Vincent Stricker

Vince Stricker was born and raised in Charleston, and graduated as valedictorian of Charleston Catholic High School in 1977. He graduated first in his class from West Virginia University in 1981 with a BS in chemical engineering. He was awarded the College of Engineering Rufus A. West Award and was president of Sphinx, the WVU Senior Class Honorary.

Stricker has had a 35 year career in the chemical industry with Union Carbide, Dow Chemical and W.R. Grace. His current position is lead process engineering manager for W.R. Grace, directing engineering teams in the execution of UNIPOL® Polypropylene plant designs. He is W.R. Grace’s global subject matter expert for distillation design and polypropylene process safety, and a registered Professional Engineer. Stricker has been instrumental in the development of several innovative technologies. He holds patents for Union Carbide’s oxidative methane coupling and Dow’s RENUVATM seed oil to foam processes. He directed Dow’s corporate R&D economic team, prioritizing Dow’s research funding.

Stricker has been a passionate supporter of the WVU Department of Chemical Engineering for many years. He has been a lead recruiter/liaison to WVU since 1999, recruiting more than 50 WVU chemical engineering students and acquiring corporate grants totaling in excess of $100,000 for the Department. He has been an active member of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Committee since 2007. Stricker has also served as speaker, panelist, judge, etc. for numerous events hosted by the Department.

Stricker has been widely recognized for his community service. As volunteer, lobbyist and speaker, he has been a leading diabetes advocate in both West Virginia and nationally since 1997. He founded a statewide Bag of Hope program, visiting newly diagnosed families. He is on the board of directors for Camp Kno-Koma, Diabetes Camp of West Virginia. Vince was also the head volleyball coach at Charleston Catholic High School for 10 years, winning back-to-back state championships, recording the second- and third-most wins in state history, and being named finalist for national coach of the year in 2010. He is still active as a WVSSAC registered volleyball official.

Stricker and his wife, Carla, reside in Charleston, and have four children, Bethany, Katie, Vincent and Sean.