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February 26, 2002

Purdue recognizes outstanding industrial engineering alumni

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Industrial Engineering honored four alumni with Outstanding Industrial Engineers Awards on Friday (2/22).

The awards were presented during a banquet in the Purdue Memorial Union's South Ballroom. The banquet ended a day of events that included receptions, tours and presentations.

This year's honorees were:

• Tamara M. Christen, who earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering in 1983. Christen, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a former senior vice president of marketing for Kellstrom Industries in Miramar, Fla., and also had been a vice president for Raytheon Aircraft Co., where she was responsible for the sales of "special mission" aircraft to governments and agencies worldwide.

• C. Dennis Pegden, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in aeronautics and astronautics in 1971 and 1973, respectively, and a doctoral degree in industrial engineering in 1975. Pegden, of Sewickley, Pa., is director of development for Rockwell Software Group. He had been CEO of Systems Modeling until its acquisition by Rockwell Software in April 2000.

• Patricia K. Poppe, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering in 1989 and 1991, respectively. Poppe, of Lordstown, Ohio, is general assembly manager for General Motors in Lordstown, where she is responsible for 2,500 hourly employees and 100 salaried production, maintenance and engineering employees on three shifts. She traveled around the world with a small group of fellow GM employees to learn about lean manufacturing and then applied the knowledge to a start-up venture for General Motors in Baroda, India.

• Gregory Schriefer, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering in 1974 and 1980, respectively. Schriefer, of Lake Zurich, Ill., is senior vice president for the Wire and Cable Division of Anixter Inc., a large distributor of data communications products and electrical wire and cable. He formerly was president of the Industrial Group of Superior Telecom, the fifth largest wire and cable manufacturer in the world.

Writer: Emil Venere, (765) 494-4709, venere@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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