Movers and Shakers highlights the career advancements and accomplishments of high-level trailblazers working professionally in diverse areas of standardization, contributing every day to the strength and success of the U.S. standards and conformance community.
Kathryn Beers is the new director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Measurement Laboratory (MML). MML is one of the agency’s six laboratories, and focuses on measurement science research in the chemical, biological, and material sciences. It also contributes technical expertise to the development of standards.
Beers, a polymer chemist by training, has served in various government roles. She joined NIST as a National Academies/National Research Council (NRC) postdoc after earning her Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. She was also the director of the Combinatorial Methods Center in the Polymers Division. She led the Renewable Polymers Project in the Polymers Division and the Polymers and Complex Fluids Group in the Materials Science and Engineering Division.
At NIST, she served as the deputy division chief of the Polymers Division. She was also the assistant director for physical sciences and engineering for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In 2020, she was appointed as the manager of the Circular Economy Program, which focuses on standards and technologies needed to support a more sustainable economy.
“Kate has lived the NIST values of excellence, integrity, perseverance, and inclusivity since she arrived here,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST director Laurie E. Locascio. “Her leadership of the NIST Combinatorial Methods Center expanded access to NIST’s world-class polymer science for a broad set of industry customers, and she had the vision to establish the NIST Circular Economy Program to provide the measurement science and tools to move the planet to a new paradigm of production. Kate is an experienced leader of organizations and teams, cares deeply about the success of the people she leads, and will help MML and NIST continue to excel at serving the nation.”
Henry Chamberlain, BOMA International and BOMI president, has announced his retirement from BOMA International after 39 years with the association. Chamberlain will retire at the end of 2024, and senior vice president Mary Lue Peck will succeed him on January 1, 2025.
Chamberlain started at BOMA International as director of communications, and spent almost 23 years as the staff leader of the association.
"Henry has been an integral part of our leadership team and success as long as most of us can remember," said BOMA International chairman and CEO Bob Six. "His openness to change, continuous learning, amiable leadership style, and focus on the future have allowed us to grow and prosper. Mary Lue joined us two and a half years ago and has proven herself to be a strong leader who will be highly successful at building upon the initiatives we have been launching with an eye to BOMA's future."
"I have been incredibly lucky to get to spend most of my working life leading the premier commercial real estate trade association in partnership with an amazing officer corps, staff, and the leadership of our local associations and international affiliates," said Chamberlain. "I look forward to retirement and letting new, diverse leadership take BOMA to even greater success in the future. Mary Lue has a long track record in managing change while creating and executing organizational strategies. Her impressive experience will position BOMA and BOMI to take advantage of future opportunities collectively across our federation."
Peck, who will become the first female president and COO of BOMA International, started BOMA International in 2021 from the National Speakers Association (NSA), where she served as president and chief executive officer.
Submit an Announcement
Contributions to Movers and Shakers may be submitted to [email protected]. All submissions are published at ANSI's discretion.
Career Opportunities
As a service to the U.S. standards and conformity assessment community, ANSI provides an online network connecting the most progressive companies with the most qualified individuals. Please visit ANSI's career opportunities webpage for details.
