Technology Century V.17 N.1 - The Engineering Society of Detroit

Transcription

Technology Century V.17 N.1 - The Engineering Society of Detroit
Official Publication of The Engineering Society of Detroit
Vol. 17 No. 1 Spring 2012
MADE IN MICHIGAN
PIPELINE
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Interview: Josh Linkner
An Old War Not Needed
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Searching for Innovative and
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and Physics Professor
This place thinks like you think.
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Any university will take you places. Kettering will take you farther.
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flint, michigan
800-955-4464, ext. 7865
SPRING 2012
17
Official Publication of The Engineering Society of Detroit
Technology
Century
Vol. 17 No. 1 Spring 2012
DEPARTMENTS
03
05
07
09
10
12
13
45
PUBLICATION NOTES
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN
IN THE NEWS
ESD MEMBERSHIP/IN MEMORIAM
ESD MEMBER BENEFITS
TECHNOLOGY CENTURY IMAGE AWARD
ESD UPCOMING EVENTS
YOUTH PERSPECTIVE
SPECIAL FEATURES
17
28
54
56
MICHIGAN REGIONAL FUTURE CITY COMPETITION
ESD AFFILIATE COUNCIL GOLD AWARD BANQUET
INTERVIEW: JOSH LINKNER
OPINION: AN OLD WAR NOT NEEDED
ABOVE LEFT: ESD Michigan Regional Future City participants meet
with President Obama. See Future City Competition on page 17.
ABOVE RIGHT: Engineers and scientists strike gold, page 28.
28
ARTICLES
37 ECONOMY
BY CHRISTOPHER J. WEBB AND DARLENE J. TRUDELL
39 FINANCE
BY ANTHONY R. LOTT
40 TECHNOLOGY
BY JOHN C. DUGGER
42 INNOVATION
BY DAWN HIBBARD
46 HEALTHCARE
BY DANNY MESSINGER
48 LAW
BY THOMAS E. OWEN & VINCENT DEMARCO
50 EDUCATION
BY DR. RICHARD E. MARBURGER
Made in Michigan Pipeline: An initiative
to re-engineer Michigan’s Engineers
New Fee Disclosures and Their Impact
on 401(k) Plans
Project Leads the Way to Technology
Kettering: More than Innovation 101
AsfalisMed: Fewer Questions, Faster
Treatment
New Estate Planning Law:
Opportunities & Caveats
We’ve Come a Long Way
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 1
“The world will turn to Michigan as it becomes the global center of the advanced
battery industry, which is why we moved
The Battery Show from California to the
Detroit suburb of Novi.”
ADAM MOORE, EXHIBITION MANAGER,
SMARTER SHOWS, UNITED KINGDOM
Automotive, Defense, Entertainment, Green Tech, Medical
Research, Transportation Logistics and Urban Farming.
For expert assistance booking your next
meeting or convention in The D, please contact
Carla Conner-Penzabene, Director of Sales, at
(313) 202-1938 or [email protected].
Learn more online at meetdetroit.com.
Publication
Technology Century
Vol. 17 No. 1 Spring 2012
20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450 • Southfield, MI 48076
248–353–0735 • 248–353–0736 fax • [email protected] • www.esd.org
Technology Century Editorial Board
CHAIR: Lynley M. Weston, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Turner Construction Co.
Nuha Alfahham
Melissa Cole, Johnson Controls, Inc.
Utpal Dutta, PhD, University of Detroit Mercy
William A. Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, Eastern Michigan University
Mark A. Nasr, Esq., Plunkett Cooney
John G. Petty, FESD, General Dynamics (Retired)
Filza H. Walters, Lawrence Tech University
Yang Zhao, PhD, Wayne State University
STAFF LIAISON: Della Cassia, The Engineering Society of Detroit
2011-2012 ESD Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Terry J. Woychowski, General Motors Company
TREASURER: Steven E. Kurmas, PE, FESD, Detroit Edison/DTE Energy Company
SECRETARY: Darlene Trudell, CAE, The Engineering Society of Detroit
IMM. PAST PRESIDENT: William P. Russo, Ford Motor Company
MEMBERS AT LARGE: Katherine M. Banicki, FESD, Testing Engineers and Consultants
Michael D. Bolon, General Dynamics Land Systems
Keith W. Cooley, Principia, LLC
Patrick J. Devlin, Michigan Building Trades Council
Thomas M. Doran, PE, Hubbel, Roth & Clark, Inc.
Robert A. Ficano, JD, Wayne County
Subhendu Guha, PhD, ECD/United Solar Ovonic
Kouhaila Hammer, CPA, GHAFARI Associates, LLC
Susan S. Hawkins, Henry Ford Health System
Byron A. Kearney, Chrysler LLC
Mary L. Kramer, Crain’s Detroit Business
Gail Mee, PhD, Henry Ford Community College
David C. Munson, Jr., PhD, University of Michigan
Douglas E. Patton, DENSO International America, Inc.
Scott Penrod, Walbridge
Yogendra N. Rahangdale, Whitehall Industries
James M. Safran, PE, Jones Lang LaSalle at Beaumont Health System, LLC
Kirk T. Steudle, PE, Michigan Department of Transportation
Satish S. Udpa, PhD, Michigan State University
Mumtaz Usmen, PE, PhD, FESD, Wayne State University
William J. Vander Roest, PE, TRW Automotive
Lewis N. Walker, PhD, PE, Lawrence Technological University
Rich Wells, The Dow Chemical Company
Technology Century Staff
PUBLISHER: Darlene J. Trudell, CAE, ESD Executive Vice President
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nick Mason, ESD Creative Director & Director of Information Technology
MANAGING EDITOR: Della Cassia, ESD Director of Media & Public Relations
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Keith Cabrera-Nguyen
EDITOR: Rachel Sprovtsoff
Technology Century (ISSN 1091-4153 USPS 155-460) is published four times per year by The Engineering
Society of Detroit (ESD), 20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450, Southfield, MI 48076. Periodical postage
paid at Southfield, MI, and at additional mailing offices.
The authors, editors, and publisher will not accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions
that may be made in this publication. The publisher makes no warranty, expressed or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein. Advertisements in Technology Century for products, services,
courses, and symposia are published with a caveat emptor (buyer beware) understanding. The authors,
editors, and publisher do not imply endorsement of products, nor quality, validity or approval of the
educational material offered by such advertisements.
Subscriptions to Technology Century are available to nonmembers for $25 per year.
©2012 The Engineering Society of Detroit
NOTES
Lynley M. Weston,
PE, LEED AP BD+C
Editorial Board Chair;
Estimating Engineer
& Sustainable Const.
Manager, Turner
Construction Co.
I consider myself to be average-plus
when it comes to technology; I am
most certainly not blazing trails at
the forefront, but neither am in the
computing caboose. So it was with
both excitement and trepidation that
I recently bought an iPad. It has been
said that this device is a game-changer,
and only as I begin to see how it has
and will transform my work and life do
I understand what that fully means.
And so it goes with new technology.
Schools, colleges, and universities
are learning how it has the potential
to impact the way we take in and
share information. Businesses and
corporations are exploring how it
affects the bottom line. People are
discovering the way it changes their
methods of interacting with others. Put
simply, it is reshaping our lives.
But technology can be a two-edged
sword. As the speed and simplicity of
communicating continue to increase,
do we lose the inherent ability to
communicate? Are we feeling more
emotionally disconnected as we
increase our ability to connect virtually?
There’s no disputing that it’s easier
than ever to interface and collaborate;
however, I would suggest it has also
made us a tad bit lazy. Consider:
how many times a day do you email
someone who sits across the hall? Could
a 25-string email misunderstanding
have been solved with a phone call?
Will the next generation of emerging
professional only b able 2 tlk like dis?
On the whole, this universe of
technology and innovation is vast,
exciting, and ever-changing. One can
only guess what tomorrow will bring.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 3
Youth Programs
• Mind Trekkers Summer Camps
for students in grades 6–8
• Career and Adventure Explorations
for students in grades 9–11
More than fifty exciting, hands-on summer programs in
areas like engineering, digital photography, video game
programming, blacksmithing, mountaineering, and more!
Start planning your summer adventure now at
www.youthprograms.mtu.edu
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN | Spring 2012
It’s Still the Economy…
T
his is an important
election year, and
with the first caucuses
already behind us,
the discussions of the
nation’s economy are
rising to a fevered pitch.
Refrains of President
Clinton’s 1992 campaign slogan
of “It’s the economy, stupid” will
continue to set the stage of the
debates and positioning of the
candidates. Each will try to persuade
voters that their strategies and plans
to improve the economy are the
best. May the best candidate win.
While this debate continues, I
think it best to remain focused on
our primary objective: the support
of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) and
professionals of yesterday, today,
and tomorrow. By doing this, I
believe we will play a critical role
in the ability to put the economy
back on a positive glide path
and pave the way toward a more
prosperous future.
Whatever your economic
leanings or philosophies are, it is
hard to debate that the true engine
of economy is in the creation of
value. There are men and women
who, by their nature and training,
are dedicated to understanding the
laws of nature and how these laws
apply to the material and energy
that is available. When they use
these resources and knowledge
to create goods and services that
people want, need, and are willing
to trade some of their own personal
wealth for, they have created value.
When STEM professionals work in
their respective industries to create
products that solve problems,
make people’s lives better, and for
which they are willing to trade, an
economy is started, often spurring
even more value creation.
This is the birth place of
innovation. When clever people
seek out ways to address the needs
of society or fulfill wants that
people have as they pursue their
own lives, they are at the centroid
of value creation. Innovation and
creativity are at the heart of an
economy and it is with this understanding that ESD was founded,
supported, and why it continues
to be relevant today. Your personal
support of ESD and its mission is
greatly appreciated and will cast a
long shadow on the prosperity of
the region, nation, and globe as we
journey bravely into the future.
Stay Strong,
Terry J. Woychowski
ESD President, 2011–12
Vice President of Global Quality &
Vehicle Launches
General Motors Company
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 5
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IN THE NEWS
Gorning
Withers
Matthew
Harley Ellis Devereaux has selected five associates
to be part of the firm. For the Detroit office: Amanda
L. Gorning, Associate AIA, LEED AP, Architecture +
Design; and Scott A. Withers, AIGA, Communications
and Graphic Design. For the Chicago office: Chauncy
B. Hoffmann, AIA, LEED BD+C, Architecture +
Design. For the San Diego office: Gary P. Leivers, RIBA,
LEED AP BD+C, Architecture + Design. And for the
Los Angeles office: Sylvia C. Wallis, RA, LEED AP,
Architecture + Design.
Woodworth
Suggitt
Walker
Nanette M. Rose, Senior Marketing Specialist
at Testing Engineers & Consultants, Inc., was
recently named to the Southeast Michigan Society
for Health Care Engineering (SMSHE) Board of
Directors and was honored with the 2011 President’s
Award for exceptional dedication and contributions
to the organization. Ms. Rose has been a member of
SMSHE since 2008, and chairs the Communications/
Marketing Committee.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of
Michigan (ACEC/M) recently presented the 2012 Firm of
the Year award, its highest honor, to Soil and Materials
Engineers, headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. This is
the only award program instituted to recognize ACEC/M
member firms for their leadership in professional and
community service. Recognition is based on actions
taken by a member firm to progressively develop its
management practices and for assuming leadership roles
in community outreach activities and ACEC/M programs
that strengthen the profession for all ACEC/M members.
Jervis B. Webb Company, a subsidiary of Daifuku
Webb Holding Company and leading provider of
innovative material handling solutions, has named John
Carney Executive Director of Information Technology.
Prior to joining Webb, Mr. Carney worked as the IT
Director for Faurecia, an $18-billion global Tier One
automotive supplier where he led all IT functions and
teams for its North American operations. Mr. Carney
received a BS in mathematics and computer science
from Lawrence Technological University, as well as an
MS in business information technology from Walsh
College of Accountancy and Business Administration.
Howard W.T. Matthew, PhD, Professor of chemical
engineering, materials science, and biomedical
engineering at Wayne State University, is one of 107
new members elected to the College of Fellows of the
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
(AIMBE). The College of Fellows is made up of the
top two percent of medical and biological engineers in
the country. Its members help fulfill AIMBE’s mission
of providing leadership and advocacy in medical and
biological engineering for the advancement of society.
Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc. (SDA), an
employee-owned, regional civil engineering, landscape
architectural, and surveying firm, has announced that
Dana Suggitt was named the American Society of Civil
Engineers Southeast Michigan Branch Young Civil
Engineer of the Year. As an engineer for SDA, Ms. Suggitt
is involved in engineering site design for commercial,
healthcare, K–12 education, higher education, retail, and
municipal sites. She earned a bachelor of science in civil
engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Brian Woodworth, PE, a Project Manager in Wade
Trim’s Taylor, Mich., Municipal Services Group, was
elected to the Southern Wayne County Regional
Chamber’s Executive Committee as Secretary. Mr.
Woodworth has 20 years of experience in infrastructure
projects. He has provided continuing engineering services
to the Charter Township of Brownstown since 1996
and he holds a BS in civil engineering from Michigan
Technological University.
Tim Walker, CMP, Director of Conferences and Events
at The Engineering Society of Detroit, has received
the Best Meeting Professional of the Year award from
Michigan Meetings + Events magazine. The honor is
presented to individuals who have shown leadership
and/or made remarkable contributions to the meetings
and events industry in the state of Michigan. Mr. Walker
will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in
mid-May 2012.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 7
The Engineering Society of Detroit represents over 3,000 companies.
Thank you to our sustaining and corporate member companies, listed below.
Acme Mills Company
AKT Peerless Environmental Services
Albert Kahn Family of Companies
Altair Engineering
American Society of Employers
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Aristeo Construction
The Bartech Group
Barton Malow Company
Beaumont Hospitals
Building Industry Assoc. of S.E.
Michigan
C. Ayers Limited
Canadian Consulate General
CB Richard Ellis | Brokerage Services
Central Michigan University
CF PUMPSERVE Pump Repair
Chrysan Industries
Chrysler LLC
Citizens Bank
Citizens Insurance
City of Novi
Clark Hill, PLC
Comfort Engineering Solutions, LLC
Conestoga-Rovers & Associates
Construction Association of Michigan
Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC
Corrosion Fluid Products Corp.
Credit Union ONE
Crime Stoppers of Southeast Michigan
CTI and Associates, Inc.
DeMaria Building Company, Inc.
DENSO International America, Inc.
Detroit International Auto Salon
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Detroit Transportation Company
DHR International
Doshi Group
The Dragun Corporation
DTE Energy
DTE Energy Gas Operations
Dürr Systems, Inc.
Eastern Michigan University
Ehlert/Bryan
8 | Electrical Resources Company
Elevator, Inc.
EMC2
Energy International
Experis
Farbman Group
Financial One, Inc.
Ford Motor Company
Gala & Associates, Inc.
Gates Corporation
General Dynamics
General Motors Corporation
Gensler
George W. Auch Company
Ghafari Associates, LLC
Giffels, LLC/IBI Group
Giffels-Webster Engineers, Inc.
Glenn E. Wash & Associates, Inc.
Global Information Technology
Golder Associates Inc.
GRA-MAG
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
Harley Ellis Devereaux
Hartland Insurance Group, Inc.
Henry Ford Community College
Henry Ford Health Systems
Hindsight Consulting, Inc.
HNTB Michigan, Inc.
Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc.
Hughes Network
Hyundai Kia America Technical
Center, Inc.
Illuminating Concepts
Integrity Staffing Group, Inc.
ITT Technical Institute
IBEW Local 58 & NECA LMCC
Jervis B. Webb Company
JNA Partners, Inc.
Kettering University
Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti &
Sherbrook, PC
Knovalent, Inc.
Kolene Corporation
Kostal North America
LaJoyGroup
Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Law & ADR Offices of Christopher J.
Webb, JD, PLC, FESD
Lawrence Technological University
Limbach Company, Inc.
Link Engineering Co.
Local Business Network
LTI Information Technology
Macomb Community College
Malace & Associates
Maner, Costerisan & Ellis, PC
McNaughton-McKay Electric Company
MIAT - Michigan Institute of Aviation and
Technology
MICCO Construction
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Midwest Steel Inc.
Myron Zucker, Inc.
National Center for Manufacturing
Sciences
Neumann/Smith Architecture
Newman Consulting Group, LLC
NextEnergy
NPPN Non-Profit Personnel Network
Northern Industrial Manufacturing Corp.
NTH Consultants, Ltd.
Oakland University
O’Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc.
Orbitak International, LLC
Optech LLC
Original Equipment Suppliers
Association
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Perceptron, Inc.
Phillips Service Industries, Inc.
Phimation Strategy Group
PLP Holdings Group, LLC
PRISM
Professional Concepts Insurance Agency
Project Innovations, Inc.
Pure Eco Environmental Solutions
PureServe System
Quanta, Inc.
R.L. Coolsaet Construction Co.
Rader, Fishman & Grauer, PLC
Reid Associates
Rumford Industrial Group
Ruby+Associates, Inc.
SAIC
Shaw Electric Company
Skanska USA Building Inc.
Southwest Research Institute
Sunlogics, Inc.
Superior Engineering Associates, Inc.
Superior Manufacturing Division/Magnatech
Corporation
Talascend, LLC
Tech MBA Online, Michigan Tech School of
Business
Technical Engineering Consultants
Terra Contracting, LLC
Testing Engineers & Consultants
Thermal-Netics
Tom Moss & Associates, Inc.
Transformational Leaders International, LLC
TranSystems Corporation
Trialon Corporation
Troy Chamber of Commerce
TRW Automotive
Turner Construction Co.
UBS Financial Services—The Lott Sheth
Farber Sasson Group
Universal Weatherstrip & Bldg. Supply
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Michigan
University of Michigan-Dearborn
University of Windsor
Upright Wrecking Demolition LLC
U.S. Manufacturing
Venture Management Services, LLC
Volt Technical Resources
W.K. Krill & Associates, Inc.
Wade-Trim
Walbridge
Walker-Miller Energy Services, LLC
Wayne County, Michigan
Wayne State University
Western Michigan University
Wind River
ESD MEMBERSHIP
ESD’s Newest Corporate Members
DIAMTS
Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology
Hosted by Detroit
International Auto Salon, the
DIAMTS is the premier trade
event for OEM auto parts,
electric vehicles, and machine tools in Detroit. Drawing
the latest technology to COBO Center, this event receives
a lot of attention from the industry. Exhibitors include car
makers, part suppliers, and research and development
centers. Industry professionals also conduct a full series
of conferences covering green technology, vehicle
electrification, and automotive market trends, which
generated many technical and business discussions and
networking opportunities. Visit us at www.diamts.com.
MIAT was founded
in 1969 and is an
accredited technical
training institution
headquartered in Canton, Mich. In response to industry
demand, MIAT has three training programs: Aviation
Maintenance Technology, Global Logistics and Dispatch,
and Power Technology. The training facility is 125,000 ft2,
of which 79,000 is dedicated to hands-on training. To
learn more and take a virtual tour, visit www.miat.edu.
ESD Corporate Rep.: Eric Huang, Chairman and CEO,
Detroit International Auto Salon
Experis
ESD Corporate Rep.: Daryl Thomson, Managing Director
Experis accelerates business
growth and careers by intensely
attracting, assessing, and
placing specialized expertise
in IT, finance and accounting,
engineering, and other industries. It precisely delivers
in-demand talent for mission-critical positions, enhancing
the competitiveness of the organizations and people it
serves. Experis also applies its expertise to provide a
suite of proven workforce solutions that improve clients’
productivity, efficiency, and cost containment. Experis is
a dedicated business unit of ManpowerGroup, a world
leader in employment services for more than 60 years
and a recognized pioneer in the industry.
ESD Corporate Rep.: Amy Kienast Linderman, National
Director Business Relations
Phillips Service Industries, Inc.
ESD Corporate Rep.: Dana Davis, Corporate Human
Resources
PSI, a SDVOSB, oversees
an innovative set of
technology-based
subsidiaries that serve a
wide variety of industries, from automotive, aerospace,
and defense to energy, security, and semiconductor.
Its award-winning products and services help reduce
costs and maximize efficiency for many Fortune 500
companies, as well as the U.S. military. PSI pushes the
bounds of technology on critical programs like Homeland
Security, defense research, and space exploration. Simply
put, PSI is one of the most innovative companies in the
world. We’re: Always innovating. Everywhere.™
To become an ESD Corporate Member, please contact Lori
Birman at 248-353-0735, ext. 120, or [email protected].
Knovalent, Inc.
ESD Corporate Rep.: Raymond Lipa, Chief Financial Officer
Founded in 1988, Knovalent,
Inc., has a long history of
delivering value through
consulting, IT services, and
solutions to clients. Consulting services help when you
want objective assistance in planning and managing new
technologies and systems. Solution support comes when
you need a focused industry business solution that has a
future. Services help with incremental improvements to
established IT and manufacturing systems. The company
has completed project work in business sectors that
include appliances, automotive, construction, chemicals,
consumer packaged goods, electronic, defense, food,
manufacturing, and more.
In Memoriam
With deep gratitude for his participation and
service, The Engineering Society of Detroit
acknowledges the passing of the following member:
William F. Rockershousen, RA/CSI
Principal, Robican Associates Inc.; Retired,
Project Manager/Architect, Campbell/Manix
Inc.; Project Manager, Albert Kahn Associates
Nominating Committee Member
ESD Affiliate Council Representative
Member since 1975
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 9
Save on Auto and
Homeowner’s Insurance
A benefit of ESD membership is huge savings on
auto and homeowners insurance. ESD members
and their affiliates receive significant discounts on
auto and homeowner’s insurance through Citizen’s
Insurance Company of America. These special rates
are available only to members of ESD and their
affiliated technical societies. For most, it could
mean a savings of several hundred dollars; for most
members it has clearly been a quality investment.
For more information or to obtain a quote, please
contact a Citizen’s Insurance agent or Hartland
Insurance Group at 800-682-6881.
ESD Membership, Professional
and Personal Benefits
“My ESD membership has
provided me with many
professional and personal
benefits. I first joined
ESD in 1984 and became
a member of the ESD
Publications Committee,
which was a great way to
start. Through the years
I became involved in
several other activities,
including serving as a
judge for the ESD Future
City Competition, serving as an ESD Foundation
Board Member, ESD Board Director, and becoming an
instructor for the ESD Professional Engineers Review
Course, which I still teach today. For the past few years
I have been serving as the Chair of the Solid Waste
Conference, one of the many top-notch events that ESD
helps develop, coordinate, and support. ESD is truly
serving the scientific community.”
“During 2008 I was inducted into the ESD College
of Fellows, an honor amongst my peers, one I am very
appreciative of. Through the years I made countless
professional contacts, industry contacts, and developed
a network of members that I consider close friends. My
ESD membership was a wise investment in my professional career. I encourage you to take advantage of
your membership and participate in the many benefits
that the Society can offer you.”
Paul T. Sgriccia, PE, FESD, Principal, U.S. Waste Market
Sector, Golder Associates, Inc., Corporate Member and
ESD Member since 1984
10 | r
e
b
Mem fits
e
n
e
B
Technology Century | SPRING 2012
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FOR ESD MEMBERS
FROM THE BLUES
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ESD Membership Pin
Have you received your 25+ years membership
pin? ESD continues to recognize and thank members
with a membership pin for those who have maintained
their membership with the Society for 25 years or
more. Members have been receiving pins at ESD
events, committee meetings, and ESD Today, ESD
Tomorrow Tours. If you have not yet received your pin,
please contact Lori Birman at 248-353-0735, ext. 120,
or [email protected]. Thank you for your continued
membership in The Engineering Society of Detroit!
Staples Has Gone Green.
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the planet and customers,
the Staples Business
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low, contracted prices;
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all while making a positive impact on the environment.
Staples has made a commitment to going green:
•• One of the world’s largest ink and toner recycler with
more than 23 million cartridges recycled last year. •• Leadership in solar power with 13 ongoing solar
projects, which will prevent 1,700 tons of greenhouse
gas emissions. •• In-store recycling services as the first national retailer
to offer in-store tech recycling, with more than 2
million pounds of technology waste collected in 2007. •• An EPA Green Power Partner, in 2007 Staples
purchased enough renewable energy to power 11,200
homes for a year. For a list of our eco-easy products,
visit www.StaplesAdvantageCatalogs.com.
Ordering is easy through StaplesLink.com
StaplesLink.com provides access to real-time inventory
data, order tracking, online returns, and online reporting.
