T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F D O W I N L O U I S I A N AIMPACT

FAIR OPENS DOORS TO A WORLD OF LEARNING PAGE 6

Safety Culture: Whatever It Takes PAGE 9

Dow and Olin Corp. Reach Milestone PAGE 15

A “FIRST” in Louisiana: All-Girls Team Enters the Ring PAGE 16

Inside:

WINTER 2015-2016

Our Annual Economic Impact• $59.5 million in state and local taxes• $312 million payroll• More than $400 million in purchases

from Louisiana companies

Our PeopleOur people are our greatest asset with over 6,000 Dow and contract employees across Louisiana

Our Size & Scope• Integrated manufacturing operations in

five locations, spanning 4,000 acres• Manufacturing more than 100 basic and

specialty chemicals that are shipped worldwide

• Our sites offer numerous convenient transportation options, including marine, rail, truck and pipeline

Our Environmental & Social Impact• At each of our Louisiana locations, Dow

is a part of the surrounding community, seeking to balance economic, environmental and social responsibility as we invest in our communities and encourage them to invest in themselves

• Through DowGives, corporate and employee contributions, grants and volunteerism, we contribute more than $1 million annually to enhance our communities

• Committed to the principles of sustainability

With its combined five sites, Dow is the largest petrochemical company in the state, pumping more than $1 billion annually into the Louisiana economy. At our sites in Plaquemine, Grand Bayou, Hahnville, Greensburg and Weeks Island, we manufacture more than 100 basic and specialty chemicals that are shipped worldwide.

Phil LucasAmerchol

Amerchol

Grand Bayou Operations

St. CharlesLouisiana Operations

Weeks Island

Danny CraftGrand Bayou Operations

Eduardo Do ValLouisiana Operations

Johnny ChavezSt. Charles

Thomas PayneWeeks Island

Dow in Louisiana

Our ProductsDow facilities in Louisiana manufacture more than 100 basic and specialty chemicals that serve as building blocks for hundreds of everyday products. Our chemistry can be found in soaps, detergents, food additives, cosmetics, shampoos, pharmaceuticals, computers and electronic components, vehicle parts, adhesives, athletic shoes, disposable diapers and much, much more.

Our CompanyDow delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture.

In 2014, Dow had annual sales of $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries.

T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F D O W I N L O U I S I A N AIMPACT

WINTER 2015-2016

LOUISIANA NEWSMAKERS ........................................PAGE 4

NASCAR TEAM RUNS COOLER WITH DOW ......PAGE 12

DOW STEM ACADEMY PROMISES SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE .......................................... 14

DOW AMBASSADORS IMPACT STUDENTS’ LIVES .................................................PAGE 18

ST. CHARLES OPERATIONS CELEBRATES RECORD-BREAKING YEAR ...............................PAGE 20

LEADERS TAKE ACTION ...........................................PAGE 22

™TRADEMARK OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY (“DOW”) OR AN AFFILIATED COMPANY OF DOW

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

A L S O I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

Fair Opens Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 to a World of Learning

A “FIRST” in Louisiana: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 16 All-Girls Team Enters the Ring

Dow and Olin Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15 Reach Milestone

Safety Culture: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Whatever It Takes

On the cover: Dow St. Charles Operations employee Ronald Green makes “goofy putty” with his daughter Jermani at the Children’s World’s Fair.

Cover photo: Tim Mueller Photography

Inside this issue: QR codes offer the reader an opportunity to view more information on a story. Scan with your smartphone to view.

4 | I M P A C T

Louisiana Newsmakers

n Employees from SCO’s Energy and Environmental group volunteered to bring new life to the courtyard at the Norco Adult Day Care, a United Way agency.

n Congratulations to Team Dow, well represented at the 19th annual United Way of St. Charles 5K/10K Bridge Run/Walk.

n Dow STEM Ambassador Lolita Tillery-Grant demonstrates a STEM activity connected to Dow’s partnership with the #3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet at the annual Wetland Watchers Celebration on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain in April.

n Dow employees and their families enjoy an evening at Dow’s hospitality tent at Live After Five.

n Dow SCO employees Hannah Dufrene and Yvette Dempster, along with their families, enjoyed improving safety in their community and giving residents peace of mind while installing smoke detectors in community homes during the United Way Day of Action recently.

Louisiana Newsmakers

n Members of SCO’s GLAD Network took part in the NO/AIDS walk in New Orleans.

n Dow hosted the annual Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital Fiesta at the Dow Hangar.

n LAO’s African American Network volunteers at the Juneteenth celebration indowntown Baton Rouge.

