Eastman
“Eastman’s commitment to environmental stewardship is integrated into all aspects of our business. As Eastman has grown as a company, our corporate responsibility team has worked to develop a robust comprehensive global strategy focused on public/private partnerships that protect and improve the world we share. Eastman and SAHC share many of the same goals. By working together and coordinating resources, we can make a much bigger difference.”
– CeeGee McCord, Manager, Global Public, Corporate Responsiblity & Community Affairs
An SAHC Corporate Partner at the Cold Mountain level, Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. They have leading positions in transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Headquartered in Kingsport, TN, Eastman employs approximately 15,000 team members around the world and serves customers in approximately 100 countries.
Eastman has had a long history of protecting natural resources because of the value and importance to its operations, and because it’s the right thing to do.
Sustainability is a key element of Eastman’s corporate growth strategy because the company recognizes that demand for new materials solutions will favors products on the side of global sustainability.
Eastman defines sustainability as creating value through economic growth, environmental stewardship and societal responsibility now and for future generations. Eastman recognizes that this triple bottom line approach to meeting the world’s ever increasing demands without bankrupting its scarce natural resources is the way to enable future generations to enjoy a high quality of life. With their corporate headquarters in the TN foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, they are very aware of the importance in not taking this beautiful world for granted.
SAHC’s focus in East TN and WNC make us a natural partner for Eastman in protecting and preserving lands very close to where a large part of their employee population live and work. Eastman has long been active in maintaining and enhancing sections of the Appalachian Trail in the same areas that we protect and, in fact, were part of the founding members of SAHC.
For more info, visit: www.eastman.com
Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club
Perspective by Joe DeLoach, former SAHC President and Eastman employee:
“It is not a stretch to say that Eastman people founded SAHC.Longtime SAHC member Frank Oglesby founded the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (TEHCC) and was a mentor to Eastman employee and SAHC Founder Stan Murray.
The acquisitions of Hump Mountain and the west face of Grassy Ridge are, to me, the greatest legacies of the contributions of Eastman people to the Roan Highlands. Those specific accomplishments came about from the underlying philosophy that the Appalachian Trail should be strongly protected. Stan, Frank, Ray Hunt, Darrol Nickels, and many others lived that philosophy.
I am proud to have had a small role in following giants like this, and learning from them One of my happiest days was when SAHC acquired the crest of Grassy Ridge. It is hard to imagine what the Roan Highlands would be like with homes and developments on Hump and Grassy Ridge. Thanks to our predecessors, they aren’t.”
