Robert H. Brethen Operations Management Institute

Robert H. Brethen '49 BS has enjoyed a distinguished career in operations management spanning four decades and many industries. He retired as CEO of Philips Industries in 1988, and currently is chairman and CEO of Celstar Group Inc., a holding company.

Brethen endowed the Robert H. Brethen Operations Management Institute in 1988. The institute supports innovative projects and conferences that strengthen the link between theory, research, and real-world concerns. Brethen says: "A close relationship between the institute and industry will help anticipate, study, and define significant problems and opportunities for operations managers."

As an undergraduate, Brethen was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He has served as a trustee of Syracuse University and as a member of the Whitman School of Management's Corporate Advisory Council. In 1985 his colleague, Harold Croghan, established the Robert H. Brethen Prize in the Whitman School in Brethen's honor, which is awarded annually to undergraduates studying operations management.