Trustee spotlight: Bryan Roub.

• Position: ResearchForum

I have often asked myself, 'Why do you keep getting involved with FEI?'" says Bryan R. Roub. "I have always volunteered to help FEI when I thought that help was needed. It must be in my DNA."

Roub joined FEI in 1975 when he was controller of Midland-Ross in Cleveland. The next year, he became treasurer of FEI's Northeast Ohio Chapter, and he has held a leadership position, either at a chapter or national level, ever since. (That's 35 consecutive years.)

During his tenure as chapter president in Northeast Ohio, he was lured to Florida in 1984 by Harris Corp., and became a charter member of the Orlando (pow Central Florida) Chapter. Roub was elected president of that chapter in 1987, and was selected to be Southern Area vice president in 1991. In July of 2000, he was appointed chairman of FEI.

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Roub was chief financial officer of Harris Corp. for 22 years, during which time he worked for four different CEOs. "I gave FEI a lot of my time during those years, but I always gave my full-time job my highest priority, and made sure that my CEO was okay with my FEI responsibilities." Roub retired from Harris in 2006.

He says he has fond memories of the Northeast Ohio Chapter, and notes that four FEI chairs have come from Cleveland: Charles (Chuck) Allen (FY 1983); Robert (Bob) Patrick (FY 1991); James (Jim) Abel (FY 1999) and Roub (in FY 2001).

Roub is a self-described team player, a quality, he says, that is important for someone who consistently volunteers for new assignments. "I will speak my mind, and I will argue with anyone if I don't agree with their point of view," he explains. "But when we need to come to a consensus, I will accept the group's decision, and not complain later. I have always believed that good leaders are good followers."

For example, today FEI's corporate sponsors are paying many of the organization's bills...