Chem321:Acme employees

Acme Chemical Company

Chemistry for the 21st Century

Martin Walker: President

• Education: BSc in Chemistry (U. of Bristol, UK, 1981) and PhD in Chemistry (Brandeis U., 1990)
• Joined Acme: 1992

Martin Walker is one of the founders of the company, and he is very committed to its success. He has a vision of it growing to be a big player in the fine chemicals world, supplying key intermediates to major pharmaceutical companies ("big pharma"). He was reluctant to adopt ISO 9000 initially, but now accepts that is necessary in order to compete. He is skeptical about the value of ISO 14000, thinking of it as "window dressing", but he accepts the view of his VP of Sales that it will hurt sales if the company does not adopt ISO 14000. Walker considers himself to be quite supportive of what he calls "genuine" reductions in environmental impact, but he remains quite cynical about many environmental regulations and the efforts of some competitors.

Evan Cronmiller: VP of sales

• Education: BA in Business Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh
• Joined Acme: 2007

Evan Cronmiller has only been with the company for 5 years, but after coming straight out of college signed on to Acme company and was assigned the US East Coast region for sales. After 3 years in this role, Evan proved that he understood the market and its customers, doubling the sales in that area. After these 3 years, Evan was moved back to the Acme headquarters where he was being trained for the last 2 years to replace Bob Vance, the VP of sales for the previous 15 years. Where Bob was more formal, Evan is more relaxed, yet he can be quite bold in his sales tactics. Being the new "kid" in the company management, Evan feels a need to prove that he deserved the VP title, at such a young age and limited experience. In theory he believes in the environment and taking steps to avoid environmental issues, but his main focus remains on boosting sales now throughout the company. He is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in his new role. He has become a good friend of Jonathan Stewart (CFO), and he likes Kevin Maxwell (production manager) but he dislikes Michelle Amann (Shift foreperson) Emily Mitchell (lab manager) and Angela Racine (QA manager).

Angela Racine: Quality Assurance Manager

• Education: BA in Leadership and Organization Studies (DeVry U., 1995) and BS in Biochemistry (SUNY Potsdam, 1998)
• Joined Acme: 2001

Angela Racine has been an employee with Acme Chemical Company since 2001 She not only brings to the table a decade of experience, but also her perfectionist compulsions. Angela graduated DeVry University with her B.A. in Leadership and Organization Studies, and she was recruited because of her expertise in pointing out inaccuracies. In 1998, she received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the State University of New York at Potsdam and gained experience in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. She has yet to be recognized for any her personal achievements, yet she views the company’s success as a direct result of her initiative to exceed quality of company goods without sacrificing performance guidelines. Fellow employees would describe her as “uptight and conservative,” but feel these are the attributes to be valued in a quality assurance manager. She is highly respected by Walker, who has come to regard her as an indispensable part of the company's ISO 9000 scheme, and Andrew Sears (Safety) considers her to be a valuable ally. However, Evan Cronmiller (VP Sales) and Kevin Maxwell (Production Manager) both see her as rather officious, and someone who can cause unnecessary delays in product shipments.

Michelle Amann: Union leader and Shift Foreperson

• Education: BA in chemistry from SUNY Potsdam
• Joined Acme: Late 2007

Michelle Amann always planned to be a chemistry teacher, and she graduated in 2007 from SUNY Potsdam with a BA in chemistry. However, she found the job market for teachers in the North Country difficult, so she applied (in late 2007) to work as a plant operator at Acme, as a stopgap. She found she enjoyed the work, and as a highly educated plant operator she quickly rose to be foreperson of the A shift. She believes strongly that the ordinary workers need a voice, and her hard work with the trade union led to her being made union steward (shop steward). She is well liked by the plant operators, as she is approachable and she has a natural ability for explaining technical topics in simple terms (perhaps from her teaching background). Understanding the importance of the company in the local economy, she seeks to do what is best for both the company as an entity, and for the people who make up the company. Due to her personal relations with plant workers and lab people, she acts as a liaison between the management of Acme Co. and the other plant workers. She hopes to convince the Union to support ISO 14000 and will make sure that individuals follow the plan and act, while keeping precise records to help the administration review and revise action plans with the most accurate information possible. She is respected by all, though Kevin Maxwell (Production Manager) has had several serious clashes with her over working conditions on the plant, or when production schedules have fallen behind. She is also disliked by Evan Cronmiller (VP Sales). She is friends with Angela Racine (Occ Hygiene) and Andrew Sears (Safety).

