Dear Members and Friends,

It is a profound honor to serve as the new President of the Metropolitan New York Coatings Association (MNYCA), during this milestone year as we celebrate our 140th anniversary. For nearly a century and a half, the association has been a cornerstone of connection, innovation, and strength for the regional coatings industry. While we take pride in our rich history, we are equally focused on positioning our association for future expansion and success.

Our industry continues to evolve, and MNYCA is evolving with it. To strengthen our organization and better serve the coatings community, we are expanding our geographical reach to officially welcome members from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. This regional expansion formally connects our existing network with potential new members, creating broader opportunities for collaboration, and business growth.

To remain strong and relevant, we need the active engagement of our members. Membership growth is a key priority this year. By welcoming new companies and professionals into our association, we strengthen our collective voice, deepen our resource pool, and ensure that MNYCA remains the definitive forum for industry advocacy and commercial networking.

Staying viable for the next 140 years, we are committed to providing meaningful programs and modernized value to support our members. Key initiatives include:

Technical Forums: We have launched dedicated technical sessions to dissect emerging regulatory changes, raw material disruptions, and cutting-edge formulation technologies.

Workforce Development: We will introduce targeted learning opportunities and foundational training tracks specifically designed to onboard and upskill the newest employees of our member companies.

Networking Opportunities: We will continue to organize events to provide networking opportunities for our members. Special focus will be on introducing the next generation of coating professionals to each other and our long-time industry members.

Eastern Coatings Show: MNYCA is a founding member and a proud hosting society with many of our members’ employees actively organizing the show. (May 11 – 13, 2027)

Mentorship and Continuity: We will establish structured pathways to pass down decades of hard-won tribal knowledge from our veteran executives to the industry's next generation.

Social Responsibility: We will continue our active participation in local not-for-profit events.

Even as we pivot toward the future, we will never lose sight of the individuals and companies that built the foundation of our association. Throughout this milestone year, we will formally celebrate our rich history and recognize the multi-generational businesses and dedicated professionals whose contributions have shaped our industry.

I encourage every member-company to actively engage in our new initiatives, bring your incoming talent to our events, and champion the MNYCA’s expansion. Together, we can honor our past, transform our present, and help secure a thriving future for the local coatings industry.

Sincerely,

Christine Gehres, President MNYCA