Merl R. Lindstrom, Vice President for Technology at Phillips 66, will discuss the international firm’s history, present activities and planned initiatives as part of his Executive-in-Residence presentation at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 31 at Rogers State University.
Lindstrom will deliver his talk entitled, “Phillips 66: Past, Present and Future,” in Herrington Hall, Room 146 on the Claremore campus. The event is free and open to RSU students, faculty, community members and friends of the university.
The RSU Executive-in-Residence program brings corporate executives to campus to interact with RSU students and select alumni, community leaders and friends of the university.
Lindstrom has more than 35 years experience in research and development roles focusing primarily on the downstream business. Before assuming his current role, Lindstrom was senior vice president, Technology, for ConocoPhillips. In his tenure with ConocoPhillips, Lindstrom served in a variety of technological and research and development (R&D) roles. He has worked in managerial R&D roles for various organizations including Downstream Technology, and Technical Services and Facilities.
From 1998 to 2001, before the merger with Conoco, Lindstrom worked for Phillips Petroleum as general manager of the Woods Cross Refinery. He also spent time in various managerial R&D roles in the chemicals and petrochemicals divisions. He previously served as director of plastics/chemicals in planning and budgeting.
Lindstrom began his career with Phillips in 1978 as a research chemist in research and development (R&D). In 1984, he was promoted to section supervisor in R&D in the polymers and materials area. In 1987, he was promoted to director of industry analysis in planning and budgeting for Phillips 66 Company, a division of Phillips; and he became director of alloys, blends, and compounds in plastics in 1988. He returned to R&D in 1988 as manager of the engineering materials branch.
Lindstrom is a native of North Dakota. He graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973 and a doctorate in 1978 in chemistry.
Past corporate executives who have participated in Executive-in-Residence at RSU’s School of Business and Technology have included:
- Jim Arens, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Trust Company of Oklahoma
- Randy Foutch, the founder of several oil and gas firms
- Keith Bailey, former president and CEO of the Williams Companies of Tulsa