Employer

DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC, recently reorganized as DuPont Performance Elastomers LLC

Employer  Website

  http://www.dupontelastomers.com

Job Title  

Vice President, Technology & I.T. (Recently retired)

Class Year and Major

BS Engineering Science-1973

Additional education

Trinity University, BS Engineering Science, 1973

Briefly describe what you do   

Before I retired in July 2005, I was a member of the DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC senior management team and was responsible globally for R&D, Technical Service, Information Technology, Six Sigma, E-Business and Product Stewardship. DuPont Dow was a global p

What other jobs have you had?

In reverse chronological order:

• Global R&D Director, Liquid Separations Business, Dow Chemical;

• R&D Director, North America, Emulsion Polymers Business, Dow Chemical;

• VP R&D and H&ES, Dow Chemical Canada;

• R&D Director, North America, Polyolefins, Dow Chemical

What are the key skills, abilities, and personal qualities necessary to succeed in this type of work?  

Technical acumen and curiosity (essential), people leadership skills, communications skills (both written and oral), personal computing skills, dispassionate objectivity, flexibility (to embrace constant change), stamina (to cope with extensive travel).

What do you enjoy most about your current position?  

Problem solving, setting strategic direction, interacting with colleagues, learning new things, traveling internationally.

Most important/valuable lesson or activity in college that impacted your career ?

How to think critically, how to communicate clearly (both orally and in writing), how to analyze and solve problems (both technical and social), how to be resourceful.

What advice for someone entering this field?

In addition to immersing oneself in science, math and engineering, hone your communication skills by taking courses that require persuasive writing and speaking. Accept that completing college is the end of the beginning of your education, and that continuing education is important.

Questions?

Email askalumni@trinity.edu
Put the name of the alumni you wish to contact in the subject line, then type your question.