During fall 2004, we heard from some of our alums…

2004 David Meade, PhD IE, assistant professor in manufacturing engineering at the Muskegon branch campus, WMU.

 

>>> David Meade>>>

He will be teaching computer control of manufacturing. david.meade@wmich.edu

2003 Danielle Durand, BS EGR, associate design engineer, SPX Contech, Portage, MI: danicole79@hotmail.com

2003 Jenni Levandoski, BS EGR, mechanical engineer, J R Automation, Holland, MI. She works a lot and loves her job: jenlin8@aol.com

2001 Michael Lavander, BS in Automotive Engineering Technology, quality engineer, Aisin AW, Plymouth, MI. He’s working on the launch of the Ford Hybrid: mike@mlav.com

2000 Robert Biggins, MS in Manufacturing Engineering, senior manufacturing engineer hydraulics assembly, Robert Bosch Corp., St. Joseph, MI, He’s pursuing a PhD in leadership and organizational analysis: bob.biggins@us.bosch.com

1999 Jeremy K. Lipton, BS in Automotive Engineering, project manager, Roush Industries, Livonia. He married Andrea Cernava (WMU 2000): jlipton@ameritech.net

1999 Erica (Mount) Steinfeldt, BS Engineering Management, senior buyer, Kohler, Sheboygan, WI: erica.steinfeldt@kohler.com

1998 Eddie Gunn III, MS Engineering Management, distribution center group leader, Target Corp. He lives in Easton, PA: egunn30@verizon.net

1997 Erik Grant, BS, program manager, Kautex Textron, Troy, MI: erikmgrant@yahoo.com

1997 Jermaine Thomas, BS Automotive Engineering Technology, engineer at General Motors: jermaine.e.Thomas@gm.com

1996 David Bowl, BS EGR, MSA General Administration, project manager, Ford Motor Co., Livonia, MI: dbowl@ford.com

1994 Tony Gumushian, BS Automotive Engineering Technology, automotive technology coordinator / professor at Prairie State College, Chicago, IL: agumushian@prairiestate.edu

1991 Carlos E. Diaz, MD, BS Automotive Engineering Technology, ophthalmologist, Thurmond Eye Associates: carlosdiaz2020@yahoo.com

1990 Robert Hollen, BS Production Technology, sales representative, Commercial Equipment Company, Grand Rapids, MI: gab24sorno@sbcglobal.net

1989 Tamara Fairbanks, BS EGR, vice-president of marketing and development, Who Moved My Cheese? LLC, Salt Lake City, UT. She says that her degree has served her well and that “life is very good.” tafair@networld.com

1987 Thomas A Kopplin, BS IE, consultant / control sales, KopplinControls, Jackson, MI: tom_kopplin@opexonline.com

>>> Gary Smith >>>

1987 Gary Smith, BS Manufacturing, Q.A. manager of the Hearth Division, DESA Heating, LLC, Bowling Green, KY. He thanks the IME faculty and staff for adding to his workplace qualifications: gary.smith13@allvantage.com

1985 Rick Donia, BS Auto Management & SVC, training coordinator, American Honda Motor, French Camp, CA. He operates NorCal Training Center for Honda/Acura. Rick_donia@ahm.honda.com

1985 Henry L. Upjohn II, BS Manufacturing, CEO Special-Lite, Inc., Decatur, MI

1983 Willymore M. Kisaka, BS Manufacturing Engineering, president, American Lock & Key Co., Vista, CA: williekisaka@yahoo.com

1977/1982 Robert Cooper, BSIE/MSOR, manager of operations planning and research, Yellow Transportation, Overland, KS.: bob.coope@yellowcorp.com

1975 Don Lent, BS Automotive Engineering Management, manager-special markets, Dana - Perfect Circle Division, Muskegon, MI: don.lent@dana.com

1974 John Vereeke, BS Mfg. Engineering, technical analysis/rotating equipment technician, Consumers Energy, West Olive, MI: jhvereeke@cmsenergy.com

1972 Andrew F. Grimm, MS Industrial Sup., retired, lives in Grand Rapids, MI and enjoys traveling in US and in Europe: algrimm@netpenny.net

1971/1973/1977 Keith N. Hood, BSEET, MS Technology, BSEE, engineer, City of Fort Wayne, IN: knhood@aol.com

1969 Dennis Lasanen, BS Manufacturing Management, engineer in the maintenance department, General Motors, Defiance, OH: dflasanen@aol.com

1966 Harold E. Rudlaff, BS Industrial Supervision, retired, Pharmacia/Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI

1966/1969 D. Dale Stoughton, IS & MBA, retired, lives in Brenham, TX. He works part-time at a local golf course: dalestoughton@aol.com

1958 Maynard R. Martin, BS IE, retired, lives in Kalamazoo, MI: maynardrm@aol.com

IME professor, student garner awards at FEF conference

An IME professor and an IME student earned awards at the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) College Industry Conference (CIC) held in Chicago last November.

