Frank Hribar, Kettering vice president of Enrollment Services, congratulated Flexco for the honor and said Kettering is appreciative of the support the company is providing in developing a cadre of tomorrow’s business leaders in West Michigan.  "Flexco’s efforts reflect well on their commitment to employee development within the company and within the region,” he added.  “They clearly are interested in developing future technical talent.”

Nancy Ayres, general manager at Flexco-Grand Rapids, said, “The Kettering co-op program is the best of both worlds for students.  They get a fantastic education in the classroom that they can then translate into real life work.  For companies, this provides us with outstanding co-op students for an extended period of time in which to evaluate their skills and fit with our culture for potential future hire.  Flexco is a true believer in the Kettering co-op program,” she added.

Flexco currently has one co-op student and recently hired a former co-op student who spent four years working co-op at the company and is now a full-time Flexco employee.

The West Michigan Co-op Employer of the Year Award is given to a company that shows exceptional commitment to student development, continued support of Kettering's co-op program and a commitment to matching the right student with the right job to ensure a successful educational experience.  Past award recipients include Gill Industries, Cascade Engineering, Steelcase, UPS and Siemens Dematic (formerly Rapistan).

Flexco-Grand Rapids began in 1908 as the Clipper Belt Lacer Company.  Today, it is an industry leader in manufacturing light duty conveyor belt fasteners and lacing equipment, fastener-friendly belt cleaners, belt trainers, belt maintenance tools and other heavy duty mining belt line support products. The company’s 152,000-square-foot facility is home to many advanced manufacturing techniques, including 3-D CAD systems, Laser Cutting, Computer Numeric Controlled Mills and Lathes, Electron Discharge Machines and high speed in machine multi-slide welding, as well as a host of more traditional manufacturing systems.

Kettering University was founded in 1919 and is a home of the country’s most advanced professional cooperative education program.  The University has many alumni in West Michigan, who live and work in the region. One of them is Armen Oumedian of Grand Rapids, who complimented Flexco for its commitment to West Michigan and its workforce.  Oumedian is a Grand Rapids businessman and graduate of Kettering University, who works to provide more co-op opportunities in West Michigan. "This company aligns with the quality of work done at Kettering University,” Oumedian said.  “I am appreciative as an alumnus living in West Michigan to see quality partners like Kettering and Flexco working together.”

Kettering University's professional co-op program is mandatory for all its undergraduate students. It consists of alternating terms of class study and career-related work. The work component of the program represents a substantial portion of student's curricula and each student's level of professional responsibility normally increases as he or she completes advanced course work.

For more on Flexco – Grand Rapids, visit: www.flexco.com

For more on Kettering University, visit: www.kettering.edu

The key to this, according to Kettering’s Frank Hribar, is professional co-op.

“Cooperative education is the best way to develop innovation and create new jobs,” said Hribar, the university's vice president for Enrollment Services. “That’s why we think the new President would like our slogan: ‘Co-op is my stimulus package.’"

Currently, more than 78 percent of all Fortune 500 companies participate in co-op or internship programs, Hribar said.

“Co-op jobs have replaced summer jobs as the number one feeder program for full-time talent among the top companies,” said Hribar, pictured at left. He added that “co-op is an excellent opportunity to groom students early in their careers.”

Rachel Wood, a sophomore from Warren and graduate of Center Line High School, agrees. “Students learn the value of quality work, responsibility, initiative and professionalism before they graduate college," she said. "Co-op students can comprehend course material at a new level because they can incorporate real experiences into the learning process."

Hribar noted there are big benefits for business, too.

“Co-op students allow employers to defray costs and get early access to an extremely talented young pool of workers,” he said. “These students are trained to critically review a company’s work process and assist in the design of new work models for their co-op employers. That innovation is then carried back into the classroom for fine-tuning and then back into the corporate setting to help advance the corporate employer.”

Near the end of their academic preparation, Kettering students complete a thesis project, which Hribar said “allows for original research that is cost-effective for the employer and taps into the talents and resources of Kettering’s experienced faculty members. Thesis projects are guided and shaped by faculty experts but serve the direct needs of our corporate partners.”

