Evening of Distinction & Determination
Please join us for An Evening of Distinction and Determination on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Daxton Hotel to honor our distinguished alumni and donors.
We look forward to recognizing the honorees for the 2026 KGMIAA Alumni Awards:
- Distinguished Alumnus Award - Sherry House '94, DBA hc
- Extraordinary Leadership Award - Maria Shaw '99
- Engineering Achievement Award - Greg Salisbury '94
- Management Achievement Award - Mike Chrzanowski '90
- Entrepreneurial Achievement Award - Thomas Westling '87
- Civic Achievement Award - Dr. Michael Russell '12
- Alumni Service Award - Brian '91 and Heidi '91 Beechie
- Young Alumnus Award - Ashley (Weber) Rewa '19
Kettering University hosted the 2025 Evening of Distinction & Determination on October 16 at The Daxton Hotel, honoring the 2025 KGMIAA Alumni Award winners and recognizing generous donors. The event celebrated the achievements of distinguished alumni and acknowledged the donors whose contributions earned recognition in Kettering’s prestigious Donor Societies. This gathering reflected the University’s gratitude for alumni support and dedication to shaping its future.
Thank you to our 2026 presenting sponsor Magna International.
Extraordinary Leadership
Extraordinary Leadership
This award recognizes graduates who hold leadership positions in global corporations, inspiring their teams to achieve extraordinary outcomes.
Maria Shaw ’99
Maria Shaw ’99 is an award-winning global healthcare executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, including roles at General Motors, GE Healthcare, Abbott, Danaher, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Her leadership has earned national recognition, including being named National Black Engineer of the Year for Professional Achievement.
Engineering Achievement
Engineering Achievement
This award honors an individual who has made specific contributions with positive and lasting effects in the field of engineering.
Greg Salisbury ’94
Greg Salisbury ’94 is senior vice president and president at Consumers Energy, leading the company’s electric distribution business unit, including its operations and engineering functions. He has held leadership roles at Consumers Energy, Stryker, Fresh Solution Farms, and General Motors.
Entrepreneurial Achievement
Entrepreneurial Achievement
This award pays tribute to an individual who has made specific contributions in organizing, managing, and assuming the risk of a business or enterprise.
Thomas Westling ’87
Thomas Westling ’87 began his career at General Motors and Guidant Corporation before launching his entrepreneurial career as vice president of R&D at Cameron Health, where he led development of the world’s first subcutaneous defibrillator. Westling later cofounded Rotation Medical to develop the world’s first bioinductive implant system, and went on to co-found Integrity Orthopaedics with his wife, Lori, and sons, Adam and Michael. There, he led the development of Tendon Seam™, the world’s first system to attach soft tissue to bone with tightly spaced stitches, with the potential to improve outcomes and shorten recovery time for rotator cuff surgery. Westling has been named an inventor on 98 patents in medical device technology, contributing to innovations that have helped more than 1 million patients.
Civic Achievement
Civic Achievement
This award honors an individual who has made significant and selfless contributions of time and effort that benefit the community.
Michael Russell ’12
Michael Russell ’12 earned master’s degrees in public health and business administration after graduating from Kettering. Russell now lives in Blantyre, Malawi, where he works as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with CURE International, providing care to children who would otherwise go without.
Alumni Service
Alumni Service
This award honors an individual who has given outstanding volunteer service to the University.
Brian ’91 and Heidi ’91 Beechie
Brian ’91 and Heidi ’91 Beechie have given back to Kettering through student mentorship and four years of service on the Kettering Alumni Association Board. Heidi retired from Stellantis in 2021 as a cost engineer. Brian retired from Stellantis the same year as chief engineer for the Dodge Charger, Challenger, Chrysler 300, and Pacifica Minivan programs.
Young Alumni
Young Alumni
The Young Alumni award is given to a graduate within the previous ten years who has rendered significant contributions, exhibited outstanding character or achieved marked success.
Ashley (Weber) Rewa ’19
Ashley (Weber) Rewa ’19 is the district business manager for Michigan and Indiana at Kennametal, where she leads a team of sales engineers who help local manufacturers improve productivity and operational performance through advanced cutting tool solutions. Rewa serves as chair of Southeast Michigan Women in Manufacturing and as chapter advisor for Kettering University’s Delta Nu-B chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Donor Recognition
The Charles F. Kettering Society
Synopsys, Inc.
The Bell Tower Society
Wen Han and Jessie Jia
The 1919 Society
Mary Ellen "Mell" '85 and Kieran Gallahue
Robert John Gorski, PE '64
Tony '79 and Sarah Menchaca
Gary '69 and Jane Moore
Ann K*. and James W. Throop '58*
The Innovator Society
Paul '87, DBA hc, and Jane Bascobert
Wendy Curcuri Bauer '98 and Lee Bauer
Dr. and Mrs. K. Joel Berry '79
Don '61, Eng.D. hc, and Barbara Chaffin
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Clark '68
Gene Haas Foundation
Samuel M. '90 and Patricia Hoff
James '72 and Lori Roland
Charles '60 and Karen Smith
Timothy K. '88 and Jennifer Willis
The Founders Society
Daniel B. Beardslee '83
Kelly '55 and Joyce Beardslee
Ned '57 and Rita Brown
Burton E. Eno'58
Financial Plus Credit Union
Dale '68* and Elizabeth Kluska*
Ben '58 and Peggy Kristan
Paul '97 and Kristin Marnell
John W. and Ariane Moyer
ˆEntering the Heritage Circle
Robert L. '78 and Paola F. Nisonger
James '66 and Marybeth Trunk
Thomas E. '73 and Margaret L. Will
The General Determination Society
Auto-Owners Insurance
Philip A. '67* and Judith E. McComish
Brian '69 and Mary '87 O'Neill
Matthew Rigotti '86
Bruce '79 and Janice Sing
Kenneth D. Steward '73
Donald '60 and Maryanne Winfield
The President's Circle
Association for Advancing Automation
Dan '69 and Carolyn Barta
Mark '89 and Kelly '89 Bulanda
Michel '75 and Dorothy Duchenseau
Graco Foundation
Paul '71 and Barbara Jablonski
Johnson Controls Inc.
Scott '79 and Sheree Marr
Jim '75 and Kathleen Martin
Dale Mattis '79
Martha Merkley Charitable Trust
Curt '70 and Gerri Moll
Nigel Pennycooke '81
Gregg '76 and Mary Rising
Martin Rometsch '87
Maria M. '99 and Carl Shaw
Mr. Douglas Shearer M'98
Andrew '12 and Caitlin '12 Shumaker
William "David" Treharne '89
Jack A. '58 and Carolyn E. Wallace
Chris A. '76 and Patricia J. Wolf
*Deceased