Welcome Keynote & Networking Brunch

Kick off the Annual Student Conference with breakfast, and listen to an exciting keynote speaker, James (Jim) R. Fitterling.  AIChE leaders will also be on hand to review the schedule for the weekend.

James (Jim) R. Fitterling is President and Chief Operating Officer of The Dow Chemical Company, a global material science company with 2015 annual sales of nearly $49 billion. He is a member of the Office of the Chairman and CEO.

As a member of Dow’s most senior leadership, Fitterling has played a key role in developing and executing Dow’s strategy to invest in a market-driven portfolio of advantaged and technology-enabled businesses that create value for our shareholders and customers.

Fitterling has executive accountability for all of Dow’s businesses excluding Dow AgroSciences. He also oversees operations including Environment, Health & Safety and Sustainability, Manufacturing and Engineering, and Supply Chain, as well as Research & Development. In addition, Fitterling has a strong commitment to diversifying the Company’s global talent and actively serves as the Executive Sponsor for the Dow’s Women’s Innovation Network.

Fitterling joined Dow in 1984 and served in a variety of Sales, Marketing and Supply Chain positions before being named Commercial Director for Liquid Separations, Dow Pacific in 1994. He was appointed Global Business Director for Liquid Separations and President and CEO of FilmTec Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company in 1998. In 2000, he was named General Manager for Dow Thailand and Managing Director for the SCC-Dow Group of joint venture companies.

In 2002, Fitterling was named CEO of The OPTIMAL Group, affiliate of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Malaysia's state-owned oil corporation and The Dow Chemical Company. He added responsibility for the Southeast Asia and Australia region in February 2004. He also served as the Vice President of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) and was the Dow Representative to U.S. ASEAN Business Council.

Fitterling was named Business Vice President for Polyethylene in December 2005; President, Basic Plastics in March 2007; Vice President of Corporate Development in April 2009; Senior Vice President of Corporate Development in April 2010; Executive Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company & President, Plastics & Hydrocarbons in August 2010; and Executive Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company & President, Corporate Development & Hydrocarbons in March 2011. Fitterling assumed additional executive oversight of the Company’s Chemicals & Energy Division in August 2011, in addition to his existing executive role for Corporate Development and Hydrocarbons. In September 2012, he assumed executive oversight for Feedstocks, Performance Plastics. Fitterling was named Vice Chairman, Business Operations in 2014. He was named Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer in 2015 and promoted to his current role in February 2016.

Fitterling is a member of the Board of Directors of Chemical Financial Corporation and a member of the Board of Directors of Sadara Chemical Company.
Fitterling earned a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri - Columbia.