March 4, 2005
Purdue to connect with LaPorte County in community visit
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University leaders, who are traveling the state to meet and learn from its citizens, will be in LaPorte County on March 17 to visit businesses and community members.
|
Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and other university officials will visit Dage-MTI Inc., Sullair Corp., American Renolit Corp. and Boss Industries Inc., as well as other locations. Jischke also will speak about economic development at a Michigan City Rotary Club luncheon and a regional economic development leadership meeting.
Victor L. Lechtenberg, Purdue's vice provost for engagement, said he and Jischke welcome the opportunity to collaborate with business and community leaders.
"By offering our resources, Purdue can stimulate economic development, enhance education and expand community service," Lechtenberg said. "To accomplish these goals, we need to exchange ideas with as many people throughout Indiana as we can. That's why these visits are invaluable."
This is the fifth year Jischke and university leaders have conducted daylong visits to Indiana communities. More than 50 previous stops have ranged from Gary to Jasper and from South Bend to New Albany. Future visits are planned for Kokomo and Elkhart.
Several activities are scheduled for the LaPorte County visit:
• 9 a.m. – Tour Dage-MTI Inc., 701 Roeske Ave., Michigan City. Dage-MTI Inc. designs and manufactures scientific video cameras, monitors and signal processors. Its high-tech products are sold throughout the world. The company has worked with Purdue's Technical Assistance program, which connects companies with Purdue resources and assists them in implementing state-of-the art technologies.
• 10 a.m. – Tour Sullair Corp., 3700 E. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City. Established in 1965, Sullair Corp. produces rotary screw air compressors, compressed air contamination-removal equipment, vacuum systems and contractors' air tools. The company is a division of Hamilton Sundstrand, which is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Sullair Corp. has subsidiaries in France, China and Australia.
• Noon – Lunch with the Michigan City Rotary Club at the Michigan City Yacht Club, Washington Park. Jischke will address the club on economic development initiatives and answer questions.
• 1:30 p.m. – Tour American Renolit Corp., 1207 E. Lincolnway, LaPorte. American Renolit manufactures a variety of vinyl, polypropylene and other film products for decorative surfaces. Its film also is purchased by printers, signage producers and other retailers that produce products such as mugs and T-shirts.
• 2:30 p.m. – Tour Boss Industries Inc., 1761 Genesis Drive, LaPorte. Established in 1988, Boss Industries produces a rotary screw compressor system for utility and municipality markets. Co-owner Paul Wilkins graduated from Purdue.
• 4:30 p.m. – Attend the regional economic development leadership meeting at the Eagle's Nest at Portofino's Restaurant at the Briar Leaf Golf Club, 3233 N. State Road 39. Jischke will provide an update on various Purdue initiatives and economic development projects.
Jischke, who came to Purdue in August 2000, is the university's 10th president. He previously served for nine years as president of Iowa State University, another land-grant institution. His experience in higher education also includes 17 years as professor and dean at the University of Oklahoma and five years at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Jischke was the founding president of the Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture. He served as chairman and board member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and as a board member of the American Council on Education, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities. He is on the boards of directors of the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Competitiveness.
After receiving his doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968, Jischke joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. During his 17 years at Oklahoma, he served in multiple capacities. He became director of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in 1977. He served as dean of the College of Engineering from 1981 to 1986, and he was named the university's interim president in 1985.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: Jeffrey Jones, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management at Purdue North Central, (219) 785-5281, Jjones@pnc.edu
Victor L. Lechtenberg, (765) 494-9095, vll@purdue.edu
David Petritz, Cooperative Extension Service director, (765) 494-8489, dpetritz@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Media can attend the luncheon and the economic development leadership meeting. To make arrangements, contact Jeffrey Jones at (219) 785-5281, Jjones@pnc.edu.
Related Web site:
Purdue University Office of Engagement
To the News Service home page