Hribar said Kettering’s corporate partners realize an earlier return on its investment because the transition to full-time employment is mitigated.

"Co-op cuts the annual costs for recruiting, training and orientation because co-op students already have experience inside their employer’s organization," Hribar said. "It is an excellent and cost-effective way for companies to develop future employees within their own organizational culture. It’s a win-win stimulus package." (In fact, that's the theme of a new Kettering T-shirt being worn at right by co-op student Joseph Kowalczyk of Flint, whose co-op is with the Federal Government.)

Gov. Jennifer Granholm declared February as Cooperative Education Month in Michigan. See the State of Michigan proclamation at this link.

For more on National Engineers Week, Feb. 15-21, visit: http://www.eweek.org/Home.aspx 

Written by Patricia Mroczek

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu

The five honored graduates were nominated by Kettering President Stan Liberty and will be featured in the 2009 Co-op Hall of Fame Class.  Their biographies and photographs will be published in NCCE’s 2008-09 Best of Co-op Annual Guide.  Kettering’s honorees are:

Troy A. Clarke
Class of 1978
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering 
Troy A. Clarke is the president, General Motors North America, and group vice president for the General Motors Corp.  He is charged with increasing GM’s market share and global sales worldwide. In 2006 when he took his current position, he led the company’s turnaround plan with GM CEO Rick Wagoner.  His previous assignments at GM include serving as president of GM Asia Pacific Operations, which included the largest sales region for GM globally; group vice president of Manufacturing and Labor Relations and GM Corporate vice president and Labor Relations representative. He is a member of the GM North American Strategy Board and GM Corporate Board.  He has a BME degree from Kettering/GMI and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Bruce D. Coventry
Class of 1975
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering 
Bruce D. Coventry, president of the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) and vice president of Chrysler, became chair of Kettering University’s Board of Trustees in September 2007. Coventry also serves as the vice president of NAFTA World Engine, a joint team responsible for the design, development and manufacturing processes of a new family of aluminum four-cylinder gasoline engines. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Kettering and a master's degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University.  He was recently honored with the 2008 Kettering University Business Alumni Achievement and Service Award and is credited in helping Kettering transition from a narrowly-focused automotive engineering school to a broader-based technical and business university.

Harry W. Lange
Class of 1975
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Harry W. Lange has been the manager of Fidelity Investments’ Magellan Fund since 2005.  Lange has had two distinct careers. From 1970 to 1983, he worked at GM Chevrolet Motor Division as an engineer and manager and invested in various stock markets as a hobby.  In 1983 following his graduation from Harvard Business School, he began his career in the investment industry, first with Idanta Partners and later for Wellington Management. In 1987, he joined Fidelity and developed a talent for analyzing companies for potential sales and growth for investment purposes.  In 2003, he was one of 10 people throughout the world nominated for “Man of the Year” by Morningstar News.com. He has a BME degree from Kettering/GMI and an MBA from Harvard.

Vickie Piner
Class of 1989
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering

J. Don Rice
Class of 1981
Bachelor of Industrial Engineering
J. Don Rice, president and chief executive officer of Rice Financial Products Company, is a 25-year veteran of the securities industry. He became interested in securities while studying finance at Harvard University. He got his start in the financial services area as one of the founding members of Merrill Lynch’s Municipal Derivatives Products Group. Rice holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Kettering and a master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard University’s School of Business. He was named among the “75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street” by Black Enterprise magazine and is the former executive secretary for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee of Nassau County, New York.

For more on the NCCE Co-op Hall of Fame, visit: http://www.co-op.edu/halloffame.htm. 

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

There’s some positive job news swirling in the Midwest this week -- Kettering University’s National Co-op Employment Fair has so many employers (almost 100!) coming to Flint, Mich., on Thursday, April 3, that the University has hung a “sold out” sign on its spring job fair.

