ALL IN 2025: Journey to Breakthrough

In this workshop, Zen will review Dow's 2025 Breakthrough Inclusion Goals. The journey going forward starts with the company-wide People and Culture strategy. It takes ALL Dow employees to achieve our breakthrough inclusion goals. How is Dow creating inclusion, diversity, and equity for ALL forward? How do we create an inclusive culture in an increasingly virtual environment?

About the Speaker

Zen Saunders (she/her/they) currently serves as the North America Leader for Inclusion, Diversity and Employee Experience. In this combined role, she is responsible for driving and implementing the I&D + EX strategy and providing expertise, consultation, and support to business, functional, and ERG leaders and EX change champions in the region. She collaborates with the businesses and functions on inclusion and employee experience interventions that lead to measurable results and long-term culture change. She also manages relationship support for I&D+ EX partnerships and represents Dow externally consistent with the region’s outreach and thought leadership initiatives.

In her previous role, Zen was the Regulatory Affairs Leader (LA, AR, AL, GA and KY) advocating for Dow’s interests in several strategic industry associations in the Gulf Coast. She was responsible for supporting permit approvals, advocacy for state regulations, ensuring site support for various regulatory changes and negotiating enforcement settlements. In a vote by her industry peers, Zen was awarded Most Valuable Player of the Louisiana Chemical Association Environmental Committee in 2019 and 2020 and was also nominated to be Top 20 under 40 in the Baton Rouge Business Industry Report in 2017.

Zen serves as the Louisiana Operations Disability Employee Network Site Implementation Leader, was a co-leader for the Louisiana Operations Global African American Network and has worked closely with the other ERG Site Implementation Leaders on numerous collaborative inclusion and safety initiatives. Zen is the former team leader for the Louisiana Sustainability team and is one of the Global Co-Leaders for the Valuing Nature team. She also currently serves on the Florida A&M University Recruiting team and Dow Political Action Committee National Steering Team.

Zen holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Melon University, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Syracuse University. Zen and her wife, Iman, have two daughters Mya and Yah Ella. In their spare time, the family enjoys hiking, karaoke and spending time with family in San Francisco and Belize.

Journey to Becoming a DEI Ally

Summary

Enjoy this conversational session diving into the journey of being an ally in the evolving packaging world. Lynzie Nebel will be conducting an in depth and engaging interview of Jonathan’s journey as an ally.

About the Speaker

Jonathan Quinn is the Director of Market Development and Sustainability at Pregis, where he leads the market segmentation strategy development and execution along with all facets of flexible packaging sustainability focused on providing innovative products and services that Protect, Preserve, & Inspyre. Jonathan joined Pregis in June of 2021.

Jonathan is recognized as an expert in the areas of Packaging Sustainability, consumer insight and voice of consumer associated with packaging. He has conducted extensive consumer research on the e-Commerce and consumer packaged goods sectors. Prior to joining Pregis, Jonathan most recently held Marketing leadership roles at NOVA Chemicals. Additionally, he has held sales leadership and business development roles at Illinois Tool Works Zip-Pak division, the COESIA Group, and Multisorb Technologies.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Packaging Science and Business Management from Clemson University. Currently, Quinn is the founder and Chairman of the Emerging Leadership Council at the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), chairs the membership committee at AMERIPEN, and is on the Global Board of Directors of the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA). In June of 2021, Jonathan was appointed to the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Advisory Board for Diversity and Inclusion. Jonathan was designated a “Rising Star under 35” by Plastics News in 2018 and the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) Young Leader of the Year in 2019. In February of 2021, Jonathan was recognized by Plastics News as a top Social Media influencer in Plastics and Packaging. He can be found on all social media channels under the handle @JQUINNPACKAGED.

Lynzie Nebel is an Upstream Quote Engineer for Cytiva, managing the product costing for custom upstream hardware equipment for bio processing. Throughout her career, Lynzie has gained experience in the automotive, appliance, medical, pet, and micro injection molding industries.

Lynzie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Plastics Engineering Technology from Penn State Behrend in 2008. She has been a member of SPE since 2004 and has been involved in her local section, holding many positions including past President. Lynzie also sits on the Injection Molding Division and is the former secretary for the SPE Foundation board. She is currently the Vice President of Member Engagement on the Executive Board for SPE. In 2015, Lynzie was part of Plastics News' inaugural class of "Women Breaking the Mold," and was named one of the group's "Rising Stars" in 2018. She is also on the Industrial Advisory Board for Penn State's Plastics Department.

OK, Our Company Wants to Commit to DEI…Where Do We Start?

Abstract

Thinking about starting a grass-roots effort with your work group or organization to create your own DE&I Team? In this talk, Jennifer will share her experience with building a similar team within her R&D organization, sharing key insights and strategies to get started, as well as suggestions for how to address key concerns and roadblocks that may be encountered as you prepare to get your team up and running.

About the Speaker

Jennifer is an Associate Director in Process & Catalysis R&D within the Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons business group, located in Lake Jackson, TX. Jennifer also leads the Global I&D Steering Team and a regional North America I&D Team in the Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons R&D organization. In her career with Dow, Jennifer has held various R&D and TS&D roles supporting development of new products and applications in Quaternary Amines, Water Soluble Polymers, INCLOSIA, Dow Pharma & Food Solutions, Core R&D and most recently, Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons. Jennifer joined Dow in 1999 on the Research Assignments Program. Jennifer earned a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Hire for Character, Train for Skill - How Westminster Tool Hires the Right Person

Abstract coming soon.

About the Speaker

Kylee Varga works in Human Resources at Westminster Tool. Over the last seven years Kylee has been an instrumental part of Westminster Tool’s transformation, predominately through her contributions to the Westminster Direction and involvement in workforce development. Her commitment to developing the manufacturing industry has impacted many within the Connecticut community. Kylee has worked with local schools and non-profits to raise awareness about manufacturing careers and constantly advocates for the opportunities which lie within the industry.