Cornell University

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2013 Raymond G. Thorpe Lecture: From the Director's Hot Seat to the Catbird's Seat and What We Learned Along the Way

Friday, November 1, 2013 at 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Olin Hall, 165

Beadle Biography:
Bob Beadle retired as a corporate SVP from Valero Energy Corporation in 2006 after a 30 year career at Valero and predecessor companies.  He currently spends his time consulting part-time in the energy industry, owning two Harley-Davidson dealerships, managing family partnerships, investing in oil and gas activities, operating an exotic ranch near Luckenbach, Texas, and serving on various non-profit boards.

Bob earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University, sandwiching the two degrees around a four-year tour in the United States Navy.  Upon completion of his master’s degree he joined Diamond Shamrock Corporation in 1976, serving in various sales, marketing, and business management as well as strategic planning and development positions.  In 1986 he was elected corporate Vice President of Diamond Shamrock and held various executive responsibilities in it and successor companies.  Valero Energy purchased Ultramar Diamond Shamrock in 2002.

His community service activities have included stints on the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; Executive Council of Alamo Area Council, Boy Scouts of America; United Way of South Texas; US Savings Bonds, South Texas (chair); Board of Directors, Boysville, Inc.; Boerne Education Foundation; and San Antonio Spurs Foundation.  Currently he serves as a trustee of the Boysville, Inc. Foundation and is a member of the Exotic Wildlife Association and Texas Wildlife Association.

Bob resides in Boerne, Texas and Bagnaia, Italy, and has been married for 38 years to the former Serenella B. Paladino of Rome, Italy.  They have three children, Michelle, Barbara, and Robert, Jr.

Kirk Biography: Following his retirement from Lubrizol in December 2011, Steve Kirk joined Cleveland State University as Executive in Residence in the Monte Ahuja College of Business.

Steve enjoyed a 40-year career at Lubrizol, a $6 billion Fortune 500 Company.  He was elected Chief Operating Officer in 2008; prior to that, he served as President of Lubrizol Additives and Senior Vice President of the Corporation.

He joined Lubrizol in 1972, and served in a variety of roles in process engineering, sales, and sales management in several company facilities, including European Headquarters in London, England.  Steve was elected Vice President of Lubrizol in 1993, and had leadership roles in Marketing, Sales, and Business Unit management.

Steve served on the Board of Directors of Robbins & Myers (NYSE), a supplier of equipment and systems for global energy and industrial markets from 2006 until its sale to National Oilwell Varco (NOV) in 2013.  He currently is on the Board of ICM Products, Inc., a privately owned supplier of specialty silicone polymers.  Steve was on the Board of Directors of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association and is past Chairman of the American Chemistry Council Petroleum Additives Panel.  He is a director and Vice Chair of Vocational Guidance Service, a Cleveland agency which “helps prepare people with barriers to employment for a brighter future”, and a member of the Boy Scouts Greater Western Reserve Advisory Council. He was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2010.

Steve earned a bachelors and masters degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Cleveland State University.   Steve was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business from Cleveland State University in 2007.  He serves on the CSU Board of Trustees, is Chairman of the CSU Foundation Board, and the Monte Ahuja College of Business Advisory Board (Chair from 2007-2011).

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