The 32^nd Biennial Western Coatings Symposium and Show was held in Las Vegas October 25-28. The event registered over 1,100 attendees, and including exhibitors and speakers, overall attendance was over 1,360 people, representing 15% growth over 2013 and 25% growth over 2011.

Due to the large number of quality submissions, the WCS expanded its technical program to 95 papers in five tracks. Also included were 14 student posters and four student presentations.

Keynote speakers included Cyriac Alexander, who retired from Behr Process Corp. and founded the Alexander Technical Institute; and Jason Woods, Director of Commercialization Global Supply Chain for The Sherwin-Williams Company.

The event also featured a panel discussion on how sustainability fits into the coatings industry. Panelists included David DeBoer, Program Supervisor, South Coast Air Quality Management District; Dr. John Gilbert, Sr. Vice President, Research and Development, Behr Process Corp.; Dr. Dane Jones, Professor Emeritus at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; Timothy M. Serie, Esq, Counsel, Government Affairs, American Coatings Association; and Jason Woods, Director of Commercialization Global Supply Chain for The Sherwin-Williams Company.

The 2015 WCS Samson-Adler Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tony Rumfola of TCR Industries, and Romer Johnson of Dorsett and Jackson. The award was introduced in 2009 and is named for Mr. Maurice Samson and Mr. Barry Adler in recognition of their pioneering efforts during the earliest days of the WCS. The award distinguishes an individual for lifetime service to the society, the WCS and the coatings industry in general.

The WCS 2017, a biennial, western United States and Canada coatings industry conference and trade show, will be held October 15-18, 2017 in Las Vegas.