1. Significant level of recognized leadership and accomplishment in his/her career;
2. Past support of the department; financial as well as other significant contributions;
3. Potential future contributions and continued involvement with the department (financial, service, etc.)
4. Ability to deliver an inspiring presentation that will connect with the faculty and students at the Homecoming presentation.
If you have someone in mind, please submit a brief biographical statement that addresses the above criteria, along with contact information for the nominee. Nominees are screened by a panel of current and emeritus faculty. Nominations can be sent to the department chairperson, Dr. Richard Boser.
David Weede (‘86 BS in Industrial Technology, (1986) has been selected as the 2008 Distinguished
Alumnus for the Department of Technology. David was an Integrated Manufacting Systems student with
a Plastics concentration. Since 1999, he has worked for DSM Engineering Plastics, North American
Engineering Plastics Business Group in Evansville, Indiana. He started there as a Senior Account Manager
involved with developing and managing a three-state territory. In 2005, he was promoted to Sales and
Distribution Manager. David has come back to campus on several occasions to speak to technology classes
and student organizations.
Douglas Strand has been selected as the 2007 Technology Distinguished Alumnus. Doug graduated with a
BS in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University in 1990. He has held a variety of management
positions in the food processing industry. He began his career at Oscar Meyer Foods Corporation in Madison,
Wisconsin as a Maintenance Team Leader and progressed to Corporate Director of Engineering at Lopez Food,
Incorporated in Oklahoma City. In July 2006, Douglas Strand started Strand Management and Consulting
Services, in Yukon, Oklahoma. As founder and President of Strand Management and Consulting Services,
he is responsible for the development and advancement of Engineering and Management Consulting Services
for foodservice and private label food producers, as well as project assistance and resolution of issues within
client facilities.
Donald Braasch, a 1983 graduate of the Department of Industrial Technology with a concentration in plastics has
been named our 2006 Distinguished Alumnus. Upon graduation, Don worked for Rockwell International Automotive
Plastics where he earned five promotions in five years. From 1992 until 2001, Don worked for Crane Kemlite
Company as a Technical Director for product development and quality assurance at multiple sites. As a Six Sigma
Black Belt and Master Black belt, he was responsible for creating and deploying Six Sigma and Lean initiatives in
various business units of Crane Kemlite. Don is currently an independent consultant for Six Sigma training and
implementation. In 1997, Don completed an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago. In
October 2000, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Industrial Technologist Award from the National Association
of Industrial Technology.
Dr. Thomas E. Schildgen is the Chairman for the Department of Information and Management Technology at Arizona State University. He has been a professor of Industrial Technology for the past twenty-four years at Arizona State. Dr. Schildgen served four years on the faculty of Illinois State University prior to joining ASU. He is active in many professional organizations, a variety of advisory boards, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Graphic Arts Training. Dr. Schildgen is a national and international consultant for Educational Development, Industrial Training and the Graphic Communications Industry. He has done work for companies such as Quad Graphics, Treasure Chest Advertising, and Mannington Resilient Floors.
Mr. William LaBounty , 2004 Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Technology, graduated from Illinois State University with his Master of Arts Degree in Industrial Technology in 1974. He was the Director of Illinois State University Printing Services from 1972 until his retirement on September 30, 1993. He has been an active member of the Graphic Communications Advisory Board. Bill volunteers at the McLean County Historical Museum and is the newsletter editor and publications editor. The Association of Museums selected him as "Volunteer of the Year" in October 2002.
Dr. Linda Rae Markert, 2003 Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Technology, is the Dean of the School of Education at the State University of New York at Oswego. Under Dr. Markert's leadership SUNY Oswego's School of Education recently received accreditation of its educator certification programs by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). She chaired the Department of Technology and continues to hold a tenured professorship. Dr. Markert is published in a number of professional journals, services on editorial boards, holds NAIT's distinction as Certified Senior Industrial Technologist, and is a sought after public speaker.
Dr. Don Johnson, 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Technology, is assisting Rock Valley College and high schools in the Education for Employment region and writing grants and assisting in the Senior Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). At Rock Valley College he served as Program Director and Program Coordinator until the College filled the positions.
Dr. Mike Adams, 2001 Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Technology, is the current president of Fairleigh-Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. Dr. Adams has been teaching at the collegiate level since earning a B.S. and an M.S. degree in Printing Management from Illinois State. He has published eight books and is founding publisher of TIES Magazine.
Robert Baldocchi, 2000 distinguished alumnus, graduated from Illinois State's Department of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. Mr. Baldocchi completed 22 hours of graduate work at Illinois State before becoming a junior high school arts teacher and then an assistant construction superintendent at CenPar Construction. From there, he began work at Armstrong Construction Corporation in Bloomington, Illinois, working up from the position of residential construction superintendent to become co-owner. Currently, Mr. Baldocchi is working to establish branches of Armstrong Construction Corporation in other cities and to develop a commercial division.
Jerry Wright, selected to be the first recipient of Illinois State's Department of Technology Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999, graduated from Illinois State in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. Following graduation from Illinois State, Mr. Wright received a Masters of Science degree from Bradley University and began work for Caterpillar in 1965. His work for Caterpillar has included a diverse range of positions including Factory Superintendent, Apprentice and Technical Training Manager, and Technical Resources Manager. He is currently working on a special project in the Parts and Service Support Division. Throughout the years, Mr. Wright has served as an officer and member of numerous professional boards, including the Board of Trustees for Illinois Central College.
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