Steve Mariconti has joined Daikin America Inc., Orangeburg, NY, as a Technical Service & Applications Development Manager for DAI-EL® High Performance Fluoroelastomers. In this role, Mariconti will be responsible for providing technical and applications development to compounders, fabricators and end users in the automotive, aerospace, and chemical industries. Mariconti holds a B.S. in chemistry and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the elastomer industry.

For more information, visit http://www.daikin-america.com or call (800) 365-9570.

DOW CEO AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Andrew N. Liveris, president, chief executive officer and chairman-elect of The Dow Chemical Co., has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Liveris, who earned a bachelor's degree with first-class honors in Chemical Engineering from the University in 1975, has also been named Alumnus of the Year. The honors, according to University officials, were presented in recognition of Liveris' distinguished career and his ongoing contribution to the University. According to Professor Jim Litster, head of the University's School of Engineering, "Andrew is possibly the most distinguished engineering alumnus of this University of any era."

For more information, visit http://www.dow.com .

SIKA CORP. WINS 5 ASBI AWARDS

Sika Corp., Lyndhurst, NJ, has announced that it recently received five ASBI Bridge Awards of Excellence. The American Segmental Bridge Institute's biennial awards program recognizes the owners of bridges that show excellence in concrete segmental bridge design and construction. This year, the awards were presented to the winners at the 2005 ASBI Convention in Washington, DC. The following projects were submitted and received awards: SR9/I-95 Palm Beach International Airport Interchange, West Palm Beach, FL; Victory Bridge, between Perth Amboy and Sayreville, NJ; Four Bears Bridge, New Town, ND; JFK Airtrain, Queens, NY; and Route 364 Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park Bridge, St. Louis County, MO. Judging is based on Innovation of Design and/or Construction, Rapid Construction, Aesthetics and/or Harmony with the Environment, Cost Competitiveness, and Minimization of Construction Impact on the Traveling Public.

For more information, visit http://www.sikaconstruction.com .

SPECIALTY POLYMERS APPOINTS NEW FORMULATIONS MANAGER

Specialty Polymers Inc., Woodburn, OR, has named Nerissa Swaim as its new applications and formulations manager. Swaim brings to the company extensive experience in the paints and coatings industry, having most recently served as a senior chemist at Valspar in Montebello, CA. As applications and formulations manager, Swaim will manage the Technical Support and Applications Group. She will oversee formulation development and technical support of customers, and help to identify new market opportunities.