The Rotary Club of Beaumont is proud to host a special International Women's Day Luncheon on March 11, 2026, at noon at the MCM Elegante, featuring keynote speaker Lori Ryerker.
Lori J. Ryerker
ISU B.S. Chemical Engineering 1983
Retired Chairman, CEO and President of Celanese
Lori Ryerkerk is a visionary leader in the energy and chemical industries and a dedicated advocate for women in engineering. With more than four decades of experience at Celanese Corporation, Shell, Hess Corporation, and ExxonMobil, Lori has built a reputation for transformative leadership and strategic innovation.
Lori currently serves on the Board of Directors for Eaton Corporation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Cencora. From 2019 through 2024, she served as CEO and Chair of Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company. Under her leadership, Celanese experienced remarkable growth, achieving $11 billion in sales, and earning recognition for its sustainability initiatives, corporate citizenship, and inclusion efforts.
Lori’s journey from an Iowa State chemical engineering graduate to one of the 47 female Fortune 500 CEOs is a testament to her dedication and innovative spirit. But her impact extends beyond the boardroom — she is a passionate mentor and advocate for the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program at Iowa State. She co-founded the Ryerkerk-Griffith WiSE Faculty Fellowship, which strengthens educational offerings and enhances the program’s prominence on campus. In addition, the Ryerkerk-Griffith Completion Grant in Engineering provides financial assistance to undergraduate students facing financial hardships, helping them complete their degrees.
Lori and her husband, the Honorable Carl R. Griffith, are longtime supporters of Lamar University and the Lamar University Foundation. Both were actively involved as volunteers and donors for many years prior to their marriage in 2017. In recognition of their sustained generosity, they were named members of the Mirabeau Society in 2020 and the Lamar University Legacy Society in 2021.
Lori has served on the Lamar University College of Engineering Advisory Council since 2004 and joined the Lamar University Foundation Board of Trustees in 2018. She served as an Executive in Residence Speaker in 2006.
Through a generous $1 million planned gift, Lori and Carl established the Carl R. Griffith and Lori Ryerkerk Griffith Scholarship in Criminal Justice and the Carl R. Griffith and Lori Ryerkerk Griffith Scholarship in Engineering, further strengthening educational opportunities for future Lamar University students.
Lori’s leadership and contributions to the chemical industry have been widely recognized. Her exceptional leadership was honored in 2020 when she was named D Magazine’s CEO of the Year. In 2022, she received the prestigious Kavaler Award from The Chemists’ Club, an honor voted on by her peers to recognize outstanding leadership and innovation in the global chemical sector. In 2025, she was honored as the Recipient of the Petrochemical Heritage Award, by the Science History Institute, the Founders Club and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. She has also been inducted into the Iowa State University Chemical and Biological Engineering Hall of Fame and received the Iowa State Alumna Award in 2025.
Meal & Ticket Information:
-
Rotarians, may attend using a regular meal ticket or a $20 meal ticket if they plan to eat.
-
Non-Rotarians may purchase meal tickets for $30.
-
Reserved sponsored tables are available for individuals and organizations wishing to support the event.
Sponsorship Opportunities (All Include Reserved Tables):
Title Sponsor – $2,000 (Exclusive)
-
Two (2) reserved tables of 8 (lunch tickets included)
-
Logo on PowerPoint presentation
-
Logo on tables
-
Social media acknowledgment
Atmosphere Sponsor – $1,000 (2 Available)
-
One reserved table of 8 (lunch tickets included)
-
Logo on PowerPoint presentation
-
Logo on table
-
Social media acknowledgment
Table Sponsor – $500
-
One reserved table of 8 (lunch tickets included)
-
Logo on table
-
Name recognition on PowerPoint
-
Social media acknowledgment
Community Sponsor – $300
-
One reserved table of 8 (lunch tickets included)
This event offers a meaningful way to celebrate International Women’s Day while supporting Rotary’s impact in the Beaumont community.