MSOE alumni receive honors at reunion
| Published: 07/19/2006 |
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MSOE welcomed alumni back to campus for its annual Summer in the City reunion July 14-16. It also honored alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and have made significant contributions to their workplace, communities and MSOE.
First, MSOE President Hermann Viets inducted 11 alumni into the university's Alumni Wall of Fame during a formal unveiling ceremony Friday, July 14, including Edward Raether, who was honored again on Saturday as MSOE's Outstanding Alumnus of the Year.
Raether was honored as part of a gala that also included a wine tasting from the Château Lafite-Rothschild vineyards, exquisite food stations, French music and a program with special guest Richard Barbeyron, consul general of France in Chicago.
Raether is the vice president and managing principal of the industrial valuation group at American Appraisal in Milwaukee. During his 38-year career with the company, he was the vice president of operations for the Hungarian office from 1990 to 1999, and president of AA Germany from 1999 to 2001.
A 1968 MSOE alumnus with an associate degree in industrial management didn't end Raether's involvement with the university. He served as president of the Alumni Association Board from 1976 to 1977, became an MSOE Corporate Board member in 1979 and a Regent in 1985. He now is a Regent Emeritus. He has served on the Regents' Facilities and Student Life Committees and on the President's Golf Outing Committee. He also was inducted to the Alumni Wall of Fame Friday.
Raether and his wife, Arlene, live in Waukesha, Wis.
Other MSOE Alumni Wall of Fame Inductees:
Michael J. Barber, a 1982 electrical engineering graduate, is general manager of DI Technology & Imaging Subsystems for GE Healthcare. Of his work, Barber says he's humbled every time they introduce a product that improves clinicians' ability to treat patients.
Looking back on his days as a student: "The pace and depth of learning required by MSOE positioned me to handle working on multiple projects as an entry level engineer. This gave me the opportunity to contribute with technical innovations very early in my career."
Barber continues his involvement with MSOE, as a member of the Board of Regents. He lives in Mequon, Wis., with his wife, Jacqueline, who also was inducted.
Allen J. Carlson, president and CEO of Sun Hydraulics, attended MSOE for 12 years before earning his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1979. For nearly 20 years, he worked his way up the ranks at Vickers Inc., holding various engineering, marketing and management positions. In 1996 he joined Sun Hydraulics and was named president and CEO in 2000. The company is an international manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and integrated valve packages with sales reaching the $117 million mark last year.
Carlson, who now serves on MSOE's Board of Regents, credits MSOE for growing his "problem-solving skills (and not just math and science), communication skills and self-confidence." He lives in Sarasota, Fla.
Bernard A. Cohen, earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1971 before further pursing his interests in the medical field. Today he is a neurophysiologist and founder of Neurological Monitoring Associates, one of the largest professional monitoring practices in the country, covering more than 35 hospitals in the Midwest. As an internationally recognized leader in his field, he's had the opportunity to achieve firsts and even advise a Presidential Council as well as develop original software and hardware.
According to Cohen: "MSOE taught me to think critically. Small classes with immediate access to faculty provided the background and focus for a long and successful career. MSOE faculty, and especially Dr. Vincent Canino, stands out in my memory even above all graduate work. They remain close advisers and confidants 30 years after graduation. My career clearly has been a reflection of MSOE's institutional principles."
Cohen currently serves on MSOE's Corporation Board. He lives in Milwaukee's North Shore neighborhood.
Dwight D. Diercks is vice president of software engineering for NVIDIA, Santa Clara, Calif., a graphics and digital media processor company that Diercks has helped grow to a $2.5 billion entity. Since graduating in 1990 with a B.S. in computer engineering, Diercks has stayed in touch with his alma mater as president for the Northern California Alumni Chapter and recently was voted to the MSOE Board of Regents.
According to Diercks: "MSOE taught me that focused effort on core principles combined with a ton of effort can help you accomplish things that seem beyond your reach." He lives in Saratoga, Calif.
John E. Duncan earned his bachelor's degree in industrial management in 1979. Today he is president and CEO of Hägglunds Drives Inc., Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio, which manufactures complete hydraulic drive systems.
