Resources for Alumni

Jim Anttonen ’65 became a pioneer in environmentally sustainable construction long before the term “sustainable” became a household word. In 1985, Anttonen launched ARS Denver Inc. with his partner, Kim Haarberg. The Colorado-based corporation has grown to become one of the top firms in the country specializing in soil stabilization and asphalt reclamation. Using methods that are friendly to the environment, including the grinding and repurposing of existing asphalt, ARS Denver prepares roadways and other thoroughfares to be paved. “We . . .

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. The firm has operations in Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America. Benaglio has worked in Hong Kong and Singapore, and he is currently living in Dusseldorf, Germany, where the firm is headquartered. In his sojurns . . .

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.” In the Kimberly-Clark tax department, Bernard found a surprisingly active professional environment. “Contrary to popular . . .

Dave Chaudier ’93 has a four-part approach to work: “Don’t fear failure, don’t let anything surprise you, learn from your mistakes, and don’t put up with anyone’s negativity.” As the vice president of operations at St. Luke’s Medical Center, the largest hospital in Wisconsin’s Aurora Healthcare system, Chaudier applies this pragmatic philosophy to leading the cardiac, surgical, and radiology services lines, and hospital support departments including central services. He is responsible for more than one thousand caregivers, over $200 million . . .

Marilyn Clark received a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Michigan Tech in 1973 and a master's degree in Business in 1976.Clark first worked as a Computer Programmer with A. C. Spark Plug, now Delphi, in Flint, Michigan. After receiving her masters, Clark joined Cummins Engine Company in Jamestown, New York. She became one of the first women shop floor supervisors. At that time, Cummins was developing quality of work life systems and this philosophy matched Clark's skills. She advanced quickly . . .

Marie Cleveland ’82 loves her job. As a worldwide corporate account manager for Federal Express, she handles six major accounts and is responsible for bringing in $50 million in sales each year. “We believe in helping clients in any way we can,” she says, “which often involves finding innovative solutions to improve their bottom lines.” This freedom to think and act outside the box is one of Cleveland’s favorite aspects of the position. Though initially skeptical about working in sales, . . .

Hold on Tight to Your DreamsJohn Drake did that for the duration of his career - what he calls a "forty-four-year run." The ensuing success has put him and his wife, Cathi, in the position of being philanthropists.Through their estate, they have provided for the John and Cathi Drake Endowed Professorship in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech. Drake says they are not waiting for it to take effect when they die - "which I'm hoping is a long time off." . . .

Robert Freimuth has traveled far in a distinguished career with wide-ranging responsibilities in the automotive industry. He has spent his entire career with General Motors Corp. A native of Laurium, he joined GM in 1977 in the Central Foundry Division, where he went on to serve as director of labor relations, general supervisor, program manager for electrical vehicles, and account representative. He was superintendent/industrial engineer at the Saginaw Malleable Iron Plant. He has worked in GM’s power train division as . . .

Life is good for alumnus J.B. Hoyt. He feels gifted to be able to enjoy both professional and personal pursuits. He is an executive at Whirlpool Corp. in St. Joseph, Michigan; away from work, his passions are boating and photography. “I've always been a work-hard, play-hard kind of guy,” he says. “You’ve got to have that balance.”  Hoyt was raised in Grand Blanc, Michigan. His father, who ran a small business for 38 years, was the biggest influence in his . . .

Tom Irwin: Wisdom, Wealth, and Work Tom Irwin, soft-spoken and thoughtful, has “taken a leave of absence” from income-producing activities and redirected his energy to such pursuits as fly-fishing in the West, golf in the South, and travel around the world—when not tending to his volunteer duties on various boards and committees. The outdoor pursuits are not surprising because Irwin, who was from Detroit, came to Michigan Tech in part because of its proximity to the Porcupine Mountains. “We hunted . . .

Dan graduated in 1970 with a BS degree in forestry and continued his education by earning a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan Tech. While a student at Tech he was active in Xi Sigma Pi, Blue Key, Air Force ROTC and he played football for MTU. As an undergraduate, he had the unique opportunity as senior class vice-president to serve as the “token student representative” on faculty senate where he was privy to the way in which university . . .