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6 | I M P A C T

A Day-Long Adventure“Over the course of 17 years, the Children’s World’s Fair has introduced more than 175 countries and regions of the world to children and families in our community,” says Julia Bland, CEO of the Louisiana Children’s Museum. “The Children’s World’s Fair provides children with an appreciation of what is unique and universal to the customs of our global community -- making our big world seem just a little smaller.”

This year children explored the cultures and traditions of Canada, Denmark, Guatemala, Israel, Nigeria, Romania, Tibet and Venezuela. As they made their way “around the world,” the young travelers experienced games, music, literature, performances, crafts and flavors of these diverse countries.

They learned about Inuit igloos and scored hockey goals in Canada. They had fun trying on Viking hats and weaving jule hjerter (Christmas hearts) in Denmark. In Guatemala they made worry dolls, tiny colorful dolls Guatemalan children place under their pillows at night to carry their worries so they can sleep peacefully. Explorers played Kugelach (Israeli jacks), made African masks and sampled chin chin – sweet, crunchy donut-like snacks – in Nigeria. Arriving in Romania, they decorated intricate Romanian Easter eggs and learned traditional folk dances. In Tibet, travelers learned the craft of making authentic sand mandalas, and in Venezuela they tasted pastelitos and boca dulces cakes.

A World of LearningFAIR OPENS DOORS TO

Last March, hundreds of wide-eyed children and their parents visited the Louisiana Children’s

Museum (LCM) for a new experience. They were accustomed to all the wonders offered by LCM, but on

this day, things were different. They had come to explore science, technology, engineering and math

(STEM) and the cultural diversity of eight countries at LCM’s 17th annual Children’s World’s Fair. And

the fair, sponsored by Dow, did not disappoint.

Hands-On ScienceDuring the day, about 20 Dow employee volunteers helped children explore the connection between science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the world they live in through three interactive and engaging STEM activities.

In an exhibit called “Science is pHun!,” young scientists made ice cream with liquid nitrogen and learned how to turn simple, everyday household items into “goofy

Herbie the DowBot made an appearance to entertain guests at the Children’s World’s Fair.

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A World of Learning“The Children’s World’s Fair provides children with an appreciation of what is unique and universal to the customs of our global community -- making our big world seem just a little smaller.”

– Julia Bland, CEO of the Louisiana Children’s Museum

putty.” In the Dow STEM Lab, they explored sports science, learned about Dow’s #3 Chevrolet NASCAR car, participated in matchbox car races, and posed for souvenir photos. Highlighting Dow’s partnership with FIRST Robotics, a national program that teaches STEM subjects through the building of robots, guests worked with Legos to build moving robotic parts and enjoyed lively demonstrations featuring area high school teams’ robots in action. Special appearances by Herbie the DowBot delighted young guests and their families throughout the day.

– continued on next page

Dow STEM Ambassadors from across Louisiana volunteered at the Dow STEM Lab at the Children’s World’s Fair.

8 | I M P A C T

Gregory Stowers, LAO STEM Ambassador, makes “goofy putty” with children visiting the World’s Fair.

LAO STEM Ambassador Matthew Mechana makes his famous liquid nitrogen ice cream.

Dow St. Charles employee and STEM Ambassador Lolita Tillery-Grant volunteers at the Goofy Putty lab.

“This fair is a great chance

for children and their

parents to learn about STEM

subjects while exploring

the unique customs of

other cultures,” says Jordan

Tremblay, Dow’s Public

Affairs manager for St.

Charles Operations. “By

sponsoring events like this,

we get a chance to show

our future workforce that

science really is fun!”

Best of the Best Nominees Congratulations to the following LAO plants that demonstrated exceptional safety performance in 2014:

Cellulose

Glycol 1

Glycol 2

LHC 2

LHC 3 – Benzene

Logistics Liquid

Logistics Solid

Marine Operations

Poly A

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Whatever It TakesSAFETY CULTURE

Safety is as integral to the culture at Dow as breathing is to people. That’s

why 2014 was another year of making safe operations the number one

priority. Sites across Louisiana posted big successes.

LAO Crowns ‘Best of the Best’ Since 2012 Louisiana Operations (LAO) has hosted a friendly competition among its 13 production units. The “Best of the Best” award recognizes units that achieve exceptional Environmental Health & Safety progress. In 2014, that honor went to Poly A.

At more than 50 years old, Poly A (a name referring to the unit’s primary product, polyethylene) is one of the oldest at LAO. It’s also complex, operating five high-pressure technology production lines. “Because of our age and complexity, we need to be aggressive about identifying and addressing potential safety and reliability issues,” says Production Site Leader Theo Webre.