Registration is free for ESD members and sign up is via
the ESD website
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 11
Technology
Century
Image Award
The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) Technology Century
magazine is seeking submissions for the first-ever
Technology Century Image Award.
Technology Century is the award-winning
official publication of ESD. It has been
serving the needs of engineers and technical
professionals since 1939. Published four times
a year, this multi-award-winning magazine
covers industries ranging from automotive
and environmental to construction, design,
and health care.
The Image Award is for individuals who
have helped promote the engineering and
technical professions through involvement
in the community, mentoring, public service,
public speaking, and presentations to various
groups; engagement in their professional
societies by serving on committees and/or
in leadership roles; used technology (i.e.,
social media or other tools) to promote the
profession; and/or other ways of enhancing
or publicizing the engineering profession to
the general public.
Award Requirements
• Individuals must hold a degree in a STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture,
Mathematics) related field.
• Provide three letters of references from individuals
for whom they worked or conducted business or
provided a service.
• Write a 300-word essay on the following topic:
Due to the recent economic downturn, Michigan is
experiencing an engineering shortage. This problem
has been further fueled by public perception that
engineering and technical jobs don’t exist here and
that to be successful, one has to leave the state.
What would you do to change this perception?
Please provide specific examples of things you’ve
done or that you would do to make Michigan the
hub of engineering once again.
• Provide a sample of something you’ve authored, or a
project you’ve been involved in, that promoted your
profession to the general public.
• Entries must be received no later than
5 p.m. Monday, May 21, 2012.
• Candidates do not have to be ESD members.
Entries must be submitted by the nominee,
signed, and returned to:
Technology Century Image Award
The Engineering Society of Detroit
Della Cassia, Managing Editor,
Technology Century magazine
20700 Civic Center Drive, Suite 450
Southfield, MI 48076
Fax: 248-353-0736 or
e-mail: [email protected]
The award will be presented at ESD’s annual
awards program on June 27, 2012.
You must be present to win.
12 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
ESD UPCOMING EVENTS
ESD MASTER SERIES™
Not just for engineers! Join us for a series of interactive,
hands-on, solution-based workshops designed with your
career advancement in mind. The ESD’s Master Series is
ideal for mid-career and executive track professionals in
a variety of professions: purchasing, sales, legal, project
management, estimators, end finance, contracting, and
executives of all departments. It is recommended that
more than one department of a company attend, as
representatives from each functional area will demonstrate the working dynamic.
The ESD Master Series workshops are scenario-based,
experiential learning modules that provide professional
development and career growth opportunities on topics
most requested by career path professionals. Led by ESD
Institute Director Christopher J. Webb, J.D., FESD.
Shift your career into drive! The Master Series™ topics
and dates are below. A certificate of completion will be
provided. All workshops will be held at ESD in Southfield.
Breakfast provided for half-day sessions; breakfast and
lunch provided, full day. Group discounts available.
EFFECTIVE WRITING TECHNIQUES FOR
ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS
ADVANCED NEGOTIATION SKILL BUILDING:
COMPLEX MULTI-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
MAY 22, 2012
AUGUST 14, 2012
8 a.m.–noon; $75 individual—$10 off with a group or
multi-course registration
Special presenter: Thomas G. McNeill, JD,
Dickinson Wright
9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
$125 individual—$10 off with a group or multi-course
registration
This program has been accredited for 8 hours by the
Michigan State Court Administrative Office.
SUCCESSFUL REFLECTIVE MANAGEMENT
JUNE 19, 2012
8 a.m.–noon; $75 individual—$10 off with a group or
multi-course registration
THE ART OF REFLECTIVE SELLING
PROACTIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM THE
START TO COMPLETION OF THE JOB
DATE TBD
$125 individual—$20 off with a group or multi-course
registration
JULY 24, 2012
8 a.m.–noon
$75 individual—$10 off with a group or multi-course
registration
To register, visit www.esd.org. For information,
contact Leslie Smith, CMP, at 248-353-0735, ext.
152, or [email protected].
ESD Master Series™ courses are taught by Christopher
J. Webb, J.D., FESD, Co-Director of the ESD Institute.
From 1977 to 2002, he was Vice-President and General
Counsel for the Jervis B. Webb Company, a global
engineering, manufacturing and construction firm. Mr.
Webb is the former chair of the State Bar Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section’s Michigan Business
Mediation Program, the immediate past Chair of the
ADR Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association, a Founding & Executive Committee Member
of the ADR Section of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar
Association, a Master Emeritus of the American Inns of
Court, a past Trustee of the Oakland Mediation Center,
and a member of the Business Law Section of the State
Bar of Michigan.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 13
ESD UPCOMING EVENTS
Third Thursday Networking Events
ESD Toastmasters Club
EVERY FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAY
THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH
Join the ESD Toastmasters
Club today to improve your
communication skills and
open doors in your personal
and professional lives.
Instead of taking classes or
spending money on costly
seminars, you’ll learn in a
self-paced atmosphere of fun
and fellowship.
For about $5 a month, the Toastmasters Club will give
you the opportunity to:
•• Develop better speaking and presentation skills.
•• Learn to think quickly and clearly on your feet.
•• Build strong leadership abilities.
Take advantage of this opportunity to network with
engineers and business leaders throughout Southeast
Michigan. We will meet from 4-6 p.m. on the third Thursday
of every month at various restaurants in Southfield. Hors
d’oeuvres will be served, and there will be a cash bar. The
May event will be held on May 17, 2012, at Tango’s at the
Westin. Check www.esd.org for following dates.
These events are free. Registration is on-site.
For more information, please call Tim Walker, CMP, at
248-353-0735, ext. 115, or email
[email protected].
The Toastmasters’ Club meets at ESD’s headquarters
every first and third Wednesday from noon-1 p.m. sharp.
Attendees may bring their lunch.
For more information, contact Lori Birman at
248-353-0735, ext. 120, or [email protected]
Choose your own rewards.
Get something back for your everyday purchases with
WorldPoints® rewards from Bank of America. Use your
The Engineering Society of Detroit Bank of America
Rewards™ American Express® Card and you’ll earn points you can redeem for cash,
travel, merchandise, even unique adventures.◆ Rewards for the things you buy anyway.
You also have the chance to show your support for The Engineering Society of Detroit
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To apply, call toll-free
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1.800.447.5555
Mention Priority Code VAAES3. You can also visit www.newcardonline.com
and enter Priority Code VAAES3.
For information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of this Rewards Card, or to apply, call the toll free number above, visit the Web site
listed above or write to P.O. Box 15020, Wilmington, DE 19850.
Terms apply to program features and credit card account benefits. For more information about the program, visit bankofamerica.com/rewards. Details accompany new account materials.
*The $0 Liability Guarantee covers fraudulent purchases and payments made by others using your account. To be covered, don’t share personal or account information with anyone. Claims may only be filed
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This credit card program is issued and administered by FIA Card Services, N.A. The WorldPoints program is managed in part by independent third parties, including a travel agency registered to do business in California (Reg. No. 2036509-50); Ohio (Reg. No. 87890286);
Washington (6011237430) and other states, as required. American Express is a federally registered service mark of American Express and is used by the issuer pursuant to license. WorldPoints and the WorldPoints design are registered trademarks of FIA Card Services, N.A. Bank of
America Rewards is a trademark and Clarity Commitment, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation.
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14 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
ESD UPCOMING EVENTS
First Annual David A. Skiven
Memorial Golf Outing
JUNE 4, 2012
ESD Open House
Networking Event
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
Whether you’re a professional
engineer or a college student, a CEO
or an entrepreneur with a dream,
you need a place where you can ask
questions, meet other similar-minded
individuals, hone your skills, and
expand your horizons. In short, you
need The Engineering Society of
Detroit and we need you.
Whether you are a member or
not, attend the open house and take
advantage of a special one-time offer:
•• Members: Bring a non-ESD
member with you and receive
a free Crain’s Detroit Business
subscription with your dues
renewal—a $75 value.
•• Nonmembers and college
graduates: Join ESD at the
Open House for only $54—that’s
a $45 savings off the regular
membership rate.
Get your golf bag ready and join us for an
ESD golf outing benefitting the David A.
Skiven Leadership Fund. The purpose of
the fund is to provide a sustainable funding
source for the ESD Institute to advance its work as
conceived and envisioned by Mr. Skiven. In addition, the
fund will support an annual award entitled The David A.
Skiven Leadership Award.
Bring your best short—and long—game to Plum
Hollow, 21631 Lahser Road, Southfield, MI 48033 at
1 p.m. for a shotgun four-person scramble. Registration
and luncheon are at 11 a.m. Ticket price includes three
drink tickets, luncheon, dinner and awards, a one-hour
open bar at dinner, and your chance to advance the
important and timely work of Mr. Skiven’s vision at the
ESD Institute, and to help ESD honor those whose work
embodies his vision.
The cost for an individual golfer is $250. A foursome
is $900. Dinner only is $75. Sponsorships are available.
For more information call 248-353-0735,
ext. 111, or email [email protected].
This is a free event at ESD’s
headquarters in Southfield. ESD
representatives will be available to
discuss membership information
and showcase member benefits.
Join us from 5–7 p.m. Soft drinks
and pizza will be served.
To register, visit www.esd.org
or contact Lori Birman at 248-3530735, ext. 120, or [email protected].
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 15
ESD UPCOMING EVENTS
2012 ESD Annual Dinner
JUNE 27, 2012
The 2012 ESD Annual Dinner will be unlike any you have
attended before. Set at The Fillmore in Detroit, the gala
evening will feature the Construction & Design Awards,
ESD Alpha Awards, and the ESD Leadership Awards.
Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner and awards
start at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more detailed information about the event by visiting www.esd.org. For
sponsorship opportunities, contact Leslie Smith, CMP, at
248-353-0735, ext. 152, or [email protected].
Summer Math, Science and
Engineering Programs for Kids
This summer introduce your child to the
wonders of science and engineering by enrolling
them in one of hundreds of exciting camps
available throughout Michigan. Check out ESD’s
online summer camp guide and find the right fit
for you. Visit www.esd.org.
Green Leaf Loan
engineers:
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16 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
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ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
2012 ESD Michigan Regional
Future City Competition Winners
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 17
ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
U
nderground and in water; powered by the
sun, kites, or nanochips; in the Congo,
remote mountains or on imaginary planets,
hundreds of students from throughout the
State of Michigan let their imaginations “Fuel
their Futures” during the Michigan Regional
Future City Competition held January 30 at
the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Guided by this year’s theme, “Fuel Your Future:
Imagine New Ways to Meet Our Energy Needs and
Maintain a Healthy Planet,” more than 600 sixth, seventh,
and eighth graders came together to compete for the title
of Best City of the Future.
The annual competition, administered by The
Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) since 1996, gives
students the opportunity to apply engineering and
mathematical principles to solve real-life problems. For
months, teams of students work with a teacher and an
engineering mentor to turn their imaginary cities into
innovative models that incorporate the competition’s
theme, as well as sound principles.
On the day of the competition, students present their
models to panels of judges who in turn select the top five
finalists. The winning teams then have to present their
cities to a panel of celebrity judges, as well as to the other
competing schools. Only one team is crowned the winner
of the competition and gets to go to Washington, DC, to
compete in the national Future City event.
After a fierce, day-long battle, St. John Lutheran
in Rochester was crowned the winner of this year’s
competition followed by Northville Christian School in
Northville in fifth place; St. Joseph School in Lake Orion
in fourth place; Dearborn Heights Montessori Center in
Dearborn in third place; and McArthur K-8 University
Academy in Southfield in second place.
In February, a team from St. John Lutheran competed
in the Future City National Finals in Washington, DC,
against 37 other teams. They won the People’s Choice
Award, as well as three others:
•• Most Sustainable Food Production System
sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural
and Biological Engineers ASABE
•• Best Land Surveying Practices sponsored by the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying NCEES
•• Best Transportation System sponsored by the
U.S. Dept of Transportation–Federal Highway
Administration USDOT-FHWA ESD would like to thank all the volunteer engineer
mentors, as well as the companies that contributed
money and resources to ensure yet another successful
competition. If you would like to participate in next
year’s Future City Competition as a volunteer mentor
or a sponsor, please contact Sue Ruffner at 248-353-0735,
ext. 117, or [email protected].
