UNDER THIRTY - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
UNDER THIRTY - Society of Manufacturing Engineers UNDER THIRTY - Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Ronald Olkowski IIIAge: 21StudentBig Rapids, MIBy the time you read this, Ronald Olkowskiwill be in Leipzig, Germany, representing theUnited States in the CNC Turning competitionduring the biennial WorldSkills Competition—the Olympics of vocational skills. The 42nd internationalevent is being held July 2–7, 2013.“I’m looking forward to meeting other people fromaround the world and seeing what they have to bring tothe table. I’m also interested in learning new methods ofmachining,” Ronald said. “I’ve never seen the machinesthat I’ll be competing on, so I’m a little nervousabout learning the software, getting familiar with themachines, and getting the software and the machinesto work together.”In the CNC turning event, competitors are givenferrous and non-ferrous raw material and technicaldrawings. According to SkillsUSA, “the desiredworkpieces must be worked on all sides so that thecompetitor carries outtasks that reflect runout,perpendicularity,parallelity and othersetup challenges.”The competitor must“prepare the CNC programs; calculate the points ofintersection on profiles; select the proper tools andindependently mount, set-up and measure them;machine and measure the test project” and, of course,comply with safety regulations.Ronald was awarded the bronze medal in CNC Turningin November 2012 during the WorldSkills Americascompetition in Brazil, where the US competed against23 other countries in preparation for the WorldSkillsCompetition. He got there by winning the high schoolsilver medal in CNC Turning during the SkillsUSAUNDER THIRTYChampionships in June 2010, as well as the college/postsecondary bronze medal in CNC Turning at the2011 SkillsUSA Championships.As if that wasn’t enough, Ronald also placed first inthe Michigan Industry Technology Education Societycompetition in 2009 and second in 2010. He alsoreceived Ferris State’s College of Engineering TechnologyStudent of the Year award for 2011–2012. Hecurrently serves as president of the university’s SMEstudent chapter.Ronald attended Romeo High School in Romeo, MI.Guy Hart, Ronald’s shop instructor, SkillsUSA advisor,and now his technical expert for the WorldSkillsCompetition, said, “Ron came into my machine toolprogram as a freshman in 2006 and found his futurecalling. By the end of his senior year, he had becomea sponge, soaking up all the knowledge he could.Once something is explained to him, he takes off withit. He is always questioningto learn moreand is constantly applyinghis knowledge.”At Ferris StateUniversity, Ronald isstudying manufacturing and engineering technologiesand is also a student teacher., assisting in a general machiningcourse and an advanced manufacturing class.He has worked for several summers at Makino Die/MoldTechnologies in Auburn Hills, MI under the supervisionof Andre Ey.“During his employment with us, Ron hasdemonstrated that he is a very energetic futureengineer who has taken to the world of machiningwith passion and enthusiasm that is rare in today’syouth,” Ey said. ME"I’m looking forward to meeting other people fromaround the world and seeing what they have tobring to the table. I’m also interested in learningnew methods of machining."THIRTY UNDER THIRTY PROFILES24 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2013
Lotheronie RabyAge: 28Dow Chemical Co.Houston, TXIn 2008 Dow Chemical named Lotheronie Raby—then 23 years old, and a full-time employee forunder two years—to the role of Global Technical ResourceLeader for Heat Exchangers. In this role sheleads a network of global experts who provide reviews ofcomplex designs, troubleshoot operations failures, andmaintain company standards for design and fabrication.Dow’s David Kafer, who recommended Lotheronie for30 Under 30 recognition, points out that “to gain theconfidence and trust of a global network comprised ofmembers who all have 15-plus years of experience isquite an accomplishment.”Lotheronie joined Dow full time in 2006 as a StaticEquipment Engineer after graduating from SouthernUniversity andA&M College (BatonRouge, LA). Initiallyshe worked under thedirection of a LeadEngineer providing engineering support for several largeprojects globally including the opportunity to designhigh alloy equipment and the largest Ethylene Oxidereactor in the world. From 2010–2012 Lotheronie wasalso a Lead Static Equipment Engineer for several largeprojects including a $130,000,000 project in the USand a six-month assignment for a project in China.“My work is interesting because every project has adifferent scope with its own priorities and challenges,”Lotheronie said. “I am a Discipline Lead for ProcessContainment Equipment as well as an SME for Heat Exchangers—soeach day I work with people both locallyand globally to reach various end goals. The peopleare everything,” she continued: “My mentors, leaders,teams, and everyone else in between are the ones thatkeep me smiling and motivated every day.”UNDER THIRTYLotheronie credits advice she got in high schoolfor bringing her into the world of manufacturing.