"I am very proud to say I'm from MSOE because, right from the start, this university has given me a stronger sense of personal pride and confidence that I carry to this day. MSOE honed my skill sets for the working world through strong instructors and academics and working at the Fluid Power Institute. Hard working, smart students overcome obstacles to learn, to understand, to perform, to get work done and to successfully achieve the high standards of a great university. It prepared us well for the working world."
Given the opportunity to lead people as the president of a few companies has been the culmination of meeting countless challenges over many years, according to Duncan. He's met these challenges by putting together strong teams of people willing to work hard to get the job done right. He's most proud of the people, hard work and the results that they've have earned together.
Duncan serves MSOE as a member of the Corporation Board. He lives in Crystal Lake, Ill., and Columbus, Ohio.
Randall L. Freeman, a 1974 electrical engineering technology alumnus, is the vice president of industry initiatives at Rockwell Automation, Milwaukee, a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions
With a career spent in technical sales and marketing areas, Freeman counts cultivating future leaders through mentoring and coaching as one of his most satisfying professional accomplishments.
His MSOE education prepared him for his career because of its "hands-on practical approach to technical subjects and the personal discipline required to succeed," said Freeman. He now serves as a member of MSOE's Corporation Board. He lives in Brookfield, Wis.
Jacqueline D. Herd-Barber, who earned an electrical engineering degree in 1984, is the senior district sales manager for Freescale Semiconductor, Brookfield, Wis., a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for wireless, networking, automotive, consumer and industrial markets.
As a professional, she notes one of her most significant achievements is the opportunity to coach and mentor young professionals, helping them maximize their contributions and reach their potential. Attending college at MSOE was valuable in several ways, according to Herd-Barber. "The small class size ensured interaction with professors, versus teaching assistants, and the rigorous curriculum provided a breadth of learning. That's needed to contribute as an entry level employee. The opportunities for leadership roles at MSOE helped position me to succeed in the workplace and as a community volunteer."
She serves MSOE as a member of its Corporation Board and served on the Alumni Board from 1989 to 2003, including the role of president in 1994 and 1995. She lives in Mequon, Wis., with her husband, Michael, who also was inducted.
Susan L. Jaske's academic career culminated first in a degree in mechanical engineering in 1986. She entered the professional world, and later returned to MSOE to earn a master's degree in engineering management in 1997.
After many years in the manufacturing sector, Jaske left to follow a family tradition in the transportation industry and today is vice president and chief operating officer of the Pewaukee-based Fairway Transit.
"Women leaders are continuing to emerge and be successful in this industry," said Susan, who lives in Hartland, Wis. "Achieving executive leadership responsibilities within value-driven firms enables me to lead professional teams in addressing opportunities for profitable business."
MSOE's role in her success includes developing her technical skills and business practices. "MSOE prepared me to step with intensity and confidence into the competitive business arena. I learned to harness the diverse talents of team members, including myself, for success exceeding imagined goals. MSOE has proven to be the founding resource for my lifelong learning." Today Jaske is a member of MSOE's Corporation Board.
Donald R. Potter, who earned an electrical engineering degree from MSOE in 1956, said that MSOE helped him develop the applications-oriented engineering and decision-making abilities that served as the foundation of his career. Potter is founder and retired vice president of engineering of C3-ilex. The California-based company is a provider of real-time hardware and software systems for the electric utility industry. It was the first manufacturer of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to introduce a PC based solution to the utility industry. Since 1983, its products have been delivered to electric, water and waste water utilities with hundreds of SCADA systems and thousands of remote terminal units installed worldwide.
Potter continues his involvement at his alma mater, as a member of MSOE's Corporation Board. He lives in Cupertino, Calif.
Brian J. Stark, a 1971 electrical engineering alumnus, may be recently retired, but he remains a vital outrigger for MSOE as a member of its Board of Regents. Stark is the retired president of the Controls Group for Johnson Controls, Milwaukee, a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. Having spent his entire career with JCI, he helped build a diverse, high-powered global management team that created and implemented effective strategies that guided the organization to the leadership position in the marketplace. MSOE had a role in that success: "MSOE taught me how to solve problems, how to stay focused, the value of smart people and how to persevere! I believe this foundation was a great help both professionally and personally." He lives in Mequon, Wis.