2013 was the first year in Poly A’s history that the plant achieved zero safety events, and employees repeated the performance in 2014. “We’ve been on an improvement journey for several years now, not only in safety but also reliability and production performance,” Theo says.

Reliability refers to how consistently a production unit delivers product to its customers. Unplanned events like leaks and spills lead to downtime and downtime reduces reliability. Reliability is also a safety indicator because incidents are more likely to happen when production lines shut down and start back up again.

“As an older plant running high-pressure production lines, we have many moving parts, so we have to be diligent about how well the lines are maintained,” says Cheri Schlegel, operations leader at Poly A. “When it comes to safety, the better we run, the safer we are. A big part of our success is tied to how well our operations and maintenance teams work together.”

While individuals have specific roles, it’s everyone’s shared responsibility to identify and address potential safety issues, says Michael Abela, reliability engineer and

“We’ve been on an improvement journey for several

years now, not only in safety but also reliability and

production performance.” – Theo Webre, Poly A Production Leader

In February 2015, LAO awarded Poly A the Best of the Best award for their 2014 EH&S performance. 

– continued on next page

Louisiana Operations employees celebrate the Best of the Best award with a chili cookout at the Plantation House grounds.

LAO employees Jennifer London, Clint LaBorde, and Gabby Dupont celebrate at the Best of the Best celebration.

1 0 | I M P A C T1 0 | I M P A C T

a leader of Poly A’s maintenance team. “When issues come up, we bring all the expertise to the table and then make a decision based on facts. You won’t find people here saying, ‘I don’t think there’s anything to worry about here, let’s move on.’ That’s when you run into problems.”

Poly A was selected from nine finalists as the 2014 Best of the Best. The site celebrated its win with a chili cookout in early 2015. “It was an honor to be selected as Best of the Best, and I enjoyed seeing our team get this recognition,” Theo says. “Everyone has worked so hard, and our teams have been dedicated to this journey of performance improvement. They have so much to be proud of.”

St. Charles Operations Ramps Up Reliability St. Charles Operations (SCO) is raising eyebrows across Dow for all the right reasons. In 2014 the site achieved its best-ever reliability performance and is now a leader worldwide. SCO’s focus on reliability over the past few years is delivering results, says Operational Excellence Leader Jackie Yaworski. “The work that’s been done by everyone on the site is paying off in terms of ownership in the unit operations and in driving improvement in performance.”

SCO was also recognized in 2014 by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), which recertified it as an OSHA VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) Star Site. VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent and control occupational hazards as a way to prevent injuries and illnesses.

Site Leader Johnny Chavez says the recertification represents the ongoing diligence required to ensure every person goes home safely every day.

SCO’s Poly E Team was recognized as SCO’s Hall of Fame recipient for their EH&S, reliability and productivity.

“The work that’s been done by everyone on the site is

paying off in driving improvement in performance.” – Jackie Yaworski, Operational Excellence Leader

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Amerchol Eats Cake, Again When January 15, 2015, came and went without incident at Dow’s Amerchol site, it was time to break out a cake and celebrate – for the 52nd week in a row. On January 15, the site marked a full year of working safely.

Located in St. Helena Parish northeast of Baton Rouge, Amerchol produces cationic polymers for home and personal care markets. Site Leader Phil Lucus says the key to the site’s success was increased rigor around hazard awareness. “We’ve focused intensely on near misses, on identifying anything that could cause an incident or injury and then elevating any behavioral, equipment or plant issues so that they can be addressed.”

Amerchol also implemented a Dow program called Leakbusters in 2014, which helped workers there identify and eliminate leaks at the facility. “If you don’t have dry surfaces, you’re at risk of a fall,” Phil explains. He credits EH&S Technician Marcia Kent with successfully putting Leakbusters to work for the site.

Each week without an injury or incident is another achievement, so Phil celebrates with the team by having a “cake break.” When Amerchol passed the year mark in January, Phil couldn’t have been happier. “As long as we’re working safely, I’ll keep bringing cakes. I’m happy to do it.”

SCO was recognized with an Award of Honor from the South Louisiana Chapter of the National Safety Council for their outstanding performance. 

Getting to Know Weeks Island Twenty minutes isn’t that long, unless you’re in dire need of people to respond to an emergency.

Weeks Island lies along Vermilion Bay in Iberia Parish about 45 minutes south of Lafayette, and about 20 minutes from the closest emergency response services. More than 40 full-time and contract employees work at Dow’s facility there, which make products used in the manufacture of optical materials.

