ILMA Compoundings November 2017 - 23

for the actual membership that small, independent lubricant
companies needed."
For Ziemski, the contribution he is the proudest of came
during his role as vice president. "I was in charge of strategic
planning and I put in place the first real strategic plan ILMA
had," he said.
Ziemski organized and helped facilitate the first sessions
to develop a long-range strategic plan. "It gave true direction
to the future of the organization and charted a course that
has been updated and modified in recent years but still has
much of the original insight," Foltz said.
During his time on the board, Ziemski also condensed the
committees, and the revised committee structure still exists
today, Leiter said.
"When you look at where ILMA is today and ask what
positioned it to be in as good of shape as it is, you look at
that time from 2001 to 2008 and see a lot of things were
done that have borne a lot of fruit," Leiter said.

Creating Global Connections
Ziemski's peers said he saw the need for ILMA to be an
international organization and was the key in developing a
relationship with ILMA's counterpart in Europe, the Union
of the European Lubricants Industry, or UEIL. "He was the
leader in forging many of the relationships ILMA now has
in place, especially in Europe," Foltz said.
More regulations were becoming global regulations, and
Ziemski saw opportunities for ILMA. "I invited UEIL to
our executive committee session in the summer of 2001.
They invited us the following year to Paris to describe ILMA
and our strategic plan," he said.
The connection with the UEIL has helped members,
particularly automotive companies, who were dealing with
global standards. "I think Stan should be recognized for not
only planting that seed but helping it grow," Taglia said. "He
started working on relationships there. Now there is a very
good rapport between the two associations, which didn't
exist prior to that. Several of the members have utilized that
to form business relationships with businesses overseas."

Committing to Move Forward
In 2001, ILMA's annual meeting was slated to take place
right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an uncertain and
tragic time for the country. Ziemski said the attacks deeply
affected the family. "We literally watched them happen from
the Jersey Shore. Our family personally lost at least 20 dear
friends," he explained.

Despite the sadness and sense of fear in the weeks following the attacks, Ziemski was among those who felt strongly
that ILMA's annual meeting must go on. "It was a time that
a lot of the major oil companies would not let their executives fly. We made the decision to go ahead and have the
meeting," he said, adding that it was the first major convention in Las Vegas post-9/11.
Decker, president of American Oil & Supply International, said Ziemski exhibited strong leadership during the
difficult, emotional time. "Stan insisted the meeting go on.
He said it must go on and we must not let the terrorists
win," Decker said.
The meeting gave Ziemski a great sense of pride. "We
had more than 600 people attend," he said. "It was a very
emotional event. Everybody had goosebumps."

Looking Back
Ziemski has had a long career with ILMA, and he said one
of his favorite memories was during a mid-year meeting in
Williamsburg, Virginia, when he and Leiter dressed in colonial
garb to update ILMA on government affairs. "I can't believe he
talked me into doing this, but he got me to dress up. I hadn't had
a head of hair in 20 years, but he got me in this wig," he said.
For Ziemski, it is the people he has met throughout his
career who make him proud to be a part of ILMA. "The
friendships and the relationships that came out of it are very,
very meaningful," he said.
"In large measure, we're competitors, but on the same
token, I think everyone who has gotten involved in ILMA
has worked to level the playing field in a very competitive
environment to make sure we're producing quality product,"
Ziemski said. "For all the independents, there is a recognition if you have someone selling a product that is mislabeled
or of inferior quality, it affects all of us."
Decker said Ziemski has always promoted ILMA and the
benefits of networking. "He always said you need to know
your industry," Decker said.
Ziemski remains the go-to person for his peers when
advice is needed in most any area of the lubricant business,
Foltz said. "He has been especially helpful in the area of
family-run businesses, which are certainly a significant part
of the membership. He has led by example," he said.
Leiter said Ziemski's work in the industry continues. "He
is always thinking about the future of ILMA. He's had a
long-standing love for the association," Leiter said.
Long is a freelance writer and journalist. She can be reached at
925-750-7163 or mindy@mindylong.com.

ILMA Compoundings November 2017

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