Registration Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
Please join us for the Fluid Sealing Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting, where you will have valuable opportunities to engage with fellow members and discuss the latest issues impacting the industry. This year's program will include expert presentations on expanding regulatory requirements and the future of reliability, an interactive workshop on artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, division meetings, and the annual business meeting with member presentations, committee updates, and director elections.
Don't miss this chance to network, learn, and contribute to the future of the industry. We encourage you to bring a colleague from your company to join us!
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Expanding Regulatory Requirements and Their Impact on the Sealing Industry
By Denise Lee
| | Denise Lee, Global Product Regulatory Compliance Manager, Technology Excellence, with John Crane, is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience spanning over four decades. She is a respected industry expert with a proven track record in Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene and Health Physics/Radiation Protection. For the past eight of her nearly 14 years with John Crane, Denise has been tasked with overseeing the Global Product Regulatory Compliance Program, ensuring that the company adheres to all relevant regulations and standards. Additionally, she has recently taken on the responsibility for leading the PFAS reduction/elimination initiative, demonstrating her commitment to environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. Aside from holding the Certified Safety Management Practitioner credential issued by the Institute of Hazardous Material Management (IHMM), she also holds a MS (Master of Science) degree from Purdue University. | |
The Evolution of Reliability: Lessons from the Past, Challenges Today, and Tomorrow's Vision
By Bob Latino
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Many believe that most failures are ‘caused’ by humans, but in truth, humans are often the victims of poor systems. We will explore these truths using practical examples from the fluid sealing space and having an interactive discussion about current state of RCA and Reliability in the audience’s facilities.
Bob Latino is currently a Principal of Prelical Solutions, LLC. He was formerly the CEO of Reliability Center, Inc. (RCI), until its acquisition in 2019. The Latino family founded, directed, and owned RCI since 1972.
He is an internationally recognized author, trainer, software developer, lecturer, and practitioner of best practices in all aspects of a holistic Root Cause Analysis (RCA) system. Bob has been facilitating RCA analyses with clients around the world for over 36 years. He has taught well over 10,000 students in more than 25 countries in his RCA Essentials Methodology. He is the author or co-author of ten books on RCA, FMEA, and/or human error reduction, and has published over 100 articles and papers on these topics in both manufacturing and healthcare.
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Unlocking AI: How to Use Prompt Engineering to
Boost Technical and Marketing Impact
Workshop and Luncheon
Facilitated by Ron Frisard, A.W. Chesterton Company
| | Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for both engineers and
marketers—but to get the most out of it, you need to know how to ask the right questions. This interactive workshop will introduce members of the Fluid Sealing Association to practical ways AI can enhance day-to-day work, from generating technical content and analyzing data to improving customer communications and simplifying complex tasks. We’ll focus on prompt engineering—how to craft clear, effective prompts to get high-quality, usable results from AI tools like ChatGPT. Whether you're in product development, applications, marketing, or communications, you’ll walk away with hands-on techniques and real-world examples to start using AI more effectively in your role. | |
Optional Reception at NASCAR Hall of Fame
Please join us on the evening of Thursday, October 23rd for an optional reception in the Hall of Honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, located just a short walk from the Westin Charlotte.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is an
interactive attraction celebrating the history and heritage of NASCAR.
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This high-tech venue - designed to engage both race fans and newcomers - features authentic artifacts, hands-on exhibits, and immersive experiences.
This optional event will include an open bar and a casual buffet, and is included with your registration fee. Please indicate whether you plan to attend when registering so we can plan accordingly.
An optional Fast Pass Add-On will be available from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., just prior to the reception. This includes a 30-minute tour of the museum and the chance to try the racing simulator and pit crew challenge exhibits. The cost for the Fast Pass Add-On is $32 per person, and pre-registration is required.
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The Westin Charlotte
601 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 375-2600
View Hotel Website
The Westin Charlotte is centrally located in the heart of the city's central Uptown district, offering easy access to popular attractions like Discovery Place, Bank of America Stadium, and the Center for African American Arts and Culture. The Westin features a Club Lounge, coffeehouse, a 24-hour gym, and homemade honey from beekeepers located on the hotel roof.
Our discounted group room rate is $299 plus state and local taxes per night. Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for Marriott Bonvoy members is included.
The check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and the check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
Reserve your accommodations by Friday, September 19 by clicking on the below link or by calling (704) 375-2600. Be sure to mention that you are with the Fluid Sealing Association. If you have any problems making a reservation, please contact the FSA office for assistance.
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The registration fee for the first two attendees from a company is $950 per person.
The fee for any additional attendees from that same company is $700 per person.
Spouses and Companions may register for $350 per person.
Invited Prospective Members may register for $450 per person.
Refunds will be granted through October 10, 2025.
The registration fee will be refunded, minus a $60 processing fee per registration.
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Proper Attire
For all meetings, the attire is business casual. The receptions and dinners are informal.
Meeting Attendance
Meetings and events are open to all attendees unless specified otherwise on the meeting schedule. Division meetings are open to all attendees if your company is a member of the division. If your company is not a member of the division, you must obtain permission from the division chair to attend the meeting.
Weather
The daytime temperature in Charlotte is expected to be around 72°F (22°C). Evening temperatures are expected to drop to around 52°F (11°C).
Transportation & Parking
Airport - The Westin is located 7 miles (an approximately 15-minute drive) from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The hotel does not offer a shuttle.
Hotel Parking - Self-parking at the hotel is available for $35 per night. Valet parking at the hotel is available for $48 per night plus tax for overnight guests
Taxi/Uber/Lyft - The cost for one-way transportation between the airport and the hotel via taxi, Uber or Lyft is approximately $25 to $40.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Pete Lance or Chris Glynn in the FSA office at +1-610-971-4850 or info@fluidsealing.com.
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