Tim O’Neal

Photo by Burns Exposures Photography

By Megan Bevins

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Tim O’Neal learned to be adaptable early in life as his family moved with the military before settling down in West Virginia. His parents valued hard work and discipline, and he was taught that there were no excuses for not trying when it came to education.

Intrigued by the world around him, he had many thoughts about what he wanted to do. He loved science and considered becoming an astronomer or marine biologist. O’Neal began working in leadership roles early in life, graduating high school as student body and student council president, as well as winning regional, national and world championships in martial arts.

His introduction to the workforce began at S&E Printing where he helped make t-shirts. He then switched to a small grocery store, called Nite Owl.

These early jobs taught O’Neal valuable lessons that would transition into adulthood.

“I quickly learned that people were the center of these businesses—not just the people working in the businesses but also our customers and suppliers,” O’Neal says.

O’Neal graduated from West Virginia University Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, quickly landing a job in Texas in the environmental protection department of a company called Union Carbide (Dow). He then moved up to a production engineer position, then again to improvement engineer.

After working for multiple businesses in Texas, O’Neal was led back home to West Virginia, where he worked at different plant facilities before becoming the site director for Dow’s West Virginia operations.

O’Neal considers navigating through COVID-19 both a great obstacle and one of his proudest moments while working as site director. During the pandemic, Dow had to continue normal operations while keeping its staff safe. O’Neal had to communicate daily with his team and adjust to new guidelines.

“One way I managed stress during the pandemic was by getting my family outside on West Virginia trails when possible. You could socially distance and still enjoy the mountain air,” he recalls.

To help with demand, Dow began manufacturing hand sanitizer, an addition that contributed largely to the community.

“I never could’ve imagined that we would partner with the state and National Guard to ensure that emergency services, hospitals and the health care industry had the hand sanitizer they needed,” O’Neal says. “We helped meet those immediate needs in our community.”

He accepted an environmental health safety and sustainability director role before being promoted to information technology/operations technology director. In his current role, he leads operational excellence and support services and is responsible for corporate operating best practices at Dow.

While always busy with work, he values most spending time with his wife, Heather, and daughter, Maddie.

Along with his professional role, O’Neal volunteers for United Way of Central West Virginia, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Habitat for Humanity. He even helped raise more than $91,000 for United Way by participating in the United Way Dancing with the Stars in 2023 with Megan Hannah and Brooke Smolder.

“I feel it is a privilege to be of service to our communities,” he says. “It is personally fulfilling as every person can use some help or assistance at various times in their life.”

O’Neal notes his parents as well as the scientists and engineers who inspired him as his mentors, and both inside and outside of Dow he has become a mentor in his own right. He considers helping others grow and develop his greatest professional achievement.

“Our time is short,” O’Neal says. “If we can enable success by paying it forward to the individuals who support us, we can greatly improve our future. We have to pass the baton to make the broader world and our community better.”