Engineering Graduates Lay "Foundations" for Successful Careers at Rhodia

Business Wire, May 29, 2008

CRANBURY, N.J. -- Caps and gowns will give way to hard hats and goggles when college grads accept new assignments as entry-level engineers at Rhodia this month.

For young people passionate about chemistry and engineering, Rhodia, a global specialty chemical company, has a formula for success. Rhodia recruits ambitious grads from universities such as Georgia Tech, Penn State, Iowa State, Drexel and North Carolina State for Foundations for the Future, a unique, intense and rewarding career development program.

High potential, entry-level engineers gain valuable experience as they put their education, innovation - and sometimes, just plain intuition - to the test. Program participants work three 18-month rotations that expose them to two or three of Rhodia's 20 North American production sites and six business divisions.

These participants also will attend training sessions and formal networking opportunities so they can meet peers, plant managers, business leaders and senior executives. The young alumni will emerge as outstanding future candidates for senior-level positions.

Process Engineer Brad Sutliff, a Penn State grad with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering will soon complete his second rotation at Rhodia's plant in Spartanburg, SC. He's already impressed the site supervisors and Rhodia's NJ-based business teams.

The company recently rewarded Sutliff's work on several outstanding engineering assessments for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His efforts led to the EPA's approval of new production, saving Rhodia valuable time and about $100,000 in testing expenses. The decision also cleared the way for Rhodia to pursue a profitable relationship with a new customer.

The ultimate compliment came when one of the EPA's chemical engineering branches asked to use Sutliff's assessment as a training model for their staff.

Sutliff is not the first Foundations recruit to make significant contributions to the company. The unique program, in its 11th year, has graduated 47 engineers. Many have had significant impact while still in the program and several alumni have become plant managers, operations or maintenance managers, or business directors. Others have been invited to apply their talents and experience in Rhodia facilities abroad.

David Alt, Rhodia's vice president for industrial services, says the program attracts the brightest aspiring chemical engineers for several reasons. "Because we only accept several people to the program each year, participants have more personal attention and flexibility in choosing their assignments. We want to make sure the rotations align with their interests. Unlike a lot of other programs, Rhodia also has longer rotations, so new engineers not only learn - they get to see results and really contribute."

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its customers' performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, tire, refining, electronics, perfume, health and beauty and home care markets. The Group employs about 15,000 people worldwide. Rhodia generated worldwide sales of EU4.8 billion in 2007. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.