June 11, 2007

Volume 85, Number 24

Web Exclusive

The Faces of CAS: Past and Present

Linda Raber

For the past century, Chemical Abstracts Service has benefited from the talents of thousands of dedicated people. In the early days, volunteers were responsible for much of the abstracting. In this special feature, several of those volunteers look back and share their experiences working with CAS.

As time passed and CAS grew, it phased out working with volunteer abstractors and began to rely on a permanent staff in Columbus, Ohio. Database building was in its infancy, but CAS was at the forefront in this field. Several retirees from this period have generously shared reminiscences of their careers at CAS and the growth of this information powerhouse.

Today, about 1,300 people work at CAS. Some have said the mixture of languages and cultures found on the CAS staff remind them of the United Nations. Current staffers from editorial operations, information technology, finance, and marketing told C&EN Online why they see CAS as their professional home and, in many instances, their colleagues as their extended families.

An organization is only as good as its people. And the success of CAS? People have made it possible.

BÉla S. Buslig,
Volunteer Abstractor

Translating Is Easier Said Than Done

Raymond A. D'Angelo,
Director, Online Services Development

Computers Made It Possible

Richard Hermens,
Volunteer Abstractor

Abstracting's Unique Payoff

Cathy Hanning,
Human Resources Manager

Meaningful, Long-Lasting Friendships

John Manley,
Senior Financial Adviser, Cost Accounting

At CAS, A Value-Added Career

W. Val Metanomski,
Senior Scientific Information Specialist, Database Operations Department

Happy Historian

Vicki Nichols,
Department Manager, Editorial Systems

Having Fun On The Job

Eli M. Pearce,
Volunteer Abstractor

Abstracting For Lunch Money

Chiori Shimizu,
Assistant Scientific Document Analyst, Editorial Operations

Loyal Employer, Loyal Employee

Divya J. Soares-Khilnani,
Scientific Information Analyst, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics

Success Is In CAS's DNA

Kathy Springer,
Manager, General Accounting

A Career Built On Opportunity

E. Thomas Strom,
Volunteer Abstractor

Not As Easy As It Looks

Barbara Vieira,
Senior Product Development Manager, New Product Development

The Human Side Of Chemistry

Shan Wei,
International Customer Service Representative

Thinking Globally At CAS

David Weisgerber,
Retiree

People Who Come To CAS Rarely Leave

Pat Wilson,
Retiree

Challenges And Opportunities, Always

Kris Woods,
Manager, Data Center Operations

The Only Constant Is Change

Christian Zeidner,
Projects Manager, Online Services Development

Technological Legacy Of Success

Chemical & Engineering News

ISSN 0009-2347

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