The main purpose of this program is to allow a senior executive from a major business enterprise to spend a meaningful period of time on campus interacting with students and faculty. The Executive-in-Residence (EIR) shares his/her own perspective on leadership – drawn from his/her experience in the business world. In turn, students and faculty have an opportunity to gain their own insights through their interaction with the EIR. This reciprocal relationship is the hallmark of this program.
While the McDonough Center hosts many campus speakers throughout the academic year, the EIR is expected to go beyond a one-time campus presentation. However, the residence arrangement is flexible. It can range from several visits during a semester to a longer stay on campus (e.g., a full week, two weeks, a month). While on campus, the EIR can make presentations to different groups (e.g., classes, campus, community organizations), or even team-teach a class. The EIR also will have an opportunity to mentor leadership students interested in his/her main business area. The program's flexibility allows the Executive-in-Residence to make a commitment based on his/her time requirements. All of the details will be arranged prior to the residence.
The 2021-2022 Fitzgerald Executive-in-Residence:
Dr. Eve Sprunt was the 2006 President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. In 2010, she received SPE’s highest recognition, Honorary Membership. She has 35 years of experience working for major oil companies, 21 years with Mobil and 14 years with Chevron. In 2013, Sprunt received the Achievement Award from the Society of Women Engineers. She was the 2018 President of the American Geosciences Institute. She was the founder of the Society of Core Analysts in 1985. Her S.B. and S.M. degrees are from MIT (Earth and Planetary Sciences) and her Ph.D. (Geophysics) from Stanford. She was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford.
The participants in the 2021-2022 EIR Project can, either in small groups or individually, investigate different waste-to-energy possibilities at Marietta College and the surrounding area: including agricultural, industrial and municipal waste. Before the end of the fall semester (2021), the participants will present to the EIR different ideas for possible projects and then select a single project to further refine in the spring semester. In the spring semester (2022), the participants will develop a detailed plan for a specific waste-to-energy project. They will determine what must be in a comprehensive proposal, divide the work so that parts are done by small groups and assemble a combined detailed plan to present to local stakeholders.
Recent Fitzgerald Executives-in-Residence:
Douglas Griebel is a highly accomplished Entrepreneur, Senior Executive, and Board Member with more than 40 years of success within the restaurants, education, athletics, investments, and real estate industries. His areas of expertise include fundraising, negotiations, sales team development, performance management, executive coaching, and mentoring. Currently, Griebel is the Chairman and Co-Founder of RM Hospitality Group Inc., a company consisting of the award-winning Rosa Mexicano restaurant chain.
Paul Worstell, former president of PRO-TEC Coating Company, a joint venture partnership of U.S. Steel and Kobe Steel, Ltd. of Japan. Before joining PRO-TEC, he spent 26 years with U. S. Steel’s operations in the Pittsburgh region. He now supports organizations with executive coaching, leadership training, cultural transformation, and leadership retreats.
Barbara Fitzgerald, former Senior Vice President of Store Operations of PetSmart. With responsibility for the strategic planning and tactical execution of all customer service and store operations activities, she developed and implemented the cultural transformation away from tasks to a customer focus. That company-wide initiative, PetSmart Unleashed, included all stores, distribution facilities and home office support departments and has remained an integral part of the business strategy and success of the company.
Michael Milone, Executive Vice President (Retired), H.J. Heinz Company. At the time of his retirement, he was responsible for Rest of World, Global Enterprise Risk Management, Environmental Health, Safety & Sustainability, Quality and Infant/Nutrition. Milone holds a B.A. degree from Colgate University and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Graduate Division.