18 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Top 5
Winners
First Place
St. John Lutheran School, Rochester, Mich.
Second Place
MacArthur K-8 University Academy,
Southfield, Mich.
Fourth Place
St. Joseph School, Lake Orion, Mich.
Third Place
Dearborn Heights Montessori Center, Dearborn
Heights, Mich.
Fifth Place
Northville Christian School, Northville, Mich.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 19
Architectural Engineering of an Integrated, High-Performing City
sponsored by Lawrence Technological University
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 1, Detroit, Mich.
Best Architecture & Engineering Design
sponsored by Harley Ellis Devereaux
St. John Luteran School, Rochester, Mich.
Best City for People with Disabilities
sponsored by Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America
Northville Christian School, Northville, Mich.
Best Communication System
sponsored by Society of Women Engineers, Detroit Chapter
Marvin L. Winans Academy of the Performing Arts, Detroit, Mich.
Best Educational System
sponsored by Eastern Michigan University College of Technology and Project
Lead the Way, MacArthur K-8 University Academy, Southfield, Mich.
Best Engineered Project
sponsored by NTH Consultants, Ltd.
Crescent Academy International, Team 1, Canton, Mich.
20 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Best Essay
sponsored by Crain’s Detroit Business
Birney K-8 School, Southfield, Mich.
2012 Participating Teams
Crescent Academy International, Team 1, Canton
Hazel Park Junior High School, Hazel Park
St. Joseph School, Lake Orion
Marvin L. Winans Academy of the Performing Arts, Detroit
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 1, Detroit
Best Futuristic Transportation
sponsored by Denso International America, Inc.
Dearborn Heights Montessori Center, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy, Team 1, Detroit
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 2, Detroit
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills
Crescent Academy International, Team 2, Canton
Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy, Team 2
Birmingham Covington School, Bloomfield Hills
St. John Lutheran School, Rochester
Dearborn Heights Montessori School, Dearborn Heights
Foreign Language Immersion Cultural School, Detroit
Northville Christian School, Northville
MacArthur K-8 University Academy, Southfield
Best Place to Raise a Kid
sponsored by Barton Malow Company
Northville Christian School, Northville, Mich.
St. Valentine School, Redford
Crescent Academy International, Team 3, Canton
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 3, Detroit
Birney K–8 School, Southfield
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods
Grand Blanc West Middle School, Grand Blanc
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 21
Best Planned City
sponsored by Walbridge
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Best Quality of Life
sponsored by The Engineering Society of Detroit Institute
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 2, Detroit, Mich.
Best Rookie Team
sponsored by University of Michigan College of Engineering
Crescent Academy International, Team 2, Canton, Mich.
Best Use of Automation Technology
sponsored by Patti Engineering
Hazel Park Junior High School, Hazel Park, Mich.
Best Use of Energy
sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation
Dearborn Heights Montessori Center, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
22 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Best Use of Green Principles
sponsored by U.S. Green Building Council Detroit Regional Chapter Green Schools Committee
Hazel Park Junior High School, Hazel Park, Mich.
Best Use of Materials
sponsored by ASM International, Detroit Chapter
St. Joseph School, Lake Orion, Mich.
Building a World of Difference
sponsored by Black & Veatch
Grand Blanc West Middle School, Grand Blanc, Mich.
City Most Appealing to Young Professionals
sponsored The Engineering Society of Detroit Young Engineers Council
Academy of the Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
City of Tomorrow
sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton
Birney K-8 School, Southfield, Mich.
Electro-Technology
sponsored by Institute of Electrical & Electronics
Engineers Southeast Michigan Chapter
St. Valentine School, Redford, Mich.
Green City
sponsored by GreeningDetroit.com
Birney K-8 School, Southfield, Mich.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 23
Herbert W. Link Visionary Award
sponsored by Link Engineering Co.
MacArthur K-8 University Academy, Southfield, Mich.
Incorporation of Plastic Materials
sponsored by Society of Plastics Engineers Detroit Section
Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Team 3, Detroit, Mich.
Most Creative Use of Materials
sponsored by Construction Association of Michigan
St. Valentine School, Redford, Mich.
Most Environmentally Friendly City
sponsored by American Institute of Chemical Engineers
St. John Lutheran School, Redford, Mich.
Most Healthy Community
sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Care Network of Michigan
Foreign Language Immersion Cultural School, Detroit, Mich
Most Innovative Use of Science and Technology
sponsored by Michigan Technological University
St. John Lutheran School, Rochester, Mich.
24 Most Use of Alternative or Renewable Fuels
sponsored by Dürr Systems Inc.
St. John Lutheran School, Rochester, Mich.
Paul Tucker, Jr. Excellence in Engineering Award
sponsored by Tucker, Young, Jackson, Tull, Inc.
Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy, Team 1, Detroit, Mich.
People’s Choice Award
sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund
Birmingham Covington School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Safest City
sponsored by Hartland Insurance Group, Inc.
St. Joseph School, Lake Orion, Mich.
Sustainable Riverfront, Parks, and Open Spaces
sponsored by Albert Kahn Family of Companies
Birmingham Covington School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Sustaining Our Future
sponsored by Golder Associates Inc.
Crescent Academy International, Team 1, Canton, Mich.
The William Barclay Parsons Excellence Award
Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan, Inc.
University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
25
ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
SPONSORS
®
YOUNG ENGINEERS COUNCIL
26 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
PE License The mark of a
PROFESSIONAL
ESD Has a
91%
pass rate
We can help you.
Attend ESD’s
Professional Engineers
Licensing Review Courses
The Engineering Society of Detroit has successfully prepared thousands of
candidates for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles of
Engineering (PE) exams offered by the State of Michigan. Our courses are
taught by university professors and professional engineers, and we have a
91% pass rate – the best in the state!
Why earn your PE?
Want to know more?
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UPCOMING DATES
FE Review Course: August 14–
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Thursdays. (Exam date: October 27, 2012).
PE Review Course: August 25–
October 13, 2012, Saturdays (no
class on Sept. 1st). (Exam date: October 26, 2012).
For more information, contact Fran Mahoney at 248-353-0735, ext. 116, or
[email protected]; or visit
www.esd.org.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 27
2012
Gold
Award
Banquet
Honoring 2012 Gold Award Recipient Lewis Walker, PhD, PE,
President of Lawrence Technological University
Featuring: Affiliate Society Awardees
It was truly a golden evening as the best from the
scientific and engineering communities came together
to celebrate and applaud their own. The 2012 Gold
Award Banquet, held Thursday, February 23, 2012,
at the Dearborn Inn in Dearborn, featured this year’s
Gold Award recipient, Dr. Lewis Walker, PhD, PE,
President of Lawrence Technological University, as well
as numerous other honorees who were recognized
for their contributions and commitments to their
individual societies.
28 ESD EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
The evening kicked off with welcome remarks by:
Darlene Trudell
CAE, Executive Vice President, ESD
Filza Walters
ESD Affiliate Council Chair
Cathy J. Brady
Senior National Sales Manager Detroit Metro
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Made in Michigan
The evening also featured a special announcement
of The Made in Michigan Pipeline, a new, two-year
initiative by ESD and its Institute to return Michigan to
its glory days of being the nation’s hub for engineers.
This initiative will foster youth’s interest in STEMrelated fields, support current practitioners, and find
solutions to the state’s most pressing problems in
Gail Mee, President
Henry Ford Community College
Lewis Walker, PhD, PE
President & CEO
Lawrence Technological
University
Katherine Banicki, FESD
CEO, Testing Engineers &
Consultants
Gary Smyth
Executive Director
General Motors
Pipeline
order to encourage job growth and a spirit of entrepreneurship. Details about the Made in Michigan Pipeline
can be found by visiting www.esdinstitute.net.
Don O’Connell,
Operating Engineers Local 324
Christopher Webb, JD, FESD
Co-Director & Co-Founder
ESD Institute
Presenters of the
Made in Michigan Pipeline
Kouhaila Hammer, CPA
President and CEO
Ghafari Associates, LLC
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 29
Gold
Award
Recipient
President of Lawrence
Technological University
2012
LEWIS WALKER, PHD, PE
30 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Back, from left: Nancy Walker; Lewis Walker, PhD, PE; and Frank X. Arvan, AIA
Front, from left: Hsiao-Ping Moore, PhD; and Richard Marburger, PhD, FESD
Lucas Beal (center), from Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy,
Detroit, with his mom and dad, was part of the school’s 8th
grade Future City Team, winning the Paul Tucker, Jr.
Excellence Engineering Team Award
From left: Lewis Frasch, LTU; Philip Olivier, PhD, LTU;
and Don Carpenter, PhD, LEED AP
From left: Angie Johnson; John Borza;
Gus Rener; LaVaughn Mithen; Gordon Johnson;
Rakesh Shreewastav; and Kanchan Shrivastav
From left: Jessica Mattis, SWE; Debbie Gordon, IIE; and
Monique Lake, S. Noel Simpson, and Yasir Khogali, all from NSBE
From left: Janice Means, LTU; Brian Shell, Passionhero.com;
Cathy Brady, Crina Stefan, and Miranda Haines, all from DMCVB;
Mark Tomlinson, SME; and Debbie Holton, SME
The Future City Competition team from St. Valentine School, Redford, showed off
their model. The team won two Special Awards at this year’s competition:
Electro-Technology and Most Creative Use of Materials.
From left: Michael Furxhi from Oakland Community College, with
Darlene Stuart, Judi Deslets, Ronya Bell, and Ifti Sarguroh, all from
Credit Union One
Order
of
the
Engineer
Janice Means, PE, Past President, ESD Affiliate Council,
presents Rachel LaCasse of Lawrence Technological University
with the first Gold Award Scholarship.
Pranab Shah, PhD, PE, MSPE, speaks during the
Order of the Engineer ceremony.
Tim Fino, PE, FESD, presents Krystal R. Bolar and Sheryl Rucker
with the Science and Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit
Outstanding Teachers of the Year Award.
Participants read the Order of the Engineer statement.
Dr. Mumtaz Usmen (left) congratulates James R. Woodyard
on joining the Order of the Engineer
Darlene Trudell, CAE, ESD Executive Vice President, congratulates
Jean Schonhardt of St. Valentine School, Redford, on winning this
year’s Outstanding Future City Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs.
Schonhardt has been teaching for 35 years and is Future City’s longest
participating teacher in Michigan
Derek Crowe, PE, President, ASHRAE, Detroit Chapter, presented the
Distinguished Service Award to Paul Prentice, LEED AP, ASHRAE
Awardees
Yasir Khogali, chair, NSBE-DAE accepted this year’s ESD Affiliate
Society Partner of the Year award on behalf of the
National Society of Black Engineers—Detroit Alumni Extention
Congratulations to this year’s Future City Mentors of the Year.
Dan Brooks, PE (left), and John Danic have been mentors at
St. Valentine School, Redford, for 13 years.
Steve Leggett, Chair-Elect, American Society of Quality–Greater Detroit Section,
presents a Distinguished Service Award to John H. Miller.
Darlene Trudell, CAE, ESD Executive Vice President, congratulates Mary Kovari,
Principal, Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School, for winning this
year’s ESD Outstanding Principal of the Year Award.
Jason Coryell, Chair, ASM-Detroit presented the President’s Award to Thomas
Kozina, ASM Detroit, Past Chapter Chair
Steve Leggett, Chair-Elect, American Society of Quality–Greater Detroit
Section, presents a Distinguished Service Award to Dennis M. Drabik.
Awardees
Outstanding Professional Award
Paul Anderson, IEEE Senior Life Member, IEEE-South Michigian Section
(presented by James R. Woodyard, right)
Distinguished Service Award
Jeff VandenBoom, Past President
(presented by Lanie Dixon, left)
Dedicated Member of the Year
Krystal Lawrence, NSBE-DAE Member
(presented by Yasir Khogali, left)
Legacy Award
Monique Lake, NSBE-DAE Treasurer, Past President AC
(presented by Yasir Khogali, left)
Distinguished Service Award
Sandra McClelland, Past President, Society of Plastic Engineers, Detroit Section
(presented by Robert Petrach, left)
Outstanding Service Award
Charles Bender, Section Chair, STLE
(presented by Charles H. Paxton, left)
Safety Professional of the Year
Stephen R. Smith (right), CSP, Past President ASSE-GDC
(presented by Darryl C. Hill, PhD, CSP, left)
Engineers Without Borders Outstanding Service Award
Miriam Gasparotto, Treasurer
(presented by Esther Johnson, left)
INCOSE Michigan Chapter Booster
John Gill, PhD, INCOSE ESP, Lt Co1 USAF Ret.
