Editors and Authors

Primary Contributors and Editors:

Seth Bates, San Jose State University; Dr. Bates is chair and professor in the Department of Aviation and Technology, and specializes in Industrial Materials Technology and in Computer-Integrated Manufacturing. He has worked in industry (Applied Materials, 2000 and 2001, and Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp., 1981) as an advanced manufacturing methods engineer, and is the owner of Teknos Computer Services, providing computing and networking consulting to business and industry in the Monterey and Santa Clara Valley areas, providing computer network design and installation, computer training, management, and development. Dr. Bates also ran a university bus service, and was an executive chef, in the San Diego area.

Gary K. Conkol is the director of Conkol Computing Services. Conkol has a bachelor's degree from Cleveland State University and a master's in mechanical engineering from Wayne State University. He is internationally published in implementing and gaining benefit from advanced technologies, including more than 50 U.S. and 11 international technical papers and articles. Conkol is well known in the area of CAD/CAM/CAE and systems integration. He served as chair of the MER Community in 2007 and is the former chair of the TCN Leader Steering Committee. Conkol has been an SME member since 1983.

Hugh Jack, PhD, P.Eng., is professor in the Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering Program at Grand Valley State University. He holds a BS in electrical engineering and a master's and PhD in mechanical engineering. Jack has been teaching and researching since 1993. His areas of interest include manufacturing education/recruiting, controls, robotics, rapids prototyping and process planning. Jack, who became an SME member in 1994, served as the MER Community chair in 2009. In 2000, he was awarded SME's John T. Parsons Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award.

Robert "Bob" Mott is professor emeritus of engineering technology at the University of Dayton and the author of three textbooks in mechanical engineering technology. Mott serves as a senior staff member for the National Center for Manufacturing Education, a National Science Foundation-sponsored center that initiated and manages the Manufacturing Education Resource Center (MERC Online). In 2004, he served as the first chair of the MER Community. Mott has been an SME member since 1980.

Mark Stratton began his career at SME in 1974. Since then, he has been involved in various parts of the organization, including conferencing, membership and the SME Education Foundation. Stratton is currently a member and industry relations manager for SME's Manufacturing Education & Research Community where he is helping the Role of SME in Higher Education Task Force implement SME's role in manufacturing, engineering and technology higher education.

V. Raju, VIT University, India - Venkitaswamy Raju, PhD, is the vice chancellor of VIT University, Vellore, India. He is currently on leave from the State University of New York. Raju has long been engaged in the development and promotion of manufacturing education through SME and the American Society for Engineering Education. He has also been actively involved in the accreditation of manufacturing programs and is currently on the executive committee of the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET. Raju's primary interests are in engineering and technology education, electronics manufacturing processes, nanofabrication, enterprise management, software applications in industry and technology and policy research. He holds advanced degrees in physics, industrial engineering and management. Raju has been an SME member since 2002 and is the current chair of the MER Community.

Phillip S. Waldrop, PhD, retired in 2011as a professor in the Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering at Georgia Southern University where he taught courses in lean methods, international manufacturing, materials/processes, and enterprise simulation. Waldrop has a PhD from Purdue University and a BS from Ball State University. His industry experience ranges from machine operator and NC programmer to manager of aerospace manufacturing R&D, industrial modernization projects and offshore supplier development. Waldrop has served in leadership roles and accreditation activities in the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE, formerly NAIT), and is a recipient of the Freedoms Foundation’s Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education. An SME member and leader since 1976, he currently serves as a membership consultant for SME student chapters in the southeast and in the MER Community.

Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Connecticut Community Technical Colleges; Director, Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, College of Technology (RCNGM), CT

Other Contributors and Editors:

Ron Bennett, U of St. Thomas, Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence

Steve Coe, Boeing (retired)

Scott Danielson, Arizona State University

Winston Erevelles, Robert Morris University, St. Mary’s University

Marshall Gartenlaub, California Community Colleges

Henry Kraebber, Purdue University

Tom McGlew, Maricope State College

Scott Smith, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

David Wells, North Dakota State University

Steve Wendel, Sinclair Community College, Director, National Center for Mfg. Educ.

Bob Wolff, University of Dayton