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When Heinze approached EnTech about a co-op, Weil said, “We could see the spark that I remembered at GMI, one that empowers students. He wanted to use his education in a new and imaginative way, learn new tools and use those tools to explore new paths. I could tell that no one was going to stand in his way.”

For some projects, Heinze must work aboard the EnTech helicopter, which employs specialized equipment, such as the patented EnSITE VII precision Gyro- Stabilized, Vibration-Resistant, Gimbal.
Once Heinze finished his co-op and graduated from Kettering, EnTech made him an offer to become a full-time engineer and the decision was simple.

“I never thought I would use my Mechanical Engineering degree from a mile above the earth,” he said, referring to an aspect of his position that requires him to collect data from sensors mounted beneath the belly of a helicopter. He also said that since joining the company, “EnTech has become my lifestyle and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Weil also said that Heinze has been instrumental in utilizing new computer tools to make the organization’s remote sensing techniques more efficient and cost effective for EnTech’s clients. Additionally, one of Heinze’s friends from Kettering—Steve Schwartz ’08, co-owner of Alfa Jango, a website development company—helped EnTech by designing the company’s website from the ground up.

Gary J. Weil ’73, president and director of Technical Services for EnTech Engineering, Inc., examines a set of engineering drawings for a project.
“Our next step is to merge Stephen’s natural enthusiasm for people with his desire to harness the power of our remote sensing technologies to market our solutions to the world in need of them,” Weil said. “His first challenge in this area will encompass the organization’s ability to locate leaks and erosion sinkholes caused by aging water and sewer pipelines in hundreds of miles of distribution pipelines per day in drought-plagued areas such as the state of California,” he added.

Now that his career path is clear, Heinze hopes to continue the learning process as an important contributor at EnTech. His most recent project worked to help drought-plagued areas in Texas, which he found particularly rewarding.

“Working for the company as a co-op first allowed me to engage in projects that are typically reserved for project managers,” he said. “It’s been such a great experience to receive exposure to so many challenging and important projects. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity EnTech has provided me so early in my career,” he added.

To learn more about EnTech Engineering Inc., visit http://www.entechworld.com/ or call (636) 207-0200. For more information on Kettering University’s Cooperative Education Program, visit http://www.kettering.edu/ or call (800) 955-4464.

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