Teo A. Babun '72
Teo A. Babun Jr. graduated from Michigan Tech in 1972 with bachelor’s degrees in both electrical engineering and business engineering administration. He later received a PhD from Vision International University.
In 1980, Babun, with two partners, started General Eletro-Components, and he was named the president and CEO. He subsequently started several other enterprises, including the Babun Group Consulting Company, Cuba-Caribbean Development, Line Electric Co., Babun Shipping and New Cuba Investment Fund, Ltd. He is currently president of Babun Consulting, president and CEO of Cuba-Caribbean Development and national executive director of the Evangelical Christian Humanitarian Outreach for Cuba (ECHO-Cuba).
Eric D. Baker '88
Since 2006 Eric D. Baker has served Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative as its president and CEO. Eric was previously Wolverine’s senior vice president of engineering and strategy, vice president of power marketing, and the general manager of planning and engineering. Wolverine is a generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Cadillac, Michigan, supplying power to five distribution electric cooperatives and two alternative electric suppliers in the Lower Peninsula. In 2009, the US Department of Energy recognized Wolverine as Wind Energy Cooperative of the Year.
Eric serves on the Board of Directors of American Electric Power, the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation and the Cadillac Area . . .
Walter S. Bannister '47
Walter Bannister earned a BS in Mining Engineering in 1947 from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. During World War II, he took three years away from his studies to serve in the Canadian Army Infantry Corps. He also graduated from the Banff School of Advanced Management in 1967.
Michelle L. Banonis '99
Michelle graduated from Michigan Tech in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctorate from Humphreys College Laurence Drivon School of Law and will sit for the three-day California Bar Examination in 2015.
William Barkhouse '76
Bill Barkhouse earned a BS degree in applied geophysics from Michigan Tech in 1976.
He started his geoscience career in airborne/ground electromagnetics and potential methods for mineral exploration and then joined Mobil where he has held positions as planning consultant in Mobil's corporate headquarters, as geophysical manager for West Coast and Alaska operations as exploration superintendent in New Orleans and a special assignment as a computer consultant with Mobil R&D.
Richard (Dick) H. Bauer '74
President
Eastern Alloys, Inc.
BS EMY 1974
1974 graduate with degree in Metallurgical Engineering Currently President of Eastern Alloys, Inc., located in Maybrook, New York. Eastern Alloys is a manufacturer of zinc alloys which supply the die casting, nonferrous foundry and continuous steel galvanizing industries.
Has been a strong supporter of the department and the Innovative Casting Enterprise. Has supported several senior design projects. Instrumental in securing a die cast machine for the departmental foundry. Dick and his wife, Mary Jane, reside in Newburgh, New York.
From 2006 Induction to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Academy
Richard Bayer '44
Dick Bayer earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with honor from Michigan Tech in 1944. Three years later, he joined the Michigan Tech faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. During succeeding years he was promoted to associate professor and full professor. He retired in 1983, after 37 years of service.
In addition to his career at Michigan Tech, he also served as an officer in the U.S. Army combat engineering battalion in France and the Pacific during World War II. While at Tech he served as a faculty advisor to the Michigan Tech chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers for more than . . .
David P. Bednarz '82
Dave Bednarz is currently Vice President of Iron Resources for Steel Dynamics, Inc. In this role, Dave is responsible for the Iron Dynamics Division in Butler, Indiana and the Mesabi Nugget and Mesabi Mining projects in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Both projects are pioneering efforts in the development and operation of direct reduced iron processes. Dave joined Iron Dynamics in April 1997 as a Supervisor and was promoted to the Plant Manager position in 2000. In these roles, Dave has been actively involved in the design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation of the Iron Dynamics facility.
Dave previously spent four years with Unimin Corp. . . .
Walfrid Been '28
The late Walfrid (Wally) Been received a BS in Mining Engineering from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1928. During his college years, he was involved in Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Rho Fraternity, Student Council, Inter-Fraternity Council, and the Mining Club, and was also president of his senior class.
John Beitzel '61
After obtaining employment with Atlantic Richfield as a research geophysicist, John assumed positions with increasing responsibility. Eventually he became Vice President of Technology "with barely enough power (he claims) to prod the exploration portion of the company into the twentieth century with regard to computer applications." He then became Vice President of Exploration for the Eastern United States focusing primarily on the Gulf of Mexico Basin, on- and off-shore, where early goals were always exceeded.
John Benaglio '70
John Benaglio is a leader in industry and has earned worldwide stature.
Benaglio is the Chairman of the Group Executive Committee and General Partner of the German-based Heitkamp & Thumann Group, which owns twenty-three companies in the metal and plastic-forming industries, as well as battery components.
Attilio Berdusco '52
Attilio dedicated his entire career to Algoma Steel with increasingly responsible positions in Wawa and Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. One of his many achievements was planning and executing a pillar blast at an underground mine in Wawa; this is the largest underground blast in North America using 1.1 million tons of TNT. In the mid-1970’s he was instrumental in designing a 15,000 foot long conveyer belt with 2,432 feet of vertical lift, allowing the company to mine an additional 71 million tons of ore.
