TechAlum News

January 2, 2006 (Vol. 12, No. 30)

A weekly electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of Michigan Technological University

Edited by Dennis Walikainen (MS ’92), Director, Web Development, University Marketing and Communications
dkwalika@mtu.edu

For past issues, see our archives.

In this issue:

Back to the Future
At Tech
Tech Sports
Around Town
From the E-mailbag
E-mail Updates/Welcome to new subscribers
Alumni Chapter Events
Job Opportunities

Back to the Future

Since we received nearly no snow for two weeks, I hardly had to run the snowblower. Instead, I spent my holiday vacation partially stuck in the 1960s. Some of that was due to those Christmas cards my mother gets from our old neighbors from Detroit. We start telling the stories of the neighborhood and usually spend most of the time trying to remember names and events.

It was also due, in great part, to some books I got for Christmas: one tells the history of Detroit rock and roll, another is about Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" (yes, there’s a pattern here), and another is about the history of the National Football League, much of which focuses on the 1960s and my Green Bay Packers.

Finally, I read a quote from a writer who talked about the 1960s as a great time for America, where anything seemed possible. While I don't believe the 1960s were exclusively "great," what struck a nerve with me
was the "anything seemed possible" part of the statement.

That reminded me of the new year. Fresh starts do seem possible, and 2006 can look like a blank page waiting to be filled in. It also reminds me of the beginning of each season up here and especially each academic year. The cracking open of new textbooks, seeing new and familiar faces, the promise of tomorrow.

It's one of the great things about working at Tech. We are surrounded by and work with students who keep us young, make us laugh, and remind us that anything is possible. And, it fits in with our motto, "Create the
Future." These students really do have that ability, and it's great to be here, watch, and help as they begin to do just that, especially that freshman asleep in our home. Enjoy it now, son; classes resume next week.

Snowfall Update
(Website http://www.admin.mtu.edu/alumni/snowfall/)
As of December 31, 2005
This week Last Week Last year
Snowfall to Date 113.5" 104" 50.63"
On the Ground 21.5" 17" 12"

ALUMNI BULLETIN BOARD: Remember the alumni bulletin board for you to use for discussions related to this newsletter, Tech sports, or anything else: <http://www.admin.mtu.edu/pps-cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl>

At Tech

GRANHOLM NAMES MROZ TO INVESTMENT BOARD: Governor Jennifer Granholm has named Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz to a new state board created to make strategic investment decisions. The Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board "will help make Michigan a breeding ground for innovation and turn cutting-edge research into thousands of high-paying jobs for our families," Granholm said. The board was created in the twenty-first-century jobs package Granholm approved in November. It is responsible for allocating state funds for capital investments, commercial lending and commercialization development. Board members represent various sectors contributing to Michigan's economic growth, including higher education, private industry, research and agencies focused on economic development. A. David Canter, senior vice president of Pfizer Global Research and Development, will chair the board.

Tech Sports

MICHIGAN TOPS HUSKIES 5-3 IN GLI THIRD PLACE GAME: Conner and Schwartz Each Tally Two Points: Brandon Schwartz tallied a goal and an assist and Chris Conner recorded two assists, but three goals in the final period gave #6 Michigan (12-6-1, 7-3-1 CCHA) a 5-3 win over the Michigan Tech (4-17-1, 3-10-1 WCHA) hockey team in the third place game of the 41st annual Great Lakes Invitational Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.

MEN'S BASKETBALL EDGED BY #4 ST. JOE, 59-56: Huskies Hold Pumas 28 Points Below Their Average: Michigan Tech had two shots in the final 18 seconds to tie fourth-ranked Saint Joseph’s. Neither shot went in, and the host Pumas came away with a 59-56 victory. The Huskies held undefeated SJC to 28 points below their season average of 87. SJC led the entire second half, but never by more than six. Josh Makela scored seven straight points to keep Tech within two, 47-45, at the 5:37 mark. Two minutes later, Tim Strom made one-of-two free throws to tighten the margin to 49-48.

19TH-RANKED DULUTH TOPS TECH, 54-40, IN WOMEN'S HOOPS: Minnesota Duluth played tough defense and got 33 points from Lindsay Dietz to defeat Michigan Tech, 54-40, in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Romano Gymnasium, December 21. Tech held the Bulldogs to 24 percent
shooting in the first half, but trailed 23-21 at the intermission. The lead changed hands seven times in the opening 20 minutes. Catherine Rottier’s three-pointer at 5:12 gave the Huskies an 18-14 advantage. The
Bulldogs answered with a 9-3 run to end the half.

