Jon Bacon
Hydrite Chemical Company,
Regional Quality Control Manager
Chemistry B.S., 1993
I began my career as a professional chemist in 1993 by responding to a job
posting from Hydrite Chemical Company displayed in the ISU Department of Chemistry.
I was actually offered a position as Quality Control Chemist before my B.S. Degree
was awarded. As a Quality Control Chemist I was responsible for the analytical
testing of inorganic chemical solutions used in food manufacturing. Being the only
chemist in the lab and at the facility at the time, I quickly realized that the
position was going to be more than just someone who was in the lab running chemical
and instrumental tests, but was also going to include my oversight in the total
quality of products manufactured at the facility. Because of this, I soon became
involved in purchasing of chemical raw materials for our production. Additionally,
I also directed manufacturing and shipping equipment cleaning and compatibility
requirements.
Within two years I was promoted to Quality Control Laboratory Manager and took on
additional staffing and budgetary responsibilities. I also helped train new
production employees in our quality and cleanliness policies and procedures.
Operational coordination and consultation for our new facility manager was added
during this period and Quality became an integrated part of operations as well as
the lab. Additional testing equipment and procedures were added to meet the needs
of our expanding product lines and additional lab staff was added as well.
I have recently been promoted to Regional Quality Control Manager and have added
the responsibility of overseeing a Chicago, IL, QC Lab. Facility Regulatory and Safety
coordination have also been added to my duties in Terre Haute, IN.
Outside of my responsibilities at Hydrite Chemical Company, my professional
experience has led me to involvement with the Vigo County Local Emergency Planning
Committee, the Environmental Sub-committee of the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of
Commerce and the Wabash Valley Section of the American Chemical Society.
The general chemical knowledge, trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills
developed during my college education have flexibly applied to the Food Safety,
Quality, Regulatory, Safety and Environmental needs in both my work and non-work
professional activities. My communication skills, initiated at ISU, have been
strengthened through professional training. Clearer communication of ideas, along
with the recognition of group and individual needs, has helped advance my career.
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