Kevin Maxwell: Production Manager

• Education: BS in Chemistry from SUNY Albany
• Joined Acme: 1994
• Experience before Acme: Shift foreman (5 years), shift manager (10 years)

When he joined the company in 1994, Kevin Maxwell brought 15 years of production experience, and he was responsible for much of how the new plant (1999) was designed. He is respected as a “no-nonsense” manager, though this means that he can lose patience in meetings where people begin to digress or when no progress appears to be made. Kevin is a “company man,” very dedicated to the company’s success, and this explains his willingness to work on the environmental committee, despite his reservations about whether or not it will actually do anything worthwhile. He believes that some environmental improvements may be necessary to meet EPA regulations, but he doesn't want such things to hurt the company's profits. He prides himself on the fact that the plant has an excellent production record, with little "down time" in the reactors. He is liked by most of the plant workers, though he drives them hard. He gets on well with the lab people and with Jonathan Stewart (CFO), but is less popular with some of the newer administrative staff. He has often clashed with Michelle Amann (foreperson), and he dislikes Hayley Kopelson (environmental manager) whom he regards as an interfering nuisance.

Emily Mitchell: Lab Manager

• Education: PhD in organic chemistry from UC-Davis, MS in geochemistry from U-Wisconsin at Madison, BS in geology from SUNY Potsdam
• Joined Acme: 1993

Emily Mitchell has been with the company since 1993, having worked at the original plant (now closed). She is responsible for developing the TAC process, which now provides a large portion of the company’s income. Emily hates having to go to meetings, as she would rather be working in the lab. However, having been manager for five years, she has begun to accept that sometimes she needs to be involved, and she grudgingly accepts that the safety improvements and ISO 9001 have brought some benefits. She is also becoming interested in “green chemistry,” as the challenge of designing processes that are safer appeals to her inquisitive nature. She is a good friend of Kevin Maxwell (production manager) who is another one of the “old guard” of long-time employees. She can be rather intolerant of the newer staff, particularly those in sales.

Hayley Kopelson: Environmental Manager

• Education: BA in biology, minor in environmental studies (SUNY Potsdam, 1999), MS in environmental management (Temple U., 2001).
• Joined Acme: 2001

Hayley Kopelson joined Acme in 2001 straight from college. She is the only person to have ever held the environmental manager position, which was created after neighboring factories complained of smells. She soon proved her worth, helping the company avoid fines after a 2004 inspection by the EPA. She has long advocated for adoption of ISO 14001, so she is excited that the company has finally agreed to go for certification. Hayley is intelligent and outgoing, but she can be quite strident in her opinions. She is well-liked by most of the management except Jonathan Stewart (CFO) and Kevin Maxwell (production manager), who are suspicious of environmental rules and regulations.

Samuel Russell: Legal Manager

• Education: BA, Sociology, State University of New York at Potsdam (1986); Law degree (JD) from Fordham University
• Experience:
  • First Lieutenant, US Army, Judge Advocate General Corps
  • Assistant Compliance Adviser, Dow Chemical Company
• Joined Acme: 2011

Samuel Russell is a recent addition to the Acme family. Before joining Acme, Franz Galoso served four years in the Army as legal attache for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division where he showed perhaps an excess of untempered idealism. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he was assigned as a chemical weapons compliance adviser to the Iraqi provisional government, partly to utilize his skills and partly to keep him from bothering command staff with his notions of propriety in warfare. His experience with the military left him with conflicted feelings. After leaving the Army, Franz worked briefly with Dow Chemical Company as Assistant Compliance Adviser to make ends meet, but was horrified with with the murky ethics of the job. His inevitable conflicts with management got him fired. He was brought into Acme to manage Acme's goal in meeting the ISO 14000 series environmental management standards. He sees Acme as a last source of salvation for the accumulated guilt of an early lifetime of ethical and professional failures and as such, he torn between what he sees is "right" and the desire to maintain a stable career path. The Acme Environmental Management team has proposed plans that include updating Acme's bulk storage facilities and re-evaluating Acme's current relationship with BASF and its hydrogen sulfide supply system.

