Ron
Technical Director

When Ron graduated from college with a Chemistry degree and Business minor, he wasn’t sure if he wanted a technical or sales/marketing career. Although he had several offers, he chose a Chemist position with Sherwin-Williams. Not just because of the Company’s tremendous size and diversity, but because of the various career opportunities available.

In effect, I could choose a different career path without having to change companies. (I must also admit that the starting salary was higher than most other offers I had received!)

Today, those opportunities include Technology Development, Product Development, Manufacturing Technology Development/Engineering, Analytical, Polymers, Color/Colorant Development, Quality Services, Manufacturing Services, Package Engineering, Field Technical Service, and more.

I’ve seen numerous technical employees move into a variety of functions beyond R&D: Sales, Marketing, International, Regulatory, Customer Service, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Color and Operations/Logistics. Both the individuals and the corporation have benefited from this type of "career-pathing".

Further expansion has occurred as the Company continues to achieve new and better ways of doing things...But doesn’t all that activity generate workplace stress?

Believe me, there’s never a dull moment at Sherwin-Williams! But the culture is open and cooperative. People are encouraged to provide thoughts and ideas regardless of their position. Employees get to interact with a variety of functional areas...I think this is very beneficial because you get to expand your thought process by learning the impact your actions have on the overall business.

Diana
Lab Manager
Education: B.S. Chemistry, Kent State University
Hire date: 1988

As the daughter of a coatings scientist, it isn’t surprising that Diana chose to specialize in Coatings at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. For two consecutive summers, she worked as an intern at the CTC. This experience made her aware of the many career opportunities at Sherwin-Williams and helped solidify her decision to work in product development.

I started as a Chemist I and then worked as a liaison between the lab and plants - doing troubleshooting. This lateral-move experience gave me the ‘big picture’ perspective on Sherwin-Williams. Later, I returned to the lab in a variety of progressive supervisory roles.

Today, Diana manages a team of professionals who develop Sears and other brand label coatings. She acknowledges the key role R&D plays in support of Sherwin-Williams’ business objectives:

R&D responds to the company's strategy whether it means reducing product cost, providing Purchasing with raw material leveraging or developing new products. We must ensure the Company has quality products that keep performing, as well as new, innovative ones to help grow sales.

While her work is "hectic and challenging", Diana also finds it gives her a great sense of personal pride - real reward. And not just from the friendly and helpful people she works with.

Sherwin-Williams sees you as a real person. If you really want to do something different, there are a lot of opportunities to grow, develop, and keep moving up -- either at the other Tech Centers, Corporate headquarters, or the many manufacturing facilities. Ultimately, it's up to you to advance your own career, but the Company will work with you.

If the concepts of teamwork and respect inspire you and the abiliity to have a major impact on the business motivates you, we'd like to hear from you.