John Hillenbrand

Following a 37-year career in industry culminating in senior leadership roles in research and development, John Hillenbrand has embarked on a new chapter in talent acquisition and executive recruiting with The Chatham Group, a firm that specializes in the chemical and advanced materials industries.

Hillenbrand has worked in multiple industries, including building materials, packaging, composites, high-performance fibers, elastomers, and more. They all share a common foundation of materials science. He has long-standing interests in innovation, new business development, research and development, and design thinking. He has also served as an adjunct professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Fox School of Business at Temple University.

He has extensive professional affiliations, including leadership positions in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society, and Innovation Research Interchange. He is a former member of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Advisory Board, College of Engineering Committee of 100, a member of the Monogram Club, and has served on the chemical engineering Advisory Board since 2000.

Hillenbrand received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1980. During his undergraduate career, he played on the men's basketball team. In 1979, the team won the Metro Conference Tournament championship.  After VT, he went on to graduate school at Carnegie Mellon, where he received his Master of Science in chemical engineering in 1982, and earned his Ph.D. in 1984.

He and his wife, Frances, enjoy volunteer activities that support their community and church in the Richmond area.