seal  Purdue News
____

GRADUATION TIP

April 28, 2004

Note to Journalists: A publication-quality photo is available at https://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/madden-martin.jpg

Purdue MBA grad takes road less traveled – to factory floor

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – When Martin A. Madden picks up his MBA degree from Purdue's Krannert School of Management, he won't be settling into a posh London investment bank office. He turned that job offer down.

Instead, he'll settle in Elkhart, Ind., and commute to his new job on the American Axle & Manufacturing plant floor in Three Rivers, Mich., where he will help launch the axle for the new H3 Hummer, due out next spring.

"As corny as it sounds, I believe in America." Madden said. "I believe in Indiana. I believe in our citizens. I believe in manufacturing. We just need to stop our hand wringing and do something about it. I'm jumping in feet first."

Madden, an Indianapolis native, is a straight-A MBA student who came to the Krannert School with a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance and international business from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Madden also brought his CPA and Chartered Financial Analyst certifications and four years' experience with Big 5 accounting and consulting firm Deloitte and Touche LLP in Chicago.

"A lot of my previous experience is in finance and consulting, which is a great profession," he said. "However, my heart is in building and creating things, which is why my focus at Purdue was manufacturing technology management and strategy.

"American Axle was excited by my enthusiasm and my Purdue work at the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, despite my lack of an engineering background. They are looking for people 'to make it happen.' Nowhere is that more necessary today than in manufacturing."

While earning his MBA, Madden has served as the graduate assistant for Krannert School Dean Richard A. Cosier, who is heading up Purdue's initiatives in entrepreneurism with Don Blewett. Cosier is director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship at Purdue's Discovery Park, and Blewett is associate director.

The co-founder, CEO and chairman of the board of American Axle & Manufacturing, based in Detroit, Mich., is Purdue alumnus Richard E. Dauch. Madden had an internship at American Axle last summer.

"A summer on the factory floor with the hourly associates sealed the deal for me," Madden said. "I've traded in my tassel loafers for work boots for a long time to come."

Writer: Mike Lillich, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu

Sources: Martin Madden, (765) 574-315-8858, mamadden@mgmt.purdue.edu

Richard A. Cosier, (765) 494-4366, rcosier@mgmt.purdue.edu

Don Blewett, (765) 494-4485, blewett@mgmt.purdue.edu

PHOTO CAPTION:

Martin A. Madden, a freshly minted Purdue MBA, relaxes in Rawls Hall, the Krannert School of Management's new facility. Madden, who had both education and experience in finance, decided to study manufacturing management and strategy. He turned down a job at a London investment bank to go to work on the factory floor at American Axle & Manufacturing in Three Rivers, Mich. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/madden-martin.jpg