Knowing the site’s remote location could put worker safety at risk in the event of an emergency, EH&S Technician Pat Landry found a way to create stronger ties to the local emergency response teams. In May, he hosted Weeks Island’s first-ever community outreach session.

They invited first responders from the local sheriff’s department, hazmat teams who are Louisiana state troopers, and emergency management services from other Dow locations and other industrial complexes near Weeks Island. “We wanted to make sure everyone is familiar with our site – what we do out here, what our risks are and what our emergency response capabilities are,” says Pat.

“We’ve focused intensely on near misses, on identifying

anything that could cause an incident or injury and

then elevating any behavioral, equipment or plant

issues so that they can be addressed.” – Phil Lucus, Site Leader

“We wanted to make sure everyone is familiar with

our site – what we do out here, what our risks are and

what our emergency response capabilities are.” – Pat Landry, EH&S Technician

About 20 individuals came to the event, which Pat says was a resounding success. “Getting everyone together prompted a lot of productive conversation among the group. Meeting as a group in a non-emergency situation allowed us to learn more about each other’s capabilities and the potential emergencies we may have. It was an extremely valuable meeting.”

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Spend a little time behind the wheel of a NASCAR high-performance racing car traveling at speeds of up to 200 mph and your definition of “hot” will change dramatically. Veteran NASCAR drivers often report profuse perspiration, burned heels (even through fireproof shoes) and inside temperatures about 40 degrees higher than outside the car. Those intense cockpit temperatures are thanks, in part, to the heat being generated under the hood.

While protecting drivers from the broiling heat coming from the engine compartment is important, making sure the engine stays at peak performance is the critical goal of Dow researchers and Richard Childress Racing (RCR), owner of the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet sponsored by Dow. RCR and Dow scientists are working together to perfect thermal management of the engine, which is a science all its own.

“There is an amazing amount of heat in the engine compartment,” said Dan Woodman, associate Research & Development (R&D) director at Dow. “We work with the RCR technical experts to reduce the temperatures in and around the engine so less air-intake is required for cooling. With less air-intake, the aerodynamics of the car can improve. All of this can translate into improved track time.” And more wins, potentially.

Runs Cooler with DowPerformance and Safety Drive Racing Partnership

Dow and RCR: Research Partners Technical experts from RCR and Dow’s R&D department have created a technical collaboration that puts Dow products to the test under NASCAR’s strenuous conditions.

In addition to engine thermal management applications, RCR and Dow test greases, additives for lubricants, adhesives for bonding metal and plastic, structural adhesives to increase stiffness and crash resistance, and more.

It’s all part of the growing relationship between the two partners who love to see fast cars get faster and become safer.

“You don’t win every race, but you have to be competitive week in and week out,” said Richard Childress. “When we originally started talking to Dow, we talked about a lot of our needs. Dow is helping us with some different materials to make our cars stronger, better and lighter.”

Dow first worked with RCR in 2010, testing technology like lubricants and carbon fiber materials. Now the R&D collaboration has expanded to include more business opportunities for Dow.

“The knowledge and experience gained by this relationship, while gaining a competitive edge for all of the RCR teams, also translates into proven new solutions for Dow customers,” said Woodman.

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING

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WHAT’S BEHIND DOOR #3?Dow’s racing involvement extends beyond the collaboration with Richard Childress Racing. The company’s technology is benefitting the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization with innovative ways to enhance driver safety.

Advanced foam from Dow is hidden inside both door panels of all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race cars. Blue IMPAXX™ Energy Absorbing Foam used in the doors is a cousin of STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam Insulation. But IMPAXX™ Foam isn’t there for energy efficiency. It’s helping improve driver safety during side impacts.

One way to reduce driver injuries in a side-impact crash is to dissipate the kinetic energy before it reaches the driver. That’s especially true for NASCAR drivers who often go into turns in excess of 200 mph. As the sport gets faster, NASCAR has continuously added safety improvements on the tracks and in the cars.

With help from the Dow Automotive technical team, NASCAR scientists tested more than 200 foams before choosing IMPAXX™ Foam. This 100-percent recyclable, extruded thermoplastic foam dissipates energy differently than other foams. It deforms in three planned steps: compressing, buckling and then breaking apart into pieces. Each of these steps absorbs energy before it’s transmitted to the driver.

™Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”)

or an affiliated company of Dow.

DOW DIAMOND ON NO. 3 CHEVROLET AGAIN IN 2015At the 2014 Daytona 500 – the season opener for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – race fans saw something they weren’t sure they’d see again. The car was back. The iconic number hadn’t been seen in the Cup Series since the same race in 2001, when the legendary Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash on the final lap.