“Early on in high school, my guidance counselorrecommended engineering to me with the promisethat it would cater to my love of math and science,”Lotheronie remembers. “She was amazing at helpingme define my path to college and coordinatingscholarship opportunities. I ended up in manufacturingwith Dow because Dow partnered up withmy college to sponsor me for a full scholarship withpre-arranged internships.”In addition to her technical and project leadership,Lotheronie has also been active in recruitingnew employees and in public affairs activitiesthrough Dow’sPromise AdvisoryCouncil. “Manufacturingmay notbe everyone’s firstthought when reviewing all career options available,but this field holds a wide array of promise and opportunities,”she noted. “Depending on what one’sstrengths and likes are, one could choose betweendesign engineering, procurement, supply chain, processdesign, production, project management—thelist is endless. Dow is a wonderful place to work forthat very reason.”Lotheronie doesn’t have a specific future jobtitle she longs for because, she said, “I was raisedto know NO limits! However,” she continued, “I doaim to be a leader within my industry and company.At the very least, I aspire to be a technically soundleader constantly working to pave my way forward—while not forgetting to mentor and support others as Ihave been supported.” ME"Early on in high school, my guidance counselorrecommended engineering to me with the promisethat it would cater to my love of math and science."THIRTY UNDER THIRTY PROFILES25 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2013
- Page 4: Catherine RossAge: 30National Insti
- Page 9 and 10: Sri AtluruAge: 28Sandvik Machining
- Page 11: Ananya RajagopalAge: 14StudentDubli
- Page 16 and 17: Aubrey Kelley-CogdellAge: 24Sandvik
- Page 18 and 19: Jandre TerreBlancheAge: 26SigmaTEK
- Page 20 and 21: Lauren WelchAge: 27Dow ChemicalSeou
- Page 22: Amanda NixonAge: 21StudentFlint, MI
- Page 25: Daniil PopovAge: 20StudentVancouver
- Page 30 and 31: Ryan BoehmAge: 25Omax Corp.Kent, WA
- Page 32 and 33: Jesse PaschallAge: 20StudentAllenda
- Page 34: THIRTY UNDER THIRTYHonorable Mentio
Ronald Olkowski IIIAge: 21StudentBig Rapids, MIBy the time you read this, Ronald Olkowskiwill be in Leipzig, Germany, representing theUnited States in the CNC Turning competitionduring the biennial WorldSkills Competition—the Olympics <strong>of</strong> vocational skills. The 42nd internationalevent is being held July 2–7, 2013.“I’m looking forward to meeting other people fromaround the world and seeing what they have to bring tothe table. I’m also interested in learning new methods <strong>of</strong>machining,” Ronald said. “I’ve never seen the machinesthat I’ll be competing on, so I’m a little nervousabout learning the s<strong>of</strong>tware, getting familiar with themachines, and getting the s<strong>of</strong>tware and the machinesto work together.”In the CNC turning event, competitors are givenferrous and non-ferrous raw material and technicaldrawings. According to SkillsUSA, “the desiredworkpieces must be worked on all sides so that thecompetitor carries outtasks that reflect runout,perpendicularity,parallelity and othersetup challenges.”The competitor must“prepare the CNC programs; calculate the points <strong>of</strong>intersection on pr<strong>of</strong>iles; select the proper tools andindependently mount, set-up and measure them;machine and measure the test project” and, <strong>of</strong> course,comply with safety regulations.Ronald was awarded the bronze medal in CNC Turningin November 2012 during the WorldSkills Americascompetition in Brazil, where the US competed against23 other countries in preparation for the WorldSkillsCompetition. He got there by winning the high schoolsilver medal in CNC Turning during the SkillsUSA<strong>UNDER</strong> <strong>THIRTY</strong>Championships in June 2010, as well as the college/postsecondary bronze medal in CNC Turning at the2011 SkillsUSA Championships.As if that wasn’t enough, Ronald also placed first inthe Michigan Industry Technology Education <strong>Society</strong>competition in 2009 and second in 2010. He alsoreceived Ferris State’s College <strong>of</strong> Engineering TechnologyStudent <strong>of</strong> the Year award for 2011–2012. Hecurrently serves as president <strong>of</strong> the university’s SMEstudent chapter.Ronald attended Romeo High School in Romeo, MI.Guy Hart, Ronald’s shop instructor, SkillsUSA advisor,and now his technical expert for the WorldSkillsCompetition, said, “Ron came into my machine toolprogram as a freshman in 2006 and found his futurecalling. By the end <strong>of</strong> his senior year, he had becomea sponge, soaking up all the knowledge he could.Once something is explained to him, he takes <strong>of</strong>f withit. He is always questioningto learn moreand is constantly applyinghis knowledge.”At Ferris StateUniversity, Ronald isstudying manufacturing and engineering technologiesand is also a student teacher., assisting in a general machiningcourse and an advanced manufacturing class.He has worked for several summers at Makino Die/MoldTechnologies in Auburn Hills, MI under the supervision<strong>of</strong> Andre Ey.“During his employment with us, Ron hasdemonstrated that he is a very energetic futureengineer who has taken to the world <strong>of</strong> machiningwith passion and enthusiasm that is rare in today’syouth,” Ey said. ME"I’m looking forward to meeting other people fromaround the world and seeing what they have tobring to the table. I’m also interested in learningnew methods <strong>of</strong> machining."<strong>THIRTY</strong> <strong>UNDER</strong> <strong>THIRTY</strong> PROFILES24 <strong>Manufacturing</strong>EngineeringMedia.com | July 2013
Change language