News Updates from ME Alums

A Call to All OSU ME Alumni!

We've added this page to the ME web site as a way for you to share stories and network with one another. But posting these updates you're also doing our current students a favor. Alumni news is a great source of information, ideas, and possible connections as emerging MEs consider their own career options and life possibilities.

To send in an ME news item for posting, use the ME Alumni News and Information Form. On the form, fill in all fields marked with an * , and update any other contact information as appropriate. Then enter your news in the box at the bottom of the form. If you'd like us to include your email address in your posting so other ME alums can contact you, be sure to indicate that preference at the bottom of the form.

Here are a few items that have already been sent in and some links to recent news stories about ME alums. Send us a story or link to add to the list!

ME UPDATES, WINTER/SPRING 2005

John S. Ferguson, BS 1954:
Following graduation, I joined the Graduate Training Course of the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. and ended up as an application engineer in the Power Equipment division in Milwaukee. Following receipt of an MBA from the University of Wisconsin in 1962, I became a management consultant with Middle West Service Co.--first in Chicago and later in Dallas--where I rose to senior vice president. In 1980 I joined one of the firms that in 1989 formed Deloitte & Touche, from which I retired as a principal in 1995.

My consulting clients were primarily energy utilities but also included pipelines, railroads, telecommunications companies, and water and wastewater utilities (and their customers). Most of my engagements were in North America, but I also worked in Central and Sourth America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. I have continued consulting since retirement, initially through Deloitte and more recently as an independent consultant. I currently serve as chair of the Current Issues Committee of the Society of Depreciation Professionals. johnferg@swbell.net

Gordon L. Wade, BS 1954 (Aero Option):
My 45-year California career as an engineering analyst included time at Rocketdyne (LA), Combustion Power (Menlo Park), and United Technology and Lockheed Martin (Sunnyvale). Work assignments included conducting or managing a broad range of analysis, simulation, and software efforts that included rocket engine control systems, trajectory models, fluidized-bed power plants, Air Force & Navy ground support systems for flight operations, and ground support for space vehicle launches. On-site team efforts included locations such as Nellis AFB, the Naval Weapons Center, and Vandenberg AFB.

In retirement at Lake Shastina, my wife Dolores and I indulge in many interests, including travel, boating, duplicate bridge, and Macintosh computer activities. Some of the travel relates to the fact that our son Phil's family lives in Virginia (he is an Engineering Manager for Mitre) while son Paul's family currently lives in Alaska (he is a Lt. Colonel in command of Elmendorf AFB's 381st Intelligence Squadron). guatin@snowcrest.net

Ken Simila, BS 1962:
Enjoying retirement since '98 after 35 years combined with The Boeing Co., Seattle; US Navy Nuclear Power Division @ Puget Sound WA & Mare Island CA Naval Shipyards; and State of Oregon Measurement Standards Division. Have been registered 40 years as a Professional Engineer (P.E., Mechanical) in the State of Washington. Claims to fame: Having ASTM motor fuel standards enacted in Oregon in 1997 after a 50-year hiatus; solo climb of Mt. Whitney CA (highest peak in lower 48); visiting all 50 US states, 7 Canadian provinces and 28 foreign countries. similand@open.org

John Cavin, BS 1982:
LaGrande Observer

Rick Riper, BS 1982:
I worked for Hewlett-Packard here in Corvallis as an intern between my junior and senior year, and liked it so well that I came back to work here after graduation. I'm presently working on test system development for an R&D group in the inkjet printing area. The best part of my job is that I get to work on all parts of the system--hardware and software. Even though my degree is in ME, I'm more of an "electro-mechanical software engineer." Last fall I worked as a referee at the local First Lego League tournament here in Corvallis--an annual program that has middle school age teams assembling autonomous robots to do different tasks. It's a lot of fun to see what the students come up with! My son (who is now a senior at OSU in computer science) found my picture in Rogers--he commented that he had never seen anyone with glasses that big!
[Ed. note: See if you can find Rick's picture in the back-cover alumni photo montage in the Spring 2005 issue of News from OSU ME!]

