2008 Honorary Degree
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He is retired and lives in Naples, Fla., and Hudson, Ohio, with his wife, Gail.
Cordier was born in South Bend, Ind., and spent time in Michigan and Chicago before joining the U.S. Navy. Following his service, he entered Purdue and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1949. He also studied at Stevens Institute and Rensselaer Polytech.
His first engineering job was at Rockaway Corporation, designing automated machinery. In 1952, he began 23 years at General Electric in a wide range of functional and managerial assignments. Selected as the first engineer in a project to commercialize the GE Research Laboratory's discovery of diamond synthesis, Cordier designed initial production apparatus and processes. He managed the world's first synthetic diamond plant and was general manager of GE's global diamond business for 10 years. As staff executive, he helped set up and manage GE's corporate consulting services and headed its corporate advertising operation. He achieved a business turnaround at General Learning Corporation, a troubled GE/Time Inc. joint venture after becoming its president and chief executive officer.
He became executive vice president of BFGoodrich in 1975, responsible for seven divisions. He moved to Macmillan Inc. as senior vice president, overseeing all non-publishing businesses and was president/CEO of its musical instrument subsidiary, C.G. Conn.
In 1981, he founded Cordier Group Holdings Inc., and as chairman/CEO acquired Canton Drop Forge, Oloffson Corporation and Olofsson Fabrication - companies in metal forging, machine tool and metal fabricating businesses. In 1998, he sold the holding company, formed Cordier Management LLC and became a business consultant.
He held directorships at BancOhio, National City Bank, Forging Industry Association and its Research Foundation, Nobel Corp., Industrial Diamond Association and Morgan Shares.
Purdue recognized Cordier as an Outstanding Mechanical Engineer in 1995, a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 2003 and for EAA President's Lifetime Service in 2003. He was the President's Council Chairman in 1998 and was presented a President's Council Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and President's Council Distinguished Pinnacle in 2006.
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