Richard Childress Racing (RCR), owner of the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet, held on to the number, waiting to see if the time would ever be right to bring it back. In recent years, the answer became clear.

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, was a rising star, winning the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (the youngest champion at age 21) and then winning the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. Dillon, with his trademark cowboy hat, had always raced a number 3. Could he use it when he moved up to the premier Sprint Cup Series?

With the blessings of the Earnhardt family and with a Dow sponsorship, Dillon ran his first full Sprint Cup Series season in 2014 in the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet. He had a strong rookie year performance, ending 20th in points and finishing every race (one of only two drivers to do so). Again in 2015, Dow was the primary sponsor on the No. 3 Dow Chevrolet hood for 24 Sprint Cup Series races, one of which honored United States military veterans atDover International Speedway. More than 370 Dow veterans’ names were featured on the decklid.

“We’re excited to have Austin represent Dow and our employees for a second season in 2015. He’s a great person, a proven champion and an articulate spokesperson,” said Dow’s Rebecca Bray. “But it’s more than just Austin. The entire RCR organization is a first-rate company that shares many of the same goals and values as Dow. Both of our companies are focused on technology and on pursuing winning solutions.”

For additional information, visit www.racing.dow.com.

Did you know?Austin Dillon’s younger brother made his debut at the 2015 Daytona 500 on February 22. If you thought you were seeing double, that was just Ty Dillon in the No. 33.

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“At Dow, we know how important it is for

students to receive relevant and rigorous STEM

courses so that they can be prepared for a

STEM career.” – Abby Cook, Dow Public Affairs manager

DOW STEM ACADEMY PROMISES

The skills workers need to stay competitive continue to rise in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and data show that jobs requiring this expertise will be an even bigger part of our economy in the future. The Dow STEM Academy in West Baton Rouge Parish is a new program to help students meet the challenge to stay competitive.

The Dow STEM Academy has something for every West Baton Rouge Parish student planning on going into a STEM field. In addition to providing information on STEM careers, the Academy will follow a state-approved STEM Pathway offering students the opportunity to learn about engineering, process technology and industrial maintenance.

“We are thrilled to be able to have this opportunity for our students, thanks to Dow. Thousands of high-quality careers will be available right here in West Baton Rouge over the next five years. Shame on us if we do not do

everything possible to give our students the skills needed to take advantage of this window of opportunity,” said Wes Watts, superintendent, West Baton Rouge Parish. “Dow has stepped up to help us make this happen. This will be a win for the students of West Baton Rouge Parish and a win for Dow.” “At Dow, we know how important it is for students to receive relevant and rigorous STEM courses so that they can be prepared for a STEM career,” says Abby Cook, Dow Public Affairs manager. “Dow has been a part of the local community for nearly 60 years, and we want local students to have the training and education they need to find fulfilling, high-paying careers, here in the place they call home. We are excited to be working together with leaders and educators in West Baton Rouge Parish to support students in our local parish and develop the workforce of tomorrow.”

Judea Goins-Andrews (Project Lead the Way), Wes Watts (West Baton Rouge Superintendent) and Abby Cook (Dow Public Affairs Manager) speak at the Dow STEM Academy announcement.

Dow STEM Ambassadors pose for a picture with future Dow STEM Academy students.

Community members gather outside Brusly High School for the Dow STEM Academy announcement.

Something for Everyone

Celebrating/ Dow and Olin Corp. Reach Milestone

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Eduardo Do Val, Louisiana Operations Site Director, and Joseph D. Rupp, Olin’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, celebrate the successful completion of the Olin and Dow deal.

Executives from Olin Corporation visit their new site located within Dow’s Louisiana Operations.

Dow recently celebrated the successful completion of a deal transferring a significant part of Dow’s chlor-alkali and downstream derivatives businesses to Olin Corporation. Under the agreement, Dow separated its U.S. Gulf Coast Chlor-Alkali and Vinyl, Global Chlorinated Organics and Global Epoxy businesses, and then merged these businesses with Olin in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The merger results in Dow shareholders receiving a majority of the shares of Olin, with existing Olin shareholders owning the remaining shares.

“We are one step closer to combining the world-class assets and people of Dow and Olin taking our business to an entirely new level in terms of scale, integration, cost-advantaged feedstocks, and a broad and diverse end-uses portfolio, ultimately creating value for our customers,” said Joseph D. Rupp, Olin’s chairman and chief executive officer.

