ILMA Compoundings - October 2020 - 56

PORTRAIT
Gina Harm
President, Afton Chemical
"Stay positive, as there is always a way to work
around or solve a problem constructively. Looking
back, I first learned the power of positivity when
I wanted to play baseball like my brother when I
was a kid. At that time, girls' sports were nonexistent until high school. The local coach wouldn't
let me on the boys' team, so my mother said, 'If
you don't want Gina, you can't have Joe,' (my
brother). We went a mile in the other direction to
a coach that would let us both play. My mother taught
me always to stay committed to your dreams and don't
accept obstacles - they are simply challenges or problems that can be solved."

GOING FULL CIRCLE
"After a brief stint in a consulting engineering firm, I worked
for what was then Paramins in New Jersey. I left the industry
for about 20 years to pursue opportunities in the plastics
additive and engineering thermoplastics field before joining
Afton Chemical in 2007. I would say I've gone full circle with my
career, starting in the fuel and lubricant additive industry and
now being back at it for the last 13 years and counting. What I
admire about everyone I've had the opportunity to meet and
work with in ILMA is the passion they have - be it for the business, their employees, families and communities."

THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS
"As a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I have been a lifelong fan of all the Pittsburgh sports teams. Whenever I have
the opportunity, I enjoy visiting family and catching a live
sporting event, whether it's football, hockey or baseball. -
GO, STEELERS!"

MOTHERLY WISDOM
"My mother, who passed away early in 1991 from cancer,
taught me many lessons early in my life. These lessons included making sure that I learn something from everyone I interact
with - everyone knows something or does something better
than you. For any endeavor to be successful, it takes all of us,
as we each have a role to play."

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
"When I was in seventh grade, my friends and I ended up with
the 'hardest and most difficult' algebra teacher. Most of my
friends opted out of class, and I asked my mother if I could do
the same. She told me that I would have to work with and for
a lot of different people throughout my life. She encouraged

OCTOBER 2020

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

me to figure out what I needed to do to be successful with that
teacher and do it. He ended up being one of my favorite teachers, and it was one of my favorite classes. This vivid memory
has helped me throughout my career in understanding to control what I can, stay positive and change how I behave rather
than try to change others."

IMPROVISING IN KEY WEST
"When my husband and I were first dating, we went to a wedding in Key West (Florida) that was held at Ernest Hemingway's house. It's the only wedding I've worn flip-flops to and
had to pay admission to attend - there were more cats there
than people. The groom and a few of us went snorkeling the
day before the wedding, and the boat ran out of gas off of one
of the Keys. Without the modern convenience of cellphones,
we paddled back over several hours using water skis and
walking the boat in once it was shallow enough. To this day,
my husband and I still laugh about the whole weekend when
we reminisce about it."

http://www.ILMA.ORG

ILMA Compoundings - October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ILMA Compoundings - October 2020