(presented by Michael Vinarcik, PE, FESD, left)
Excellence in Leadership
Bryan Castleberry, NSBE-DAE Pre-College and College Initiative Chair
(presented by Yasir Khogali, left)
Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Oakland Chapter
Math Counts Award presented by David Hunter(left), President, MSPE Oakland
Chapter to Christopher Campbell, PE, RDC, Math Counts Coordinator
SAVE International-Greater Michigan Chapter, Distinguished Service Award
presented by Steve Garrett, President, SAVE Greater Michigan Chapter to
Rakesh Shreewastav (right), PE, AVS, FEC, Membership Director
Society of Women Engineers, Detroit Section Communications Award
Presented by Jessica Mattis, President to Miriam Breslauer (right), Publicity,
E-Transactions, SWE Detroit Section
Society of Plastics Engineers, Detroit, Outstanding Service Award was
presented to Sandra McClelland (right), Transportation Market
Development Manager, Chevron Phillip’s Engineering Polymers
Future City
Engineering SMArT Detroit
Membership Benefits
Energy Conferences
Training
FE/PE Review Courses
Job Fair/Job Bank
Awards
Solutions
for Jobs and
Investment
Students
Young Adults
Future Engineers
Current Engineers
Professionals
FE
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JO
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/J
BA
DS
ES
NK
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ESD
INSTITUTE
SYMPOSIA
GY
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BE
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SM
TU
FU
ESD
PROGRAMS
MI Green Enterprise Zone
Blue Economy
Energy
DEPSA
Davison
Future Detroit
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Construction
Next Manufacturing
ECONOMY
Made in Michigan Pipeline
An Initiative to Re-engineer
Michigan’s Engineers
BY CHRISTOPHER J. WEBB AND DARLENE J. TRUDELL
W
hat makes The Engineering Society
of Detroit (ESD) Made in Michigan
Pipeline different? Our pipeline
takes off the gloves to tackle a
shortage that threatens the quality
of life for all of us: the growing
shortage of engineering, technical,
and manufacturing talent.
Engineering is the lifeblood of innovation, which is
crucial to the security of the U.S. And engineering is
vital to successful manufacturing and the commercialization of services, products, and systems to be offered
on a global basis. Take away the human talent and the
rest falls apart.
The pipeline is a dramatic visual of our integrated
approach at ESD. On top, our programs reach those in
school, looking for a job, or wishing to retool. On the
bottom, the Institute’s symposia examine root causes of
the shortage so we don’t build solutions on quicksand.
It took decades for our decline to reach these ominous
levels, but we don’t have decades to turn things around.
Think of the pipeline as our “Marshall Plan” in collaboration with the many fine organizations realizing that
we are on the clock.
Reaching over 60,000 engineering and technical
professionals, nearly 3,000 companies, and more than
50 unions, ESD is poised to take aim at the gorilla in the
room. Just a few short years ago, our leaders saw the
engineering base as a key strategic advantage. But today
that advantage has slipped away. Looking reality in the
eye, we have identified five core initiatives that will turn
things around on a fast-track basis:
We will expand our own STEM programs, but
more importantly need to work with others to
create an integrated approach to the decline in
students seeking an engineering, technical, or
manufacturing career.
We are at risk of losing an entire generation of talent. An
integrated statewide STEM program built upon partnerships with engineers, employers, higher education,
nonprofits, and local/state governments is required.
Frankly, no single organization, ESD included, can do
it alone. We will move heaven and earth to implement
existing programs like Future City geared toward middle
school children and to craft cutting-edge STEM programs
to foster high school students. This will make a dent in
these pressing challenges and also reverse the current
decline in enrollment at Michigan’s engineering schools.
ESD will expand its efforts in coordinating and contributing with funders like United Way and providers like
public and private school stakeholders to get
the job done.
37
ECONOMY
We can enact the Michigan Investment
Corporation Act.
coverage is at the forefront of every jobseeker’s mind, and
we can be proactive. Using the Investment Corporation
Act, Michigan can create a two-tier healthcare delivery
system with defined coverage using best practices to
give employers a break from out-of-control costs and still
provide security to employees. A second catastrophic layer
can be funded by federal block grants, giving Michigan
the freedom to craft a healthcare delivery system that
optimizes patient care. And, along the way, imagine a
single-loss system without present workers compensation
and disability systems. Yes, the best healthcare system will
bring engineers and their families home to Michigan.
We can shorten supply lines and reinvigorate
manufacturing.
THE TIME IS NOW
We have draft legislation to create a mega authority with
the power to lower the cost of doing business in Michigan
by 30 percent without relying on tax or fiscal incentives.
This authority lays the foundation for Michigan to be a
global export state. An authority incentivized by savings
removes the uncertainties of the political risks and
fractional regionalism that prevent first-choice business
investment here. We call upon the governor and the
legislature to enact the Michigan Investment Corporation
Act before the upcoming election.
In order for Michigan to thrive as an export state, we
must replace the export of people with the export of
goods. Thus, to rebuild and attract the best engineering
talent pool in the world, manufacturing is a necessity.
ESD will conduct a manufacturing symposium bringing
together business, labor, and government to find the
answers to out-compete anyone as a manufacturing
engine. With today’s supply lines subjected to an
unprecedented level of risk, bringing manufacturers and
engineers home simply makes good sense. In doing so we
give real opportunity to youth, stabilize the middle class,
and rebuild the tax base. Let’s “re-shore” manufacturing
to Michigan as the location of choice.
Our public projects can be built efficiently.
Best practices, specifically those identified at our
Construction Productivity symposium, can and should
maximize the investment of every public dollar in
construction and infrastructure. The construction
industry, like the auto industry a few short decades
ago, now faces global competition (as evidenced by
the second Bay Bridge in San Francisco that will be
supplied from China). And yet, waste in the American
construction supply chain exceeds 50 percent. With the
help of a diversity of owners, contractors, and A/E firms,
we are developing case studies that will show in dollars
and cents the clear advantages of best construction
practice to drive out waste. We see an endgame that
will be embraced by the governor to sign an executive
order mandating the use of these practices to realize an
immediate savings in all of our publicly funded projects
throughout Michigan. The results have far-reaching
implications, from lowering tuition for college students to
quicker and stronger road repair.
We can attract talent through innovative healthcare.
The most talented members of any workforce will
naturally be most attracted to positions that provide
security for themselves and their families. Healthcare
38 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
The need for swift, measured action on multiple fronts
is shouted in the numbers. According to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, Michigan has lost 17 percent of its
engineers since 2007. This is confirmed by ESD’s own job
fair statistics: in spring 2009, nearly 1,400 job seekers
attended the job fair to apply for engineering and
technical positions offered by 30 companies. In spring
2012, we saw the number of companies rise to 51, but the
number of job seekers had dropped to nearly 600.
The ESD Made in Michigan Pipeline is multidimensional and multidisciplinary: there is a piece that each
and every person can identify with and take hold.
We know that when we all work together in concert,
progress is faster, results are longer-lasting, and impact
is far-reaching. We are proud to stand with all the many
fine people helping to make the ESD Made in Michigan
Pipeline an effective reality.
Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD, is
Co-Director of The Engineering Society
of Detroit Institute (ESDI). As a neutral,
problem-solving forum, ESDI’s mission is
to bring together individuals of differing
backgrounds, opinions and expertise to
foster creative and independent thought
and to deliver focused and consensusbased actions that can be adopted by policymakers.
Darlene J. Trudell, CAE, is Executive Vice
President of The Engineering Society
of Detroit (ESD). ESD’s membership
consists of 6,500 individuals, 3,000
corporate members, 92 affiliated
technical societies, 34 construction
organizations, 38 educational
institutions, and 52 unions.
FINANCE
NEW FEE
DISCLOSURES
AND THEIR
IMPACT ON
401(k) PLANS
C
BY ANTHONY R. LOTT, CFP®, CIMA®, CRPC®
onfused about how much you are being
charged for your employer-sponsored
401(k) plan? New regulations may soon
provide some clarification. Beginning this
year, your 401(k) plan statements will be
much more descriptive, offering you details
on the dollar amount deducted for fees and
expenses each quarter.
The U.S. Department of Labor issued the regulations
to help the more than 72 million Americans enrolled in
401(k) plans better understand the effect fees can have
on the returns they receive. The additional disclosures
must also document the type of services that are provided
in exchange for each charge, and provide performance
data on the various mutual funds offered under the plan,
including the funds’ one-year, five-year, and ten-year
returns. To avoid any potential surprises when you
open your first account statement containing the new
disclosures, there are several changes to the document
that should be on your radar.
PLAN-RELATED FEES AND EXPENSES
The plan sponsor must disclose, at least quarterly,
the dollar amount of the expenses and fees that were
actually charged during the preceding quarter to
the participants’ plan accounts for such services as
accounting, legal, and recordkeeping. The disclosures
must also include a description of the services from
which the charges are derived.
The plan sponsor must also specify the fees that were
charged to the participants’ individual account, including
fees for the use of brokerage windows, commissions,
front- or back-end loads, or sales charges, redemption
fees, transfer fees, and optional rider charges in annuity
contracts. Moreover, the fees charged for specialized
services individual plan participants receive, such as
processing and fulfilling loan requests, pre-retirement
withdrawals, or personalized investment advice, will also
be captured on the new disclosures.
KEY INVESTMENT-RELATED INFORMATION
Another major change 401(k) plan participants will see
on statements is data detailing how the investments
being offered have performed in the past, including the
one-, five-, and ten-year returns for mutual funds and
other plan investment options that do not have a fixed
rate of return. For both variable and fixed-rate investment
options, the plan must provide a description of any
shareholder-type fees or restrictions on purchases or
withdrawals.
What’s more, the annual rate of return and the
term of the investment must be clearly defined for
fixed investments, with participants being directed to
a website for each investment
option that provides more details
about the fund. Participants
must also be provided with a
glossary of terms explaining any
investment terminology used
in the description, according
to the new regulations. The
plan’s investment-related
INVESTMENTS
information should be presented
to participants in a chart or similar
format designed to make it easy
for participants and beneficiaries
to compare each of the investment
options available under the plan.
The new disclosure rules are
poised to move the industry closer
to greater transparency as the
fees being charged to savers will
become clearer. Ultimately, the
enhanced disclosures could help
you stay better informed and aware
of what you are paying for your
retirement plan.
NEW FEE
DISCLOSURES
INVEST
WISELY
Anthony R. Lott, CFP®, CIMA®,
CRPC®, is Vice President-Investments
at UB aS Financial Services Inc.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 39
TECHNOLOGY
PROJECT
LEADS
THE WAY
TO TECHNOLOGY
BY JOHN C. DUGGER
I
magine a middle school where, during the first nine
weeks, all students are required to use industry
standard 3D modeling software to create a virtual
image of their designs and produce a portfolio
to showcase their creative solutions. In a second
nine-week unit, students then learn about mechanical
systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and
computer control systems prior to using a robust
robotics platform to design, build, and program a
solution to solve an existing problem. Imagine as well
a smorgasbord of specialization opportunities for these
middle school students involving nine-week units on
topics including:
•• Energy and the Environment (EE)
•• Flight and Space (FS)
•• Green Architecture (GA)
•• Magic of Electrons (ME)
•• Science of Technology (ST)
It may be surprising to learn that such a program already
exists in the form of Project Lead The Way’s Gateway To
Technology (GTT) program? GTT features a project-based
curriculum designed to challenge and engage the natural
curiosity and imagination of middle school students and is
reviewed and updated every four years.
PLTW CARVES ENGINEERING PATH
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the leading provider of
rigorous and innovative science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) secondary education programs
used in middle and high schools across
the United States.
40 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
In addition to the middle school
PLTW units above, there are
eight high school PLTW courses.
At that level, the PLTW course
sequence begins with two year-long
foundation courses:
INTRODUCTION TO
ENGINEERING DESIGN (IED)
Designed for 9th/10th grade students, the
major focus of IED is the design process and its
application. Through hands-on projects and the
application of engineering standards and document
tools, students use industry-standard 3D modeling
software to design solutions to solve problems.
PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING (POE)
Designed for 10th/11th grade students, this survey
course exposes students to major concepts they’ll
encounter in a post-secondary engineering course
of study. Topics include mechanisms, energy,
statics, materials, and kinematics. They
develop problem-solving skills and
apply their knowledge of research
and design to create
solutions to various
challenges.
the research efforts can be found at: www.pltw.org/sites/
default/files/PLTW%20Student%20Outcomes_1.pdf.
Currently, the only way a teacher in Michigan can
become a PLTW teacher is to already be teacher certified,
obtain a sponsorship from a school district that has
signed an agreement with the PLTW national nonprofit
organization, and complete a summer in-service training
session, which are offered by PLTW affiliate universities.
Beginning in FOall 2012, there will be a second way
to become a PLTW teacher. It is designed to allow
prospective teachers to gain pre-service training during
undergraduate teacher preparation program.
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY’S ROLE
A capstone course and five additional specialized
engineering pathway courses are being offered in
high schools, as well, including:
•• Aerospace Engineering (AE)
•• Biotechnical Engineering (BE)
•• Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA)
•• Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)
•• Digital Electronics (DE)
•• Engineering Design and Development (EDD)
More information can be found at www.pltw.org.
In the 2011–2012 academic year alone, more than
400,000 students in more than 4,200 schools in all
50 states and the District of Columbia are taking
PLTW STEM education courses. In Michigan, more
than 100 schools are offering PLTW Engineering
Career Path programs.
Since 2004, PLTW has used an independent
service to conduct follow-up student testing to
measure impact. Student assessments are gathered
at the end of each PLTW course, rating student
interest and engagement. Additional studies have
been conducted by individual states. Overall,
the studies indicate that math and science
achievement, as well as persistence along
the STEM career paths, are positively
influenced by PLTW experiences.
Career choice is impacted at the
middle school level. A fact
sheet with a summary
of some of
As Michigan’s only PLTW affiliate university, EMU has
trained over 160 teachers through summer in-services. In
the fall, the College of Technology at Eastern Michigan
University will launch a program allowing undergraduate
students to obtain PLTW approval while completing their
teacher preparation programs. The program focuses on
engineering and technology education and promises
to offer tremendous opportunities for employment to
its graduates. In addition to obtaining PLTW approval,
participating students will be endorsed to teach
secondary industrial and technology classes.
Over the past five years, EMU has been able to obtain
more than $700,000 from private foundations and
public organizations to support PLTW implementation in
Michigan. EMU has also formed an executive leadership
team in an effort to expand the number of middle and
high schools offering PLTW coursework and making PLTW
offerings available to all Michigan students. The leadership
team includes members from the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation, the Michigan Department of
Education, Lawrence Technological University, Eastern
Michigan University, and Project Lead The Way.
For more information about Michigan’s PLTW, please
visit www.pltwmichigan.org. To learn more or help
broaden the impact of PLTW in Michigan, please email Dr.
John Dugger at [email protected] or Dr. Paul Kuwik at
[email protected].
John C. Dugger, PhD, is Affiliate
Director of Project Lead The Way and
Professor of Technology Studies at
Eastern Michigan University. He has
more than 40 refereed articles and
has secured more than $1 million in
external funding.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 41
KETTERING:
MORE THAN
INNOVATION 101
School nurtures entrepreneurial spirit
BY DAWN HIBBARD
W
hen it comes to the business of
innovation, Kettering University
redefines the paradigm of
incorporating entrepreneurship
into higher education. From
beginning to end, Kettering
students are encouraged to explore
and reshape their notion of
innovation in a multitude of ways, said Dr. Doug Melton,
Program Director for Kettering’s Entrepreneurship Across
the University (EAU) initiative and an Associate Professor
of Electrical Engineering. “We’re passionate about
changing our institution on this topic,” Dr. Melton said.
“There are many ways to accomplish it and our list just
keeps getting longer and longer.”
FROM CURRICULUM TO BOARDROOM
Two of the newest innovations are additions to the
curriculum: Innovation 101 and a new entrepreneurially
minded option for the Kettering Senior Thesis.
The projects are made possible through a Kern
Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEEN) program
grant from the Kern Family Foundation. According to
Dr. Melton, Innovation 101 is designed to frame the
student’s academic career in terms of solving important
engineering and societal problems. “I believe this piece of
the EAU Initiative will have the largest impact of anything
we do,” he said.
42 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Innovation 101 is a course for the Freshman-2
term that complements Freshman-1 Orientation and
features a problem-based approach to science and
engineering needs. The course has an emphasis on
significant engineering challenges with business
and commercialization opportunities, including
co-curricular activities outside the classroom. To be
successful, the scope of the Innovation 101 course
requires coordination across all nine academic
departments at Kettering, explained Dr. Melton.
The pilot course that began January 9, 2012, is
implemented by a multidisciplinary team appointed by
the provost, which includes a Kettering corporate partner.
In partnership with Mid-Michigan Solar, the focus of the
engineering challenge for the first course is “Making Solar
Energy Economical.” This term, the emphasis of the course
is combining both technical skills and business acumen to
address the challenge. On the first day of the course, Dr.
Melton asked his class, “How many of you have solar energy
on your home?” No one raised a hand. “Why? That’s the
question we’ll address this term through guest lecturers in
physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, and business,”
Dr. Melton said. Through experiential learning exercises
students will be introduced to the technology and science
underlying solar energy systems in addition an introduction
to the business side of designing and installing these
systems, and the challenges faced by green technology
companies.
INNOVATION
As a complement to the Innovation 101 course, Dr.
Melton coordinates weekly “Innovation Thursdays”
events that pit teams of two to three students against
one another in a 30-minute engineering challenge. The
winner of the weekly challenge receives a $100 cash
prize. Challenges involve applying an understanding of
basic engineering principles and on-the-spot-teamwork to
complete the task well and on time.
MEET THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS
The other new addition to the curriculum is the
entrepreneurially minded senior thesis option, which
continues to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in Kettering
students through their final year by going beyond the
traditional undergraduate thesis. Instead of a co-op
employer-based thesis, students can choose to focus on a
business innovation project of their own.
At Kettering, seniors must complete a thesis project.
Traditionally, this project uses their education to design
and implement a project for their co-op employer. Upon
completion of the project, the student submits a written
report or thesis, which is evaluated by both the student’s
employer adviser and the faculty adviser.
The entrepreneurially minded thesis is an alternative
to an employer-based thesis. It will bring new experiences
to each degree program and serve to encourage students
with an interest in business innovation to develop their
ideas into marketable products or start-up companies, Dr.
Melton said.
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP MINOR
Kettering’s minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
gives students the skills and knowledge needed to
start new business ventures and to create innovative
new products and services in existing firms. The
minor is in response to a growing interest among
students to turn new technology into for-profit and
nonprofit enterprises. This minor also complements
extra-curricular activities on campus, as well as the
university’s efforts to support new business incubators
in mid-Michigan.
The Business of Innovation at Kettering has gone
far beyond the classroom over the past six years. What
began as a project to engage students in a few classes
in entrepreneurial thinking has grown to encompass the
entire institution, including formal training for almost
all of the university’s 125 faculty members and half of
all staff. Today, EAU is an evolving all-campus program
that reinforces an entrepreneurial mindset across the
Kettering community.
KETTERING’S ENTREPRENEUR SOCIETY
This mindset includes student groups and collaborations
around the city, state, and world. Student groups
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 43
include the Kettering Entrepreneur Society (KES),
an organization that offers its members networking,
mentoring, and other opportunities that strengthen
fledgling business plans or even new businesses.
Successful start-ups launched through KES include
PRIME LLC, AlfaJango, and Youth for Tomorrow.
CLASS PROJECTS
To help move innovation out of the classroom and
into the community, Dr. Melton developed the “Audio
Tourister” project for his Electrical Engineering Senior
Design class. Students repurposed vintage luggage
by adding sound systems compatible with modern
electronics, including MP3 players, iPods, and laptop
computers. Students designed and built the systems
with commercialization in mind and the colorful “Audio
Touristers” were then auctioned off, raising $1,660 for
Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan in December. For
more information, visit www.kettering.edu/visitors/
storydetail.jsp?storynum=3166.
AWARD-WINNING INNOVATION CENTER
Kettering’s Innovation Center is a 9,000-ft2 building
that provides businesses with dedicated wet and/or dry
laboratory capabilities in a business-incubator setting.
The $3.2-million project is the first building in Kettering’s
Technology Park, which opened in August 2010, and is
located in close proximity to the significant science and
engineering assets at Kettering.
The Innovation Center was designed by SHW Group
and recently won a Design Excellence Award from the
American Institute of Architects. Amenities in the public
space include a business center, furnished executive and
administrative offices, a conference room with high-tech
audio/video systems, a café dining and seating area, and
a reception area.
NATIONAL DIFFERENCES
Kettering’s cutting-edge approach for teaching
students how to become innovators received the Kern
Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEEN) national
Best in Class Award in 2010. Dr. Melton said the national
recognition helps set Kettering’s Business of Innovation
efforts apart from other institutions.
Other fresh ideas are generated through Kettering’s
McDonald Professor of Entrepreneurship, currently
held by Art DeMonte. Dr. DeMonte often team teaches
Business 372: Innovation and New Ventures to
encourage his creative, proactive students. “It’s a key
activity that complements our Entrepreneurship Across
the University program, the Kettering Entrepreneurship
Society, and the commercialization efforts of our
TechWorks incubator and Innovation Center,” said
Dr. DeMonte.
44 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Dawn Hibbard is the Director of
Media Relations and Social Media at
Kettering University in Flint, Mich. Her
communications credentials include
corporate, nonprofit, community
journalism, and higher education.
Additionally, she is a nationally
published author and photographer.
PERSPECTIVES:
TODAY’S YOUNG ENGINEER
MEETS YOUNG ENGINEER
OF THE FUTURE
... I also saw a glimpse of just
how bright the future is for the
engineering profession.
T
his past January, I participated as a Special Awards judge
at the 2012 Michigan Regional Future City Competition,
judging the “City Most Appealing to Young Professionals.”
Not only did I find 24 new cities that I wanted to move
to, I also saw a glimpse of just how bright the future is for
the engineering profession. From looking at the cities and
talking to students, I think it is safe to say: “Engineers,
bring sunglasses, because you will need them!”
The Future City Competition challenges middle school students to create
the ideal “City of the Future” through the hands-on application of math,
science, and engineering principles. Students are given a problem that will
be solved in their future city, and with the help of practicing engineers who
volunteer as mentors, students brainstorm ideas, design solutions, and build
a scale model of their city.
This year, the challenge was “Fuel Your Future: Imagine New Ways
to Meet Our Energy Needs and Maintain a Healthy Planet.” To meet this
challenge, students learned about different energy options and how they
work, as well as infrastructures needed in implementing them. They also
brainstormed ways to keep a city, its residents, and its natural resources
healthy. From there, students designed a realistic urban development to
allow for the implementation of these options in their city.
I was blown away by the knowledge and thought that went into every
city. I was lucky if I even knew what energy was when I was a kid, let
alone having a solid understanding of four different types of renewable
energy or how a hydroelectric dam works. I’d be lucky if I knew how
a hydroelectric dam works now. With the interest, excitement, and
dedication these students have, it is easy to see how bright their futures
are and the positive impact they will have someday. Congratulations to
all of this year’s Michigan Regional Future City participants.
Anita Saha is a Staff Engineer with
NTH Consultants. She is a member
of both The ESD YEC and the Society
of American Military Engineers.
She graduated from the University
of Michigan with a BS in Civil
Engineering in 2009.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 45
HEALTHCARE
AsfalisMed: FEWER QUESTIONS,
FASTER TREATMENT
Michigan Tech Students Create New Medical Solution
BY DANNY MESSINGER
T
he next big business idea isn’t coming out of
a corporate board meeting; it’s popping up
in the minds of college students. And, like
many of the best ideas, it offers an innovative
fix for a knotty problem.
AsfalisMed, conceived by Michigan
Technological University students Joel Florek
and Travis Beaulieu, aims to save vital time
in a medical emergency by addressing a serious issue with
a straightforward solution. “We initially came up with a
system for medical personnel to easily access pertinent
medical information—like a serious allergy or preexisting
condition—using QR codes,” said Mr. Florek.
