PRINCETON, New Jersey, March 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Informex Show Management today announced the keynote speaker for the inaugural Informex Specialty Chemicals Conference, to be held in Houston, Texas on May 11th, will be Lee E. Mikles*, President and CEO of FutureFuel Corp., the leading US manufacturer of biofuels and specialty chemicals. Launched in response to industry feedback and consultation with the Informex Specialty Chemical Advisory Committee, the Specialty Chemicals Conference seeks to provide a platform for the specialty and industrial chemical industries to network and gather valuable information in one of the most vibrant hubs of US chemical production.

Mr. Mikles' keynote address will examine overarching trends within the specialties sector, explore growth opportunities and will look at how industry changes have shaped individuals and their roles. Looking to the future, he will then identify strategies for success in the post-recession economic climate and discuss the market outlook for the next three to five years.

In addition to this keynote session, the conference will feature a tabletop exhibition and two panel discussions that will examine key industry issues in greater depth. The first session will evaluate the latest strategies for sourcing and chemical tolling projects both domestically and internationally, with a critique of current business strategies and a review of issues such as cost comparison, accessibility, depth of product line and quality. The second panel will focus on capitalizing on a new market for your products, navigating production flow across different markets and evaluating the strike points in growing markets. The session aims to enable participants to forge new strategic partnerships that facilitate diversification. Panelists include experts from Shell Global Solutions, Huntsman, Syrgis, Air Products and DSM, while initial tabletop exhibitors include Bayer Technology Services, FutureFuel, KMCO, Louisiana Chemical Equipment and MFG Chemical. The conference will be concluded by two in-depth case studies, one focusing on how to use the most efficient technology in day-to-day operations that will enhance business, including catalysis, continuous processing and microprocessing, the other looking at the regenerative cycle of chemicals and how to minimize waste. The event will be chaired by SOCMA President, Lawrence D. Sloan, who commented: We are pleased to be working with UBM on launching the first-ever Informex Specialty Chemical Conference in Houston this spring. Texas is a major hub for chemical companies and home to the second largest number of SOCMA members. We are looking forward to a great turnout and a successful event.

Informex Brand Director Jennifer Jessup added: Online conference registration has only just opened but we are already very pleased with the number of delegates registering, and their company profiles and positions in the industry. We are delighted to have such a high caliber keynote speaker in Lee Mikles, great panelists in our conference sessions and Larry Sloan from SOCMA as chair person to make this a 'must attend' event for companies in the specialties sector.

The full conference program and registration details can be found at http://www.informex.com/specialty-houston

*Notes for Editors

Lee E. Mikles has been the president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of FutureFuel Corp., since its inception in 2005.

Mr. Mikles was chairman of Mikles/Miller Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and home to the Kodiak family of funds, between 1992 and 2005. He was also chairman of Mikles/Miller Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, between 1999 and 2005.

Additionally, Mr. Mikles has served on the board of directors of Pacific Capital Bankcorp., Official Payments Corporation, Coastcast Corporation, Nelnet, Inc., Imperial Bank and Imperial Bancorp. He currently serves on the board of directors of Boss Holdings, Inc. and is the chair of the audit committee for Boss Holdings, Inc.

In 2008 Mr. Mikles was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association. The Association is comprised of members who have achieved success over adversity. The organization strives to provide scholarship assistance to deserving young people who have demonstrated integrity and determination in overcoming adversity and to mentor the recipients and educate youth about the limitless possibilities that are available through the American free enterprise system, while underscoring the importance of service to others.

Mr. Mikles resides in Santa Barbara, California with his wife and three children.

UBM International Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc a leading provider of business information services to the maritime, travel, fashion, technology, healthcare, media, and property industries. UBM offers services in trade shows, online, news distribution, and publishing to customers across the globe. Its brands are represented in more than 30 countries and are organized into specialist teams that serve their business communities helping them excel in their market by working effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

About Informex - Organized by UBM International Media, Informex is the leading meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications. As the leading fine chemical tradeshow in the United States, InformexUSA has been a marketplace for networking and doing business in the fine, custom and specialty chemical manufacturing industry for more than 26 years. Informex is produced in conjunction with SOCMA, and the event brings significant value both to SOCMA (http://www.socma.com) and its members. For more information, visit http://www.informex.com.

SOURCE: Informex

CONTACT: Company: Jennifer Jessup, Brand Director, UBM InternationalMedia, +1-609-759-4707, jennifer.jessup@ubm.com; or Media: Richard Kerns,Impress PR, +44(0)161-728-5880, richard@impress-pr.com