R. Emmett Boyle, MSISE '70, received a master’s degree in industrial systems engineering from Ohio University in 1970. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Youngstown University.
Emmett started his career as a design and development engineer at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation on the Gemini spacecraft project. He then moved to Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Company, progressing through several roles with responsibilities for domestic and international operations and expansion in New Zealand, Australia, Africa and Central Europe, before becoming corporate manager of engineering.
Emmett joined Ormet Corporation of Wheeling, W.Va., as president in 1983 and bought the company in 1986. As chairman and CEO from 1986 to 2004, he led a strategy of modernization, quality improvements and acquisitions, and new, high quality products and technology-based processes. At that time, Ormet was the third largest aluminum producing company in the United States.
As a principal and chairman of The Elmwood Group, a management advisory firm he formed, Emmett leads the firm in providing consulting support to a portfolio of companies with a focus on family-owned and entrepreneurial businesses and those positioned to implement a growth strategy. The Elmwood Group also is structured to pursue potential acquisitions.
Emmett is active in many civic organizations. He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce from 1991 to 2005 and was its Chairman from 1995 to 1997. Emmett served as a director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1997 to 2003 and chaired the U.S. Chamber’s Labor Relations Committee during that time. He served as a director and member of the executive committee of West Liberty State College Foundation, for which he served as chairman from 2000 to 2002 and as a Trustee on the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2018. He is currently a director of Kinetic Networking LLC and a member of and Chairs the Ohio University Russ College of Engineering Advisory Board.