“A couple of years ago, someone had a similar idea,
but they relied on ID cards with flash drives in them
to store the medical information,” added Mr. Beaulieu.
“But why would an EMT carry around a laptop to read
it? QR codes on student IDs and drivers licenses were a
lot more accessible.”
ASFALISMED FINDS NEW SOLUTIONS
With QR codes (the square dot matrix barcodes easily
read by most smart phones) now appearing on everything
from billboards to cereal boxes, the team hoped its idea
would make it as big as the codes themselves. The team
envisioned a secure, easily accessible, and lightning-fast
system for pulling up a patient’s most important medical
information, which could save medical personnel the
minutes and seconds that simply can’t be wasted in
an emergency. But, if a patient didn’t have his/her ID
46 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
card during an emergency, AsfalisMed wouldn’t be able
to help. After some brainstorming—and innovative
thinking—they went back to the drawing board.
AsfalisMed decided to store patient information in a
database, which can be quickly accessed in an emergency
by authorized medical personnel using a secure mobile
application on a smartphone, eliminating dependence on
ID cards altogether.
In the few short months that the idea has been in
development, AsfalisMed has already generated amazing
interest. Mr. Florek, a first-year business and economics
student, and Mr. Beaulieu, a senior applied physics major,
say Michigan Tech’s small campus and big entrepreneurship support system have played a vital role in their
success.
“We’ve been really lucky,” said Mr. Florek. “With our
smaller school, we’ve always been able to get in contact
with the right people easily. At a bigger school, that
would never happen. We almost have more mentors here
than we do students.”
MICHIGAN TECH: INCUBATOR FOR STUDENT IDEAS
The Bob Mark Memorial Elevator Pitch Competition,
held every year since 2007, gives future entrepreneurs
a chance to share their business plans in three minutes
or less, or the average time it takes to ride a high-rise
elevator. In the competition, individuals and teams
present ideas to a panel of judges in front of a packed
lecture hall. At the end of the competition, winners walk
away with cash prizes of up to $1,000. Placing first in the
most recent elevator pitch competition: AsfalisMed.
Programs like the Entrepreneur Support Center
provide start-up businesses and entrepreneurial-minded
students the resources they need to get off the ground.
From software and meeting space to business training
and local business owner consultations, the center aims
to support business development. Michigan Tech has also
teamed up with Central Michigan University for the New
Venture Competition, where students from both universities pitch business plans in hopes of winning cash and
in-kind prizes to help start businesses.
Mr. Florek and Mr. Beaulieu’s idea has already moved
beyond the Michigan Tech campus. As a recent runner-up
in the Intel Innovators competition, AsfalisMed was
recognized as one of the top five groundbreaking business
ideas in the nation, putting the team in the running
for $100,000 to help start their business. Even though
they didn’t place first, Mr. Beaulieu said the experience
of competing at a national level will prove extremely
valuable going forward. “We came out with a new laptop
and unbelievable recognition,” he said. “It was definitely
a worthwhile experience.”
With so many programs fostering innovation and
business success, Mr. Florek and Mr. Beaulieu have high
hopes for their business. “We’re already leaps and bounds
ahead of smaller competitors,” said Mr. Beaulieu. “Right
now, we’re working on getting a prototype built. Then,
we’ll start with small colleges and eventually work to
connect larger schools and hospitals into the network.”
Given their fast success, it could be easy for the pair to
lose sight of their idea’s original goal: help save lives. But,
as Mr. Florek explained, “When we started, we wanted
to make sure our name had a story behind it. Asfalis is
Greek for safe and secure. And that’s exactly what AsfalisMed is.”
Danny Messinger is a senior at
Michigan Technological University,
studying communication, culture,
and media. He aims to start a career
in marketing communications in
the amusement industry following
graduation.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 47
LAW
New Estate Planning Law:
Opportunities & Caveats
BY THOMAS E. OWEN &
VINCENT DEMARCO
O
n December 17, 2010, a new tax law was
adopted that changed the existing federal gift,
estate tax, and generation-skipping tax laws.
By its own terms, this new law is effective only
through December 31, 2012, at which point
the “old” tax law will supposedly be reinstated.
The old law dates back to 2001, with the rates
and exemptions in effect then. The changes
contained in the tax law for 2012 present new estateplanning opportunities and may cause problems with
some existing estate plans.
GIFT TAX
In 2012, as before, you may give an unlimited number
of donees a gift up to the amount of the annual gift tax
exclusion without incurring any gift tax or using up
any of your estate and gift tax exemption. The amount
of the annual exclusion for 2012 is $13,000. If your
spouse contributes to the gift, the value of the gift can
be doubled to $26,000. (As before, you can still pay
education and medical expenses for another with gift-tax
consequences.)
In addition, for 2012 the amount of the gift and estate
tax exemption has been increased to $5.12 million. This
means that you would not incur gift-tax liability until
your lifetime total of taxable gifts exceeded $5.12 million.
While this may not be relevant to all readers, there are
many for whom this presents a welcome estate-planning
opportunity and one that was not available before 2011
and may not be available after 2012.
48 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
ESTATE TAX
The upward change in the amount of the gift and
estate tax exemption affects estate tax as it does
the gift tax on lifetime giving. The practical effect
of the $5.12 million exemption is that no tax will
be assessed on taxable estates of less than $5.12
million. That means that for almost everyone, estate
tax would be eliminated from consideration in their
planning. The fly in the ointment of that planning is
that the $5.12 million exemption, under current law,
is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012. Unless
Congress acts before then, the pre-2001 rates will
come back into effect.
Under the old law, the amount of the exemption
was $1 million and the tax on the taxable portion of
an estate (that which exceeds $1 million) was at 55%
(higher for some estates). At this time, it is not possible
to know what Congress will do. Congress allowed
the estate tax to disappear completely for 2010, to
the surprise of everyone. There is sympathy in some
parts of Congress for making such a repeal permanent.
Others have suggested reverting to pre-2010 status, of
a $3.5 million exemption and 45% tax rate. Perhaps
the present law will be extended. Then again, perhaps
there will be no agreement in Congress, and the 2001
law will be reinstated. Careful planning requires that
your estate plan be flexible enough to deal with any of
these possibilities.
A CAVEAT
If your existing estate plan provides for the funding
of the “credit shelter” trust first and a spouse’s trust
second, you may wish to consider the effect of that
direction in the light of the $5.12 million exemption. It
might cause the entire trust estate to be placed in the
credit-shelter trust, and nothing, or very little, in the
spousal trust. If you have any questions, contact your
estate-planning advisor.
PORTABILITY
Among the features introduced in the current law is
the opportunity for portability of the deceased spouse’s
unused exemption amount (DSUEA). Heretofore, any
portion of the deceased spouse’s estate tax exemption
that was not necessary to wipe out the estate tax in that
spouse’s estate was lost. It disappeared. Under portability,
the surviving spouse can add that amount to his or her
own exemption amount. To achieve portability, an estate
tax return must be timely filed, even though it might not
otherwise be required, and there are an abundance of
qualifications and requirements, as set out in the statutes
and regulations, and certainly more will be developed
through IRS rulings and court decisions.
As noted, the estate and gift tax law in effect for 2012
has introduced significant changes, some of which were
explained in this article. Other issues, such as changes
to the generation-skipping tax, are not addressed in this
article due to space considerations. As always, consult
your estate-planning advisor for more information on
your particular situation.
Tom Owen (left)
and Vince DeMarco
are engineers at
heart, having earned
engineering degrees
at Michigan and
Michigan State,
respectively. Owen
& Demarco, PLC, is
located at 20 W. Washington, Suite 3, Clarkston, Mich.,
48346. They can be reached at 248-642-1240 or
[email protected].
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 49
WE’VE COME A LONG WAY
Impact of Technology on LTU Student Learning, Services
W
BY RICHARD E. MARBURGER
hen Lawrence Technological
University arrived in Southfield in
1955, an early computing capability
was put in place using computers
obtained from Burroughs and IBM.
In general, the equipment was used
for administrative purposes by the
business office to maintain financial
records and by the registrar’s office to maintain student
records and process student registrations, drops/adds,
and the like. Computer classes for students included
Fortran and Cobol programming languages and punch
cards were used to enter and process data.
In the middle 1970s, a young Lawrence Tech electrical
engineering graduate, John Grden, was appointed
Director of the Edward Donley Computer Center
(EDCC). Mr. Grden had extensive circuitry experience
and had worked his way through college by performing
general television repairs, a talent that would be of
great value to the university. During a time when many
university computer centers relied on directors with
extensive management experience, it became clear
that an individual with hands-on experience and an
understanding of electronics was most valuable.
50 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
TECHNOLOGY THEN & NOW
Since those humble beginnings, the EDCC at Lawrence
Tech has been instrumental in developing the area’s
access to communication technologies. LTU initially
worked with Wayne State and other entities to help
implement an Internet precursor BitNet to store and
forward processes for information transfer between
hundreds of academic institutions. As technology
improved, developers of the Internet through the Ann
Arbor-based Merit educational network used LTU as
a hub for educational Internet use in Southeastern
Michigan. The university acted as an early commercial
telecommunications hub in the Southfield area to
distribute information circuits to local businesses.
“On campus, as in business, there has been an
explosion in information exchange through the use
of affordable network computers,” said Tim Chavis,
Executive Director of Information Technology Service
Delivery at Lawrence Tech.
Providing every undergraduate student on Lawrence
Tech’s campus with a networked laptop has changed
teaching pedagogies and allowed them to develop,
share, and collaborate on large, intricate designs using a
computer that fits neatly in their backpacks and weighs
EDUCATION
less than their textbooks. Today, being restricted to using
a computer in one location or in computer labs is as much
as thing of the past as punch cards. The typical student
laptop, smartphone, and $80 external storage device
include more computing capacity than the entire EDCC
contained 25 years ago. This access to technology, coupled
with an increase in the number of devices and necessary
bandwidth requirements, is evidenced by the si x-fold
increase in Internet traffic over the last three years.
Email, social media, fax, and mobile phone transmissions
are now used to improve administrative interaction with
existing and prospective students. When a prospective
student or parent makes an electronic request for
information, the message is simultaneously shared with the
offices of Admissions, Registrar, and Financial Aid. Within
moments, it is possible to receive a rapid yet personal
response from an academic office. Similarly, issues arising
during registration or the advising process can be handled
electronically. Students can easily check their grades and
access their own transcripts, thereby reducing the need for
unnecessary trips to campus.
EDUCATION REACHES BEYOND CAMPUS
In the classroom setting, architecture design classes are
taught entirely online at Lawrence Tech. Students can
simultaneously watch video, share information, review
techniques, and demonstrate concepts with classmates
in another city or even on the other side of the world.
By leveraging existing methods and adding more
sophisticated technologies, universities are able to extend
the reach of the classroom to include students physically
on or off campus.
“Students who travel for work or relocate for jobs are
able to stay connected to Lawrence Tech and continue
their education,” said Richard Bush, Director of eLearning
Services at Lawrence Tech. “The use of these technologies
prepares students well for the global nature of projects
being implemented remotely.”
Computer technology has changed how students
use library resources and access other student services.
Library staff communicates with patrons via online
chat to provide services to students regardless of their
location. Students can research topics for courses and
papers by connecting with the digital library services.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 51
EDUCATION
This goes beyond the simple databases; it includes being
able to connect with the librarian online in real-time to
receive consultation and support. The Lawrence Tech
Library offers over 100,000 full-text academic journals
and over 100,000 electronic books. Additionally, students
who are off-campus can connect with the Academic
Achievement Center to receive quality tutoring support in
mathematics, natural sciences, and reading and writing
through the use of online, web-collaboration technology.
which allows for seamless integration and a dynamic,
interactive learning environment,” added Charlene
Ramos, Director of LTU Help Desk Services.
Because the laptops are university-owned, the Help
Desk Services office is available to all students to support
their software and hardware needs. “Any time a student
has a problem, even if there is physical damage to the
machine, the student receives a new machine on the
spot, allowing the student to get back to work without
interruption,” Ms. Ramos said.
As technology is introduced and matures, new
environments for teaching and learning are created.
These new opportunities for pedagogy, learning, and
communication test an institution’s ability to manage
information beyond the traditional classroom paradigm.
