Edward Raether receives Honorary Doctor of Engineering from MSOE
| Published: 11/20/2012 |
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Edward W. Raether, of Waukesha, Wis., delivered the keynote address at Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Fall Commencement on Nov. 17. Raether also received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the university. He graduated from MSOE in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management.
Raether addressed nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate students during the ceremony. “Each of you has an opportunity to make life better for our world, in nursing, in business and in engineering,” he said. “Write your own roadmap and start with the end in mind. Don’t be afraid to ask for direction from people who have traveled a similar career path. Remember that business is about relationships, so develop them effectively.”
“My personal success in my career is largely related to my ‘hands-on’ experience originating from my course work at MSOE and the knowledge, motivation and guidance received from the instructors and professors,” Raether continued. “My foundation in engineering and management skills served me well, and I am extremely grateful to MSOE. I believe that all of you can look forward to a similar experience, but it will require perseverance and hard work.”
About Edward Raether:
Raether earned a degree in industrial management from MSOE in 1968, but that just started his involvement with the university. He served as president of the Alumni Association Board from 1976-77, became an MSOE Corporation member in 1979 and a Regent in 1985. Currently a Regent Emeritus, he has also served on the Regents’ Facilities and Student Life Committees and on the President’s Golf Outing Committee. He was given the Outstanding Alumnus award and inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2006. Raether and his wife Arlene have been long-time supporters of scholarships and other programs at MSOE through annual and lifetime contributions.
In 2008, Raether retired as vice president and managing director from American Appraisal after 40 years of service. Raether began his career in valuation in 1968, after two years in the U.S. Navy, and 10 years with a manufacturer of welding equipment. He assumed management of the Industrial Valuation Division of American Appraisal in 1973. He was elected assistant vice president in 1977 and vice president later that same year. In 1990, Raether relocated to Budapest, Hungary, where he became the deputy managing director of Central/Eastern European Operations and played a key role in starting valuation practices in Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Germany.
In his 40-year career, Raether managed/carried out valuation projects in 65 countries. With his extensive international skills and fluency in German, he had a reputation of being an effective “client handler” and worked for many major international clients on a repeated basis. “The applications-oriented approach in the MSOE curriculum laid the foundation for my business success,” said Raether. “The engineering and management skills learned at MSOE enabled me to serve thousands of clients with professional valuations.”
Raether’s professional affiliations include past president of Engineers and Scientists of Milwaukee; accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers; current chairperson of the Endowment Committee and member of the Finance Committee and past president of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Waukesha, Wis.; and current president of the Lebanon Historical Society, Lebanon, Wis.
Raether and his wife Arlene will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary in December and have three grown children, Renee, Scott and Jay, and five grandchildren, Alyssa, Jenna and 7-year old triplets Mira, Luke and Vincent.
MSOE is an independent, non-profit university with about 2,500 students. MSOE offers 20 bachelor’s degrees and nine master’s degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, building and infrastructure engineering, health-related engineering, computer, business and nursing fields. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; extremely high placement rates; and the highest starting and mid-career salaries of any Wisconsin university according to PayScale Inc. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.