Larry Sloan writes, "I’ve made the D.C. area my home now for more than 11 years. I’ve spent the past decade in the nonprofit sector working in the chemical trade association industry, as a result of a close friend of mine from undergrad who entered the profession years before me. Just last fall, during one of the most economically challenging years, I was successful in landing a new job as president and CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (socma.com), an 80-year-old organization representing the batch, specialty and custom chemical industry. I leave the Adhesive and Sealant Council, where I’ve spent the past nine years (five as its leader), and had the privilege of elevating its perception and reputation in the marketplace and meeting an incredible group of professional colleagues, many with whom I will miss interacting on a regular basis in my new gig. As I reflect back on my career thus far, I would never have imagined the satisfaction and self-fulfillment that the trade association community has brought me. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled around the world and built a community of friends on five continents. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience on so many fronts, and for this I am truly blessed, especially during these tough times."

"On a personal note, my daughter Elli (13) has entered the teen years with a healthy sense of self, a keen aptitude for texting (what else is new?) and a newly found appreciation for mocking her parents (‘right, Dad — have fun with that’). My friends with older kids warned me about this, and I kept assuming my kid would be different! She is active in gymnastics, piano, excels in school and is an avid board-game player. For those of you with pre-teen and teenage girls, there’s a (new?) game out called ‘Life — High School Edition.’ We discovered it over Christmas, and I highly recommend it."