What’s With the Crocuses?

So you might be wondering…what do crocus flowers have to do with fine and specialty chemical consulting? This humble flower is the brand identity for Schafran Associates LLC. Figure it out yet? Let me tell you a story…

When my father arrived in the USA from Ukraine via Austria in 1949, he entered via Ellis Island. Back then, names were often nuisances to local officials, and long or hard-to-pronounce surnames were often truncated or changed altogether. In this case, nothing of the kind happened.

The Schafran surname is authentically Ukrainian, but what does it mean? Schafran is, wait for it… saffron, the exotic spice obtained by grinding the crimson threads of the Crocus Sativus. Perhaps you may know saffron’s derivation from the Latin, the Old French, the Arabic, the Greek, or even the Sanskrit!

However you wish to associate it, the purple crocus is my brand and a tribute to my father’s heritage. So with 35+ years of experience in the fine and specialty chemical industry, I present to you…Schafran Associates LLC, at your service.

Learn more in upcoming posts about my clients and the solutions I provide to customers. Consulting rates are reasonable and references are gladly provided upon request. You are also welcome to follow me on social media. Thanks for reading!