Dr. Sam Ramrattan - a specialist in material and process and a FEF Key Professor, received the American Foundry Society AFS/FEF Board Award.

The conference also honored Ryan Schwark, a senior in the manufacturing engineering technology program, with the $1,500 AFS-Saginaw Valley Scholarship, which was based on his work experience, his GPA, his career objectives, and two letters of recommendations.

Other scholarships Schwark has earned include an $800 FEF in Spring 2003, a $400 AFS Central Chapter in Fall 2004, and a $500 College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Fall 2004.

Originally from Three Oaks, Schwark maintains a 3.6 GPA and is set to earn a BS in April 2005. Before enrolling at WMU, he obtained an Associate of Applied Science in Plastics Technology from Lake

Honored as a Key Professor at the November FEF CIC Convention, IME’s Dr. Sam Ramrattan (left) works with students in the WMU metal casting lab

Ryan Schwark , a senior in the IME manufacturing engineering program, won a $1,500 scholarship at the FEF CIC Convention held in Chicago last November. He has also won several other scholarships

Michigan College, in Benton Harbor, where he graduated with honors.

He is currently interviewing in the metal casting industry, and he hopes to remain in the Great Lakes region after graduation.

Four other WMU delegates to the conference were Michael Booms, Michael Farney, Daniel Galleher, and Jason Karbowski. Their expenses were paid by the metal casting industry through the FEF.

The FEF CIC conference provided FEF board members, university officials, professors, and top students delegates from across North America with the opportunity to meet metal casting industry executives from 36 participating companies and to gain an up-close and personal look at the industry. Also, $64,000 in special scholarships and awards was given to the FEF accredited schools at this conference alone.

Ramrattan said that WMU is “proud to be a part of this exciting FEF CIC event, which actively reaches out to engineering colleges and universities in North America.” WMU is one of only 25 in the world to be accredited in this Foundation. Nearly 75% of FEF registered students and scholarship students were placed in metal casting jobs this past year!

IME welcomes Timothy Greene, the new dean

Dr. Timothy J. Greene, who has accepted the post of Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and his wife, Nancy, were welcomed last week at the Parkview Campus.

Currently the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at the University of Alabama, Greene told the WMU engineering staff and faculty that his present goals for the college are aligned with those of President Judith Bailey and Provost Linda Delene: to fight for state funding, to increase enrollment, and to double externally funded research by 2008.

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences welcomed Dr. Timothy Greene and his wife, Nancy

To those goals, Greene added that “high quality instruction would be maintained” even as the new research was added.

An industrial engineer whose background includes not only academic but also industrial experience, Greene has been approved as a tenured faculty member of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.

IME Chair Paul Engelmann (right) presents an ergonomically designed snow shovel to new CEAS Dean Tim Greene, who comes to WMU from the University of Alabama.

IME Chair Paul Engelmann presented Greene with an ergonomically designed snow shovel as a “welcome to Michigan.”

Before joining the University of Alabama five years ago, Greene spent eight years at Oklahoma State University, where he spent four years as the head of the School of Industrial Engineering and Management and four years as the associate dean of research.

Prior to Oklahoma, Greene spent nine years on the faculty at Virginia Tech.

As a corporate consultant, Greene has worked with clients such as Brunswick Corp., Ingersoll Rand, Union Carbide, Federal Mogul, and IBM.

Greene earned three degrees at Purdue University: a bachelor’s in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and master’s and doctoral degrees in industrial engineering.

The new CEAS dean is a senior member and fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, where he served as national president; a senior member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers; and a member of Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Pi Mu, and Sigma Xi honor societies.

His other credentials include serving as an onsite evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Greene will assume the new dean position in April when he replaces Dr. Michael Atkins, who is retiring after serving as dean since 2002 and as a member of the engineering faculty since 1971.