Phillips Plastics co-founder Cervenka honored in U.S. House speech

Posted on May 20, 2013 by meiller

On May 14, 2013, Congressman Sean P. Duffy of Wisconsin delivered a short talk before the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize alum Robert Cervenka (BSME ’58). Cervenka co-founded Phillips Plastics in 1964 and was its chairman and CEO until he and his wife, Debbie (the company executive vice president and a member of the board of directors), sold it in 2010.

Bob Cervenka recently earned a lifetime achievement award from the Price County (Wisconsin) Economic Development Association.

Following is a transcript of Duffy’s U.S. House speech:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the business accomplishments of Robert F. Cervenka of Phillips, Wisconsin, who has been presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Price County Economic Development Association.

Bob Cervenka was born and raised in the small town of Phillips, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After his graduation in 1958, Bob returned to the community that he loved to pursue his new business venture–the Phillips Plastics Corporation.

Phillips Plastics began operations on October 20, 1964, occupying an old creamery building in Phillips. In 1967, the company broke ground on a new 12,000 square foot custom plastic facility where they employed 30 skilled workers dedicated to crafting innovative control knobs for automobiles, dishwashers, fans, dehumidifiers, and dryers. In 1973, Phillips Plastics opened Precision Decorating in Medford, Wisconsin.

Shortly thereafter, the facility became known as Phillips Automotive, a full service design, manufacture, decoration, and assembly plant for high volume injection molded components. As industries from the Midwest moved to the south and offshore, Bob recognized that Wisconsin’s rural, small community workforce offered a unique competitive advantage. He developed additional plants in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, New Richmond, Hudson, and Prescott among others.

Capitalizing on the company’s success, Mr. Cervenka and co-founder Louie Vokurka established the independent philanthropic Ann Marie Foundation in 1974. Named after their mothers, the foundation worked to improve the quality of life within local communities that are home to Phillips Plastics facilities. Since its inception, the foundation has given over $8 million to schools and non-profit organizations.

Thanks to the business contributions of outstanding citizens like Robert F. Cervenka, Wisconsin’s economic future looks bright. I ask that my colleagues join me today to express our appreciation for Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit and our congratulations to him on receiving this well-deserved award.”

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Advanced manufacturing focus of June 10-14 conference

Posted on May 8, 2013 by meiller

Featuring a broad swath of leading-edge research from around the world, an advanced manufacturing research conference June 10-14, 2013, will draw nearly 500 academic, industrial and governmental participants to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.

Hosted by UW-Madison, the event couples the 41st North American Manufacturing Research Conference, sponsored by the North American Manufacturing Research Institute within the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the 2013 Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, sponsored by ASME International.

“If you want ideas about things you might be able to implement or use in three to five years, this is a great place,” says Frank Pfefferkorn, a UW-Madison associate professor of mechanical engineering who is among the event organizers. “If you want to talk with the engineers developing these new ideas, then you definitely want to be at this conference.”

For more information, continue reading here. To register for the conference or workshops,  go to go.wisc.edu/namrc. Early registration for the conference ends May 10.

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Nuclear Arms Expert and Negotiator George Bunn Dies

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Jim Beal

George Bunn

Former UW-Madison Law School Dean and nuclear arms expert and negotiator George Bunn (BSEE, ’46) died of spinal cancer in Palo Alto, Calif., April 21.
He served at the UW Law School from 1969 to 1986 and was dean from 1972 to 1975.
Read more…

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Detecting Explosives: Schuff Seeks Funds to Finish Invention

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Jim Beal

Apollo 17 Astronaut, U.S. Senator, and Geologist Dr. Harrison "Jack" Schmitt presents a poster commemorating the Apollo 17 mission to Craig Schuff.

It’s been nearly two years since that fateful evening in May 2011 when Craig Schuff (then 25), a former competitive swimmer, dove into Lake Monona in Wisconsin and severely damaged his spinal cord.

Craig, now a quadriplegic, spent an entire year hospitalized at the University of Wisconsin hospital, but that did not impede his educational pursuits. Last November, Craig passed the oral exam for his master’s degree in nuclear engineering. He now is trying to finish experimental work for his Ph.D. and raise funds to complete an invention that can detect explosives.
To contribute to the fund, visit: http://www.gofundme.com/1f7jlk
Read more…

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Johanek Pursues Entrepreneurial Dreams

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jim Beal

Scott Johanek with his prize-winning invention, NoVo

Mechanical engineering alumnus Scott Johanek (BSME, ’12) won the Tong Prototype Prize in 2012 for his luggage system designed with pivoting wheels. The wheels kept the bag from falling over while in travel. The idea place second in the Schoofs’ Prize for Creativity.
Now, he is pursing a new venture; messenger bags with removable flaps that hold customized messages. He hopes to build his business and create jobs in Shawano County. Read more… 

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Zinkle Named Fellow of Materials Research Society

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jim Beal

Steven Zinkle

Senior materials researcher and Corporate Fellow Steven Zinkle of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been named a 2013 Fellow of the Materials Research Society (MRS).