Mark Malekoff is a young man who aspires to a life of both success and service.A native of Grand Prairie, a town of 55,000 residents in Northwestern Alberta, Canada, Malekoff came to Tech to play hockey; he says that he left a winner in all ways. He graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, with a concentration in finance. "I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship," he says. He has also started his own company, TriTech . . .

Kristina (Sobczynski) Marshall ’98 began her education at Michigan Tech with an interest in environmental engineering and landed a student co-op job at General Motors. One evening while driving home from the GM plant in Ypsilanti, Marshall realized that she needed to turn her life in a completely different direction. “It hit me that my purpose was to make my life about helping kids,” said Marshall, who lives in Shelby Township with her husband, Duane Marshall, also a School of . . .

When Ed Robinson was growing up in Chicago, he loved to gaze at the El trains, the streetcars, and the many railroad trains - all of which he encountered on his way to school. The good nuns routinely admonished him for being late to class. "I couldn't help it," he recalls. "I loved to watch."It's a natural, then, that Robinson became a leader in the transportation industry. "I'm still fascinated today by moving goods and people efficiently."After graduating from Tech . . .

In his career as a venture capitalist, John Rockwell ’79 frequently draws on the knowledge he gained in his courses at the School of Business and Economics. He said that he picked up one of his most valuable business skills not in the classroom but on the ice. “I came to Michigan Tech on a hockey scholarship,” said Rockwell, who lives in Silicon Valley. “I was one of twenty-six guys on a team. We all made contributions, and when we . . .

Ross E. Roeder says his years at Michigan Tech gave him "an edge" in graduate school and in his career.Roeder studied at Tech from 1958-60 before transferring to Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. After serving in the US Army, he earned an MBA at UCLA.Roeder is chairman of the board of Smart & Final, Inc., a warehouse chain that serves caterers as well as small businesses and restaurants. The firm operates in the . . .

Alums Team up to Engineer a Better Beer Chas Thompson '91, computer science, had a good reason for becoming a brewer."I was thirsty," he says, pouring beers from the Schmohz Brewery counter at the recent Grand Rapids alumni tailgate party.Jim Schwerin '87, owner and brewer at Schmohz (pronounced shmoes), had a similar reason."I couldn’t find a beer I liked," he says.So, he bought an old building near the airport in Grand Rapids and extended his love of homemade beer into . . .

Restoring the Past and Supporting Tech’s FutureRonald Staley, who earned an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1980, has high praise for Michigan Tech. “I learned how to study hard,” he recalls, “and I remember working hard. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Michigan Tech.” With his dual degree, he says that he was able to understand building construction and such critical business principles as overhead, return on . . .

Fresh out of Tech, Joel Tacey '01 was not enthused by his first marketing or sales rep option. So, he gave himself an ultimatum."I told myself, if I could make the same kind of living by doing magic as my friends did in traditional jobs, I would stick it out," he says. "It's been the best decision of my life."Now, through Tiptop Entertainment, his family-brand of magic ("card games and visual stuff") has vaulted him to performing at Red Wings . . .

After graduating from Michigan Tech in 1980, Jan Tervonen joined the Eastman Kodak Company as a Programmer/ Analyst. In 1986 she left Kodak and took several years off to raise her children – two of those years were spent in Paris. She returned to the work force initially as a consultant, and then in 1993 accepted a position with Mammography Reporting System, Inc. (MRS) as a Senior Programmer/Analyst. MRS is the leading provider of mammography information systems in the US. . . .

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. As owners of The Bike Shop in Houghton, Vizanko and Wendel are discovering the thrills and challenges of running a flourishing business that has quickly exceeded their on-paper projections. “Our first year has been phenomenal,” said Wendel. “And this year has been even busier than last year.” Vizanko . . .

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. As owners of The Bike Shop in Houghton, Vizanko and Wendel are discovering the thrills and challenges of running a flourishing business that has quickly exceeded their on-paper projections. “Our first year has been phenomenal,” said Wendel. “And this year has been even busier than last year.” Vizanko . . .