Date: 28 January 2002
The company began operations on January 1, 2002, as a specialty latex joint venture and combines the specialty latex business of Dow Emulsion Polymers with Reichhold's Emulsions business.
Three members from each parent company are serving on the Members Committee. Members from Dow include Ted Cosse, committee chairman, and global vice president of Dow Emulsion Polymers, Inderjit McManus, global R&D director, Dow Emulsion Polymers, and Bill Weideman, finance director, Dow Performance Chemicals. Members from Reichhold include Gary S. Krall, president and COO, Rick Holcombe, senior vice president, new business development, and Julia D. Harp, senior vice president, Global Composites.
Ted Cosse served as business vice president for Emulsion Polymers prior to his current role. He began his career with Dow in the company's Western Division in 1976 as an engineer in Agricultural Chemicals R&D. He also served as business research manager for Dow's latex business and product marketing manager for paper latex.
Cosse earned a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Michigan State University and a Master's in business administration from Case Western Reserve University.
Inderjit McManus is the global research and development director for the Emulsion Polymers Business at Dow. Her key responsibilities include Research and Development (R&D), Technical Service and Development (TS&D), and Technical Customer Interface Initiatives (CII) worldwide.
McManus has considerable experience in selected product differentiation through breakthrough technology development using Dow's Develop and Commercialize Technology process and discipline. Her diverse background and extensive experience are great assets as Dow seeks to strengthen the company's global leadership position in paper and carpet latex.
McManus holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She continued her education in the areas of statistical management at George Washington University, Consortium for Executive Development at Babson College, and Indiana Partnership for Management Development at Indiana University Graduate School of Business.
Bill Weideman serves as global finance director for Performance Chemicals at Dow. He has held this position since 1998, when he previously served as global finance director for Specialty Chemicals. Weideman has spent 25 years with Dow in various roles. He began his career in 1976 as a cost accountant and later served as manager of Reporting and Analysis in Midland, Michigan. In 1996, he accepted the position of global business controller of Specialty Chemicals.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (accounting) from Central Michigan University.
Gary Krall is the president and chief operating officer of Reichhold, Inc. In this position, Krall oversees Reichhold's day-to-day operations and is focusing on globalizing Reichhold, streamlining business processes and growing Reichhold's business. Krall began his career with Reichhold as vice president of the Composites distribution team and then led the Cast Polymer business team while still leading the distribution team. In 1999, Krall was appointed senior vice president of finance and was named senior vice president of North America in 2000.
Prior to joining Reichhold, Krall spent over 18 years with Owens Corning; two years with Enviroclean; and three years with Ace Hardware Corporation. Krall received his Bachelor's and Master's of business administration, finance, from the University of Toledo.
Rick Holcombe serves as senior vice president, new business development. Holcombe is responsible for Reichhold's new business development activities. Prior to this position, he served as senior vice president of finance. He also served as vice president of corporate planning and information technology.
Prior to accepting this role, he served as chief information officer and team leader for the Information Technology Services organization. Holcombe has also held various roles in the manufacturing and engineering groups, primarily focusing on the polyester and coatings businesses. He began his career with Reichhold in 1986 at the company's Jacksonville, Florida plant.
Holcombe received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida with a minor in computer science. He has also completed a number of management training and leadership seminars and short courses.
Julia Harp is the senior vice president, Global Composites and oversees all operations in Reichhold's global composite business. Previously, Harp served as president and general manager of the Owens Corning Metal Systems, a $260 million business headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Prior to this position, she served as vice president and general manager, Reinforcements, and vice president, Global Sales, for the Owens Corning Composites Systems business.
Before joining Owens Corning, Harp spent seven years with General Electric. Beginning as a field marketing manager in GE Plastics western region, she served in several capacities with GE, eventually rising to Product Leader-Crystalline Polymers. In that role she was responsible for managing product portfolio optimization. She also served on the Global Business Team of the Crystalline Polymer business and was a member of the CEO's "Quick Response" task force at GE Appliances.
Harp has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Owens Corning India. She is a graduate of the Smith College Management Program. She graduated with honors from Sullivan College with a degree in Business Administration. She has attended executive education programs at GE Crotonville and several universities.
Jeff Welker, former senior director of corporate planning for Reichhold, was named president of the joint venture.
The joint venture is a 50-50 percent limited liability company between the two companies. The joint venture will have access to a broad range of latex chemistries from both companies. These products are used in a wide range of end use applications, including latex gloves, textile printing and construction applications. The joint venture will employ 400 people and have sales, marketing and research support in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific.
"The formation of Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex LLC will accelerate growth of our combined specialty latex businesses on a global scale," said Cosse. "More importantly, the combined products, technologies and global presence of the new company will create a culture and a capability that is better able to meet the unique needs of specialty latex customers around the world."
Krall said the new business would offer its customers a wider portfolio of products and services than previously available.
"Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex LLC brings together the best resources of each company in the area of specialty latex," Krall said. "This venture allows Reichhold to focus our energies on globalization and our core products while giving specialty latexes the chance to grow its products and technologies in its markets."
The joint venture is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and operates two latex production facilities in Cheswold, Del., and Chickamauga, Ga. The joint venture also has the resources of Dow's extensive global manufacturing network. New facilities are being planned to service fast growing markets in the Pacific.
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