She’s definitely the gal you wish you’d sat behind in chemistry class. Not only is Jaime Blanton absolutely beautiful – she’s a whiz at the chemistry set. This Calvert City chemist spends her days helping pharmaceutical, agricultural and other giants of industry create their next great products. But on nights and weekends, she’s all about solving the formula for fun!
Jaime Blanton, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! But chemistry? Yick.
I know! It was the one subject that I liked in high school. I originally thought I’d like to be a pediatrician. And when I took chemistry in college, I decided to stick with it.
So what are you doing now?
I’m a project leader in the research and technology department for Evonik, a chemical company in Calvert City. We make catalysts for customers in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and other industries who then use them to make their own products.
Catalyst technology is very proprietary, so we have a close collaboration with customers until we find the right catalysts to meet their needs. It’s often called a black box art because there are so many variables in catalyst preparation and performance. You can test several different options before you get what you’re looking for.
How do you know when you’ve found it?
When you’re able to produce the result that the customer has requested. You start with a certain base of knowledge, and then the experimenting begins. That’s the fun part!
OK, let’s test your knowledge of the periodic table, shall we? What’s your favorite element?
It’s hard to pick just one but I’d say platinum since the catalysts we manufacture containing platinum pay my salary!
Oh, oh la la! Platinum rocks!
Platinum is nice, but one that nobody ever hears about is rhodium. It’s used to give jewelry more shine. It’s even more expensive than platinum.
Oh! Oh la la la la! Rhodium is now the new platinum! Do you get to keep the leftovers?
I wish! Everyone always asks me that, but no, we don’t get the leftovers.
Do you wear a lab coat and those cute goggles?
I’m not in lab much any more, so I don’t get to get my hands dirty. I spend a lot of time with our customers, taking their feedback to our lab and brainstorming how to adjust what we’re doing until we get what they want. I also support our production colleagues if they are having problems.
Have you ever had an explosion?
Fortunately, no. I’ve had a potassium fire and a lithium fire, but no explosions.
That brings back memories of a paper towel fire in Coach Fulks’ chemistry class in Mayfield! You’re from a small town, too – Paintsville, right?
Yes, I grew up in Paintsville, a small town near West Virginia, and got my bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University.
And your Ph.D.!
Yes, I have a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. But I don’t like to make a big deal out of it.
Why not?
I feel like some people are a little intimidated by it. Anybody can get a Ph.D. – it just takes dedication and perseverance. I once went out on a date or two with someone who didn’t have his bachelor’s degree – which didn’t bother me at all – but I think he had a hard time with it.
If he’s that insecure, good riddance!
Well, my degree is just 10 percent of who I am.
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| Jaime with Mike Burger and Will Tomlinson at 20/30 Group Mix@6 |
Hah! Well, my company is headquartered in Germany. I go there several times a year so I do quite a bit of traveling. But mostly I like to hang out with friends. We go to each other’s houses or we go to Di Fratelli and drink wine.
Red or white?
I’m not a big fan of red. I prefer a chardonnay or something chilled. And I like going to the Wednesday Mix@6 gatherings at Di Fratelli. It’s nice because I’m not from this area, so the Twenty Thirty Group has given me an opportunity to meet new people in addition to my coworkers.
Any other favorite spots besides Di Fratelli?
I enjoy Max’s and Fat Moe’s. I like to go dancing, but our choices are a little limited. I tend to go to 45 Down Under and DV8.
So what’s the balanced chemical formula for meeting the right person?
I wish I knew! I’m very shy.
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| Jaime and Natalie Phillips |
Once I get to know people, I’m fine. But even when I meet somebody once, if I see them again I just assume that they might not remember me. So I’m not likely to say anything to them. It helps that there’s a lot of consistency with the Twenty Thirty Group.
The Twenty Thirty Group is so great! Now what’s up with your animal kingdom at home?
It’s true! I have two dogs and two cats. My yellow labs, Toby and Tia, are good buddies. They love each other so much. If one is outside and the other is in, the one inside will start whining and carrying on. They don’t like to be separated at all. The cats, Lexi and Bailey, don’t like the dogs. The dogs want to play with the cats, but the cats want nothing to do with it.
What do you do with them when you travel?
My ex-husband takes care of them. We’re still friends.
That’s so cool! You must be a good breaker-upper.
Well…it’s taken some time. And some hard work.
What happened?
We went through a stage of really disliking each other. But then a heavy rain flooded my basement and he was the first person I thought of to call for help. He did something nice for me, and every time you do something nice for someone, the positive feelings outweigh the negative ones. We were together for so long, it’s really hard to not try to be friends.
And you got custody of the dogs and cats?
I got the dogs and cats, and he got the boat and big screen TV. Typical, huh?
I think you got the better end of that deal! So what are you looking for now?
I just want somebody who is honest, trustworthy and fun and who has a good sense of humor. And since I’m so shy, I need someone to pull me out a little bit.
My friends make fun of me because I always say I want someone who’s the “tall, dark and handsome” type and near my age.
Who doesn’t?!
I know! I’m really not that stringent about it. It’s more just like our running joke now. I’ve actually only been on a few dates in Paducah, but they have been with both younger and older guys.
That’s good. I’m no dating expert, but the more options you keep open – uh, you know, the more experiments you conduct….
I know – I’m open to experimenting!
Well Jaime Blanton, Ph.D., you are just DARLING! I suspect the tall, dark and handsomes – and those in between – will be lining up to light your Bunsen burner in no time! Mix on!
