Peter J. Van Altena '51, '50
In 1984, Peter retired from Dome Petroleum Limited in Calgary, Alberta. He started at Dome Petroleum as a Senior Staff Geophysicist dealing with seismic data in frontier areas. In 1975, he was promoted to Exploration Manager for the continental U.S., and in 1979, was named Vice President of Exploration. As Vice President, he managed an exploration department of over 300.
Before starting with Dome Petroleum, Peter was employed with United Geophysical Corporation in Pasadena, California. While with United Geophysical, he was Supervisor of Field Operations in Great Falls, Montana, western Canada, and the Arctic Islands as well as Party Chief in Chile and . . .
Ron Van Dell '79
Alumni spotlight | A new way to harvest solar energy
“A lot of people think of solar panels as being all there is to solar,” says Ron Van Dell, President and CEO of Austin-based SolarBridge Technologies. “They tend to think if panels were cheaper, then solar would be affordable. But, with the price of solar panels falling fast, what used to be the dominant cost is now less than half the total.” Of the rest, the most important part, according to Van Dell, is the power inverter that converts dc current generated by the panels to ac current for household use.
Nancy Vandermey '89
Nancy Vandermey is a rocket scientist, volunteer zookeeper and amateur photographer.
Vandermey joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in 1996 and is presently Science Planning Systems Engineer for the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn.
Danielle VanDyke '06
A generous scholarship and Michigan Tech’s reputation as a good school for students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields brought Danielle VanDyke to Houghton. She graduated in 2006 with dual BS degrees in Computer Science and Psychology. VanDyke credits the University with teaching her leadership and team-building skills, improving her communication skills, and encouraging her to seek new challenges every day.
Gerald VanVoorhis '60
Gerald Van Voorhis graduated with a BS in geophysical engineering from Michigan Tech in 1960 and was a geophysicist with the US Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1961 to 1964, when he returned to Tech for a masters in geophysics. Then he went to work for Bear Creek Mining Company (the Exploration division of Kennecott) as Chief of their Geophysical Research Division from 1964 to 1973. Eventually he became Vice President of Exploration at Kennecott from 1981-85, a period when there were several famous deposits discovered, including the Lihi gold deposit in Papua New Guinea, the Crixas Gold deposit in . . .
Brian VanVoorst '91, '93
After graduating from Michigan Tech with a bachelor's and a Master's degree in computer science in 1991 and 1993 respectively, Brian VanVoorst has already had a successful career and has certainly earned a place in our alumni spotlight.
Vincent A. Vellella '60
President and Owner of Veltec Corp., Mr. Vellella graduated from Michigan Tech in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering. Mr. Vellella then signed on with the Republic Steel Corporation, where he worked on the development of ultra-pure flotation processes for the iron ore division and invented slag metal recovery systems. He served as a consultant in the mid-60s for the Union Carbide Corp. and materials Separators, Inc., both in Ohio, and for Inmetco in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, eventually becoming the founder and president of the Pittsburgh Pacific Processing Co. From 1986 to the present, Mr. Vellella became founder and . . .
Leanne Vernier '87
It’s a rare gray day in Central Texas, but the walls of Leanne Venier’s gallery in South Austin are radiant with the rich colors of her art.
"Into the Depths" glows a deep shade of garnet. Brushstrokes of cobalt and indigo in "Ageless, Boundless, Timeless" suggest the undulation of seagrass.
The center of "Duration" is belted with a thick cream-colored line dividing the eggplant hue above it from the burgundy below. Venier thinks she may have painted the line, vaguely reminiscent of a horizon, because she likes landscape photography. But it might also be a visual depiction of the conscious and unconscious mind. She points to the lower half.
David L. Vesely '65,
Lieutenant General David Vesely began his Air Force career in 1965 upon graduation from Michigan Tech’s ROTC program. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in Vietnam. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1995, when he took command of 14th Air Force – the historic Flying Tigers. Early in 1997, President Clinton nominated him to be Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force and to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. In March 1977, General Vesely was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the rank and position.
Mr. Melvin J. Visser '59
Mr. Melvin J. Visser joined the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan after graduating from Michigan Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree in 1959. He later earned a Masters degree in Chemistry from Western Michigan University and completed the Business Leadership Institute at the University of Michigan in 1974.
While at Upjohn Mr. Visser worked in Design Engineering, Chemical Process R&D, Production Technical Support, Fermentation Production Management, and Chemical Production Management before becoming Manager of Materials and Capacity Management in 1979. He held the position of Director of Engineering Administration from 1981-1986 when he was named Vice President of Engineering for Allied Health Care . . .
Steve Vizanko '04
In their classes at the School of Business and Economics, Steve Vizanko ’04 and Caleb Wendel ’07 learned how to craft a detailed business plan and meticulously estimate a new enterprise’s growth.
Werner Vogt '66
Werner R. Vogt, a native of Germany, was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He earned a BS in Physics from Michigan Technological University in 1966, and then studied business at the University of Michigan. His first position was with Union Carbide, and by 1971 he was promoted to Plant Manager of the Consumer Product Division in Geneva, Switzerland. While working for Union Carbide, Werner traveled worldwide to build plants for Union Carbide’s battery and plastics operations in such countries as Germany, Philippines, Singapore, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Greece. He speaks four languages: English, French, German, and Greek. In 1980, he became the General Manager of Speceram SA for the development and production of high-purity aluminum oxide ceramics.
Dr. James Voogt '66
Dr. James Voogt received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Tech in 1966. He earned a Master's degree in 1968 and a Ph.D. in 1970 from Michigan State in Physiology.
James G. Vorhes '47
Jim Vorhes earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1947 and immediately began a 39 year career with General Motors. Following a series of sales and service assignments in the Pontiac field organization, he served as a zone manager in a number of locations.
He became assistant general sales manager of western area field operations in 1970 and was named general sales manager of the Pontiac Division in 1973. He held that post until he was appointed GM's vice president of consumer relations and service staff in 1977. In 1984, all consumer relations, service, sales, and dealer-related activities were combined . . .