I invite you to make BMGT your professional home within ACS – the place where you build the capabilities, relationships, and perspective to lead through uncertainty, create opportunity, and ensure chemistry continues to deliver value when it matters most.

Yours,

Jens Breffke, PhD, MBA
2026 Chair, ACS BMGT