balance SHEET.

John P. Jessup might be considered an anomaly by today's standards. At a time when most people build careers by jumping from job to job, he's stuck with the same company -- both learning and growing his career -- for the past 27 years. While he didn't expect he'd stay at the large company he'd chosen right out of graduate school, the financial career started with the Du Pont Company has taken him literally around the world and back -- with assignments in the U.S., Tokyo, Toronto, and the U.S. again. He says he's been fortunate for the different jobs in a company with a top-notch financial organization and solid commitment to training. Also, the inter national assignments provided great opportunities for both him and his growing family to learn about other people and see another side of the world. In fact, his young son -- age six at the time -- was his translator at a Japanese vegetable stand!

Title: Vice President Finance and Controller

Company: Du Pont Company

Business/Industry: Diversified manufacturer specializing in high-performance materials, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals and biotechnology.

Born: April 28, 1948, Wallace, Idaho 

Spouse: Melissa O. Jessup

Children: Paul, 21; Mary, 19

Education: A.B. in Political Science, 1971, University of North Carolina; M.B.A., Finance, 1974, Babcock Graduate School of Management, Wake Forest University

Career History: 1974-81, various finance and international finance assignments;, 1978-81, Regional Finance Manager-Latin America; 1982-86, Managing Director, Du Pont Japan, Tokyo; 1987-90, Global Finance Director-Agricultural Products; 1990-92, Senior Vice President and CFO, Du Pont Canada, in Toronto; 1992-95, Global Finance Director-Fibers/Nylon.

FEI Chapter: Delaware

Leisure Pursuits: "Exercise, which includes racquet sports -- primarily tennis; some squash and paddle ball -- skiing; some walking, hiking, travel and reading." In fact, Jessup and his wife recently spent their 25th anniversary hiking in the Austrian hills. "Time" is the biggest impediment to leisure, and he's thinking of "re-taking up" golf in retirement, adding, "That's a long way off." He and his wife enjoy international travel, although he admits there's much of the U.S. to see, and they especially enjoy their time as a couple now that the children are grown. Reading is a "downtime" activity for Jessup, who says there are always several books on his nightstand. Since he was a political science major, his interests are non-fiction (history related) and he also dabbles in a broad range of mystery tales, as well as some business subjects.

Time Management Tips: "Set a daily priority list and delegate."

Stress Management Advice: "Get plenty of exercise, take vacations (at least two-week blocks), play with kids and grandchildren -- if and when you have them -- and read a good book."

Best/Worst Jobs: "The best are my current job and my assignment in Japan -- although Japan was simultaneously the best and most frustrating; it took me about the first three years of the four-year stint, just learning to become somewhat knowledgeable about what was going on under the surface. Living outside the U.S. pro vided a tremendous opportunity for me and my family - to get a view of how outsiders view Americans, and it made us not so 'U.S.-centric', but at the same time, better able to appreciate how truly blessed we are to be Americans. Japan has a dramatically different culture. For exam ple, the way people conduct work: more things are done indirectly than directly; there's a lot of consensus building."

Favorite Deal: Acquisition and divestiture, 17 years later, of the energy company, Conoco -- because of the sheer size and complexity of the transaction on both ends.

Other comments: "Learn something new every day. Develop your successor. The pace of work is so fast and furious, I marvel at the inherent capability of people in my organization, and I have a growing appreciation of the diversity - and here I mean diversity of thought and perspectives - that people of different backgrounds and styles of thinking bring to business solutions.

"My peers and I interview all potential financial hires, both coming in and going out, and, I am 'blown away' by the skill sets of people -- especially the young people. While they lack the breadth and savvy of older, more experienced, workers, I am amazed at their intellectual capability and views. For the future, yes, machines, etc. are important, but the true differentiator for an organization is the capability and motivation of its people. Especially as we delegate more and more: in any roomful, it [a job] may not get done as soon, but we'll get it done right and better."