Around Town

MERCURY SPILL FOUND IN SKANEE: Federal, state and local environmental officials are investigating this morning what appears to be a mercury spill on a road in Baraga County. According to a release issued by the Baraga County Sheriff's Department Wednesday, a pedestrian discovered a mercury-like substance on Park Road in Skanee. The man immediately contacted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality hotline in Lansing, which in turn, notified Baraga County Emergency Coordinator Duane Smith. Local police and fire departments, along with the Baraga County Road Commission, barricaded the road Wednesday morning to all but local traffic. Marquette DEQ officials and a federal Environmental Protection Agency Response team will survey the area this morning to take samples, Smith said, adding that a clean-up company contracted to safely dispose of the chemical will also be on-site. "I'm sure they're going to find out it's mercury," Smith said of the shiny silver liquid he viewed on the road. More of a mystery, he said, is how the substance got there. "It's definitely not coming out of the ground," he said, surmising that the spill was more likely caused by a container falling off a truck and being dragged by a snowplow. "It's kind of a quiet side road and we really don't know how it got there."

CHASSELL GETS GRANT TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN: The Michigan Department of Transportation is awarding $303,000 in transportation enhancement funding for a streetscaping project in Chassell. According to MDOT, the project will begin in the spring on improvements on U.S. Highway 41 from
First Street to Sixth Street. The project will include new concrete sidewalks, brick pavers, street lighting, and landscape planters. Chassell Township Supervisor Dave Mattson, said "this project will change the face of Chassell and be the most significant improvement in years." Mattson thanked MDOT, U.P. Engineers, the township planning committee and former supervisor Bill Leonard for their efforts to bring about the needed funds to get the project started. "I hope this project inspires further private improvements along our main drive," Mattson said. MDOT will administer the grant and oversee the $500,000 construction project. 71 percent of the project funding is coming from the transportation enhancement grant with the remaining 29 percent coming from the local township match. Robert Tervo, development engineer with MDOT's Ishpeming Transportation Service Center, said the work will begin in May and should be completed by July. "Our goal is have most of the work completed before the Chassell Lions Strawberry Festival," Tervo said.

SMARTZONE COULD SEE INCREASED FUNDING: The future looks bright for business incubators, according to Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation SmartZone Marketing and Program Coordinator Jonathan Leinonen. Leinonen reported Thursday at the SmartZone's Local Development Finance Authority
that he had made two recent visits to Lansing and learned about some long-term funding for 21st century jobs. "There's a total of about $280 million in that program," Leinonen said, to be doled out in the next ten
years. "That's a pretty significant amount of money that will have some long-lasting effects." The program primarily targets four key areas: development of pre-seed moneys; operations and staffing; marketing and
infrastructure. Of those, marketing and the pre-seed funds were of the most importance to the MTEC SmartZone, Leinonen said. "There's about $11 million in the pre-seed fund alone," he said, with the state requiring a local match of 50 percent. Leinonen is expecting to have the request for proposal process completed next month. Any funding received through the program is expected to begin in June, 2006. "It's a good opportunity," Leinonen said. "There are a lot of SmartZones seeing if there's the potential for collaboration with some other SmartZones in the funding process."

From the E-mailbag

Dennis,
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Ed Haltenhoff. I look back at my college years and can honestly say that of all the faculty at Michigan Tech, Ed left an impression on me that I will forever hold dear. My sincere condolences to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as he will be forever missed.

Joe Noykos, P.E.
B.S. Civil Engineering ’95

***

I just want to say the news of Ed Haltenhoff passing away is sad news. He brought such a great perspective to the civil engineering department with all of the practical experience he had in the field. Ed will be missed.

Shane M. Rixom, PE

***

Dennis,
The passing of Professor Haltenhoff brings back a fond and very appropriate message he delivered to our class senior year. As we were wrapping up our last class he indicated that there was one significant piece of advice he wanted us to remember if nothing else. As I recall he said something to the effect of "when you get your first job after leaving here, the best advice I can give you as a professional is to invest in an IRA." I have told this story many times and often find myself offering the same advice to young professionals as it has certainly paid off for me. He will be missed for his ability to bring the real world into the classroom and his insight into the life and professional experience.

Tom George, P.E.

***

Dennis, This is a first. I have read the newsletter for years but have not written until now. I am very sad to read of Professor Haltenhoff's passing. He was a very great teacher. With his professional background he really gave us a "this is what to expect" education that so many of the Tech Prof's are so good at. Professor Haltenhoff went beyond this though and endeared himself to my wife and I when he invited our class and interested spouses to come in and view his slides on the construction of the Might Mac. It was really inspiring for a struggling Toot and his wife on what to expect. Now twenty some odd years later with a bunch of projects around the country that I've been involved in (none as grand as the Mac) I still remember him fondly and when I told my wife of his passing she remembered a day a Professor took a little time out of his schedule and made us all feel special.

