Memberships

National Association of
Chemical Distributors

U.S. Chemicals, Inc. is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD). The NACD’s purpose is to ensure that chemical distributors are conducting business professionally and responsibly with particular attention to environmental, health, and safety practices. Carol Piccaro, President/CEO of U.S. Chemicals, Inc., is actively involved with the NACD. She is an officer of the NACD Northeast region, with membership committee and regional meetings planning responsibilities.  

National Association of Women Business Owners

Carol Piccaro, President/CEO of U.S. Chemicals, Inc., is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). NAWBO’s purpose is to help women develop their businesses by sharing knowledge and experience and providing a voice to aid in the progression of economic and public policy.

NACD Member Spotlight – December 2005

Text from NACD.com

U.S. Chemicals, Inc. is not your typical chemical distribution company. Company President Carol S. Piccaro goes out of her way to hire and promote woman within the company her father started over 40 years ago. In fact, out of 11 employees, ten are women, and 80 percent of those women enjoy flex-time schedules. Piccaro says she has good neighbors in her hometown of New Canaan, Connecticut, who tell her about potential candidates, many of whom she’s ended up hiring. In one case, a crosswalk patrolman she often encountered told her about his niece. Piccaro hired her, and she’s been with the company for nine years. Two senior ladies are on staff with over 57 loyal years working for U.S. Chemicals between the two. The women hold jobs in upper management, operations, office management, marketing, accounting and customer service. They’ve come from a variety of backgrounds— retail, banking, consumer packaged goods, utility and technology companies. Piccaro finds that the women she hires pay excellent attention to detail and, when given the opportunity, can smoothly balance work and family responsibilities.

As a company benefit, all employees can take advantage of a wellness program that includes yoga classes and fishing trips, and in this same vein, employees are encouraged to "take the stairs" instead of the elevator. Gift certificates are offered for jobs well done, along with other bonus programs. Nuts, yogurt and health club passes are readily available in the offices.

Piccaro is the third oldest of seven children, and the first to ask her father for a job after she married a dental student. She sold chemicals for her father in Buffalo, New York, and was named President about ten years ago. She is now the sole owner of the business. And, she is still married to that dental student, long since known as Dr. Piccaro.

According to Piccaro, the chemical distribution industry still enjoys a "nice trust," and in many cases, she finds that a handshake seals the deal. Her father’s very first customer remains a loyal customer today. Business is good; in the last two years, sales have increased over 20%. Several customers track women-owned minority companies, but Piccaro feels that this small percentage of business is warranted by competitive pricing and follow through. They seem to keep coming back to buy from this friendly and service-orientated company.