EXPLORERS CLUB PRESIDENT TO BE HONORED AT THE CME STEM AWARDS
For Immediate Release
November 1, 2024 - New York, NY The Chemical Marketing & Economics (CME) STEM Leadership Awards Luncheon and Gala Reception will be held on December 10 at the Metropolitan Club of New York from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm. The event will honor Explorers Club President Richard Garriott de Cayeux, for Advancing Extraordinary Exploration, and Celanese Corporation Chairman and CEO Lori Ryerkerk, for Corporate Reinvention. The Keynote Speaker will be the NASA Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Science, Mamta Nagaraja, and the Event Co-Chair will be Air Products Chairman and CEO Seifi Ghasemi.
AIAC Chairman and Explorers Club Trustee L. M. Levie, nominated Richard Garriott for the Leadership Award, and assisted in the planning for this annual event. AIAC and its affiliates, Bradford Space, SuperAlloy Manufacturing Solutions, Canadian Kraft Paper Industries, Champlain Cable, and Umbillicals International, are corporate sponsors of the Explorers Club. News of the CME STEM Award to Richard Garriott was first announced at Climate Week at the Explorers Club on September 26. Richard Wiese, former President of the Explorers Club, shall introduce Mr. Garriott at the awards event in December.
Globally recognized, the CME STEM Leadership Award’s distinguished honorees have included James and Marilyn Simons, Founders of the Simons Foundation, Len Blavatnik, Chairman of Access Industries Holdings and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, Pindaros Roy Vagelos, Chairman of Regeneron and former Chairman of Merck & Co., Jon Huntsman, Sr., Chairman of Huntsman Corporation, Ken Frazer, Executive Chairman of Merck & Co., Jim Fitterling, Chairman of Dow Inc., John Craig Venter, Chairman of Celera Genomics and the J. Venter Institute, Henry Kravis, Chair of KKR, David Cole, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell Corporation, Martin Brudermuller, Chair of BASF, Bob Patel, CEO of W. R. Grace, Charles Bolden, Administrator of NASA, and Nobel Laureates Barry Sharpless, Frances Arnold, and Carolyn Bertozzi.
Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) located in Morristown, NJ, is focused on accelerating diverse Space Age STEM talent leadership for sustainable innovation, environmental stewardship and global impact at the intersection of business, science and technology.
CME was established in 1954 as a division of the American Chemical Society (ASC), one of the world's largest scientific societies, with 155,000 members and 20,000 students.
CME is today an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes events with NASA, the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Lab, ACS Technical Divisions and International Chapters, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the American Chemistry Council.
CME’s award-winning interdisciplinary STEM activities include the fascinating Annual CME NASA Symposiums and Earth & Space Sustainability Summit and the unique CME PMSE Student & Mentor Awards which recognizes the most basic unit of human innovation, the student and mentor. CME is also the proud National Partner of the ACS Scholars Program and an AIChE collaborator of the FOSSI scholarships for underrepresented groups.
AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie commented, “I was delighted to nominate my dear friend Richard Garriott de Cayeux for CME STEM’s highest award. Richard’s accomplishments in the fields of technology and business are legendary and his achievements in exploration are quite literally out of this world. He has been a truly inspirational leader, beloved by all the Explorers Club’s extraordinary members for safely navigating our iconic club into its 120th anniversary year.”
For further information, please see:
https://www.cme-stem.org/events/2024-cme-stem-leadership-awards/
https://www.cme-stem.org/events/2024-cme-nasa-symposium-and-earth-space-sustainability-summit/
About Richard Garriott de Cayeux
Richard Garriott is the President of The Explorers Club. He is a founding father of the videogame industry and the commercial spaceflight industry, a flown astronaut, and the first explorer to have explored pole to pole, orbited the Earth, and reached the deepest point in the ocean. He built leading gaming companies including Origin Systems, authored the Ultima Series and coined the modern use of the term “avatar.” He cofounded Space Adventures, the first company to arrange space flights for private citizens and is the sixth private astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station.