Keith Welch '83

***

Dear Dennis:
I was saddened by the passing of one of my favorite professors, Ed Haltenhoff. Please send my sympathy to his family. He was a great teacher and a good listener during my stay at Tech! Whenever I visited Tech, I would look him up. I had the pleasure to meet him again in 1998 at University of Wisconsin for The Successful Construction Management Techniques & Procedures short course. During this course, I enjoyed listening to his recollections of building the Mackinac Bridge once again. He had such passion for his work, which was contagious.

I missed the Friday night Tech hockey game against UW but listened to it on the radio. My family was elated to hear that Tech won! On the next night, we enjoyed the dinner with the Chicago Alumni group on Saturday and had to accept UW's win
:-(

On the bright side-my Bucky fan colleagues put up with my proud raffle win from the dinner, a Michigan Tech banner, hanging in my cubicle... At home, my daughters love their raffle wins of stuffed huskies! Many thanks to the
lady who traded the kid’s coat for the second husky!

Debby (Gregorius) Kozol '84

***

My husband, daughter and I were at the Michigan Tech vs. Wisconsin on that Friday night, too. As Tech Alumni who have lived in Madison and worked at UW for 22 years (me), my husband and I were conflicted. My daughter, (who is now at UW-Eau Claire) went to Tech her freshman year and knows some of the hockey players, so she was cheering for Tech. The Tech players definitely outskated the Badgers that night and deserved the win. We decided afterwards that if someone had to beat UW, we were happy it was Tech!

Amy Rapaich Moser, BS Biology 1976

***

Dennis

Do you know where they sell Yooper Scooper snow shovels in the Detroit metro area?

Kind Regards
Eric M. Lee – 1986

Alums: Any help for Eric?

TechAlum Subscriber Stats

We currently have 7,267 subscribers. Changes to your TechAlum newsletter subscription should be made via commands to majordomo(at)mtu.edu. Questions? Contact Dennis Walikainen (dkwalika(at)mtu.edu).

Here are the recent new email addresses:

1970 Jeffrey J. Jahnke karen_jahnke(at)lamar.colostate.edu
1983 Brian T. Tobey btobey(at)fuse.net
1983 Kelly J. Brown kssb_brown(at)hotmail.com
1984 Garrett R. Lanzy lanzyg(at)comcast.net
1986 Michael T. Rusesky mtrusesky(at)hotmail.com
1988 Daniel S. Batten dsbatten85(at)aol.com
1991 Steven T. Krempasky stevenheather617(at)sbcglobal.com
1995 Chad M. Cunningham chad794(at)netzero.com
2000 Michael W. Cromheecke mcromheecke(at)ra.rockwell.com
2001 Jody M. Lierman jmlierma(at)netscape.net
2001 Christopher C. Seaman seaman_chris(at)yahoo.com
2002 Joseph E. Kraft joseph.e.kraft(at)us.army.mil

You can update your information at: http://www.mtf.mtu.edu/update

Alumni Association Programs

CHAPTER EVENTS: For more information on alumni chapter events,
e-mail mtu_alumni at mtu.edu or see the alumni chapter site on the web.

January 3 Traverse City: Jazz Night: City Opera House 7:00 p.m.
January 17 Houston Presidential Reception
January 18 Dallas Presidential Reception
January 23 Phoenix Presidential Reception
January 24 Tucson Presidential Reception
January 29 Grand Rapids: Alumni Sunday Brunch at Marie's
January 31 Minneapolis Presidential Reception

February 1 Chicago Presidential Reception
February 08-12 Winter Carnival: Michigan Tech vs. Minnesota Hockey
February 12 Atlanta National College Fair
February 15 Seattle Presidential Reception
February 16 Portland Presidential Reception
February 16 Grand Rapids: Men's/Women's B-Ball vs. GVSU
February 23-24 Pittsburgh National College Fair
February 27 Tampa Presidential Reception
February 28 Orlando Presidential Reception

http://www.admin.mtu.edu/alumni/new/events.htm

Job Opportunities This Week

ON CAMPUS: Complete job descriptions are available by e-mailing jobs at mtu.edu

Assistant Football Coach Linebackers/PE Instructor--Athletic Department

Assistant Football Coach Offensive Line/PE Instructor--Athletic Department

Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach/PE Instructor--Athletic Department

Program Coordinator/Manager--Ford Forestry Center

Outreach Coordinator--School of Business and Economics

OFF CAMPUS: For off-campus positions, visit the alumni section of the career center's web site ( http://www.career.mtu.edu/alumni.php)