Houghton’s Homebrew Headquarters now a Makerspace, too
Ryan Gray (business) and his wife Katie (geology), both 2007 Michigan Tech graduates, picked up the hobby of homebrewing shortly after graduation. By 2012, that hobby grew into a start-up, as Electric Brewing Supply (EBS) was founded by the pair. Originally based in Houston, Texas, in 2015 the Grays headed back home to Houghton to be near family and set up shop in the former Einerlei gift store, an iconic spot in the center of mainstreet Chassell. EBS has become an industry leader in temperature control panel solutions for the craft beverages industry, from a small brewery in one’s garage to commercial outfits like the Keweenaw Brewing Company.
This year, the Grays made use of their extra renovated space, launching a new vision: a “maker’s co-working” space. OfficeByEBS offers high-speed fiber internet, VoIP/PBX phone services, and reliable printing. In addition, the space is equipped with a powerful laser engraver, a full wood shop, and a CNC plasma table. A tinkerer himself, Ryan says he’ll be nearby to offer support with any of the equipment, and he invites fellow alumni and students to stop by.
Alumna Works with GE Aviation, NASA
Christine Andrews ‘06 ‘12 (mechanical engineering, Tech MBA®) was featured on GE Aviation’s blog. Andrews is a leader in a cooperative project between GE Aviation and NASA to develop a technology demonstration of a hybrid electric engine for commercial aircraft. It’s important to make yourself vulnerable and then achieve your goal, and then do it over and over again,” says Andrews, who is advancing state-of-the art technology for NASA through her work as GE’s hybrid electric systems leader. Read the full story: tinyurl.com/christine-andrews
Alumnus Longest Serving CA Mayor
Then COB alumnus David Smith ‘67 retired as mayor of the City of Newark, California, back in 2011, having served 16 terms totaling almost 34 years, he set the current record for longest-serving mayor of a major city in the state of California. At the time of his retirement, he was the second-longest active serving mayor in the nation. In honor of his tenure, in spring 2022, the newly constructed city hall building was named the David W. Smith City Hall.
A Michigan native, Smith grew up in humble circumstances and went on to attend Tech prior to launching a career in plastics as an industrial engineer, which brought him to California. In the Golden State, Smith grew focused on lending his leadership skills through community service. In 1976, he was first elected to the Newark City Council, and was elected to the office of mayor two years later, serving in that position until 2011. Today, Smith is mayor emeritus.
In addition to his mayoral duties, he held a full-time position as executive director of the Ohlone College Foundation. Smith credits building and having trust between colleagues as a critical element to his professional success and longevity
Attention High School Administrators and Business Teachers
Twice each year, the College of Business offers the Husky Investment Tournament, a stock market investment competition for high schoolers from across the nation to trade virtually using a real-time simulator. The winning team earns a $1,000 cash prize, and all participating students receive a scholarship to attend Michigan Tech.
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3-4students per team
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$1Min virtual US dollars to invest
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$1Kto the winning team plus MTU scholarships
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
