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| * 2009 Distinguished Technology Alumni |
April 16, 2009
College of Technology honors distinguished alumni
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's College of Technology will honor eight of its graduates as Distinguished Technology Alumni on Friday (April 17) during a ceremony at the Purdue Airport.John J. Benish, David R. Bozell, John H. Dickey, Daniel E. Dimond, Ken Harness, Edwina Fuller Lenz, Donald W. Malackowski and Anthony Michael Najem are being honored for their professional and personal success across the spectrum of technology fields.
"This outstanding group of College of Technology alumni has made significant contributions in a wide variety of fields and industries," said Dean Dennis R. Depew. "They serve as tremendous examples of the varied career paths that our college prepares its students for when they leave Purdue."
Distinguished alumni award recipients are:
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* John J. Benish of Hinsdale, Ill. Benish earned a bachelor's degree in industrial technology in 1959. He spent 38 years with the Illinois School Bus Co. in Oak Forest, Ill., eventually purchasing the business, which he expanded and renamed Cook-Illinois Corp. He serves as president of the company, which operates 1,850 school buses that service more than 200 school districts. In addition, Benish served two years as president of the Metropolitan Transportation Association, a group of private transit operators in the Chicago area. In 1994 he and his wife, Ellen, purchased a winery and vineyard in California that they named Benessere Vineyards. He has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Purdue President's Council and Indiana's highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash.
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* David R. Bozell of Lafayette, Ind. Bozell earned bachelor's and master's degrees in computer graphics technology in 1996 and 1999, respectively. He is the founder and president of CG Visions Inc., a Lafayette-based building construction consulting firm. The business has been recognized three times by ConstrucTech magazine: in 2007 as a company to watch and in 2008 as a technology enabler and one of the 10 hottest companies. Bozell is a member of the National Association of Home Builders and the Builders Association of Greater Lafayette. He also has taught architectural graphics courses in the College of Technology and is a supporter of the computer graphics programs and Habitat for Humanity.
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* John H. Dickey of Batesville, Ind. Dickey earned an associate degree in organizational leadership and supervision in 1992. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Southern Wesleyan University in 1994 and a master's degree from Webster University in 1998. He has worked with Hillenbrand Industries and its subsidiaries, Batesville Casket Co. and Hill-Rom Holdings Inc., where he is senior vice president of human resources. Dickey began taking classes in organizational leadership at the College of Technology at Columbus nearly halfway through his career. He was honored by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as Human Resources Professional of the Year in 2007 and also is active with the Chamber, the Batesville Area Community Education Foundation and the Batesville Area Historical Society.
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* Daniel E. Dimond of Indianapolis. Dimond earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology in 1982. He worked in various positions with R.E. Dimond and Associates Inc. before purchasing the company from his father in 1996. He now serves as president and owner of the consulting and engineering firm that specializes in the design of smarter buildings. Dimond has helped the company grow to 24 employees, including seven College of Technology alumni.
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* Ken Harness of Albuquerque, N.M. Harness earned a bachelor's degree in aviation technology in 1989 and an MBA from Oakland University in 1999. He is the chief operating officer of Diamond Aircraft Industries. Previously, he spent seven years in the U.S. Army and six years in aircraft engine product development and management. Harness was director of propulsion systems for Eclipse Aviation and was a co-inventor on three patents related to the development of the world's first commercially viable halo replacement system. As Eclipse's vice president of engineering, he managed the development and certification of the first very light jet, a project that earned him the 2005 National Aeronautical Association Collier Trophy for "greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America." In addition, he is a member of the board of directors for the Albuquerque Youth Symphony.
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* Edwina Fuller Lenz of Fort Wayne, Ind. Lenz earned a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology in 1986. She is worldwide vice president for program management for Project Crossroads at Johnson & Johnson. She began her 10-year career with the company as director of information management for DePuy and director of supply-chain strategy for Johnson & Johnson's global supply-chain organization. In her current position, she is responsible for overall strategic and operational management of the surgical care and comprehensive groups' global SAP deployment projects. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Lenz spent 12 years with Kellogg Co. She also spent two years on the Peoplesoft International customer advisory board, including a year as president.
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* Donald W. Malackowski of Kalamazoo, Mich. Malackowski earned a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering technology in 1988. He is vice president of advanced technology development for Stryker Instruments, where he leads a team responsible for developing technology platforms for integration into the company's various medical products. Stryker has honored him for times with its Shaping the Future Award. Malackowski has been granted 15 patents and has 22 pending with the U.S. Patent Office. Before joining Stryker, he was vice president for engineering at UTEC and a development engineer at Radian Research. He returns to the Purdue campus annually to present the Stryker Award for an outstanding senior design project in electrical and computer engineering technology.
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* Anthony Michael Najem of Fishers, Ind. Najem earned a bachelor's degree in building construction management in 1981. He is CEO of Meyer Najem Corp., a health-care construction firm. He is responsible for the company's strategic plan and approval of the annual operating budget. His company's projects have been recognized with the Award of Excellence from Associated Builders and Contractors for the last 22 years. In addition, the Fishers Chamber of Commerce has twice named the company its Business of the Year, and, in 2005, the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored Meyer Najem with the Outstanding Small Business Philanthropist Award. Before starting his own business, he worked for Houston Lights and Power, and Power Systems Engineering.
Writer: Kim Medaris, 765-494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: Dennis R. Depew, 765-494-2552, ddepew@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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