The job fair is closed to the public and only available for Kettering co-op students.

“This event is the largest employment fair in the history of Kettering University,” said Venetia Petteway, corporate relations executive.  “The job response for Kettering’s talented co-op students has been tremendous.”

Almost 100 employers will be collecting resumes from more than 250 co-op students from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.  Fifty companies will then conduct in-person interviews from 3-5 p.m. The students are either entering freshmen or current students seeking employment or re-assignment. 

“I think that even though the economy has been challenging, employers are recognizing that it is vital to invest in their future human resources,” Petteway said.  “Students bring creativity and help companies move forward in the development of new products and services.”  Petteway also credits Kettering alumni for some of the event’s success.  “I’m seeing more and more alumni reaching back to campus to open doors of opportunity for students,” she added.

The complete employers list is available at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/events/national_employment_fair.jsp. 

A sample of the employers at the co-op job fair includes:

• Alcoa Howmet - Castings- Division of Alcoa, Winsted, Conn.
• ArvinMeritor - Commercial Vehicle Systems, Troy, Mich.
• Auto-Owners Insurance, Lansing, Mich.
• AutoLiv - Auburn Hills and Southfield, Mich..
• Beaumont Hospitals, Troy, Mich.
• Becton Dickinson – Labware, Durham, N.C.
• Bosch Corp – St. Joseph and Plymouth, Mich.  
• Consumers Energy, Jackson, Mich.
• Cooper Tire & Rubber, Findlay, Ohio
• Delphi - Electronics and Safety, Kokomo, Ind.
• Denso Mfg – Michigan, Battle Creek, Mich.
• ElectroJet Inc., Brighton, Mich.
• General Motors - North America
• Goodrich Corp., West Des Moines, Iowa
• Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Wauwatosa, Wis.
• ITW - Shakeproof Automotive Products, Elgin, Ill.
• McNaughton-McKay Electric, Madison Heights, Mich.
• Mitsubishi - Motors R & D of America, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Road Commission of Macomb County, Mount Clemens, Mich.
• Siemens - Water Technologies Corp., Holland, Mich.
• Stryker Corporation – Instruments, Kalamazoo, Mich.
• TRW – Auto DS, Livonia, Mich.
• Toyota - Motor Mfg North America, Erlanger, Ky.
• Trelleborg Automotive, South Haven, Mich.
• UPS - Corporate-Industrial Eng., Atlanta, Ga.
• Yamaha Motor Corp., Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Written by Pat Mroczek
810-762-9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

It started with one co-op student. Then business began to boom with Defense Department contracts and overseas opportunities. Kyle Schwulst ’02 found himself in need of experienced, motivated engineers and he needed them in a hurry.

After what he calls a “nightmare” trying to find qualified employees, he decided the answer was his alma mater. Schwulst, owner and president of ElectroJet Inc., an engineering design firm that uses patented technologies to reduce the complexity and cost of advanced engine control systems, looked at Kettering University graduates as the best resource to beef up his employee base quickly.

The young entrepreneur’s first experience with employees from Kettering was through the co-op program. “Utilizing the co-op program at Kettering was an easy decision for me as an employer,” he said, “having been in the program I knew it was a great experience for both parties. After my first term with Lu I was spoiled,” he added, “I can’t imagine a better co-op employee.”

Within six months of hiring co-op employee Lu Chen, an exchange student from  Namping in China's Fujian Province, he had hired three full-time engineers and a second co-op student. “Although they were already employed,” he said of two of his engineers, “I was able to persuade them to join me with the lure of a decent salary and creative license in their job, and it’s been great ever since.”

All his full-time engineers were referred by “people I respect,” said Schwulst. “I’ve found that endorsements from my Kettering connections work best for me.” Ryan Klumpp ’07, a Mechanical Engineering major from Goodrich, Mich., was available because his co-op employer had a hiring freeze when he graduated. Klumpp was referred by someone who liked his work, but couldn’t hire him.

