Midland, MI - June 05, 2006

Bill Banholzer

Bill Banholzer, corporate vice president and chief technology officer for The Dow Chemical Company, has been elected to a three-year term on the governing Council of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of three divisions of the U.S. National Academies. Incorporated under the same law that established the National Academy of Sciences, the NAE is an independent nonprofit institution charged with helping the federal government investigate, examine and report on all science-related matters in service to the country.

Banholzer’s election into the NAE in 2002 was one of the highest distinctions that can be accorded an engineer. He is one of approximately only 177 chemical engineers worldwide, and the first Dow corporate R&D vice president, to have been awarded membership in this prestigious institution recognizing those who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practice, or demonstrated unusual accomplishment in new and developing fields of technology.

Prior to Dow, Banholzer had a 22-year career with General Electric Company (GE), where he was vice president of Global Technology at GE Advanced Materials, responsible for worldwide technology and engineering. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Marquette University, and master’s and doctorate degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. Banholzer is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, holds 14 patents and has received more than 1,000 published citations for his work in the field of engineering and chemistry.

Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

For Editorial Information:

Anne Ainsworth
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 636-2959

Brendan Mangus
Gibbs & Soell
(212) 697-2600