Diversity, equity and inclusion are keys to business success, speaker says
By Robert Grace
Diversity, equity and inclusion all rely on “I” to make sense. So says Wesleyne Greer, a trained chemist who now helps companies build strong sales teams via her Houston-based company called Transformed Sales. She was the lead outside speaker, kicking off Day 1 of the ANTEC Insights 2021 virtual conference program on May 5.
Greer, who began her career as a chemist with Total Petrochemical in 2006, focuses her efforts on the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) industries.
She opened by posing the question: “Why should we care about diversity?” It’s because diverse companies and diverse teams tend to be more innovative. “Those are the ones with outside-of-the-box ideas. That’s what we need. We need diversity so that we have a difference of opinions. Companies committed to diversity, equity and inclusion are more profitable.”
She noted that while blacks and Hispanics account for roughly 25 percent of all employed people in the general population in the U.S., they account for less than half of that –just 12 percent –in the STEM fields. “That tells us that we are not doing a good job of having a diverse environment,” said Greer, who is African American.
Of all the STEM disciplines, we’re missing the mark in engineering. “[Here] we have the lowest number of ethnic and racial minorities”––just 5 percent black and 8 percent Hispanic, compared with 12 percent Asian and 73 percent white, according to the Pew Research Foundation.
The Pew study also compared the job-related pay of college-educated workers with a STEM degree, with whites representing $100. Comparatively speaking, Asians in the field earned more ($110), while Hispanics and blacks earned less (92 and 87 percent, respectively).
Inclusion, meanwhile, involves making everyone in a company or group feel recognized and supported. It’s vital, she stressed, to be open, empathetic and understanding. Ask questions of your colleagues and listen to their responses, she advised.
So, Greer asked, how can you help to create an inclusive culture? “Hire more diverse people. Make sure you’re not tolerating disrespect. Stand up for people. Don’t be that person who sees something that’s going wrong and not do anything.”
Also, change has to come from the top of an organization. “People don’t leave companies,” she said, “people leave managers.” Every person has a role to play, Greer added. “Challenge yourself by saying, ‘I will do something’.”
Kim McLoughlin Senior Research Engineer, Global Materials Science Braskem
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Kim drives technology programs at Braskem to develop advanced polyolefins with improved recyclability and sustainability. As Principal Investigator on a REMADE-funded collaboration, Kim leads a diverse industry-academic team that is developing a process to recycle elastomers as secondary feedstock. Kim has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell. She is an inventor on more than 25 patents and applications for novel polyolefin technologies. Kim is on the Board of Directors of SPE’s Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division, where she has served as Education Chair and Councilor.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Gamini has a BS and PhD from Purdue University in Materials Engineering and Sustainability. He joined Penn State as a Post Doctorate Scholar in 2020 prior to his professorship appointment. He works closely with PA plastics manufacturers to implement sustainability programs in their plants.
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Tom Giovannetti holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tulsa and for the last 26 years has worked for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Tom started his plastics career by designing various injection molded products for the chemical industry including explosion proof plugs and receptacles, panel boards and detonation arrestors for 24 inch pipelines. Tom also holds a patent for design of a polyphenylene sulfide sleeve in a nylon coolant cross-over of an air intake manifold and is a Certified Plastic Technologist through the Society of Plastic Engineers. Tom serves on the Oklahoma Section Board as Councilor, is also the past president of the local Oklahoma SPE Section, and as well serves on the SPE Injection Molding Division board.
Joseph Lawrence, Ph.D. Senior Director and Research Professor University of Toledo
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Dr. Joseph Lawrence is a Research Professor and Senior Director of the Polymer Institute and the Center for Materials and Sensor Characterization at the University of Toledo. He is a Chemical Engineer by training and after working in the process industry, he has been engaged in polymers and composites research for 18+ years. In the Polymer Institute he leads research on renewably sourced polymers, plastics recycling, and additive manufacturing. He is also the lead investigator of the Polyesters and Barrier Materials Research Consortium funded by industry. Dr. Lawrence has advised 20 graduate students, mentored 8 staff scientists and several undergraduate students. He is a peer reviewer in several journals, has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications and serves on the board of the Injection Molding Division of SPE.
Matt Hammernik Northeast Account Manager Hasco America
A Resin Supplier’s Perspective on Partnerships for the Circular Economy
About the Speaker
Matt Hammernik serves as Hasco America’s Northeast Area Account Manager covering the states Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. He started with Hasco America at the beginning of March 2022. Matt started in the Injection Mold Industry roughly 10 years ago as an estimator quoting injection mold base steel, components and machining. He advanced into outside sales and has been serving molders, mold builders and mold makers for about 7 years.
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