IWIM 2020 Honoree: Mary Beth Seasholtz, Dow Chemical
Mary Beth Seasholtz, Dow Chemical
When one thinks of Data at Dow Chemical, Mary Beth Seasholtz is who comes to mind.
After receiving undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania (1987), she simultaneously earned a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, and a Masters of Science in Applied Mathematics at the University of Washington (1992). From there, she went to Dow Chemical, where she has worked for 28 years.
In the almost 30 years she’s worked at Dow, she’s been fundamental to the company’s success. Early in her tenure, she introduced chemometrics (advanced multivariate mathematical tools) to the company, both in R&D and Manufacturing. More recently, her focus has turned from individual contributor to visionary leader for analytics applications across the manufacturing footprint. She’s involved in developing strategies and technologies for making data available and useful to a broad group of people for timely decision-making. In fact, she’s responsible for introducing Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI) to Dow, resulting in a dramatic shift in the way the company looks at, interacts with and treats process analytics. Those efforts have been able to save hundreds of millions of dollars in vetted value for the manufacturing arm of the company.
In addition to helping Dow save money, Mary Beth also supports women’s career development through Dow’s own Women’s Innovation Network and in other employee groups. She even hosts a televised series geared toward young female professionals in which she interviews Dow contributors about their careers.
Read her advice to future female manufacturers as well as the 19 other 2020 Honorees by downloading the 2020 Influential Women in Manufacturing E-Book.
