12/7/15 - Michigan Chemistry Council Elects BASF’s Greg Pflum as President, AKT Peerless’s Garrett Geer as Vice President

LANSING, MI, December 7, 2015 – The Michigan Chemistry Council (MCC) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected a new President and Vice President to serve as leaders for the association for the two-year term of 2016-17.

Greg Pflum, Vice President and General Manager at BASF, will serve as the MCC’s President. Pflum has been a member of the MCC’s Board of Directors since 2011, when he came to BASF through its acquisition of Cognis. As Vice President and General Manager at BASF, Mr. Pflum oversees the company’s operations at its Wyandotte, Southfield, and Fighting Island facilities, which collectively employ nearly 2,000 people. He also serves on the boards of the Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Garrett Geer, Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations for AKT Peerless, will serve as the MCC’s Vice President. Mr. Geer heads up business development and policy initiatives for the Michigan-based environmental consulting firm, and joined the MCC’s board in May of 2015. He previously served with T.R. McTaggart, Inc. and The Dow Chemical Company in a number of professional roles. Mr. Geer has also served on numerous industry and nonprofit boards and committees including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Saginaw Future, Boys & Girls Clubs, Ducks Unlimited and the Michigan Manufacturers Association.

Transitioning to Past-President will be Kenneth P. Kaufman, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Engineering and Global Operations, for the Dow Corning Corporation. Mr. Kaufman has served the MCC’s board for more than six years, including as both Treasurer and President.

Continuing as MCC’s Treasurer will be Harold Lofton, Muskegon Site Leader for Bayer CropScience. Dirk Bloemendaal, Managing Counsel, Government Affairs for Amway, will continue to serve as MCC’s Secretary.  

“We are pleased to welcome new leaders for the Michigan Chemistry Council as we continue to grow the business of chemistry in our state,” said MCC Executive Director John Dulmes. “Greg and Garrett are both passionate leaders who understand the importance of an industry association in making a collective difference for its members. We also recognize Ken’s dedicated service to the MCC over the years and his outstanding guidance on our board.”

The Michigan Chemistry Council, established in 1967, represents Michigan’s chemical manufacturers, formulators and distributors. Chemistry is Michigan’s third-largest manufacturing sector, supporting nearly 120,000 Michigan jobs and generating $127 million in state and local taxes.

Greg Pflum, BASF

 Garrett Geer, AKT Peerless