Indianapolis, October 21, 2020 – Heritage Research Group Chemist Named 2020 ACS Fellow

From industry-leading research to her dedicated community outreach efforts, it is no surprise that Linda Osborn, Director of Analytical Research with the Heritage Research Group, was named a 2020 ACS Fellow. We recently sat down with Linda to discuss her career, ACS recognition, and what comes next.

You’ve been with the company for 36 years. Why do you love working at The Heritage Group (THG)?

Since I started in 1984, my position has progressed greatly, allowing me to participate in a variety of projects and teams. Every day I learn something new and this keeps things fresh and interesting. THG team members have the passion and diverse expertise needed for us to collaborate and solve problems, and it’s exciting to see how this commitment and their many unique contributions are helping our company grow. All are very giving of their time and talents, and that’s part of the appeal of working here. When I think about all the ways the company has evolved over the years, it reflects the incredible family behind it and the familial atmosphere that abounds.

My new role has given me the rewarding ability to help develop careers and match people with different opportunities. It’s been especially fun for me because the focus is on all the things that truly excite people about working here, including our emphasis on career development.

Tell us about your ACS Fellow Honor.

This award recognizes members of ACS for outstanding achievements and contributions regarding science, the profession, and the ACS. It’s a fantastic bonus but is certainly not related to my goals. Honestly, I’m most excited about the people from the Indiana section who believe in me so much that they took the time to nominate and support me for this award.

What are the accomplishments that earned you this prestigious recognition?

The career recognition was largely based on my research about the impact of asphalt fumes on worker safety, which started in 1989 and continues today. Five stages of research were initially envisioned by company leadership, and I was lucky to be part of that journey. The results of this work are now featured in over 40 peer-reviewed publications. I was proud to be part of such important research for the industry, and to have the opportunity to work with various professionals within THG and all over the world.

Since I joined the ACS in 2012, I have been passionate about their outreach efforts with the Indiana section. For example, we just completed a project where we created COVID-19 chemistry kits for underserved kids. With incredible community support, we were able to double our original goal and put together 200 bags and purchase additional warm weather items like hats and gloves. Our partner, the National Organization of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers, has distributed them to local children in need.

How does this exposure at ACS benefit your role at THG?

The award adds great credibility and well-deserved exposure for the company. After all, if it weren’t for THG, I wouldn’t be a chemist! The Asphalt Institute featured an article about it in their newsletter, and as a result, many internal and external colleagues have congratulated me. But I owe a lot of my success to so many people at THG — both past and present.

What are your goals for the future?

Right now, my primary goal is to help employees develop and grow their careers within the company, while encouraging innovation to add value. I am also focusing on a couple important projects for the asphalt industry. The increased collaboration among many talented people across our businesses is giving THG a unique edge that is exciting to watch unfold.

And of course, I will continue to fulfill my passion for community outreach programs, especially those related to STEM. The 2023 ACS national meeting is in Indianapolis, so I’m looking forward to helping plan this big event.

As for down the road on the personal front, my family has and will always be my priority — and I look forward to spending more time with them when I retire!

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For more information about the ACS or the Fellow program, please visit www.acs.org.

Indianapolis, April 03, 2020 – COVID-19: Heritage Heroes in Action

Meet our employees who are working tirelessly to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

From the heart of the Midwest and around the world, our teams are hard at work keeping our communities and nation safe. From those in the field decontaminating facilities to creating key chemicals for the healthcare industry and those working at home to flatten the curve – The Heritage Group is at the forefront of containing and further preventing the spread of this virus.

 

We are proud to be in essential industries and consider it a privilege to serve the world, our communities and our people.

 

HELPING THE WORLD

In our diversity is our greatest strength, using our collective subject matter expertise to address the big problems a global health crisis can present. Here’s a brief look at the ways some of our core industries are impacting the containment and prevention of this virus.

 

Environmental Services

Our emergency response services rapidly deploy coronavirus disinfection and decontamination resources to help our customers maintain business continuity in a variety of settings. By following EPA and CDC recommended methods and materials, we give customers impacted by COVID-19 peace of mind to safely restore operations.

 

See an emergency response team in action!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkkbfNouLUk[/embedyt]

 

Contact Us to Help with Decontamination

 

 

Specialty Chemicals & Fuel Products

 

Our products and chemicals make a difference in our customers health, safety, comfort and ability to get jobs done every day, including:

• Disinfectants and foaming agents that make cleaning products effective at eliminating bacteria and viruses (like the isopropyl alcohol used to make hand sanitizer).
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are the central ingredient in both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Polymers, thermoplastics, resins and other key ingredients necessary for the production of medicines, vaccines and medical devices, including blood and IV bags, tubing, syringes, masks and gowns.
• Oil, gas and diesel chemicals, jet fuel ingredients and other fossil fuel additives crucial to the logistics, shipping and transportation sectors.
• Color pigments used in printing ink formulas and adhesives used for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and sanitary products.
• Materials used in circuit boards and semiconductors essential to electronics such as medical equipment, telecommunications technologies, computers and phones.

HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES

 

In addition to maintaining focus on their families and our businesses, our employees are being a light to their communities through financial gifts, service and time. Here’s a look at how The Heritage Group is coming alongside our employees to impact their communities:

• $250,000 – To local food banks in almost 50 communities across the country where our employees work and live through a partnership with Feeding America
• $400,000 – To Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana to feed 2,500 families with children in the Indianapolis Public School system for the next eight weeks.  Click here for news coverage
• $50,000 – To establish the Indianapolis E-Learning Fund to support Indianapolis educators, students, and families during the transition to e-learning in response to the COVID public health emergency.
• $700,000 total to support those most impacted by this crisis

 

Here are just a few examples of our companies in action in their local communities:

Indianapolis, IN – Milestone Contractors

Supporting Wheeler Mission by making sack lunches for the shelter, supplying 160 sack lunches each week through April.

 

Champaign, IL – Champaign Asphalt Company

Working with United Way of Central Illinois and donating $15,000 to non-profit supporting community’s most vulnerable citizens.

 

Houston, TX – Monument Chemical

Collecting food and pet supplies for local shelters, donating thermometers, creating employee wellness kits and donating blood through local blood drives.

 

Heritage Environmental Services

Indianapolis, IN

Donating to 25 food banks in 18 states, partnering with Ronald McDonald House to provide dinner donations to families and providing pizza to local emergency room healthcare workers.

 

East Liverpool, OH

Donating toothpaste and other sanitizing products to local shelters and non-profits, and providing boxed lunches to frontline healthcare workers with food from a local small business.

 

Tulsa, OK

Partnering with a local church to provide a total of 8,000 meals to families in need through Feeding America and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

 

HELPING OUR PEOPLE

The health and safety of our employees remains our top priority. While we’re continuing essential business operations, we’ve taken immediate measures company-wide to reduce exposure, including work from home, travel restrictions, social distancing and enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols in all of our locations.

Our ONE Heritage Fund was created to support our Heritage family of employees in times of need following a natural disaster or unforeseen hardship.

 

Leaders at Heritage Environmental Services suit up to train so they can join their essentials employees at work in the field.

HES | COVID-19 BUSINESS CONTINUITY RESPONSE from The Heritage Group on Vimeo.

 

Our Kids Science Camp program provided resources to help employees engage with their children about COVID-19 preparedness with some fun activities to complete as a family.

The Heritage Group immediately understood the need for telehealth resources and arranged with its healthcare partners to ensure the service was free to its employees to keep not only themselves, but their families healthy.