Schwulst has also found that his Kettering engineers fulfill his need for employees who can work independently and take charge of their projects. “It is more critical that the employee base in a small company be high functioning than in a large company,” said Schwulst, “here there is little room for error or incompetence.” Even his patent attorney, John Nemazi of Brooks Kushman, happens to be a Kettering graduate.

Citing scooter projects with Chinese manufacturers and military projects with the U.S. Department of Defense, Schwulst admitted that despite the recent hires “we are still short-staffed for the volume of work that we do.” But already his staff has been able to facilitate the rapid growth ElectroJet is experiencing, according to Schwulst.

One example is the calibration software created by Alex Lucido ’05, a Computer Engineer from St. Clair Shores, Mich. The software calibration tool he designed enables ElectroJet to test their engine control systems on customer products in real-time, greatly reducing the time needed for product calibration.

What sets the “tool” apart from traditional calibration methods is that ElectroJet operates the calibration tool through a USB cable. It performs data acquisition directly from the module, showing up on a computer screen in the form of a virtual instrument cluster and calibration interface. “It allows us to monitor and modify all operating variables in the engine while it is on a dynamometer, significantly reducing development time,” said Schwulst.

Industry standard calibration “tools” (software and hardware) cost about $30,000, according to Schwulst. ElectroJet charges customers about $250 for their cable.

Keeping the internal research and development efforts moving forward is Parker Mossman ’05, another Computer Engineer, originally from Sandusky, Ohio. Mossman was the first full-time Kettering graduate Schwulst hired, and the only one with a private office in ElectroJet’s facility, other than Schwulst.

Of course, as Schwulst likes to point out, Mossman’s office door sign reads “supplies,” but that doesn’t seem to bother the engineer in charge of designing all the embedded controls in the company’s computer modules.

“I left a job with one of the big three automakers to join ElectroJet because I thought it was a good opportunity and would be more fun than being a ‘trained monkey’ in a big corporation,” Mossman said. “I’m still a monkey,” he joked, “but now I’m a monkey with more responsibility.”

The smaller company also offers the staff more opportunity for creativity and diversity in their work. Just how much diversity is evident inside the company’s testing facility. Behind the office area is a shop with three dynamometers for emissions testing: an engine dynamometer built in-house for testing utility engines; n eddy current chassis dynamometer for testing motorcycle and ATV emissions; and an ultra-low inertia dynamometer for aircraft projects to test small aircraft engines.

One of the challenges with engine testing is properly venting the test benches. Because their current location is rented and not equipped for this type of engineering work, Schwulst and his employees had to build their own exhaust system, doing all the work themselves, right down to the TIG welding, metal forming and hanging of ductwork.

This isn’t the kind of ductwork found in residential properties. The project became a do-it-your-self endeavor after Schwulst received a $10,000 quote to build the exhaust system from a contractor. “We did it for a fraction of that cost and created something that was aesthetically pleasing, modular and explosion-proof (yes, explosion-proof),” he said. “In addition, it was a great learning experience for the ElectroJet team.”

“That was a fun project,” said Schwulst. “It took us about two weeks to build it.” Drawing on his own Kettering experience, Schwulst taught Klumpp and co-op employee Alex “The Hammer” Halatsis, of Alameda, Calif., how to TIG weld and shape the 16-gage steel.

“Sometimes it is just nice to get your hands dirty,” said Schwulst. “I feel strongly that it is important for engineering students to know how to make things. My employees will be better engineers through first-hand knowledge of how parts are manufactured and assembled,” said Schwulst of teaching fabrication techniques to his staff.

It took a while to refine their skills however. “Hammer” got his nick name working on the ductwork. Apparently he whacked the steel so hard he left hammer marks. “The top of the ductwork is not pretty,” said Schwulst, “but it looks great from the shop floor.” “Hammer” said he enjoyed learning how to weld, “but by week three it was losing its luster.”

Chen said she didn’t do much welding, but she was in charge of boring holes in the pipe flanges so the sections could be bolted together - pretty impressive for an Applied Mathematics major.

