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SOCMA ChemStewards® Program Announces 2007 Performance Improvement Awards Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  
November 29, 2007

For More Information & to RSVP:
Gregory Minchak
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
(202) 721-4182
minchakg@socma.com   

Washington, DC – The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2007 Performance Improvement Awards, sponsored by SOCMA’s ChemStewards® program.  The Performance Improvement Awards recognize member facilities demonstrating outstanding commitment to continuous improvement in environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S).  The awards will be given out at SOCMA’s Annual Dinner on December 10, 2007.  (Reporters may attend.  Details below.)

“On behalf of SOCMA and the ChemStewards program, I thank these facilities for their commitment to improved EHS&S performance and active engagement with their communities,” said Jennifer Abril, Director of ChemStewards. “These companies set a high example for the industry and deserve to be commended.”

There are four categories of awards this year: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Educational Outreach Awards.

The 2007 Gold Performance Improvement Award will be given to four facilities for their commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities, making performance improvement a mantra within their organizations and actively involving key stakeholders in their communities.  These winners are:

• BASF Corporation - Washington, NJ
• Honeywell Specialty Materials – Buffalo, NY
• LANXESS – Baytown, TX
• Vertellus Specialties, Inc. – Delaware Water Gap, PA

A total of 15 Silver Awards will be presented to facilities showing excellence in their efforts towards one of the five Core Principles:  Stakeholder Communications, Product Stewardship, EHS&S in Planning and Operations, Employee Training and Engagement or Resource Management and Waste Minimization.  

Additionally, 29 SOCMA member facilities will be awarded with the Bronze Performance Improvement Award, which goes to facilities maintaining strong EHS&S programs.  The names of these facilities as well as the Silver Award winners can be found on SOCMA’s website at www.socma.com.

Finally, SOCMA will honor SACHEM, Inc. of Cleburne, TX with the association’s first Educational Outreach Award, which is sponsored by the Chemical Education Foundation.  The company was awarded for their efforts in promoting science awareness within local schools and expanding their community outreach efforts.  

Please pass on to any colleagues interested in the event.

What:  Annual Dinner: Over 500 of the chemical industry’s top executives networking with old and new friends, as well as entertaining customers to show their appreciation for the year’s business. 
Additionally, headlining this year’s entertainment will be Tucker Carlson of MSNBC’s Tucker. Carlson is most widely known perhaps from his role on CNN’s Crossfire and as the network’s youngest anchor. 
                       
ChemStewards® Reception: An intimate reception celebrating winners of the Performance Improvement Awards who demonstrated a commitment to excellent environment, community safety and health standards during the year.
 
Note:  Registration fee for dinner and reception is waived for credentialed press.

When:    Monday, December 10, 2007

Where:  New York Marriott Marquis Times Square
               1535 Broadway
                New York, NY 10036

RSVP:   Gregory Minchak
               minchakg@socma.com or (202) 721-4182

Link:      http://www.socma.com/events/index.cfm?eventCat=1

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SOCMA is the leading trade association, serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry since 1921. SOCMA’s nearly 300 members employ more than 100,000 workers across the country and produce 50,000 products valued at $60 billion annually. For more information please visit www.socma.com.

ChemStewards® is SOCMA’s flagship environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) continuous performance improvement program.  ChemStewards was created from industry’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint left by member’s facilities.  Industry created ChemStewards to meet the unique needs of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry. As a mandatory requirement for SOCMA members engaged in the manufacturing or handling of synthetic and organic chemicals, ChemStewards is helping participants reach for superior EHS&S performance.  To learn more visit www.chemstewards.com.


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What Members Are Saying…

“Several of our facilities are involved in processes related to food and feed applications and must be certified under various initiatives. We have found that in many cases the systems we have established under the ChemSystems program serve as great building platforms for meeting the requirements for these other certifications, and as a result the approval process has been greatly simplified.” 

Donald Golden
EH&S Manager
Magnablend, Inc.