UMaine’s Francis Crowe Society Announces New Inductees
Contact: Aimee Dolloff, (207) 581-3777; Victoria Blanchette, (207) 581-2204
ORONO, Maine – Eight engineering professionals recently were inducted into the University of Maine College of Engineering Francis Crowe Society for their outstanding contributions to the engineering industry.
Each year, members of UMaine’s engineering programs are invited to nominate an individual who has made distinguished contributions to advancing the art, science or practice of engineering.
Under unique circumstances, individuals that do not hold an engineering degree, yet made a significant contribution to the profession are elected as honorary members.
The society is named in honor of UMaine Engineering alumnus Francis T. Crowe, a renowned civil engineer who graduated in 1905 and went on to design and construct 19 major dams in the western United States, including Hoover Dam, considered to be one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of the world. Water from Crowe’s dams enabled California to become the most successful agricultural region in the world.
This year, the following professionals were inducted as distinguished and honorary engineers:
College of Engineering Distinguished Inductees:
– Chemical and Biological Engineering – Ralph Carter was born in Portland, Maine, attended Mexico High School and graduated from UMaine in 1985 with a bachelor of science in chemical engineering. He currently is president of Rockwell Software, a business unit within the architecture and software segment of Rockwell Automation in Austin, Texas. Carter is a former board member of the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation, the North Carolina State Pulp and Paper Foundation, and the University of Miami, Ohio Pulp and Paper Foundation.
– Electrical and Computer Engineering – Dale Flanders, a native of Guilford, Maine, attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his bachelors of science and master’s degree. Flanders, a strong supporter of UMaine and member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, created the Dale and Julia Flanders Engineering Scholarship Fund to promote entrepreneurship in engineering students. Flanders holds 74 U.S. patents and was the founder of Axsun Technologies in Billerica, Mass.
– Mechanical Engineering – David Sleeper of Hermon graduated from UMaine in 1958 with a mechanical engineering degree, and currently is president and owner of Realty of Maine. David has a strong engineering background, starting his career as a nuclear submarine engineer in Connecticut for Electric Boat. He also worked for several years at James W. Sewall Co. in Old Town and at GE in Burlington, VT. where he worked on missile systems and had one of the early patents on an electric dishwasher.
– Spatial Information Science and Engineering – Mark Jadkowski of Hampden is chair of UMaine’s Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering Advisory Board. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University, Jadkowski went on to earn his master’s degree in applied mathematics and doctorate in engineering at Utah State University. He also worked for several years at James W. Sewall Co. in Old Town. He currently is president and chief operating officer of Global Relief Technologies in Portsmouth, N.H. Jadkowski also has an office at the Target Technology Center in Orono.
School of Engineering Technology Distinguished Inductees:
– Electrical Engineering Technology – Paul Elkin received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from UMaine in 1986, and went on to earn his master’s degree at Washington State University in 1988. He worked at Central Maine Power Company for more than 10 years, and since 1999 he has worked for E/PRO Engineering and Environmental Consulting and TRC as a principal electrical engineer. Elkin currently resides in Sidney and is the manager of the company’s electrical engineering department.
– Surveying Engineering Technology – Gunther Gruelich is a retired licensed land surveyor and engineer in Massachusetts, and has presented, published, and co-authored 150 papers and books. From 1957 to 1965 Gunther worked for New England Survey Service in Boston and provided survey control and construction survey services on the Callahan Tunnel under Boston Harbor and managed design computations of the Massachusetts Turnpike extension from Newton to Boston. He understands the demand for higher education for surveying engineering and has been a strong supporter of UMaine in its effort to meet the need.
Honorary Engineers Inductees
– Construction Management Technology – Bollie Bollenbach, vice president of Pizzagalli Construction Company of Portland, has more than thirty years of business experience, including twenty in construction and ten in international consumer products. Bollenbach is a member of the CMT Industrial Advisory Committee and is active in directing internships of CMT students. Bollenbach received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College in 1978. He went on to earn his master’s degree in business from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1982.
– School of Engineering Technology – Douglas Cutchin grew up in Aroostook County and has worked in Maine all of his life. He received a bachelor of arts in economics and history from UMaine in 1965. Cutchin is the immediate past president of The Sheridan Corporation, a full-service construction company, with locations in Fairfield and Portland. He currently serves as co-chairman and treasurer of the Mid Maine Interfaith Shelter, president/director of the Central Maine Growth Council, director of the Mid Maine Chamber of Commerce, and as chair of the Governor’s Business Excellence Committee.
For more information about the Francis Crowe Society, visit www.engineering.umaine.edu.