Houghton College alumnus Steven Grudda ’10 has recently been featured in Solving Problems that Matter (and Getting Paid for It), a book that contains the profiles of 100 individuals with STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and math) educational backgrounds or skills who have used their careers to promote the well-being of others around the world.
At 26 years old, Grudda became the chief operations officer of Africa Felix Juice (AFJ), the first fruit juice concentrate manufacturer in Sierra Leone. AFJ purchases fruit from area farmers, processes it, and sells the concentrate internationally. This endeavor provides a source of income for approximately 3,000 farmers and more than 70 processing facility employees.
Following his role with AFJ, Grudda became an associate at Endsight Consulting, where he is currently the lead on African agribusiness.
Grudda graduated from Houghton College with a bachelor’s degree in international relations. In addition to the various leadership roles he held while at Houghton, he traveled to Sierra Leone for the first time during his college years. On this trip, he completed a research project that was subsequently submitted to World Hope International. This research project later led him back to Sierra Leone.
Released in early October, Solving Problems that Matter (and Getting Paid for It) is meant to be a resource for students (and their parents, professors, and career advisors) who desire to impact the world using science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and design.
In addition to the innovator profiles, the book provides information on topics such as the ways in which STEM fields can contribute to global sustainable development, the different types of organizations in which aspiring students might become involved, issues of professionalism, and undergraduate and graduate programs.
