Ashley Rine
Vice President of Operations , PureTech Scientific
JEAN HARDIMAN TRACY A . TOLER PHOTOGRAPHY
Rine enjoys a pool-side view at the Crispin Center .
Ask Ashley Rine about her greatest successes , and she ’ ll point to three things that make her proud . Two are related to her career — she ’ s the first chemical engineer in her family and the first female to have served as plant manager at Chemours Plant in Belle , WV , in the Glycolic Acid Division , which is now operating as PureTech Scientific . The third is being a mom to two sons who ensure she takes the same gritty ambition that she brings to her work life on family adventures like whitewater kayaking and ziplining .
This lifelong West Virginian is thrilled to contribute to an industry that she loves in the state she proudly calls home . Rine serves as vice president of operations for PureTech Scientific , making sure that this global business provides customers the absolute best product for whatever industry they represent , whether pharmaceuticals , personal care products , electronics or others .
“ As the vice president of operations , I have my finger on the pulse of the entire supply chain ,” Rine says . “ I am responsible for everything from manufacturing glycolic acid products to delivering it to customers for PureTech Scientific . My focus is on strategic solutions to provide customers with the product quality ,
quantity and optimizations they desire .”
Rine has fond childhood memories of growing up in West Virginia — everything from cooking and canning with her grandmother to sledding and riding her bike to get ice cream in her hometown of Williamstown . Some of her experiences pointed her toward her future endeavors , like helping her father fix broken tractors on the multi-generational farm where she lived in her younger years — her first glimpse into troubleshooting with mechanical equipment .
“ I have always wanted to be an engineer . When I was young , my father worked in the chemical industry , and his company had a family open house where you could tour the plant ,” she says . “ I still recall where I was standing in his process unit when I decided I wanted to work in industry and become a chemical engineer .”
Her first job as a professional was as a manufacturing technology process engineer at DuPont in Belle for the methylamines and methylamides units .
“ Working for a notable global industry leader shaped my values in safety and organizational savvy ,” Rine says .
Leading her organization through significant business transformations during recent years has been the biggest challenge of her career thus far .
The transition from DuPont to Chemours and subsequent restructuring , the global pandemic , a significant industrial incident and most recently , the divesture of a business and upstart of a new company , have been testing .
“ I feel I have achieved mastery in flexibility and adaptability . Along with keeping a positive perspective , all challenges can be overcome ,” she says .
Rine also gives back to help students find rewarding careers . She volunteers on boards and committees for the University of Charleston School of Business and Leadership , Mountaineer Montessori , West Virginia University ’ s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association .
Advancing education in the Mountain State , particularly for women , is a passion of Rine ’ s .
“ Diversity of thought and experiences is important ,” she says . “ I have enjoyed being able to share with young women that they too can be leaders in male-dominated fields such as STEM .” •
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ?
superhero :
Wonder Woman
movie :
“ Elf ”
sport team :
WVU Mountaineers
animal :
Otter
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