The son of a NASA astronaut, he became the first second-generation astronaut, served on NASA advisory Council, and has been a key leader in civilian and commercial space through institutions such as the Challenger Center for Science Education and the XPRIZE Foundation. Richard is an avid explorer, having traveled all 7 continents, orbited the Earth aboard the International Space Station, dived to the deepest point in our oceans, and most recently summited Kilimanjaro. He is author of the book “Explore/Create.”
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Garriott
About the Explorers Club
The Explorers Club is a world-renowned international organization dedicated to promoting scientific exploration and field research across land, sea, air, and space. Founded in 1904 in New York City, the club was created to unite explorers, scientists, and adventurers involved in expeditions to uncharted territories, providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and collaboration on significant discoveries. Its mission is to advance the cause of exploration, encourage scientific research, and inspire the next generation of explorers.
The club was born from the vision of a group of prominent adventurers and scientists, including Henry Collins Walsh, Adolphus Greely, and Carl Lumboltz, who sought a place where those pushing the limits of human endurance and curiosity could gather. Early on, the club became a meeting ground for individuals who were mapping the world’s unknown regions, from the polar ice caps to the deepest jungles. Over time, the Explorers Club attracted some of the greatest explorers and scientific minds in history.
Famous members of the club include many iconic figures who have made their mark on history. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States and an avid explorer of the Amazon and Africa, was an honorary member. Aviator Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, was a pioneering member, as was Walter Cronkite, the legendary news anchor who chronicled many of the 20th century’s great scientific achievements. Astronauts John Glen and Neil Armstrong, the first to walked on the moon, were also members.
Other notable members include Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Mount Everest, Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight, and Thor Heyerdahl, known for the Kon-Tiki expedition across the Pacific. The club’s roster also includes oceanographer Sylvia Earle, deep-sea explorer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the Titanic. It is also known for embracing the next generation of explorers, such as modern-day space pioneers and conservationists.
The club’s headquarters, located at 46 East 70th Street in Manhattan, is a historic landmark filled with artifacts, maps, and memorabilia from expeditions around the globe. The building serves as a meeting place for members, and it regularly hosts lectures, special events, and its famed annual dinner, which attracts the world's leading explorers and scientists. The Explorers Club Flag, first introduced in 1918, is awarded to expeditions of scientific merit, and has been carried to the highest mountains, the deepest oceans, the North and South Poles, and even to the moon.
Today, the Explorers Club continues to support and sponsor expeditions in fields ranging from archaeology and anthropology to oceanography and space exploration. The club provides grants and fellowships to emerging explorers, while also educating the public about the importance of conservation and exploration. Its motto, "To the Field," captures its enduring commitment to advancing human knowledge through exploration and scientific discovery.
With its distinguished history and its continued role in shaping the future of exploration, the Explorers Club remains one of the most influential organizations in the world for those seeking to uncover the unknown.
The Explorers Club continues to attract an elite group of modern-day pioneers, entrepreneurs, and scientists who push the boundaries of exploration and discovery. Among its current distinguished members are some of the most influential figures in various fields. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, represent the new frontier of space exploration. Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, remains an active symbol of human space exploration. Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and conservationist, champions the cause of wildlife and environmental preservation through her membership. Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, embodies the spirit of adventure and innovation in both space tourism and exploration. Ray Dalio, the billionaire investor and philanthropist, and D.E. Shaw, the influential hedge fund manager, are both dedicated to supporting global scientific initiatives.
The Explorers Club also includes royalty among its ranks. Prince Albert II of Monaco, a passionate advocate for environmental protection, and the King of Bhutan, known for his environmental and conservation efforts, are both members. Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, who was made an honorary member of the club this year, is a supporter of exploration and scientific research, further cementing the club's global influence. The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a noted aviator and conservationist, was a long-time member.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Explorers_Club
About Lori J. Ryerkerk
Lori J. Ryerkerk is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company based in Dallas, Texas. Celanese is a leader in the development and production of materials used in most major industrial and consumer applications. Ryerkerk was named as CEO, as well as a member of the board of directors, in May 2019. She was appointed Chairman in April 2020.
