University of St. Thomas

Interests and expertise

Technology management, strategic planning, leadership

Career

James Donaghy was elected Chairman of the Board of Sheldahl in January 1999 after serving as the company's President and Chief Executive Officer. He retired from Sheldahl in December, 2000. A native of Pittsburgh, Jim is a graduate of Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in Applied Physics. He earned his master's degree in the School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He joined DuPont in 1958 as an engineer in the Research and Development Division of the Polychemicals Department. In 1961, he became a Sales Representative for the Department's Sales Division. In 1970 he was named a Management Services Specialist with DuPont's Development Department and became a Manager of New Business Opportunities in 1972. Jim was promoted to Director of the Development Division of the Central Research and Development Department in 1976. In 1977, he was named Director of the Worldwide Riston Products Division; in 1980 he was appointed Director of the Electronics Specialties Group with combined sales of $800 million per year. In 1982 he was named Director of the Connector Systems Business, a group with 11 plants worldwide and more than 4,000 employees; and in 1986, he was named Director of New Business Development and Planning, a post he held until retiring from DuPont. He joined Sheldahl in 1988.  Donaghy has been a director of Sheldahl and has served on the boards of Hutchinson Technology, The Institute of Printed Circuitry, Minnesota State Chamber of Commerce, The William Mitchell College of Law, and Parelec, Inc., a startup electronic materials company in New Jersey.

Education

B.S. Physics, Harvard
Master's in Management, M.I.T.