The companies’ strong, ongoing operational and commercial relationship will continue with Olin owning and operating plants within the Louisiana site.

Dow’s Louisiana Operations Site Director Eduardo Do Val says, “We congratulate Olin and look forward to working with them in the commercial space and in the community.”

Headquartered in Clayton, Missouri, Olin Corporation is North America’s oldest producer of chlorine and has a strong heritage of environment, health and safety (EH&S) focus. More information about Olin and its commitments to sustainability, EH&S and community relations can be found online at www.olin.com.

“We congratulate Olin and look

forward to working with them in

the commercial space and in the

community.” – Eduardo Do Val, site director, Louisiana Operations

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All-Girls Teams Enter the RingA “FIRST” in Louisiana:

Stereotypes shape perceptions, stifle ideas and thwart potential. Until they’re crushed, making way for opportunity, ingenuity and possibility.

For the first time ever, an all-girl team competed in the Bayou Regional competition of FIRST® Robotics in New Orleans. Held annually for the last nine years, the competition in March pitted 57 teams from 10 states against each other. The Dow-sponsored team from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, La., didn’t take home a trophy, but they took home something far more valuable: a victory over stereotypes.

“In society, technology is a field that’s dominated by males,” says Ava Landry, a junior on the St. Joseph’s Academy team. “I’m so honored to have been on an all-female team that has broken stereotypes. As young women, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to show other women that technology is for everyone.”

If you’re not familiar with FIRST Robotics, think “Rocky” meets “Tron.” In this year’s competition, remote-controlled robots, created and piloted by students and cheered on by thousands of screaming fans, went

head-to-head in 120-second battles in a sports arena. Held nationally by the non-profit organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the annual event is the perfect combination of high-intensity sport and science and technology. One of several regional competitions, the Bayou Regional features teams from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri.

Drawing Girls to STEM “Research shows girls start to lose interest in STEM subjects in middle school,” says Dawn Saucier, STEM program manager for Dow in Louisiana. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “If we can keep girls’ interest in STEM through programs like FIRST, we can help build a diverse workforce for the future.” Dow sponsored ten FIRST teams in Louisiana this past year (see Robots for All Ages). When they invited St. Joseph’s Academy to participate, the school responded quickly and enthusiastically.

The all-girl team from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge competed at the Bayou Regional and was awarded the Best Rookie Team.

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“In the past few years, we’ve been striving to get more students interested in emerging technologies,” says Claire Luikart, a computer science teacher and the lead teacher for the team. “FIRST gave them the opportunity to build and program a robot. By doing that, they learned about the physical, electrical, mechanical and software systems that make up these specific robots and can now apply that information to other fields of study. And they had the chance to engage in real-life problem solving in a huge way.”

Fourteen students worked on the project after school from mid-January until the competition in late March. Senior Sarah Sicard says the experience was both challenging and rewarding. “It’s so cool to see the physical product of your hard work! I worked on programming the robot, and it was awesome to test something in code, send it to the robot, and see what the result was in a very real-time, physical way.”

The learning extended well beyond STEM subjects. Ava and Sarah both say they gained an appreciation for the perseverance, time management skills and teamwork required to build their robot.

The Real Prize In the end, the St. Joseph’s Academy team did not win at the Bayou Regional. As a “rookie” team, that’s not unusual; many participating schools have years of experience in the competition. But the contagious spirit of the all-girls team impressed the judges, who named them Best Rookie Team.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished,” says Ava. “I hope we can help other young women who are interested in technology to know that this kind of experience is an option for them as well.”

Left: Team 2183, the Hahnville High School “Tigerbots,” team captain Max Eastepp prepares his team’s robot to compete in the Bayou Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in New Orleans. Max Eastepp is the son of Dow St. Charles Operations production leader Don EasteppRight: The “Tigerbots” make last-minute modifications to their robot before taking part in a competition in March.

ROBOTS FOR ALL AGESMore than 350,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade on more than 30,000 teams participate each year in FIRST® programs at four levels nationwide. Dow sponsored ten of those teams in Louisiana in the 2015 season, offering opportunities to learn about STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in a fun and engaging atmosphere.

“Dow has long been a sponsor of FIRST teams in other U.S. locations, and we’re happy to begin a relationship with the organization here in Louisiana,” says Dawn Saucier, STEM program manager for Dow in Louisiana.

Beyond financial assistance, the company provides teams with access to “Dow STEM Ambassadors,” volunteers who serve as technical mentors. “When a team needs a certain expertise, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or anything else, Dow Ambassadors either provide that themselves or find someone in Dow who can.”

