Driving Profitable Growth Through CRM Software

Join Chemical Week, Arch Chemicals and Microsoft as we discuss how Arch uses customer relationship management (CRM) software to improve sales force productivity and raise the level of service to customers.

• Learn how technology can be a key enabler in helping chemical companies achieve sales and service excellence.
• Your Customer Relationship Management platform can allow you to rapidly innovate your business processes on a global scale.
• CRM projects can deliver value quickly and incrementally - a key benefit in today's rapid payback business environment.

Technology is a key enabler on the path towards sales and service excellence. Like many chemical companies, Arch Chemicals needed software that was flexible to meet the diverse needs of its portfolio of businesses, easily customized to fit its key business processes, and easy-to-use for its employees already familiar with Microsoft Office and productivity tools. Learn how Arch adapted Microsoft's CRM platform to perform all these functions and to improve profitability.

SPEAKERS

Brian Willson
Director, U.S. Chemical Industry Market Development, Microsoft

Brian Willson is the director for U.S. Chemical Industry Market Development at Microsoft. He helps chemical companies use information technology to better compete in the global economy. Willson leads a team that creates and executes of Microsoft’s industry solutions, marketing and partnership strategies for the chemical industry. He is also the lead for Microsoft’s affiliate membership in the ChemITC, an information technology forum within the American Chemistry Council.

Willson brings 14 years of experience to his role. Previously, he was responsible for the industry partnership strategy and execution within Microsoft’s general manufacturing business. He is passionate about the adoption and use of information technology that helps chemical companies improve operations, accelerate innovation, and grow customer relationships, and is an active blogger at http://blogs.msdn.com/chemicals. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business computer systems from Eastern Michigan University.

Alfred C. Schmidt
V.P./Information Technology, Arch Chemicals

Alfred C. Schmidt has more than 25 years of information systems experience and has served as Vice President, Information Technology since Arch Chemicals’ founding in February 1999.  In this role, Mr. Schmidt is responsible for the leadership, planning and strategy development of Arch’s global information technology needs.

Mr. Schmidt came to Arch Chemicals from Olin Corporation, where he was Vice President, Information Technology. Prior to that, he worked in information technology positions for Pitney Bowes and AT&T Bell Labs.

Mr. Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1967 from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Masters in engineering and a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Harvard University. He also attended the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School. A recipient of 16 patents, Mr. Schmidt is also the Vice Chairman of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Chemical Information Technology Center (ChemITC).

Mahesh S. Thakur
Manager, Web Applications, Arch Chemicals

Mahesh S. Thakur is Manager of Web Applications, for Arch Chemicals. In this role, he is responsible for Arch’s CRM, web applications and business intelligence/reporting portals. A global biocides company with $1.5 billion in annual sales, Arch Chemicals is the world’s largest supplier of swimming pool and spa sanitizing chemicals. Mr. Thakur holds a master’s degree in Computer Science Software Development from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Cheryl R. Tiscia
Director, Application Development
Arch Chemicals, Inc.

Cheryl Tiscia is Director of Application Development for Arch Chemicals’ Information Technology department. In this role, she leads a team of 18 Application Development professionals across multiple technical disciplines. She is responsible for the creation and execution of the Corporate Application Portfolio, linking business strategies with IT solutions.

Ms. Tiscia has spent her entire professional career in Information Technology, beginning in 1979 with Olin Corporation and then with Arch Chemicals after the Company’s founding in 1999. She earned a BA Degree from Fairfield University and an MBA degree from the University of Connecticut.

DETAILS

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Time: 10 AM EDT

SPEAKERS

Brian Willson
Director, U.S. Chemical Industry Market Development, Microsoft

Alfred C. Schmidt
V.P./Information Technology, Arch Chemicals

Mahesh S. Thakur
Manager, Web Applications, Arch Chemicals

Cheryl R. Tiscia
Director, Application Development
Arch Chemicals, Inc.

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