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The Wednesday Opening Session keynote speaker Linda Kaplan Thaler, advertising and non-fiction writer, and chair of the ad agency Publicis Kaplan Thaler

Dennis Snow, a 20-year veteran of the Walt Disney World Co., gave the keynote address at the Thursday opening session on the topic of creating perfect customer experiences

Left to right: Cihan Vzinpinar, nylon process lead technical lead; Bart Krulic, technical sales manager, Industrial; and Dr. Wai-shing Yung, technology director, Product Development, Ascend Performance Materials

Mark J. Blasman, vice president, marketing and software development, Jomar Softcorp International Inc. during his Advanced Textiles campfire session

Left to right: Scott C. Archibald, finishing sales and service manager, Jakob Müller of America Inc.; Guillermo Carlos Reyes, sales manager, Jakob Müller of America Inc.; Andreas Klöcker, product manager, sales engineer/Making-up belts, Jakob Müller Deutschland GmbH; and Joseph M. Shepley Jr., manager, after sales & service, Jakob Müller of America Inc.

Rich Kenney (left), U.S. national representative; and Lucas Moraes, sales manager, Ultra Fresh/Thomson Research Associates, winner of an IFAI Show Stopper Award.

Mike Hubbard (left), International Trade manager, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina; and Kim-Bang Nguyen, director, export promotion and strategic business alliances, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Dave Nelson, director of Industry Engagement, The Nonwovens Institute ,during his Advanced Textiles campfire session

Left to right: Alan Fenno, market development manager, coatings; Mike Strickland, vice president of sales; Chris McComas, inside sales; and Kevin Ross, product manager, Hypur-Cel®/Visco-Cel®, Rubberlite Inc.

Left to right: Steve Charron, S.A. Charron & Co.; Dharmesh Desai, director, Meera Industries Pvt. Ltd.; and James T. Pye, president, JTP Associates Inc.

Harrell W. Ligon (left), president; and Brian Brimer, technical sales and service, Lang Ligon & Co. Inc.

Mark J. Blasman, vice president, marketing and software development; and Ed Keller, senior project manager, Jomar Softcorp International Inc.

Dr. Haskell W. Beckham (left), principal scientist, polymer science & materials chemistry; and Dr. Erin Kirkpatrick, senior scientist, polymer science and materials chemistry practice, Exponent

John Russell (left), technical director; and Erin M. Brown, marketing director & business development, APV Engineered Coatings

Dr. Haskell W. Beckham, principal scientist, polymer science & materials chemistry, during an Advanced Textiles campfire session held on the showfloor during IFAI Expo 2016.