Lee Sheridan

Vice President, Research & Development
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

Lee Sheridan is the Vice President of Research and Development at Illinois Tool Works (ITW). He is responsible for the overall operations of the ITW operation of the ITW Technology Center. Previously, Mr. Sheridan was the Director of Research and Development at ITW Material Research and Development and had responsibility for materials related process and product development in support of all ITW divisions. He has 34 years of experience carrying out and supervising product, process, and material development. Prior to joining ITW, Mr. Sheridan was at Amoco Chemicals Corporation Information Services Department as a Control Applications Analyst, working in plastic extrusion research, screw design, and blown film product development. In 1978, Mr. Sheridan joined Rubbermaid, Inc. As Manager, Technical Development, he managed injection molding process, material, and product development. Then as Manager, Research & Development, he directed all product development, tool design, and other technical functions. Mr. Sheridan holds a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His professional affiliations include the Industrial Research Institute and the Society of Plastic Engineers. He is Past President of the Technology Management Association of Chicago. In addition to serving on Northwestern University's Industry Relations Advisory Board, Mr. Sheridan serves on the Board of Executive Advisors for Northern Illinois University, College of Engineering & Engineering Technology and on the Industrial Advisory Board of the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Engineering.