Fluent in English, German, and Turkish, Donald “Don” Lee Pferdehirt has worked for the Bayer Corporation for more than three decades. Between 2005 and 2007, the Spring, TX, resident served as head of global technical support for MDI Operations, with responsibility for operations at eight sites in six countries. Don Pferdehirt also held titles including production lead, area manager and department coordinator of projects, area manager, and production superintendent.

Through his efforts, Don Pferdehirt helped Bayer increase production capacity in his division by 40 percent during a two-year span, while reducing manufacturing costs by 15 percent, saving the company about $15.5 million per year. He received Quality Excellence Awards in 10 of 12 possible years and was a three-time President’s Achievement Gold Award finalist, earning the award in 1991. He also received the inaugural Corporate Energy Savings Trophy in 2000.

Don Pferdehirt earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Penn State University, as well as an MBA from the University of Houston.