Jonathan Stewart:Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

• Education: BA in economics (SUNY Potsdam, 1992); CPA (accountancy, Babson College, 1996)
• Work experience : Office Max (Northeast Regional HQ, Boston, accountant, then senior accountant)
• Joined Acme: 2002

Jonathan Stewart helped to get Acme back on track financially after his predecessor was fired in 2002; the company's accounts were in disarray when he joined Acme. He was pleased to be able to return to his native North Country, which he loves, when the Acme job appeared. He believes in running a tight ship, and he respects people with a similar attitude such as Angela Racine (QA) and Kevin Maxwell (production manager). Jonathan is somewhat aloof in his dealings with his colleagues, though he gets on well with Kevin Maxwell and Evan Cronmiller (VP Sales). He enjoys hiking and golf.

Ashley Tranello: Occupational Hygiene Officer

• Education: BA in Environmental Health (SUNY Potsdam, 1997)
• Work experience: Health Advocate for special needs children, Syracuse (1997-1999); NY State Division of OSHA (1999-2003).
• Joined Acme: 2003

Ashley Tranello is very committed to health and wellness, and is passionate about her work. She enjoyed her work with the state, but was laid off when budget cuts were made in 2003, so she joined Acme. She is glad that Acme has a good accident record, but she is frustrated that sometimes workers are exposed to poisonous fumes on the plant. She hopes that environmental improvements will help improve the working environment by reducing fugitive emissions. Ashley is admired for her commitment and hard work, though some of the management feel that she is unreasonable in her expectations for the plant environment. Ashley is good friends with Andrew Sears (safety), Hayley Kopelson (environmental manager) and Michelle Amann (plant foreperson).

Kelly Balbian: Quality Control (QC) Manager

• Education: BS in Chemical Engineering (Clarkson University, 2001); MS in Quality Management (Pace University, 2003)
• Work experience: Albany Molecular Research International (AMRI), Assistant QC Manager (2003-2005)
• Joined Acme: 2005

Kelly Balbian has an engineering background, and so she understands the processing aspects of the company well. However, her interest in quality led to a career in QC at Acme, and she has worked well at maintaining ISO 9001 in the lab. She is quiet but well-liked by her lab staff, as she respects them. The QC department is a tight-knit group of staff who work well together, and Kelly has fostered this by inviting her staff to her house for barbecues and social events. Kelly is not so well-known by the other managers other than Emily Mitchell (lab manager), Kevin Maxwell (production) and Angela Racine (QA). Emily and Kevin value her work, as does Jane Doe (engineer), but Angela considers her to be rather too friendly with her staff.

Andrew Sears: Safety Officer

• Education: BA in English (SUNY Potsdam, 1989), MS in Safety Management (U-Mass Lowell, 1998)
• Work experience: Widgets, Inc, brochure writer (1989-1991); State of New York, writer of home safety information (1991-1998)
• Joined Acme: 1998

Before joining Acme, Andrew Sears had worked for the State, writing informational documents for the public on home safety. This gave him an interest in safety issues, and led to a switch in career from writer to safety officer. However, Andrew has maintained his interest in communicating safety, arguing that unless staff are "on board" with safety they will continue to have accidents - they cannot just pay lip-service to safety. Andrew was hired when the company launched its "Safety First" program in 1998, and his commitment to the work helped to turn round the company's safety record, making it one of the safest chemical companies in the northeastern US. He is supportive of the new ISO 14001 proposal, but believes strongly that the environmental management needs to be communicated well to all the workforce in order for it to work. Andrew is friends with Ashley Tranello (occupational hygiene) and Michelle Amann (plant foreperson).