Pros

Ability to grow in a stable corporate environment. East Tennessee is an incredibly nice place to live and raise a family. The cost of living is very low compared to most parts of the United States.

Cons

Eastman relies on its location to protect its workforce. Although the company claims to provide competitive pay for professional and management positions on a national basis, it does not. The same positions ofter pay better at competitors which reside in other geographies. Most people stay at Eastman for their entire careers, and Eastman develops really good people for management roles. Unfortunately, ability to obtain higher level roles is often a function of timing rather than a reflection on the individual's capability in the marketplace.

Advice to Senior Management

You need to take a tough look at your compensation practices. Really talented people have left the company due to not being offered advancement or meaningful increases (i.e. significantly above the cost of inflation). You also need to recalibrate the rewards system. Middle management is hesitant to give any awards over $500-1000 even when the accomplishments are worth millions.