BASF sponsors first networking reception specifically for women in the petrochemical industry
San Antonio, TX, April 8, 2014 – A gathering of more than 150 women at a special networking reception at the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) conference, hosted by BASF Corporation, signaled the growing representation of women professionals in the petrochemicals industry. This first-ever professional networking event was designed specifically for women working in the petrochemicals industry and took place as part of the 2014 AFPM conference.
“BASF, as a leading promoter of diversity in the chemical industry, conceptualized this inaugural event, which AFPM enthusiastically agreed to help organize, to emphasize the importance of networking for females in the petrochemical industry,” said Heidi Alderman, Senior Vice President, Petrochemicals, BASF Corporation. “As there are relatively few females in the industry, being able to connect with and share experiences with other women is particularly valuable. In addition, we brainstormed ways we can help improve the female leadership pipeline in our industry.”
“When BASF approached AFPM to host the Women in Petrochemicals event I was excited about the idea, and I was happy to learn that so many others shared this excitement. Based on the strong attendance, we expect it to become an annual event,” said AFPM Vice President of Petrochemicals Melissa Hockstad.
The reception was an important step in establishing a network for women in the petrochemicals industry that will encourage stronger ties among women in the profession as well as with petrochemical company executives. In 2013, approximately 425 women attended the AFPM Conference; in 2014, more than 600 women participated and their increased numbers made their presence felt at the AFPM conference.
“Since the petrochemical industry is mostly male, it was great to meet other women in the industry from a multitude of different markets. I am very appreciative of being able to attend the event and look forward to continued interaction with other women in the industry,” said Joy Gallo, Global Director of Procurement, Ashland Performance Materials
This event was an important part of BASF’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. “We need to attract, develop and retain the best talent from all backgrounds in order to meet the challenges facing the chemical industry, and this includes the special competitive challenges in the petrochemicals industry,” said Patricia Rossman, BASF Corporation Chief Diversity Officer. “At BASF, we see the power of diversity as key to driving innovation and growth. Our ability to leverage diversity and inclusion provides a competitive advantage for our customers and a personal advantage for our people.”
As a result of this commitment, BASF has attained ranking as one of the DiversityInc. Top 50 Companies for Diversity (#31) and received that group’s Diversity Management Progress Award in 2013. Minority Engineering magazine ranked BASF 20th among the Top 50 Employers for Minority Engineers and 34th among the Top 50 Companies for Women Engineers in 2013. BASF received a 2014 Diversity Leader award fromProfiles in Diversity Journal. The company ranks as a ‘Top Climber’ by Universum, ranking in the top 100 companies (#80) for Engineering.
BASF – The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us .
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com .
SOURCE: BASF