Diane Detering-Paddison's experience growing up in a family business helped her realize her own path. She says education is critical to our country's success.

Where are you from originally, and what drew you to Oregon State University?

I grew up in Harrisburg, Oregon. I was a farm kid. I didn’t think twice about going to OSU. It was inexpensive and I needed to pay for my school.  Also, my father went to school at OSU. It was an easy choice because of that. I was a freshman at OSU in 1977, and majored in home economics and fashion merchandising with a minor in business.

What was your career trajectory like after graduating from Oregon State?

While I was at OSU, I decided that being a fashion merchandising professional wasn’t what I wanted to do long term. I applied to Harvard Business School, because I loved the business side of what I was doing. I got accepted on the deferred admit program, which means you’re admitted depending on approval of my work experience for the next two years.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work for IBM at their headquarters in New Jersey. They gave me five different roles over those two years. It was an awesome experience of which HBS approved.

After completing Harvard, I worked in consulting for a year, healthcare management for a year, and then joined Trammell Crow Company (TCC), one of the country’s largest real estate companies.  Between 1987 and 2006, I headed up our business with customers who invested in real estate and those corporations that utilized real estate services companies as an outsourced real estate department. I ended my career with TCC as the company’s COO of the services business and as a member of the  ten person executive team.

The Board and Executive team decided to sell to CB Richard Ellis where I was the President of Global Services, Client Accounts until May of 2008, oversaw 4500 employees and a $600,000,000 revenue business.  I left to be the Global COO of ProLogis, the largest industrial REIT in the world; then went through the market melt down, and now I am the Chief Strategy Officer of Cassidy Turley.

In addition, I am the chair of Dean’s Circle of Excellence for the College of Business as well as the Young Life board in North Central Texas. Those are my two non-profit boards. I am on a for-profit board, which is Behringer Harvard. I am also getting ready to start my own non-profit.

What do you think attracted you to business?

I grew up in a family business. My parents owned Detering Orchards in Harrisburg, and raised fruits and vegetables. I always worked with my Dad on the farm, so the business side came very naturally. I had always been very strong with numbers, process and people management.

Did anything about your path surprise you?

When I look back at being at Harrisburg High School, I would have never been able to tell you that this was going to be my story. But as it unfolded and you take each opportunity and issue as it came, my career progression makes a lot of sense. I would like to add, fortunately my faith and my family have been my core.

What compelled you to come back years later and give back to the university?

I think it’s really important. I feel like you go through a time when you’re so focused on your education, the beginning of your career, and having a family. During that time life is crazy.  My kids are now in college.  That’s given me the opportunity to say, “Well, now what? . . . I’m going to give back.” I’ve always loved Oregon State. I was involved with the MU Program Council, my sorority, and Blue Key. I had a lot of friends.  It’s fun to get reconnected.

Education is such a critical area for our country. It’s the key to all of the issues we deal with in society.

What are some of the things you learned here that you brought with you throughout your career?

Oregon State has a very down to earth, nice culture. Plus, OSU offered great leadership development opportunities. The reality is that you can work really hard in business, but you also want to be around people who are nice and humble and OSU prepared me for that desired culture in my career.