Previously, Ryerkerk was the Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing, the largest business in Shell Downstream Inc. She led a team of 30,000 employees and contractors at refineries and chemical sites worldwide.
Ryerkerk’s expertise in the energy industry spans three-plus decades. She combines deep technical and commercial skills with a passion for the manufacturing business. Her unwavering focus on safety, environmental and social performance is the foundation on which she has overseen some of the most technically complex operations in the industry.
Ryerkerk joined Shell in May 2010 as the Regional Vice President of Manufacturing in Europe and Africa, and was responsible for the operation of five Shell Manufacturing facilities and five joint ventures. During that time, she improved operational performance of all assets in the region. In October 2013, she was named Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing, Shell Downstream Inc.
Before joining Shell, she was Senior Vice President, Refining, Supply and Terminals at Hess Corporation, where she was responsible for two refineries, 21 terminals (and distribution network) and supply and trading.
Prior to that, Ryerkerk spent 24 years with ExxonMobil where she started her career as a process technologist at a refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Throughout her tenure at ExxonMobil, she took on a variety of operational and senior leadership roles in Refining and Chemicals Manufacturing, Power Generation, and various other groups including Supply, Economics and Planning, HSSE, and Public Affairs/Government Relations. Those assignments took her across the globe, from the U.S. to Europe to Asia.
Ryerkerk is a graduate of Iowa State University, where she completed her Chemical Engineering degree. She currently serves on the board of directors of Eaton Corporation, a leading provider of power management technologies and services; and previously she served on the board of Axalta Coating Systems, a leading provider of liquid and powder coatings. Additionally, she actively supports a variety of organizations in her hometown of Beaumont, Texas.
About Celenese Corporation
Celanese Corporation, headquartered in Irving, Texas, is a prominent global leader in the chemical and specialty materials industry, with a history dating back to 1918. Over the years, the company has expanded its global reach and now operates in over 20 countries, serving diverse sectors such as automotive, healthcare, electronics, consumer goods, and industrial manufacturing. Celanese is recognized not only for its operational excellence but also for its ability to innovate and provide customized solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients.
A key part of Celanese’s success lies in its two primary business segments: the Engineered Materials segment and the Acetyl Chain segment. Each segment serves a distinct role in the chemical and materials market, allowing Celanese to leverage its expertise and resources to provide comprehensive solutions across different industries. This structure enhances the company’s ability to respond to market demands and ensures that its global production and distribution networks remain resilient and reliable.
Celanese is also deeply committed to sustainability and innovation. The company invests heavily in research and development, aiming to create environmentally friendly materials and reduce the carbon footprint of its operations. Through advanced R&D, Celanese has developed a range of eco-conscious solutions that support clients' sustainability goals and align with growing global standards for reducing environmental impact.
With its strategic focus on global supply chain excellence, local market adaptation, and sustainable innovation, Celanese remains a preferred partner for companies worldwide. The corporation’s dedication to quality, reliability, and forward-looking practices has solidified its position as a leader in specialty materials, driving value for customers and advancing environmentally responsible solutions across the industry.
For further information, please see:
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. AIAC companies manufacture materials, components, assemblies, packaging, equipment, and finished products. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, signage and illumination structures in North America, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades and blisks for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell. AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler- Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
Another AIAC affiliate, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance emergency portable power generators required during natural disasters, including extreme climate events worldwide. Clients include government agencies and the International Red Cross.
For further information, please see:
About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, and exploration. The exploration-focused nonprofit organizations which they actively support include the Explorers Club, the National Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Space Society, and the United States Space Foundation.
In recent months, AIAC Companies have proudly served as a corporate sponsor of Hubert Sagniere’s historic circumnavigation of the earth in a single-engine plane (www.flightaroundtheglobe.com).
AIAC’s other beneficiaries include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the Sierra Club, and the Trilateral Commission.
For further information, see:
https://www.aiac.com/our-values
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+ 1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com