A Conversation With ... Loretta Wallis

Title: Manager of Global Corporate Relations

Education: Bachelor of Science in human services, Southern Illinois University; Master of Business Administration, Webster University

International flair: Wallis is the current president of the Greater Ozarks International Trade Association, a Springfield-based group.

Tell us about Brewer Science Inc.

We find answers for questions that people have about technology. Some of our products are chemical products used in the semiconductor industry. … We don’t make computers or computer chips, but we do make chemicals (that have) optical or electronic properties for the semiconductor industry. … We also have a whole range of equipment used to pattern and coat a silicon wafer. All of the equipment that we make is used in the microelectronics industry. We do a lot of research and development … and all of (that) is done in Rolla and Springfield. We were founded in 1981, and we’re still privately held (and based in Rolla). We have about 300 employees (and) sales offices scattered throughout the United States and an office, Brewer Science Ltd., in England, and offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

How did Brewer Science come to be a corporate partner at the Jordan Valley Innovation Center?

Our director of research and development, Dr. Norm Dobson … was working with Dr. Ryan Giedd (Missouri State University professor and JVIC executive director) in Springfield. Really, the Jordan Valley Innovation Center came from a brainstorm out of that relationship. It’s a completely different business model, looking at technology and growing it in the community. … I think that what Dr. Giedd and Dr. Dobson saw was that it is about using relationships to grow communities, and everybody bringing what they have to offer forward. When everybody does that, (technology) grows.

Describe Brewer Science’s Springfield operation.

We have a dedicated group (of eight people, including two college students) that’s working on nanotechnology. This is another place where we’re doing research and development. We just got moved into the fifth floor (of JVIC). (See box). One of the things that I like about the whole JVIC concept … is that the businesses there are all science and technology businesses, but none of us is competing with each other. This is a case where we can all help each other and there can be some great relationships built.

How is Brewer Science involved in the Springfield community?

We’ve had the opportunity to sponsor a small part of Artsfest … every year, and we also are working with the Springfield Regional Arts Council and have sponsored for the last two years an art exhibit in October at the Creamery Arts Center. We’re going to do that this year, too.

What led to your involvement with the Greater Ozarks International Trade Association?

I had worked with Jane Cargill (former director of the Small Business Development Center at MSU) … . She’s the one who really encouraged us to get on board. We were also involved with the World Trade Center in St. Louis (working with) Robert Frew, who was from Rolla. Frew (pointed us to) the international (business) community in Springfield. I’m the president (of GOITA), but I have to tell you that we have a really good vice president and an excellent board of directors. We meet four times a year for board meetings, and we have seminars or evening events four times a year in addition to those board meetings.

What makes Springfield a good place for international business?

What intrigues me about Springfield is that (it’s) open to all kinds of business. (The community embraces) creative ideas, regardless of what the business is. I see that they embrace people in the service sector … people involved in manufacturing (and) people who are doing importing and exporting. There’s a tremendous amount of positive attitude in Springfield, and I also see that there’s a vast amount of resources that Springfield is willing to share and point people toward. … You’ve got great education; there are great recreational and cultural opportunities. There are jobs for people there … spiritual elements.

Interview by Features Editor Maria Hoover. You can e-mail her with suggestions for future installments of this feature at mhoover@sbj.net.

Welcome to Springfield

Brewer Science Inc. will host an open house 3–6 p.m. June 30 on the fifth floor of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center, 524 Boonville Ave. The event is open to the public, Wallis said, and it will give the community a chance to get to know members of Brewer Science’s management team, including owner Terry Brewer, Ph.D.