Joseph Berger '05
Most magna cum laude graduates of Michigan Tech seek jobs in their field of study to begin their career. For 2005 alumnus Joe Berger (pronounced Bur-jur), who earned his bachelor's degree with a 3.8 grade point average in mechanical engineering, this was not the case. His career started on the field - playing in the National Football League.
Dave Bernard '74
After graduating from Michigan Tech in 1974, a fortunate incident altered the trajectory of Dave Bernard’s career before it started. “I was set to interview with the accounting department at Kimberly-Clark,” he says, “and just three days before, they called to say the position was filled, but they could offer me a spot as a tax analyst. I took the job and never looked back.”
Richard Berry '50
In spotlighting interesting, distinguished alumni, one would be remiss to leave out Richard "Dick" Berry, a Michigan Tech chemical engineering graduate from 1950. Berry, a native of London, Ont., among his numerous lifetime achievements, has managed a business with approximately $3.1 million annual revenue and has traveled to 27 countries on all seven continents.
Frederick G. Bieti '62
Frederick Bieti spent several years with General Motors in various engineering and supervisory positions in the Warren, Michigan, area before returning to the Upper Peninsula to join Systems Control Corp., a division of M.J. Electric in Iron Mountain. In 1972, he started the consulting firm of F.G. Bieti & Associates and in 1976 purchased Z&R Electric Service. In 1981, Fred was recognized by Michigan Governor William Milliken for his activities with the Michigan Conference on Small Business. Mr. Bieti is a member of the Michigan Tech President’s Club.
Lee E. Blodgett '76
Lee received his BS degree in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1976. He then spent twelve years working for the Dowell Division of Dow Chemical Company where he was District Manager, first in Michigan and then in Southern Oklahoma. At this time, he also had responsibility for environmental compliance. Lee then left and went to work as Director and Manager for Eastern Reservoir Services as part of a research team studying the Gas Research Institute's Antrim Shale Project.
During the late 1980's, he went to work for Wilcox Associates as a Project Manager/Engineer for two years. Since 1991, Lee has been . . .
Mr. Jerald A. Blumberg '60
Mr. Jerald A. Blumberg began his career at DuPont after earning a Chemical Engineering degree from Michigan Tech in 1960. He was named Director of the White Pigments and Mineral Products Division in 1983, was transferred to DuPont Japan Ltd. as President in 1985, and was named Vice President-International, responsible for all Asia Pacific Operations in 1987.
In 1990, he was named Senior Vice President-Employee Relations and later that year became Senior Vice President-DuPont Human Resources and DuPont Corporate Plans and a member of the Office of the Chairman. From 1992 to 1995 Mr. Blumberg was Senior Vice President Dupont Fibers; which . . .
Wilfred S. Bobier '43
Wilfred Bobier earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1943. He was a member of the Michigan Patent Lawyers Association and received the Engineer of Year Award from the Engineering Society of Detroit in 1949. Retired from his career as a registered patent agent, Wilfred Bobier holds over 100 U.S. and foreign patents, alone, with some classified as military secrets and withdrawn from issue.
Prior to his retirement, he served as vice president of the Dana Corporation. He was also the former president (and founder) of Hydura Inc. and Cyberflo Inc. In 1988 he established the Wilfred S. Bobier Jr. . . .
William I. Boggs '48
Bill graduated from Michigan Tech in 1948 with a B.S. in Geological Engineering. Upon graduation, he began working for The Atlantic Refining Co. on seismic exploration crews. In 1951 Bill switched gears from the oil industry to mining and became a mining engineer with Pickands Mather and Co. working on iron in Minnesota and Michigan. Four years later he moved to Allied Chemical Corp. in Syracuse, New York, where he held the titles of principal mining and geological engineer, Assistant Director of Engineering, and Resident Manager of a Trona Mine in Wyoming.
In 1970, Bill became Manager of Business Development and Project Control for Boyles Brothers Drilling Co. in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bill left Boyles and assumed the positions of Vice President of Operations of Centennial Development Company and President of Coal Contractors, Inc. Bill retired in 1985 from Centennial where he was President and Chief Executive Officer.
Elmer H. Bomke P.E. '42
Mr. Bomke joined the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers following graduation and served as a combat engineer in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. After the war, he joined Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company and in 1948 took a position with Southern Services, Inc., rising to Manager of the Electrical Design Department. Elmer accepted the position of Vice President, Electrical Operation at Gulf Power Company in Pensacola, Florida in 1969. He joined Brown & Root in 1971, serving as President of Brown & Root Development for the five years prior to his retirement in 1986. In 1982, the Michigan Tech Board of Control awarded him the Silver Medal.
