O'Brien Industrial Holdings

Profile

Frank O’Brien was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 10, 1951.  He graduated from the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering in 1974. 

O’Brien’s first job out of school was with the Babcock and Wilcox Company in Augusta, Georgia and Detroit, Michigan.  He held the titles of sales engineer and marketing manager for the foundry and non-ferrous market.

In March of 1977 he joined the Christy Refractories Company.  He has held the positions of sales engineer, regional sales manager, Vice President of sales, Vice President of sales and manufacturing and President.  He bought the company in 1995 and is currently Chairman and owner of O'Brien Industrial Holdings LLC which owns The Christy Refractories Company, Christy Catalytics Company, Christy Catalytics Shanghai, Christy Industrial Services and Christy Minerals (www.christyco.com).  

In 1990 O’Brien received the honorary degree of Professional Engineer from the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri.  In 1996 he received a finalist award for the entrepreneur of the year from Ernst and Young.

O’Brien has been married to Jean O’Brien since 1973.  They have 12 children.  They have sixteen grandchildren to date.