Alumni

Russell Gronevelt’s commitment to Michigan Tech runs long and deep. His service to Tech began as a civil engineering undergraduate, when he was active in the Sigma Rho fraternity and the intra-fraternity council and service on the Student Judiciary. Once settled into his career, he served two terms on the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Professional Advisory Committee, and the Executive Committee for the CEE Department's “Educating Graduates of Choice” Campaign. His leadership skills are also reflected by his twelve . . .

Brenda O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1984.  She continued her education while advancing in her career and will earn a master’s degree in Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University in May 2008. Not your typical student, Brenda was a single parent with two small children when she earned her degree.  Although unable to join clubs or to participate in extracurricular activities, Brenda was able to balance the responsibility of raising a family with the . . .

John Marshall graduated from Michigan Tech in 1968 with a degree in civil engineering. He joined Kennecott Copper after graduation, working as a pit operations engineer in Salt Lake City until 1973, when he took a similar position with Cleveland-Cliffs.Over 30 years, Marshall held several management assignments with Cleveland-Cliffs and the company's operations in and around Ishpeming, Michigan. He held management positions at the Republic Mine, spent eight years as senior staff engineer in the corporate office in Cleveland, transferred . . .

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 . . .

John Marshall graduated from Michigan Tech in 1968 with a degree in civil engineering. He joined Kennecott Copper after graduation, working as a pit operations engineer in Salt Lake City until 1973, when he took a similar position with Cleveland-Cliffs.Over 30 years, Marshall held several management assignments with Cleveland-Cliffs and the company's operations in and around Ishpeming, Michigan. He held management positions at the Republic Mine, spent eight years as senior staff engineer in the corporate office in Cleveland, transferred . . .

Mr. James L. Krause, received a baccalaureate in civil engineering from Michigan Tech in 1951, retried as President of Kramp Construction Company, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after 40 years with the company. Kramp, Inc., specializes in highway and expressway construction. He served as the President of the Concrete Paving Organization and Secretary of the Wisconsin Roadbuilders Association. A long-time supporter of Michigan Tech, Mr. Krause was a member of the President's Club and the Executive Council of the "Partnering with . . .

Dr. Edward S. Neumann, a 1964 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Tech, is the Chairman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. After graduation, Edward received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University. He served as a captain with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Waterways Experiment Station and then joined the faculty at West Virginia University where he rose to the rank of full professor . . .

William Bier, originally from Ironwood, Michigan, served for two years in the US Navy before attending Michigan Tech. He completed his baccalaureate degree in civil engineering in 1950. Following graduation he joined Dunn Construction Engineering, Inc. as a field engineer and over the course of his career rose to the level of CEO. After retiring in 1991, Mr. Bier formed his own consulting firm, WB Engineering. Mr. Bier has been active in a number of professional organizations including: the American . . .

Dr. Thomas J. Rentenbach, a 1932 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Tech, was Chairman of the Board of Rentenbach Engineering Company. After graduation, Thomas entered the Army Corps of Engineers. He worked with the Corps until 1946, in the United States and on the Panama Canal. In 1946, he founded Rentenbach Engineering Company and served as General Manager until 1956, as President from 1956 to 1971, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1971 to 1982, and thereafter, Chairman of . . .

Dr. Roger W. Liska, a 1965 civil engineering graduate of Michigan Tech, is Associate Dean and Professor of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University. After leaving Tech, Dr. Liska held various engineering positions in the Detroit area and received a masters degree in civil engineering from Wayne State University in 1967. Since 1972 he has held various faculty and administrative positions in the area of construction/engineering education at the College of DuPage, Auburn University, University of . . .