SAVING DOW: Embattled Firm Crucial to Continued Employment, Growth Here

December 21, 2014
By: Dave Rogers

It is no longer news that the Dow Chemical Company's CEO Andrew Liveris is under attack from an activist investor and now a whistle blower.

National and international news outlets are splashing explosive charges in headlines with serious consequences for Dow's stock prices and corporate reputation.

Federal Judge Thomas Ludington, a Midlander himself, showed wisdom and courage allowing the whistle blower suit to go forward; let the issues be argued and determined in a complete airing of the case, he said in effect in a ruling.

We hope the charges are false and that Dow emerges unscathed from the mudslinging that is already well underway.

The firm is too important to the Great Lakes Bay (mid-Michigan) area to have it hurt by scandal.

A Dow employee pointed out in a comment to MyBayCity.com that lots of people depend on the company for their livelihood and anything that threatens the firm strikes to the heart of the local community as well.

If you read the firm's splashy "Impact" magazine, published by Dow's Michigan operations, you will see what he means. As of Nov. 30, 1,556 volunteers have provided 17,000 plus hours of volunteer service in the community.

"These incredible contributions make our cities and counties great places to live and work and make Dow a proud community partner," said Rich Wells, vice president and site director of Dow Michigan Operations.

Under Mr. Liveris, Dow has given new life to the area. To attract highly-qualified employees Dow has brought the attractions of metropolitan urban areas here: a baseball team in Midland with a major league connection, a first class YMCA facility in downtown Bay City, an entertainment-sports complex in Saginaw, and on and on.

As Wells points out, Dow is leaving its footprint and hand prints on the community in many ways, including STEM Ambassadors in schools, revitalizing neighborhoods with Habitat for Humanity and ensuring communication through a community advisory panel.

The Bay Area Community Beautification Committee brought more than 400 volunteers in planting bulbs along highway entrance corridors earlier this year. Mike Seward, president of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, commented: "It started with the DowGives grant, and then many other local companies and partners joined the efforts so we were able to greatly expand the scope."

DowGives is a community outreach program that aligns the company's financial resources with opportunities for employee engagement. The program empowers local nonprofit organizations to implement projects that make a positive, sustainable impact on the community."

Many of Dow's products have improved lives worldwide and are immeasurable in benefits to humankind. Our quality of life, and that of countless others around the globe, have benefited from the collective research and productive wisdom marshaled by Dow in Midland and elsewhere where the firm is located.

Wall Street can be an unrelenting taskmaster so Dow may have tougher times ahead. But we are confident the firm will right itself under wise leadership and will charge into the future with the confidence of past accomplishments.

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