Closure of Qualis, Inc. - Des Moines, IA

I worked as an analytical chemist at Qualis, Inc. in Des Moines IA from October 2003 to July 2005.  Qualis Inc. manufactured personal care and animal products.  Qualis also was a private label manufacturer for places like Hy-Vee, Walmart, Albertson's, and other grocery store chains.

I worked with chemical analysis of active ingredients and physical attributes testing of shampoos and topical creams.  I did mainly HPLC work.  It wasn't the most glamorous job in the world.  But it paid bills.

What I didn't know but found out later Qualis Inc. was having problems with both the FDA and EPA.  There was also a lawsuit against the company for the death of a child due to their head lice shampoo.  That was settled out of court recently.  The company closed its doors last year.

It took me a while to find all this information out.  My former employer didn't have a website.  I didn't even have email when I worked there.  It was a very retro set-up.  I had use my web-browsing skills to find out about the FDA and EPA complaints and the lawsuit settlement.  I tried calling to see if they were still in business.  I got a recorded message saying their phone number was no longer in service.

None of this is surprising.  The company had downsized when they sold off their head-lice shampoo line to another company in 2008.  Qualis Inc. then laid off their entire second shift.  I do wonder about the guys I used to work with.  I hope they found new jobs in Des Moines.  Part of the problem with Des Moines is there's few chemistry jobs available relative to all the white collar insurance and banking jobs.

I liked Des Moines, IA.  Outside of winter, it was enjoyable.  I never got used to the snow.  I was a good analytical chemist.  I feel sorry for my former supervisor who's father had come down with Alzheimer's disease when I left to move back to St. Louis, MO in the summer of 2005.  Joe tended bar on Fridays at the Greenwood Lounge.  I'd go get a gin and tonic and write after work at the bar to start off my weekends.  I miss hanging out with him and talking sports.  Those were good times...