This ability to provide an enhanced teaching and learning
environment for on-ground, blended, and online students
requires universities like Lawrence Tech to facilitate
a cohesive, balanced, and stable environment where
inquiry, communication, and access to the Internet are
coupled with solid instruction.
Faculty can leverage a variety of lecture-capture
technologies for delivery of instruction. Video and
PowerPoint slides can be captured quickly and efficiently,
thereby enabling faculty to deliver media-rich lectures
to all of their classes, whether online or on-ground,
with consistency and quality. Students are able to
review lectures as often as needed to ensure that they
have learned as much as they can from the lecture in
preparation for various assignments and examinations.
Students learn more when technology is used in a
way that maintains their interest, provides them
an opportunity to review material, and helps them
collaborate with colleagues.
SMART SAFEGUARDS CREATE
BETTER LEARNING TOOLS
Just as traditional classes have changed, so have some
of the risks associated with technology. Information,
privacy, and intellectual property need to be protected
by more than a locked door since threats can come
through the Internet from around the world. In the
large volume of emails flowing to staff and faculty, there
is much unsolicited and undesired mail. The EDCC has
implemented a method for isolating much of this via
quarantine lists and threat scanning so recipients can deal
with it and avoid being inundated.
To reduce risks, all Lawrence Tech undergraduate
students are issued modern laptop or tablet computers,
completely loaded with all the necessary software for
their educational experience. The software applications
are often industry standard, providing the technological
edge needed upon graduation. “All students and faculty
are using the same versions of software and hardware,
52 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
Richard E. Marburger, PhD, FESD,
is President Emeritus, Professor
Emeritus, and Senior Advisor for
both the College of Engineering and
the College of Arts and Sciences at
Lawrence Technological University. He
served as President of the university
from 1977-1993 and as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer from 19811993. Dr. Marburger currently serves as a volunteer student
advisor for two of Lawrence Tech’s four colleges. Lawrence
Tech’s pioneering technological advances in computing
was highlighted in the March/April 2011 issue of EdTech.
To learn more, visit www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/
article/2011/02/accelerated-learning.
Does your organization need to transform itself in the face of
today’s tough challenges? Does it face a “bet your business”
problem and need solutions fast? Want to locate your next
market? Create the next generation of products or services?
Build an internal consensus for a roadmap of success?
Our proven symposium process—for your organization,
around your chosen topic—is for you. The ESD Institute
provides a unique on-site opportunity for your stakeholders to think through strategies for moving forward.
The assistance of neutral facilitators will maximize your
group decision-making capability. We enable you to
identify common ground, optimize your strengths and
repair your weaknesses on a fast-track basis.
The Engineering Society of
Detroit Institute offers custom
facilitation and symposia
services. Please contact Tim
Walker, CMP, at 248-353-0735,
ext. 115, or [email protected],
for a detailed description of our
fees and services.
JOSH LINKNER: Engineering A New Detroit, One
AT A Time
BY DELLA CASSIA
T
hink innovation and the first person who
comes to mind is Detroit’s own Josh
Linkner. The founder, chairman, and
former CEO of Pleasant Ridge-based
ePrize, a company that creates promotional campaigns ranging from online
sweepstakes to points-based loyalty
programs, is on a mission not only to
“innovate” innovation, but to innovate his beloved city.
The secret? “Shatter conventional wisdom,” create a
special brand, and change perceptions that Detroit is a
city of the past. Thus was born Detroit Venture Partners
in 2010, a venture capital firm founded by Mr. Linkner in
partnership with the founder and Chairman of Quicken
Loans, Dan Gilbert; the founder and Chairman of
Rockbridge Growth Equity, Brian Hermelin; and joined by
Hall of Fame basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
The goal of Detroit Venture Partners is to invest in
early stage technology companies as a way to rebuild
the Detroit region through entrepreneurship. This
is surely a bold move. Imagining a Detroit 2.0 is no
easy feat, but thanks to Detroit’s own creative spirit
and entrepreneurial-minded individuals, the future is
promising. “Rather than comparing ourselves to Silicon
Valley we’re going to create our own brand of entrepreneurship. One hundred years ago, Detroit was the
Silicon Valley of the nation,” said Mr. Linkner. “Rather
than trying to be somebody else and apologizing for
what we’re not, let’s celebrate who we are. I don’t think
we should be Silicon Valley, we should rather be the
‘Next Detroit’.”
54 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
THE PORTFOLIO
Mr. Linkner’s company has helped several budding entrepreneurs set up shop in Detroit so far. Among them is
HiredMyWay, a company that matches employees’ skills
with the right companies; Are You a Human? a gamebased human authentication platform that replaces the
distorted text images known as CAPTCHAs; and UpTo,
which gives your current calendar a social makeover
by allowing you to share future events with your social
circles, straight from your existing calendar.
Whether it’s finding jobs or designing the next
great software, the key to lasting economic growth is
a strong creative spirit coupled with companies that
have longevity, according to Mr. Linkner. “By backing
companies that scale quickly, we will start to see a transformative impact in Detroit,” he said.
ARE YOU THE NEXT LINKNER?
Since its launch, Detroit Venture Partners has received
more than 1,000 business plans from people of various
backgrounds and skills for things like mobile apps, social
media-related innovations, and more, a testament to
the fact that “entrepreneurship has no mold,” said Mr.
Linkner.
He and his partners are looking to invest in 12 to
15 companies annually. But, before you submit your
idea, you’d better make sure it’s absolutely out-of-thebox great. “We are looking for people who are solving
real problems in Detroit,” said Mr. Linkner. “I look for
people who can apply a lot of creativity to solve traditional problems in a nontraditional way. We see a lot of
INTERVIEW
Groupon copycats; we are looking for true innovators.”
That means crazy ideas are welcome as long as they’re
technology-related, backed by true passion, and an
unwavering commitment. “Having gadgets and tools are
important,” said Mr. Linkner. “This is the world we live in;
the more we can embrace technology the better.”
THE MAN BEHIND THE PASSION
It is this love of technology that thrusted Mr. Linkner into
the spotlight and onto the stage of success. He is The New
York Times bestselling author of Disciplined Dreaming: A
Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, named
one of the top 10 business books of 2011. He is also an
Adjunct Professor of Applied Creativity at the University
of Michigan.
Prior to founding ePrize, he was the founder and CEO
of three other successful technology companies. He has
been honored as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of
the Year and is a President Barack Obama Champion of
Change award recipient. He is also a regular columnist
for Fast Company and Inc. Magazine, and his work
has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes,
USA Today, and The New York Times. When he’s not championing new dreams, he can
be found creating beautiful music as a Berklee-trained
professional jazz guitarist performing regularly in jazz
clubs throughout the United States. Despite his success
and fame, Mr. Linkner is still a boy from Detroit with an
undying passion for his hometown.
“I look at Detroit as a big blanket space of opportunities,” he said. “We need to stop keeping our head down,
celebrate the essence we have, and keep the faith. On a
national level, we need to stop being so scared…playing
it safe has become the riskiest move of all. Embrace
change and embrace creativity and innovation. After all,
entrepreneurship is what put this country on the map.”
For more information about Detroit Venture Partners,
visit www.detroitventurepartners.com.
www.esd.org | The Engineering Society of Detroit | 55
OPINION
An Old War Not Needed
T
homas Jefferson wrote to then
General Washington in 1788, “The
power of making war often prevents
it.” Today, business and labor have
the power to stop what Winston
Churchill would have called “the
gathering storm” in labor relations that will ill-serve
Michigan.
Like the fear of one country gaining an advantage in
the number of battleships before World War I, there is a
fear growing among our circles of influence in places like
Lansing and Solidarity House. The worst-case scenario
is sadly simple. At 11:59 p.m. on the eve of the coming
election, a “right-to-work” bill will pass quietly in the
night and be signed by our governor.
To head this off, we now have a labor-initiated
proposed constitutional amendment. As the odds dance
for or against right-to-work, voices only grow louder to
snuff out the possibility, or the probability, of this legislative action from occurring or ever being constitutional.
Trump the trump is the rallying cry. If they have battleships, we have dreadnoughts with bigger guns!
In the middle of this storm is a global sea change
that puts Michigan is the center of it all. Supply line
risks grow. China may be a nice domestic market, but
reshoring gathers steam. And Michigan has the chance
to become the manufacturing location of choice for
companies around the world.
Over the past four years, the work of the ESD Institute
demonstrates that business and labor can achieve
consensus through collaboration in areas ranging from
investment authorities to construction and healthcare.
Together there is nothing Michigan’s stakeholders can’t
do. Separately, we can do nothing or, worse, self-destruct.
This coming October with the help of so many fine
peacemakers from business, labor, and government,
we will tackle Next Manufacturing. Many see advanced
manufacturing as the next great opportunity to change
our economic and social landscape.
Imagine a unified Michigan to bring manufacturing
to our state and middle-class jobs with it. Imagine a
stabilized tax base that begins to grow without bubbles or
speculation. Imagine the metrics of a mega business plan
56 | Technology Century | SPRING 2012
BY CHRISTOPHER J. WEBB
to support our aspirations for infrastructure to optimize
Michigan’s unique location to export to the world. But
pause and think what a “war” means. The old ways of
conflict will turn away the young and our hope for a
sustainable economic future.
So, what needs to be done immediately? This is the
time for leaders from both sides of the political aisle
in Lansing, the Michigan State Chamber, the Detroit
Regional Chamber, the Business Leaders of Michigan, and
organized labor to speak with one voice. The right-towork genie should be corked for good.
At our Manufacturing Symposium this fall, it will be
our mission to find peace but peace now is better than
later. With the coming Mackinac Conference in May, a
clear signal or a joint resolution is needed so this war
can’t happen. We call on our fine leaders to do the right
thing. Remove the fears by action. Finding common
ground, not fighting an old war, is the high ground.
Our recently announced ESD Michigan Best Practices
Initiative will soon provide the metrics through a diversity
of case studies to put facts instead of fears on the table so
informed political decisions can be made.
To paraphrase Albert Einstein, “I don’t know what
weapons will be used in World War III, but know that
World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” The
carnage to Michigan if a business-labor war occurs will
hurt generations to come. Let’s build consensus-based
solutions to foster and attract the new investments and
jobs we need in Michigan.
Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD, is
Director of The Engineering Society
of Detroit Institute (ESDI) founded in
2008 by The Engineering Society of
Detroit and modeled upon the National
Academy of Sciences in Washington,
D.C. For more information, visit
www.esdinstitute.net.
Possible is everything.
Today, more than ever, global competition and corporate streamlining
require innovative thinking and leadership abilities. Continuing your education
can be key to your success. From robotics engineering and alternative
energy to global operations and project management,
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Mich. Society of Prof. Engineers - State Office (MSPE-STATE)
Mich. Society of Prof. Surveyors (MSPS)
*Policies are underwritten by the Citizens Insurance Company of
America and/or Citizens Insurance Company of the Midwest,
companies of The Hanover Insurance Group. Participation in the
group auto and home insurance program is based upon group
membership and company underwriting guidelines.
Mich. Water Environment Assoc. (MWEA)
National Assoc. of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
The National Assoc. of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
Net Impact SouthEastern Mich. (NISEM)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Project Management Institute - Great Lakes Chapter (PMI)
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-DETROIT)
Society of Am. Military Engineers (SAME)
SAVE Int’l - Greater Mich. Chapter (SAVE)
Safety Council for Southeast Mich. (SCSM)
Structural Engineers Assoc. of Mich. (SEAMI)
Society of Engineers & Applied Scientists (SEAS)
SouthEast Mich. Power Plant Engineer Society (SEMPPES)
Society of Fire Protection Engineers - MI Chapter (SFPE)
Society of Hispanic Prof. Engineers (SHPE)
Society for Industrial & Applied Math.-Great Lakes Sec. (SIAM)
Society of Mfg. Engineers - Detroit Chapter No. One (SME)
Society for Marketing Prof. Services - MI (SMPS)
Society of Manufacturers’ Representatives (SMR)
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
Society of Plastics Engineers - Automotive Division (SPEA)
Society of Plastics Engineers - Detroit (SPE-DETROIT)
Society of Tribologists & Lubrication Eng (STLE)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
U.S. Green Building Council - Detroit Chapter (USGBC)
Hartland Insurance Group, Inc.
691 N. Squirrel Rd, Suite 190
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
www.hartlandinsurancegroup.com
Or, call your local Citizen’s agent.