FIRST® Robotics Competition – Grades 9-12Destrehan High School, St. Charles ParishHahnville High School, St. Charles ParishSt. Joseph’s Academy, East Baton Rouge Parish

FIRST® Tech Challenge – Grades 7-12 St Mary’s Dominican, Orleans Parish

FIRST® LEGO® League – Grades 4-8St. Charles Parish LibraryComeaux Middle, Vermilion ParishPlaquemine High School, Iberville ParishSt. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, St. Charles ParishIberville Math, Science & Arts Academy, Iberville ParishNorth Vermilion Middle School

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Driven by PassionDOW AMBASSADORS IMPACT STUDENTS’ LIVES

Meet Greg StowersDow STEM Ambassador, Louisiana Operations

Greg Stowers has been an employee at Dow for nine years. In his second assignment at Louisiana Operations, this environmental analytical technologist continues to make a difference in his community as one of the growing number of STEM Ambassadors.

If you ask Greg why he volunteers, he recalls his formative years. “In my home there was a family

commitment to giving back, and it has always been a part of my life. I was taught very young about helping others.”

Volunteerism runs deep within the Stowers family, and for Greg, becoming a Dow STEM Ambassador was the perfect fit. “I signed up to be a STEM Ambassador because I just plain like chemistry and I love teaching. It gives me a chance to show kids that science is interesting and fun. STEM gives me the opportunity to reach a larger audience of kids.”

Since moving to Baton Rouge, Greg has volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Vincent de Paul food kitchen, Children’s Museum World’s Fair, Bring Your Child to Work Day, and You Be the Chemist Challenge®. Greg is currently taking the “Science is pHun” program to the rural Mississippi area where he grew up.

“For me, there is nothing like the feeling of making a kid feel that they are smart and that they can achieve anything. Volunteering and STEM are the gifts that keep giving.”

Meet Pat Landry Dow STEM Ambassador, Weeks Island

Pat Landry, from New Iberia, Louisiana, has worked at Dow’s Weeks Island manufacturing location for nearly 18 years. An experienced Environmental Health & Safety delivery technician and active volunteer in the community, Pat is a relative newcomer to the Dow STEM Ambassador team.

“I believe in volunteering. It

provides a fresh perspective and often shows the real priorities in life. I’ve been active with United Way, as a board member for Family Tree, a CPR instructor and volunteer at the Heartstarter event in Lafayette.”

Pat says the STEM Ambassador program is one that he sees generating a lot of value in the community.

“I participated at a huge event − the 2015 Vermilion Parish You Be The Chemist Challenge − and am now working on getting into some classrooms in the fall to do demonstrations,” he says. “If I weren’t on board before the You Be the Chemist Challenge, I am now.

“Being part of the broader program, helping these students and watching them attain their goals and further their knowledge with STEM events is fantastic. It is simply the right thing to do − invest in our future leaders, the children.”

STEM education is about more than just instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics. It’s also about providing experiences, broadening horizons, and giving youth

the opportunity to learn firsthand about the fundamental role these subjects, and related

careers, play in the world. Dow Louisiana currently has more than 250 Dow employee STEM

Ambassador volunteers.

Dow STEM Ambassadors from SCO congratulate local students at the St. Charles Parish You Be the Chemist Challenge®.

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DOW AMBASSADORS IMPACT STUDENTS’ LIVES

Meet Shari SchexnayderDow STEM Ambassador, St. Charles Operations

A maintenance and reliability leader for Site Infrastructure Maintenance, Shari has been with Dow for nine years and is one busy woman. As the mother of three adopted girls, Emily, LiAnn and Elizabeth, she is passionate about helping those less fortunate and happiest when she can give of her time and experience.

“The girls keep me busy, but there is still time for me to contribute in the community, and I look at how I can make a difference.”

This sense of responsibility and contributing to the community are the reasons Shari became a Dow STEM Ambassador in 2014. “I love to teach, and I love to volunteer. It’s so exciting when you see a child ‘get it,’ when they put it together, and it all starts making sense. If I can convey to students and youth that they are intellectually capable and that they can achieve whatever goal they dream, then I have succeeded.”

Shari is committed to being a role model for girls who are thinking about careers in science and technology, and uses herself as an example. “I tell them that it’s more than OK to like science and math.”

Prior to becoming a Dow STEM Ambassador, Shari volunteered with FIRST Robotics, and she continues to act as a mentor in the program. She has also been a judge in the local science fair and works with youth at the annual You Be The Chemist Challenge®.

