April 18, 2005

College of Technology names distinguished alumni

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's College of Technology named 10 graduates on Friday (April 15) as distinguished alumni.

Jack Calhoun, James B. Clary, John Derucki, Daniel S. DeYoung, John M. Duff, Robert E. Lawson, Steven P. Lyman, Matthew A. McKillip, Christopher L. Swan and Rick Vanderwielen were honored for their professional success across the spectrum of technology fields.

"These 10 alumni represent many of the strengths of the College of Technology," said Dean Dennis R. Depew. "Not only have they advanced to the tops of their respective fields, but they also demonstrate the wide range of career possibilities the college prepares its students for."

• Jack Calhoun received a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership and supervision from Purdue in 1987 and a master's degree from Harvard University in 1992. A Lafayette, Ind., native, he currently works as executive vice president of marketing for Banana Republic, a division of Gap, Inc. Calhoun has been named one of the top 50 marketing professionals in America by Advertising Age magazine and has given guest lectures at universities including Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley.

• James B. Clary is the president of Modern Graphics Inc., a design and printing company in Peru, Ind. Before working in the printing industry, Clary worked as a teacher for seven years for Kokomo Center Township Schools. He earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue in industrial technology in 1972 and also holds a master's degree from Ball State University.

• As vice president of operations of Winter Construction Company in Atlanta, John S. Derucki oversees the commercial business-unit operations for retail, hospitality and health-care construction. He earned a bachelor's degree in building construction management technology from Purdue and a master's degree from the Keller Graduate School of Management in 1983 and 1989, respectively.

• Daniel S. DeYoung, a Westfield, Ind., resident, earned a bachelor's degree in computer integrated manufacturing technology from Purdue in 1990. He serves as senior system solutions manager of Rockwell Automation. Prior to working with Rockwell Automation, DeYoung held many engineering positions with Allen-Bradley Co.

• Jon M. Duff earned associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees in computer graphics technology from Purdue in 1969, 1971 and 1973, respectively, as well as a doctoral degree from Ohio State University in 1977. In addition to serving as a professor of graphic information technology at Arizona State University, in Tempe, Ariz., Duff has is set to publish his second detective novel under the pen name Raul Roque.

• Robert E. Lawson earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue's Department of Industrial Technology in 1966 and a master's degree from the College of Technology's graduate program. He currently is general manager and vice president of Remy, Inc., in Anderson, Ind. Lawson serves on the advisory boards for the Department of Industrial Technology, the College of Technology's Anderson/Muncie location and Purdue's Technical Assistance Program.

• Steven P. Lyman, of Canton, Mich., works as the lead vehicle dynamics and chassis specialist for all high-performance vehicles at DaimlerChrysler. In addition to several publications related to the field, he has also been part of teams that have received four patents. He graduated from Purdue in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology.

• Matthew A. McKillip earned an associate's and bachelor's degree from Purdue's Department of Computer Technology in 1985. After working for more than 10 years in the management systems group at Proctor & Gamble, he started Momentum, a Kokomo, Ind.-based information-technology consulting firm. He currently is the mayor of Kokomo.

• Christopher A Swan, of Martinez, Ga., earned associate's degree and bachelor's degrees in aviation technology at Purdue in 1979 and 1981, respectively. The Lakeville, Ind., native began working as vice president for Garrett Aviation Services in 2004. Prior to that, Swan worked for almost 20 years for General Electric Co. and served in the United States Air Force for two years.

• Rick Vanerwielen, of a native of Cicero, Ind., earned a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering technology. A Noblesville, Ind,, resident, he has started five Hamilton County companies and most recently founded HomeTown Television Corp., Channel 19. Vanderwielen's honors have included being named one of the 100 most influential business leaders in Indiana and Noblesville's person of the year.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Sources: Shelly Opperman, College of Technology director of alumni relations and communication, (765) 494-0887, lopperman@purdue.edu

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

Note to Journalists: More information about and publication-quality photographs of honorees are available online.

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