Zinkle was awarded the UW-Madison College of Engineering Distinguished Achievement Award in 2010. He earned his BS, MS and PhD in nuclear engineering from UW-Madison in 1980, ’82 and ’85.

Acknowledged for his “pioneering contributions to the understanding of radiation effects in materials and for advancing the scientific basis of performance limits for structural materials in advanced nuclear energy systems,” Zinkle will be formally recognized during the spring MRS meeting in April. Read more…

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Rohrig Asks Badgers to Click Him into Space

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Jim Beal

Jake Rohrig

Jake Rohrig (BSEMA, ’12) has long dreamed of being an astronaut. He knew it was a tough job to get so he studied hard, earned a degree and took a job as a mechanical engineer with UTC Aerospace Systems in Rockford, Illinois. His work designing generators for aircraft keeps him close to all things aerospace and connected to his dream.

Ironically, UTC won’t be sending Rohrig to space anytime soon, but AXE Apollo deodorant body spray just might.

Linx Mark llIn mid February, AXE launched a contest whereby the two people who collect the most votes by midnight, April 27 will win a trip to AXE Space Camp in Orlando, Florida. The winner will be trained and sent to an altitude of 103 km on a premier flight by Space Expedition Corporation. It’s a chance of a lifetime and a trip easily worth $100,000.

Currently, an Internet celebrity who pulls pranks on his girlfriend is in the lead with more than 50,000 votes. Frankly, this breaks Rohrig’s heart.

“Everyone in this contest, in the top five, are all pretty much Internet celebrities. So for me to be competitive with them at all is kind of amazing to begin with,” Rohrig says. “But I hope to show, that through hard work, dedication and the network of a great alma mater, pretty much anything is possible.”

This, hopefully, is where readers of this blog and friends of Badgers everywhere come in. Supporters of Rohrig can vote here

Currently, he moves in and out of the top ten with about 1,400 votes. Rohrig hopes fellow badgers will use their twitter feeds and social media accounts to vote and spread the word.

Already, through a friend of a friend, Rohrig connected with fellow Badger Logan Cascia, a videographer who created the viral video titled “Teach Me How to Bucky.” The two produced the following promotional video, titled “Badasstronaut.”

So now, it is up to you. Will this hard working Badger engineer get his few minutes in space, or will the prize go to someone who famously tricked his girlfriend into eating a spoonful of cinnamon?

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Nondorf Finds Success at Oshkosh Corp.

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Jim Beal

Jill Nondorf

Jill Nondorf (BSMSE, ’06, ME, ’11) finds success in failure.

The Dodgeville native has worked as a principal engineer at Oshkosh Corp. for the past six years, going “CSI” on broken and failed truck parts to assess what went wrong and to help suppliers ensure it doesn’t happen again.

The job might not be new or unusual for major manufacturers like Oshkosh Corp., but Nondorf has nonetheless blazed a trail as the first woman to join the department. And she’s working hard to encourage other women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These fields are often referred to collectively as STEM fields. Read more…

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Loest, Younkle and Brzowski Listed in 40 Under 40

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Jim Beal

For 13 years, In Business Magazine has celebrated the successes of rising business stars in its annual 40 Under 40 issue. In Business is a business-to-business publication in the Greater Madison region and looks for examples of business success and those who demonstrate a firm commitment to the local community through board involvement, volunteerism, or other activities.

This year, two College of Engineering alumni are listed. Kyle Loest (BSCEE, ’01) is a Senior Project Manager, J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. and Matt Younkle (BSECE, ’97) is an entrepreneur and Co-Founder/CEO, Murfie, Inc. Angela Brzowski (BSCEE, ’99) is a design phase manager at Mortenson Construction. Read more…

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Engineering and Business Show Baldovin the World

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Jim Beal

Donald Baldovin

There are 196 countries in the world. Donald Baldovin has been to nearly 120 of them.

Baldovin joined the Standard Oil Company (later named Amoco Corporation) as an assistant chemical engineer in 1957 and retired from its worldwide exploration business group as vice president of finance and business support in 1998.  Continue reading →

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