Schwulst calls the dynamometers and the testing area the company’s pride and joy, because ElectroJet used to have to farm out testing to Kettering University and Lotus, on a project by project basis. “It is faster and cheaper to do the testing ourselves,” said Schwulst.

In-house testing is critical for ElectroJet. “As a small company it is hard to commit large amounts of funds to research and development for multiple new product targeted for the commercial market,” explained Schwulst.  What was once a variable cost based on project volume is now a fixed cost, and readily available asset for testing and development, he added.

With plans to expand testing capabilities further, Schwulst is calculating more growth for ElectroJet. “I want to grow slowly so we can manage our growth and continue to be successful,” he said.

Toward that end he plans to attend the Worlds Best Technology (WBT) Showcase in Texas this month. WBT is the largest technology-based venture capital symposium in North America. Participating technologies are selected by, and presented to, more than 100 seasoned venture investors and Fortune 500 licensing scouts, representing a variety of industries, each supported by private funding, federal R&D grants or both, according to the WBT web site.

Presenters include startup companies like ElectroJet, with technologies that have the potential for high growth commercial enterprise or that can be easily licensed to solve a specific market problem.

Schwulst’s goal is to find financing to build a larger facility for ElectroJet’s operations. “A lot of our testing equipment needs a temperature and humidity controlled environment for optimal testing,” he explained. “I would like to have a permanent (not rented) facility and purchase more equipment to expand our in-house capabilities.”

Currently the company can test products relative to the international emissions standards, but does not have the equipment to certify a product to those standards. With the right equipment, ElectroJet could do certification work. “Manufacturers need certification that our product meets emissions requirements before they can incorporate it into their vehicles and sell it in the global market,” he said. Performing certification in-house would expand the company’s capabilities and add value to the ElectroJet product.

With letters of intent from Chinese manufacturers for long-term partnerships, and more military contracts coming in, Schwulst’s dreams for growth may very soon become a reality. And with that growth will probably come more Kettering graduates and co-op employees. “It’s been a great fit so far,” he said.

Written by Dawn Hibbard
810.762.9865
dhibbard@kettering.edu

A little snow doesn’t stop us! Prep For Success is still on for Saturday, Feb. 2. Designed specifically for admitted students, this conference will prepare students for professional co-op and the most hands-on, academic education available. For more information on the program, visit http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/events/prep_for_success.jsp

Kettering students seeking cooperative employment are invited to attend the National Cooperative Education Employment Fair Aug. 21, 22 and 23. Employers from around the United States will attend to recruit Kettering students for professional co-op opportunities. Students are encouraged to dress in business attire (suit and tie) and come equipped with resume in hand and ready to interview. This event is intended for Kettering students only.

This three-day event allows students, and Kettering's employer partners, the opportunity to meet during informal information sessions (Aug. 21 from 6-8 p.m.), an employment fair setting (Aug. 22 from 2-6 p.m.), and formal interview settings (Aug. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

During the information sessions, students will have the opportunity to learn more about employers and what positions are available within their organizations. These sessions will be conducted in the Academic Building and students are encouraged to dress in business casual.

The co-op employment fair Aug. 22 is the most vital day of the event and employer representatives will be accepting resumes for the co-op positions that are available. Students are encouraged to ask representatives questions and sell their skills. This is also an opportune time for students to land a more formal interview on the third day of the fair.

Garth Motschenbacher, director of Cooperative Education and Career Services, said "the fair provides the perfect environment for employers and students to meet and exchange information in multiple formats. No matter if your organization is big or small, or what majors the students are pursuing, there is something for everyone at the fair."

Current Kettering students may register for the event online at www.mrweb.kettering.edu.

Companies interested in attending the event please fill out and submit a registration form at www.kettering.edu/Co-op/News/NatlEmpFairForm.htm.

For additional information please contact Sharon Barbee at (810) 762-9810 or sbarbee@kettering.edu, or Stacy Galbreath at (810) 762-9834 or sgalbrea@kettering.edu.

Scenes from the 2001 co-op employment fair