Purdue University

School of Chemical Engineering

Graduate Seminar Series – Centennial Seminar

Dr. Deborah L. Grubbe

Owner

Operations & Safety Solutions, LLC

“Entrepreneurship Lessons Learned from Large Organizations”

August 30, 2011

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

FRNY G140

Abstract:

Using her experience base of 30+ years in two multinational corporations, alumna Deborah Grubbe will share her thoughts, ideas and examples on entrepreneurship.   Ms. Grubbe will focus on how the lessons learned from the corporate environment have enabled her to startup, to grow, and to manage her successful consultancy. 

Bio:

Deborah Grubbe is owner and principal of Operations and Safety Solutions, LLC, a consultancy that specializes in safety and operations troubleshooting and support.  Deborah is the former Vice President of Group Safety for BP plc, which had its two safest years ever during her tenure.   She was trained in the characteristics of safe operations during her 27 year career at DuPont, where she held corporate director positions in engineering, operations and safety.   Deborah is a member of the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, and served as a consultant on safety culture to the Columbia Shuttle Accident Investigation Board.   Deborah currently serves on the Purdue University College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, and is Co Chair of the Purdue University President’s Diversity Committee.  .She is a member of the closure committee for the Demilitarization of the US Chemical Weapons Stockpile, and is a trustee of the National Safety Council.  She is Chair of the Institute for Sustainability, and is a retired Board Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.  Deborah obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with Highest Distinction from Purdue University, and received a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study chemical engineering at Cambridge University in England.  A native of Chicago, Illinois, she received the Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2002, and, in that same year, was named “Engineer of the Year” in the State of Delaware.  In 2010, Deborah received an Honorary PhD in Engineering from Purdue University.