I am re posting today, excerpts from my article "The highlights of my Professional Career in Chemistry" for my StoryWorth account.
My picture used by Stauffer Chemicals in their Advertisement Brochures, 1981
In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both
working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates.
I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the
challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is
the highlights of my work experiences.
My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation
in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a
German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department
comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or
biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the
detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on
my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the
same supervisor.
My
Photo with my two Colleagues and a Socialite for Company Press Release
was published in the KC Star newspaper to improve company image to the
public,1965.
The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent
resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States
with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At
the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary
bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual
Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free
drinks for the whole night.
As much as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I
found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my
exemplary work performance, my supervisor lobbied for me to stay with
the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the
package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my
family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter
climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.
My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company
in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked
individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a
supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked
for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the
pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the
jobs of more than 200 employees.
Macrine and I during one of the Stauffers Company Party for Employees, 1982
My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer Chemical Company,
located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing
the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous
years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I
became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable
non-supervisory position.
One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been
eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most
dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and
humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the
years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable
incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by
threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his
intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately
escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He
was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be
mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the
company premises or risk getting arrested.
My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my
belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace. I was provided
clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job,
such as updating resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. I
did received six weeks of separation pay plus benefits. Losing my job with Stauffer, inspired and motivated Macrine to go
back to school and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. This was to
insure that the next time I lost my job, she will be ready to support
the family and we do not have to go back to the Philippines.
Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I
found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer Chemical Company.
He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two
technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my
previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer
was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same city as my former employer.
This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the
work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half
years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in
Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough
distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from
several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable
layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private
company.
In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish
scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical
methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro,
Shell Development and Stauffer.
After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I
made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California,
or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost
my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.
In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14
rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug
products. In 1997, I was again promoted to Chemistry team leader,
supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with
doctorate degrees.
As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and
assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and
control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division
of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.
In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The
citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the
objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their
professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have
received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and
communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the
accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters
of appreciation from private industry for my review work.
Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops
one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation
rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties,
responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful
than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more
personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My
work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had
been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in
Chemistry.
Meanwhile, enjoy this video of Sulic performance of Bohemian Rhapsody
So what is my formula for success? You need to work hard,practice patience and most of all LUCK!
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