Dan Riggle, vice president, general manager and AGR global business director at Essex, is retiring today after 28 years in the business.

Riggle began his career with PTI and has remained with the industry through PTI's marketing agreement with Essex, which was acquired by Dow in 1992. Now, as the industry continues to evolve, Riggle feels it's time to move on.

"It's time to turn the reigns over to the younger group," he said in a telephone interview from his office today. "Dow is undergoing a re-organization right now and it's time for me to pass the baton. I'm ready for it."

He said so far the transition has been smooth.

"That's why I stayed, to make sure the transition is complete and effective," he said.

No one replacement has been named for Riggle. Under Dow's reorganization it is shifting toward matrix management; each segment of Riggle's job will be divided up and handled separately.

Retiring, however, doesn't mean Riggle will have nothing to do. He already has some ideas of how he will spend his free time, including staying involved with board memberships, volunteer work and possibly some consulting. He also plans to take advantage of being retired and do some traveling, fly-fishing "and playing with my dog" he said.

"I've enjoyed my 28 years in the industry," he said. "I've seen a lot in those 28 years and the next 28 years will bring more changes."