Securing What Matters Most: A Father’s Day Tribute to Seneca's Mike Gantt — Protector at Work and Home

This Father’s Day, BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) is proud to recognize the dedicated working dads at our Seneca, South Carolina site. As part of this celebration, we’re honored to share the story of one team member whose commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment extends far beyond the workplace.

Mike Gantt, Senior Site Security Specialist, has not only spent more than two decades safeguarding our operations — he has also opened his heart and home to dozens of children in Upstate South Carolina, offering stability, compassion, and love through foster care and adoption.

For nearly three decades, Mike Gantt, Senior Site Security Specialist, has been a steady presence at the Seneca site, leading efforts to ensure the safety of people and operations. But beyond the gates, Mike’s most enduring work has taken place at home — as a father, foster parent, and adoptive dad.

Mike’s journey into parenthood began in 1990 with the birth of his son, followed by two daughters in the early ’90s. At the time, he was working second shift as a police officer, coordinating daily childcare handoffs and shift schedules with his wife, Lisa.

“These were the difficult times,” Mike reflected. “And if this makes any sense — the best of times. I got to spend time with my kids every day.”

In 1995, Mike transitioned into a site security role at Engelhard (now BASF ECMS), seeking greater stability and less risk. Not long after, he and Lisa became licensed foster parents — opening their home and their hearts to more than 75 children over the next two decades.

“We loved them, cared for them, and tried to give them a safe place — even if just for a while,” Mike says. “Many came from unimaginable situations. But our goal was always the same: make them feel safe.”

In 2015, as “empty nesters,” Mike and Lisa welcomed a 3-month-old baby named Ayden into their home. They had no idea just how deeply he would change their lives.

“Ayden was considered special needs due to environmental drug exposure,” Mike shares.

“We had to learn a new approach to parenting — even after raising three of our own.”

On April 11, 2017, Ayden officially became their son.

As they focused more deeply on Ayden’s needs, Mike and Lisa made the difficult decision to step away from foster parenting.

“We’ve always been open about Ayden’s story,” Mike explained. “But he struggled every time another child left. We realized he needed consistency — and we needed to be his anchor.”

Mike brings the same principles to his leadership that he’s honed at home: listen deeply, adapt with compassion, and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

“There’s a real parallel between my role in security and my role as a dad,” he said. “Both are about creating an environment where people feel safe, protected, and valued. If you can identify and keep the bad things away, bad things are less likely to happen.”

Even during challenging seasons — balancing high-needs foster care with the demands of site security — Mike said perspective kept him grounded.

“When I thought my workday was tough, I’d think about what our foster kids were facing. It made my own challenges feel a lot smaller.”

Today, Mike’s grown children are raising families of their own, and he takes pride in seeing the values he and Lisa passed on continue to ripple outward.

“I’m most proud of seeing the influence I had on them now show up in how they’re raising their kids,” he said. “That’s the ultimate reward.”

When asked what advice he’d give other working dads — especially those considering foster care or adoption — Mike is honest and direct:

“It’s demanding, and it’s deeply rewarding. Be prepared for what you might see and hear. And don’t feel like you’ve failed if a placement doesn’t work — sometimes it’s just not the right fit. But when the time is right, and your heart is open, adoption can change your life in ways you never expected," he said.