Luc Girard, Ph.D.
Consultant, Sanjuro Solutions
- After over 17 years with the same employer, the time has come to investigate a new approach to making a living. Although I was very tempted to use “Have mind, will travel” for a motto, I quickly became convinced that this must have been done before. A few iterations around the overall idea of “brain for hire” brought me to “Bring a fresh mind and a fresh pair of eyes to your problem”, thereafter shortened to “A fresh perspective, for hire”.
- I have borrowed Sanjuro from a movie title; in context, it means “30 years old”. I am closer to 50, but it was 30 years ago I began college, so I am tagging 30 years of development.
- Those 30 years started as I entered the undergraduate program at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, QC. I graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry in 1987. After a summer internship working for a virologist, Dr. Peter Tijssen, I entered graduate school at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON in Sept. 1987. I emerged with a Ph.D. in Sept. 1992, under the supervision of Prof. M.C. Baird.
- In August 1992, I took up my first Postdoctoral appointment, with Prof. Michael J. McGlinchey at McMaster University, in Hamilton, ON. I left MJM’s laboratory in late Sept. 1994, to take up a 2nd postdoctoral position with Prof. D. Max Roundhill at Tulane University between October 1994 and December 1995. I was with Max when he elected to move to Texas Tech University in late 1995, and so I continued work with him at TTU through 1996.
- In early 1997, I was recruited by Petro-Canada’s Lubricants business unit, to assist with PC’s efforts to grow the White Mineral Oils business. It was a great position to learn the business, since I was simultaneously exposed to the pressures inherent in operating a lubricants refinery on the one hand, and the needs of customers in a regulated industry on the other.
- In late 1998, I moved to the Core Products R&D group, where I was product specialist in Tractor Hydraulics, TO-4, small-engine, automotive gear oils, and did some work on hydraulic fluids.
- In mid-2000, I was asked to take on the newly-created role of Technical Advisor, Non-Additized products. This allowed me 4 years of global travel to support Base Oil sales efforts, as well as development of a client base for the rapid-growth initiatives in play in Transformer Oils, Agricultural Spray Oils, Coatings, Drill Mud Base Fluids, and Cable-Fill compounding.
- This was followed in early 2005 by a move to the role of Manager, OEM Technical Sales. This entailed interaction with automotive OEMs to maximize the penetration of Petro-Canada’s engine oils, gear oils and transmission fluids into the factory-fill realm. A significant part of this role involved ensuring compliance to ISO/TS 16949, including APQP and BMAP. This translated to being the “point” person for the introduction of DEXRON®VI ATF into 23 GM and Tier 1 plants, worldwide.
- This role also triggered my involvement with the American Petroleum Institute, eventually allowing me to be the Chair of the API Lubricants Group between 2012 and 2014. In that context, I have found that I have a talent for leading large meetings that feature groups with divergent interests, while giving every viewpoint a chance to be aired.
- In 2012, I was also asked to return to the R&D Centre, to resume work formulating ATFs, but also supervising the work of junior colleagues in THF, TO-4 and Hydraulic Fluids.
- The time has come for a very new challenge. Enter Sanjuro Solutions.
- If you or your organization believe in Myers-Briggs typing, I am an INTJ. If you follow “5 Strengths”, my top 5 are Strategic, Intellection, Input, Learner and Deliberative.
- I am also an excellent communicator, and that is true in both French (my first language) and English. I look forward to hearing from you about ideas where my skills set can be put to your use, in short- to medium-term contract work.