“Volunteering is personally rewarding for me. God has blessed me abundantly, and it’s a way for me to pass it on. I am thankful that Dow has given me this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in this community.”

“I signed up to be a STEM Ambassador because

I just plain like chemistry and I love teaching.

It gives me a chance to show kids that science is

interesting and fun.” – Greg Stowers, Dow STEM Ambassador, Louisiana Operations

Jahna Humphrey and members of LAO’s African American Network spend a morning conducting STEM experiments at Brusly Elementary.   

Dow STEM Ambassadors volunteer at LSU’s Super Science Saturday where more than 1,000 children and 2,000 adults participated in STEM activities.

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Employees at Dow’s St. Charles Operations delivered big in 2014, and what better way to celebrate than to live easy with a south Louisiana-style crawfish boil. More than 750 employees and guests spent the perfect evening eating crawfish, socializing, playing games and dancing to celebrate the site’s record-breaking year in spring 2015.

St. Charles Operations Celebrates Record-Breaking Year

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St. Charles Operations Celebrates Record-Breaking Year

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Leaders Take Action

LIA is in its third year and continues to offer a unique twist on talent development. A marriage of the company’s Dow Sustainability Corps (DSC) and the Human Resources talent development program, LIA participants use their skills to work on important community improvement projects with non-government organizations (NGOs) and social entrepreneurs.

The LIA model calls for employees to work five months virtually with their partner organizations, then spend one week in-country, meeting their partners, learning about issues and presenting their solutions.

And while all of this collaboration is occurring, the participants are enhancing their leadership skills and becoming visionaries for new business opportunities.

“We’ve found that one of the best ways to enhance our leaders’ skills is to immerse them in an unknown place,” said John Kolmer, Human Resources Manager and LIA Program Leader. “Out of their comfort zone and working with new people, they can experience the real-world challenges of conducting business in an emerging geography.”

“This program made me realize the great human resource we have in this company. We are building relationships that will deliver long-term rewards,” said participant Jesus Atias, Market Development Manager. “In 50 years, we will be doing business there supported by the foundations we’re building now.”

Finding solutions for the world’s biggest challenges starts with talented people who have the heart and knowledge to make a difference. Built on that idea, Dow’s Leadership in Action (LIA) program engages employees to create local solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing issues.

LIA by the Numbers since 2013

nonprofitorganizations

119 employees

23

“This program made me realize the great human

resource we have in this company. We are building

relationships that will deliver long-term rewards. In

50 years, we will be doing business there supported by

the foundations we’re building now.” – Jesus Atias, Market Development Manager

Around the World

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Ghana in Year 1 The city of Accra, in Ghana, Africa, was fertile leadership training ground in 2013 for 36 Dow employees who applied their expertise and passion to the needs of the community. Here, employees from 24 countries partnered with non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to implement seven projects addressing issues related to agriculture, housing, education, access to clean water and more.

Donovan Pitre, site controller, Louisiana Operations, accepts a gift from partner organization Hochschule Wismar University. The team analyzed business conditions and developed a business approach for the establishment of a sales value chain for Moringa powder and oil.

Megan Sias (front row, center), operations leader for MethocelTM in Plaquemine, poses with her team in front of a billboard welcoming Leadership in Action to Universitas Ciputra, in Surabaya, Indonesia. The team worked with the University to develop a strategy to help farmers recondition land and boost rice yields.

Focus on EthiopiaAmong the top ten highest GDP growth nations in the world in the last decade, Ethiopia is home to people brimming with ideas and energy. In 2014, the site was Addis Ababa, where 40 employees engaged with eight Ethiopian organizations to address issues related to agriculture, technology, education and sanitation.

2015: Surabaya, IndonesiaSurabaya, Indonesia, was the focus of the 2015 LIA program as 42 Dow employees from 24 locations worked with NGOs and other organizations to address some of the country’s critical community and societal issues. Employees traveled to Surabaya in Fall 2015 to work face-to-face with their nonprofit clients.

Of the many benefits of the program, LIA participation is life changing for employees, affecting the way they view themselves as global citizens. “This provided our team with a humbling appreciation for the lives we lead and the resources that we have (things as simple as having

potable water piped to our homes), Dow Indonesia Bea Chan said. “Participating in a project that stood for more than just a financial opportunity showed our Nazava Dow Team that we share one world together and that each individual can make an impact on humanity.”

“Leadership in Action gives employees an opportunity to use their experience and skills in areas they wouldn’t have imagined,” said Johanna Soderstrom, corporate vice president, Human Resources. “It’s a fantastic alignment between what we’re good at as a company and how human chemistry comes into play.”