Save the Date: Washington Forum 2027
September 13-15 at the Willard Intercontinental
The Forum includes presentations and briefings from national and global experts on pertinent policy, technical, regulatory, and management issues impacting the surface finishing industry, including environmental regulatory issues, labor and workplace trends, tax policy, economic outlooks, supply chain challenges, global regulatory developments, and political and election outlooks.
Recent speakers at the Forum have included Jake Sherman- Founder, Punchbowl News, Jeff Weiss- Partner, Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, Marc Freedman- Vice President of Employment Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Chipley- Cyber Security & Information Systems Information Analysis Center.
Registration & Hotel Arrangements
Registration for our 2027 Washington Forum will open in 2027!
And remember, if your company is a parter of NASF, you receive at least one free registration.
The hotel registration link will be posted in 2027.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Put your company’s name at the forefront of attendees’ minds and build name recognition. Sponsor the Washington Forum receptions, speakers, and more! Reach out to [email protected] to inquire!
Sample Schedule of Events
For an idea of what to expect at Washington Forum 2027, please see last year’s agenda below.
Monday September 21, 2026 | Willard Room
10:00 – 5:00 NASF Board of Directors Meeting
2:00 – 7:00 Registration
Monday Evening, September 21, 2026 | The Nest**
5:00 – 7:00 NASF Forum Welcome Reception – Crystal Room
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Tuesday Morning, September 22, 2026 | Willard Room
7:15 – 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 – 8:10 Opening Remarks
Steffen Wolkerstorfer, NASF President
Mitch Marsh, Chairman, NASF Government Advisory Committee
Craig Addington, NASF Executive Director
8:10 – 8:30 NASF Update: The Industry Agenda
Christian Richter, NASF Government & Industry Affairs | The Policy Group
8:30 – 9:15 Economic Update: U.S. Trends and Outlook for Business in 2026
Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
9:15 – 10:00 U.S. Fiscal Outlook: The Budget, the Debt and the Implications for Business
Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:00 Nickel Regulatory Developments: US and Global Update
Dr. Chris Schlekat, Executive Director, NiPERA, Nickel Institute
11:00 – 11:30 Environmental Policy: Surface Finishing & POTW Regulatory Priorities
Dr. Cynthia Finley, Director of Regulatory Affairs, National Association for Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
11:30 – 12:00 Trade and Tariff Policy: Key Developments for Metals and Manufacturing
John Hermann, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren
12:00 – 12:15 Break
12:15 – 1:45 LUNCH KEYNOTE | Willard Room
David Wasserman, Cook Political Report
1:45 – 2:00 Break
2:00 – 2:30 Litigation and the Metal Finishing Industry: PFAS Trends & Outlook
David Fischer, Partner, Keller & Heckman
Eric Gotting, Partner, Keller & Heckman
2:30 – 3:15 US-European Regulation and Collaboration: A German Finishing Perspective
Lukas Hanstein, Head of Policy, German Surface Finishing Association
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:15 Defense and National Security: Metals, Chemicals and the Defense Industrial Base
Kelsey Hendrixson, Director, Chemical and Material Risk Management, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment
Danielle Paynter, Technical Director, Critical Chemicals, Industrial Planning & Analysis, Office of Industrial Base Resilience, Industrial Base Policy
4:15 – 5:00 Critical Minerals and Metals: Supply Chain Priorities at the International Trade Administration
Kyle Wells, Acting Director, Office of Critical Minerals and Metals International Trade Administration
5:00 Adjourn
5:15 – 5:30 Congressional Meetings: Preparing for Meetings for Capitol Hill (Optional)
5:30 – 7:30 NASF Forum Reception – Willard | Crystal Room
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Wednesday, September 23, 2022| Willard Room
7:00 – 8:30 NASF Breakfast & Briefing
8:30 – 5:00 Congressional Visits (Optional – Restricted Access) Capitol Hill
Cancellation Policy
If a cancellation is requested prior to August 15, 2027, a full refund will be issued with a $75 handling fee. Those requesting cancellations between August 16 – 27, 2027, will be issued a 50% refund. No requested refund will be issued on August 28, 2027 or after.
Please note that partner promo codes are only valid for General (Full) Conference registrations. Spouse and guest registrations must be paid for separately.
Any questions regarding this event can be directed to NASF at [email protected]g.