We are excited to welcome Yvette Box to the Induron team as the newest Senior Chemist! Yvette graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Polymer Science and Engineering. During her undergraduate studies, Yvette’s research focused on emulsion synthesis and formulation of self-crosslinking waterborne DTM acrylics.
Yvette worked as a formulation chemist at Benjamin Moore under the Coronado Paint/Insl-X/Trinity/Lenmar umbrella for several years before going into technical chemical sales for specialty chemical distributors. To learn more about Yvette, check out this Q&A.
Q: What are your responsibilities in your new role?
A: As a senior chemist, I will develop new products, make current products VOC compliant, support production and customer needs.
Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the coatings industry?
A: The biggest buzzwords and phrases we continue to hear are in regard to making products that are low VOC, green, and sustainable. These trends are not necessarily new at this point but continue to come up as end users become more aware.
Q: Why Induron? What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?
A: Induron has a solid reputation of making quality products with a loyal customer base. We are well respected in the protective coatings industry. We are tight knit enough to make collaboration between the lab, management, sales, and production a reality. I enjoy that everyone chips in to make things happen, and I have a multitude of colleagues to reach out to for ideas.
Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job?
A: As a formulator, one of the biggest challenges we face is raw material availability. Finding alternatives or more eco-friendly options can pose a challenge and require creative solutions to give the same or improved performance with commercially available options.
Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.
A: While at Benjamin Moore, I had the task of overseeing consolidation and expansion of a large number of color palettes and color card approvals to provide sustained growth in previously unpenetrated markets and geographies. Overseeing 500+ colors, taught me to be organized, delegate, and stay focused on ultimately what customers demanded and wanted to provide to their end users. This expanded my knowledge of color theory but also proved to be valuable project management experience.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Don’t accrue debt, live within your means, be financially independent, and always keep a financial cushion – my parents.
Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?
A: This is not the most glamorous answer, but I would love to have dinner with my grandparents again. Their home was always a place of comfort, kindness, and stability. No matter how many times we try to recreate my grandmother’s recipes, it still does not taste the same. Being around the table together as a family after the work and school day were done are some of my most cherished memories.
Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?
A: My parents always encouraged me to strive for excellence and do my best academically and to try things out of my comfort zone. Their continuous support in my earlydevelopment and sacrifices made to provide me with a rigorous college prep education set me up for success as an adult. My grandparents supported my education and were always there to review after school, but also taught me the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.
A: I grew up in the greater New Orleans area where my family still resides. I will always consider Louisiana my home. I have 2 border collies and 2 cats, although I’m pretty sure I work for them. One of my cats has been with me since my last year studying Polymer Science and is now 16 and living her best life. I have 2 herding dogs who do not know how to herd but have the best temperament. When I’m not at work or with my pets, I enjoy playing tennis (doubles and mixed doubles), taking my boat on Lake Logan Martin with friends, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. I also enjoy finding new restaurants and cuisines to sample with friends and family.