Michelle Boven '99
While Michigan Tech is a predominantly male university, women have many opportunities to excel. Michelle Boven, a 1999 mechanical engineering graduate is just one real-world example of this. She was selected as the 2006 Distinguished New Engineer by the Detroit Chapter of the Society for Women Engineers for her accomplishments.
Dr. Daniel Branagan '90
He is one of the top 100 inventors under 35-years-old in the world according to MIT. He is a 1990 Michigan Tech graduate in metallurgical engineering. He is a holder of seven patents and an author of 40 refereed publications. He is a recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. He is Daniel Branagan.
William Brice '69
Bill obtained his B.S. in Geological Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1969. He continued his studies at the University of Minnesota where he received a Master of Engineering in 1971 and a PhD in Mineral Resources Engineering in 1981 with a concentration in Environmental Design, Law, and Economics.
While en route to his PhD he began his employment with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Bill worked with them throughout his entire career, culminating 19 years as Director of the Division of Lands and Minerals. As Director he was responsible for managing over 12 million acres of mineral rights and 7.5 million acres . . .
Jim Brodeur M.D. '68
Jim Brodeur, a retired physician and long-time financial supporter of Michigan Tech, figures he’s got twenty-seven good reasons to help the institution. That’s the number of people in his family who have attended Tech over five generations, beginning with one of his grandfathers in 1897.
William H. Broman '53, '52
Bill joined Shell Oil Company in 1953 as a Junior Geophysicist and later became Area Chief Geophysicist. While working for Shell, his job titles included Director of Exploration Research, General Manager of Exploration and Production Research, General Manager of Offshore Exploration and General Manager of Rocky Mountain Exploration and Production. In 1990, he retired after 37 years of service, but his name is legendary within the company.
Mr. James Brozzo '53
Mr. James Brozzo graduated from Michigan Tech with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1953. He joined the Dow Chemical Company immediately after graduation, where he began his career in Technical Service and Development. IN 1961 he moved to the Organic Chemicals Pilot Plants as a Development Engineer and Project Manager. After a short assignment in Economic Evaluation, he was promoted to Superintendent of Market Development Semiplant, and in 1969 supervised the Saran Development Plant. Mr. Brozzo was named section Manager, Michigan Division, in 1970. He was then promoted in 1979 to site Manager of the Allyn’s Point plant in . . .
David J. Brule '72
David J. Brule, Sr., of Iron Mountain, is president and CEO of Northern Star Industries, Inc. and began his career as a division engineer with Wisconsin Public Service in Green Bay. Mr. Brule earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1972. In 1973 he joined M.J. Electric as a project engineer and over the next several years received several management and administrative promotions, which culminated with his appointment as president and CEO in 1991. He continued as president of the company after it was acquired by Exelon Infrastructure Services, Inc. in 2000.
Mr. Kenneth A. Brunk '69
Mr. Kenneth A. Brunk a resident of Centennial, Colorado and 1969 graduate of Michigan Tech’s Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Kenneth A. Brunk began his career in 1969 in the Research and Development Center at Owens-Illinois in Toledo, Ohio. As Superintendent /Engineer of a silica and milling operation in Illinois, Ken was instrumental in developing several process improvements and automation practices. He was promoted to Vice President of Technology of UNIMIN Corporation in 1977, where he was responsible for the exploration, development, engineering, and construction of three plants in the U.S. and played a major role in developing operations in . . .
Leonard C. Buckman '60
Leonard C. Buckman is president and general manager for Rockwell WABCO Vehicle Control Systems, a joint venture between Rockwell Automotive and American Standard Inc.'s Automotive Product Group. He has held this position since July 1992.
Len joined Rockwell in 1977. He lead a highly successful career as chief engineer, director of engineering and product planning, and as vice president of engineering and sales.
Steven Burdgick '90
Two thousand years before the Industrial Revolution, the Greek mathematician Hero came up with the idea for the steam turbine. English engineer Sir Charles Parsons built the first one in 1884, to generate electricity. And for the last twenty years, Steven Burdgick has fiddled, tweaked, and tinkered with steam turbines and their close cousins, gas turbines, ultimately revolutionizing aspects of a stogy, old technology.
Janet E. Burge '84
Janet earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Michigan Tech in 1984. After working in the software industry for 12 years, she returned to school to earn her master’s in Computer Science in 1999 and doctorate in Computer Science in 2005, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is currently an Associate Professor at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.
Karl Burgher '80, '82
Karl obtained a BS in 1980 and an MS in 1982 in Mining Engineering from Michigan Tech. From here he went on to Missouri-Rolla and earned another BS in Economics as well as a PhD in Mining Engineering specializing in pricing and econometric modeling. Karl is currently the special assistant to the President for Strategic Planning at Indiana State University. He also has another primary affiliation as a management consultant in BurgherGines, LLC, which he established in 2007. In addition to these positions, Karl has held a university presidency position in Maine and has held positions at Missouri-Rolla, Montana Tech, and Fairmont State University.