John McKenzie, BS 1984:
Continuing my career in medical device start up companies, I now work for iScience Surgical Corp in Redwood City, CA. iScience Surgical is developing novel treatments for glaucoma and other debilitating eye diseases, as well as a high frequency ultrasound imaging system to examine fine anatomy in the front of the eye. This is my fifth medical device start up company since graduating from OSU, and I have come to the conclusion that the combination of entrepreneurial challenge, cutting edge medical device development, and working in small companies really suits me. jmckenzie@isciencesurgical.com

Barry Rahimian, BS 1986:
I'm currently working for ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. as a director of Applications Engineering and Sales. With its wide range of design and manufacturing engineering programs and its diversity of markets including medical, semiconductor, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical (among others), I find this company an exciting place to work. I'd be more than happy to show OSU ME alums and students around the ATS plant in Corvallis or make arrangements for you to tour one of our other 26 plants worldwide--send me an email if you're interested! brahimian@atsautomation.com

James Kassebaum, BS 1986:
I continue to work for The Boeing Company, where late last year I accepted a promotion into engineering management within the capability and capacity, skills and processes side of commercial airplanes. In this role, I help develop the roughly 3000 engineers in payloads and structures for the future. I pulled together the subject matter experts on composites and assembled a course to prepare our engineering workforce for the 787 airplane. I then led the offering of the composites technology course to over 500 engineers, for both internal and our world-wide partners. Recently watched my sophomore son's high school basketball team, where he is a 6' 4" starting guard, battle to bring home the third place trophy at the state tournament.

Gary P. Wright, BS 1990:
My current job assignment at Boeing is Senior Lead Design Engineer, 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter Wing & Empennage Structures. I have two children, Griffin (13) and Niall (10). gary747x@hotmail.com

Derald Herling, PhD 1997:
In 2001, while working as an assistant design professor in OSU ME, my former employer, Saudi Aramco, asked me to return and do some specialized work for them. So just before 9/11, I moved back to Saudi Arabia to work as an engineering consultant at the Saudi Aramco corporate headquarters in Dhahran. I worked for Saudi Aramco for three years and returned to Oregon in April 2004. Since then I have formed my own engineering company, Herling Engineering Services, Inc., and now do forensic engineering, accident reconstruction, and product failure analysis work with other OSU engineers as part of AFI Associates in Corvallis. The Herling household holds six OSU degrees, with our daughter, Allison Herling, as the most recent graduate. She is now in Washington, DC, working with worldwide AIDS efforts. derald@afiassociates.com

Casey Offord, BS 2000:
Casey worked on the July 26th, 2005, Shuttle Discovery launch, as an engineer for NASA.
KVAL 13 News (Eugene,OR)

Ryan Zaumseil, BS 2002:
Shortly after graduation I moved to San Diego, CA. I was hired by Stryker Communications (medical device manufacturer) alongside my friend and fellow OSU Alum Camren Spangler. I started my career as a Design Engineer in R&D. One noteworthy project was the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Telemedicine system. This allows specialists in downtown LA to diagnose children in outlying areas, hundreds of miles away. For this, Camren and I received a Best New Invention Award from the CEO of Stryker Corporation. Another noteworthy project was the Switchpoint Infinity. This device is the centerpoint of communication in Operating Rooms all over the country, and throughout the world. The project paid for itself in the first six months, and quickly became our flagship project. After a year in R&D, I moved to Operations to be a Manufacturing Engineer. In this role I have been tasked with moving our manufacturing operations--not once, but twice!--to accommodate our rapid growth. The most recent move was to Dallas, Texas, where I currently reside. ryanzaumseil@yahoo.comm

Rachel Wittrock, BS 2004:
Roseburg News-Review