Huber's Continued Commitment to Employee Development

J.M. Huber Corporation is dedicated to upholding operational excellence to the utmost degree, a core tenet of the Huber Principles. Therefore, it's only fitting that we create pathways for our employees to enhance their professional skills.

Our commitment is reflected in our leadership development initiatives designed for individuals at different career stages. These programs aim to cultivate expertise in areas including leadership acumen, strategic planning and innovative thinking. By doing so, we equip emerging professionals with the capabilities needed for roles at the managerial level and beyond.

At Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), nominated employees have the opportunity to participate in the Front-Line Supervisor Training, the Leadership Accelerator Program (LAP) or the Aspiring Leaders Development Program (ALDP).

To shed light on the diversity of our programs, we have chosen to showcase a selection of HEM employees who are actively engaged and have seen an impact from their participation. They have graciously shared their experiences, providing valuable insights into their journey thus far.

The Front-Line Supervisor Training (FLST)

The Front-Line Supervisor (FLST) training is focused on new managers in operational roles and providing them with the foundations of leadership.

Keri Johnston , Buyer talked about how the program has really boosted her professional growth in different ways. She explained how it helped her connect with various parts of the company and get a grasp of what they do. The parts she found most valuable were about becoming an adaptable manager and getting the best from each person on her team. She also appreciated that the program had people with different levels of experience, yet they all shared the same Huber principles and goals.

Simon Bonyhady , Senior Polymer Scientist, added to Keri's thoughts by sharing that the program provided him a great opportunity to learn from experienced supervisors. He mentioned that they collaborated to find solutions for different leadership challenges, including both hypothetical scenarios and real-life situations. He also agreed with Keri's view on the importance of being flexible and understanding your team and their needs.

Operations Continuous Improvement Manager Ashley Moore expressed her excitement about the ongoing Front-Line Supervisor Training. She pointed out how much she's enjoying the program and finding it interesting. Learning from the instructor's leadership experience and research has contributed a lot to her growth. One thing that stood out to her was learning how to build better relationships by adapting to each team member's style. She's eagerly anticipating the upcoming training sessions.

The Aspiring Leaders Development Program

The Aspiring Leaders Development Program (ALDP) is targeted at early career professionals and is focused on building competency in leading yourself. This program was developed by our colleagues at CP Kelco , with participants from all over J.M. Huber. Led by Emory University Corporate Learning, participants learn about topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Creativity, Basics of Strategy, and Leadership.

Caleb Ruthven , Talent Acquisition Partner, shares his insights on the ALDP experience, highlighting the value of the training sessions, especially in Strategic Communication. He emphasizes the importance of effective cross-functional and cross-personality communication in his role. Caleb recognizes the significance of learning to communicate better with cross-business units and geographically dispersed internal customers. He appreciates how ALDP has allowed him to expand his network within Huber, connecting with talented colleagues from CP Kelco, HEW, and J.M. Huber. This exposure to diverse perspectives and career journeys has been enriching for his professional growth.

Taylor Williams , Sr. Communications Specialist, expresses gratitude for being part of the 2023 cohort of the ALDP. She underlines how the exposure to leadership excellence, strategic thinking, and innovative approaches has provided her with a solid foundation for future opportunities at Huber Engineered Materials. Taylor values the program's reach across the J.M. Huber Corporation, enabling her to connect with colleagues across different parts of the portfolio and gain insights into operations beyond her immediate focus.

Amberlynn Gray , HR Shared Service Specialist, finds the interactive nature of the ALDP sessions enjoyable, even in the virtual format. She identifies two significant aspects that have contributed to her growth. Firstly, the DISC assessments and subsequent sessions have deepened her understanding of communication styles and collaboration. She appreciates the program's in-depth exploration of these concepts, enabling her to be more aware of her role within projects and teams. Additionally, Amber highlights the recent sessions on creativity, which have inspired her to think outside the box and approach her work with fresh perspectives.

The Leadership Accelerator Program

The Leadership Accelerator Program (LAP) is designed for current people managers and focused on providing tools for leading others. This program began within HEM and now welcomes colleagues and participants throughout J.M. Huber and is developed in partnership with the Terry College of Business at University of Georgia.?

Yusif Jaouni , Global Product Training Manager, shared his excitement about the experience. He found the classroom sessions both challenging and enjoyable, and he appreciated how the Huber leadership team connected the concepts to the company's reality. Even when topics weren't directly related to his role, he still took notes to remember the interesting ideas discussed. The diversity of attendees amazed him, and through interactions during meals and groups, he felt he got a better understanding of the larger Huber network.

Rebecca Jacques , Financial Planning & Analysis Director, was grateful for Huber's leadership investing in their growth. She praised the UGA professors and speakers for their insightful perspectives and hands-on coaching. She was impressed that Huber's executives co-led training sessions, supported their team projects, and engaged with participants during the program. For her, this program stood out as one of the best developmental experiences she had encountered.

Dr. Timo van Overbrüggen , Superintendent of Hydroxides Production at Huber Advanced Materials found value in the program's variety and global networking. He appreciated learning new methods and generating fresh ideas for his work. Collaborating on projects with colleagues from different parts of the company, even across time zones, was both challenging and fulfilling. He emphasized the connections he made across the organization, which gave him a deeper insight into Huber.

Huber's commitment to nurturing employee growth shines through its range of leadership development programs. As reflected in the experiences shared by the above participants, these initiatives strongly emphasize fostering leadership skills, boosting strategic thinking and encouraging innovation. Huber is proud to facilitate cross-functional communication, connect colleagues and refine essential abilities in our employees.