Awards and Certifications From October 12

Dow Corning CEO Wins 2011 International Palladium Medal: Sunil Kumar, Chairman of the International Palladium Medal Award Committee of the Société de Chimie Industrielle announced today that the prestigious international award will be made to Stephanie A. Burns, chairman, president, and CEO of Dow Corning Corp., in recognition of her contributions to the chemical industry. She will be the first woman to receive this honor, which not only recognizes the enormous contributions she has made to the success of her company but also her service to the chemical industry as a hardworking and innovation-minded chemist and promoter of the industry. Burns will receive the International Palladium Medal at a dinner in her honor on May 3, in the Grand Ballroom of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. The award was established in 1958 and the first Palladium Medal was presented to Ernest-John Solvay of Belgium. In Burns' 27 years at Dow Corning, the company has expanded its inventory of silicon-based products to more than 7,000. She has overseen extensive diversification of the company's reach, geographically and into new markets. Among the most significant of these transformational shifts was her foresight to commit early on to a significant stake in renewable energy. Under hear leadership, Dow Corning spends approximately 5 percent of sales revenue on research and development, and has consistently introduced new and innovated products and solutions for customers which have fueled its growth. Her vision has translated into business success. Dow Corning's sales have grown to the 2009 level of $5.09 billion from $3.37 billion since she became CEO in 2004. Dow Corning's 2009 net income reached $579.6 million, up from $238 million during that time. Also, Burns has maintained an energetic schedule of appearances before government committees, visits to presidential cabinet officers and interviews with journalists to advocate for expansion and development of advanced manufacturing.  Most recently, she was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Export Council. Burns, a Ph.D. organic chemist from Iowa State University with a specialty in organosilicons, has adopted science education as a special personal focus, promoting teacher training, scholarships and events that bring together students and educators for hands-on chemistry activities. Burns has been a member of Dow Corning's Board of Directors since 2001, and was elected president in 2003, chief executive officer in 2004 and chairman in 2006. She joined Dow Corning in 1983 as a researcher. In 1994, she became the company's first director of Women's Health. She relocated to Brussels in 1997, initially as director of science and technology for Europe and then as director for two of Dow Corning's industries, electronics and life sciences. In December 2000, she returned to the United States to become executive vice president of the company, responsible for global operations. More at www.dowcorning.com.

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