About 25 members of the SDEDC toured the Henkel building, which opened in December 2008, and learned about its sustainable features.  Henkel is applying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the building from the U.S. Green Building Council. 

The group also met with Brad Casper, President and CEO of Henkel Consumer Goods Inc., who spoke about Henkel’s culture, its focus on sustainability, Henkel’s role in the region, and how the company attracts and retains talent in the Scottsdale area.

The SDEDC sponsors an annual best practices leadership trip for its members.  This year the group visited the Phoenix area, which is experiencing some of the same issues challenging San Diego.  During their visit from November 4-6, the group also visited Translational Genomics Research Institute and Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, visited the University of Phoenix Stadium, and toured Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Henkel in North America:

Henkel markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands in North America, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents, Right Guard® antiperspirants, got2b® hair gels, and Loctite® adhesives. Henkel has been committed to making people’s lives easier, better and more beautiful for more than 130 years.  A Fortune Global 500 and Germany’s most admired company according to a recent Fortune survey, Henkel offers strong brands and technologies in three areas of competence: Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesive Technologies.  Each day, more than 52,000 employees in 125 countries are dedicated to fulfilling Henkel’s claim “A Brand Like a Friend.”  In fiscal 2008, Henkel generated sales of $20.8 billion and adjusted operating profit of $ 2.1 billion.