Interview with Alan Rogers, President of CICD

How did you first become involved in the chemical industry? 

It was a gradual progression.  I started my career as a ceramic engineer in the glass industry, eventually making a sodium silicate glass that dissolves in water which is a building block chemical that other chemical companies used to produce other products. That was the door into the chemical industry.

What do you see as the primary benefit of chemical manufacturing? 

The chemical industry is involved with every product we use in life.  Without chemical manufacturing we wouldn’t have most of the products we take for granted in life.  Producing these chemicals in a safe and responsible manner is essential. 

What does the Kuehne Company do, and more specifically what does the Delaware City facility do? 

The Kuehne Company produces sodium hypochlorite, otherwise known as bleach.  The Delaware City plant produces bleach through what is referred to as a brine to bleach electrolytic process.  By using this process, we dramatically reduce the amount of liquid chlorine being transported on our rails and highways and the amount of chlorine stored at our facilities, resulting in a safer environment for our communities.

What markets does the Kuehne Company serve? 

Our primary customers are municipal water and waste water treatment facilities.  You won’t find our company name on a store shelf, but we also sell our bleach to pool supply and distributors who bottle our product for resale to consumers.

What is most enjoyable about your job? 

Working with people.  I really enjoy striving to make Kuehne a great place to work, and I enjoy working with our customers to ensure we are meeting and exceeding their expectations.

How has the chemical industry helped Delaware and more specifically the Del City community? 

Wow, well chemistry touches every part of our daily lives.  The products the chemical industry provides are improving your life while you sleep and while you’re awake.  In Delaware, we have major companies that are impacting the color of your products, the quality of the cosmetics you use, the quality of the water at your tap, the food that you eat, and the fuel you use.  The Kuehne Company’s efforts in the community have been focused on emergency response and workforce development.  We’re active members in the Delaware City Community Awareness Emergency Response (DC CAER) and the New Castle County Local Emergency Planning Committee (NCC LEPC) and we’ve also been founding sponsors of the Work Force Development Pathway at William Penn High School.

What advice would you give to someone who is trying to enter the chemical manufacturing space?  

Have high expectations!  The chemical industry has literally millions of opportunities to both improve the world in which we live in and to grow and succeed individually.  In Delaware, your desire to make an impact is open to your dreams.  Delaware is a unique and great place to do business as its small size and great companies allow opportunities for tremendous visibility and involvement. 

What do you do in your spare time? 

Aside from spending time with my wife and working together on our yard, my biggest activities outside of work are swimming and the Knights of Columbus.  I’ve been an official in USA Swimming since 2000 and referee swim meets throughout the Mid-Atlantic (MA Swimming) region.  With the Knights of Columbus, I’ve held several roles with our local council over the years, but have been serving as the Financial Secretary for the last two years.

What’s your favorite sports team? 

The Buffalo Bills.  I grew up and went to college in the greater Buffalo, NY area and once a Bills fan, always a Bills fan!  Even through those four painful Super Bowls.  One day they’ll break that Super Bowl jinx and their fans will be able to share in that same joy the Eagles fans have been able to enjoy this past year.

If you could have any other job, what would it be? 

I don’t know how to answer that, as working as a Plant Manager for the Kuehne Company has truly been a wonderful experience.  I work with and for great people which allows me the time to invest in the community through the CICD, the Delaware Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware Manufacturing Association and others while still giving me time to work on the volunteer activities I cherish.  I’ve been lucky with jobs over my career, and I’ve always kept an eye open for new opportunities and befriend the people I work with.  I’ve had great experiences in places such as Missouri, Louisiana, and the State of Washington and all those people and places groomed me for Kuehne and Delaware.  I thank them all for their advice, knowledge sharing, and friendship and I hope I am passing that along to others.