1998
John Hollenbach
1978 Chemical Engineering

John H. Hollenbach says that he prefers to find the next Thomas Edison rather than be the next Edison. It is this desire to help people reach their maximum potential that has made John a succesful manager with Exxon as well as a role model for students. Joining Exxon soon after receiving his degree, John quickly entered the company's management training program.

In his two decades with Exxon, John has participated in many facets of the company, including manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and engineering. He has risen through the firm's ranks, moving from New Jersey, to Texa, Louisiana, and back to New Jersey. Most recently, John has been involved in strategic planning for Exxon's refining, distribution, and marketing businesses in South East Asia. He greatly enjoys the combination of intellectual chanllenges that comes with thinking far intor the future and the social challenges of working with people from many different cultures.

John is an active Penn State alumnus. He has participated in numerous College committees, including the advisory board for the Minority Engineering Program, and the Chemical Engineering Industrial and Professial Advisory Council (I.P.A.C.), for which he served as vice-chairman and chairman. For many years, John was Exxon's recruiting team captain for Penn State and continues as a guest speaker for classes and student groups. He particularly enjoys the Chemical Enigneering Lectures course (ChE 12) where he talks with juniors about applying ethics to real-world engineering situations.

John and his wife Doreen, a 1975 Penn State graduate, established a scholarship in their family's name in 1993, have been members of the President's Club since 1994, and are members of the Penn State Alumni Association. Their enthusiasm for Penn State shouldn't be a surpise, considering the Blue and White tradition in the Hollenbach family. John's father, aunt, brother, and sister-in-law are all Penn Staters, and his mother is an honorary member of the alumni association, so the family's blood runs true blue!

Current as of 1998

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