Mr. Gary K. Conkol is president of Conkol Computing Services, consulting in advanced technology implementation and specializing in computer graphics and CAD/CAM/CAE.
Gary has a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor’s from Cleveland State University. He has worked as a project engineer and manager for the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command, Ford, Eaton, Daimler Chrysler (Freightliner), Picker, and CAMP. He is known for aerospace, heavy truck and off road vehicle engineering with special emphasis on computer aided techniques. He has served on International standards committees as the U.S. Testing project manager for IGES and STEP, CAD/CAM/CAE data transfer standards.
Gary is dedicated to the Northeast Ohio Region and community development. When local technical jobs were in decline, he formed NEOWork, a joint project between local chapters of professional associations to share job leads and facilitate good careers locally. Previously Technical Director of CAMP'S CALS (later called Electronic Commerce) Shared Resource Center, he improved regional small and medium sized manufacturers' operations with advanced technology. Later, he went on to be the Technical Integrator for five such centers in the US. These centers have been the model for other centers in Malaysia, India, China, Egypt and other countries. Gary's expertise is well known in the US and Internationally through work in 9 different countries and over 60 technical publications on CAD/CAM/CAE and methods of implementing advanced technology.
He is chairman of SME International's Education and Research Community, Technology Watch Committee and a past director of SME's CASA. He has been chairman of SME Chapter 220 twice. He is also past chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers - Cleveland Section (SAE). He is on various speaker bureaus and has lectured at over ten universities on the subject of advanced technology and the engineering profession. He currently participates in review boards for projects in the Former Soviet Union and other regions as part of an international effort to rebuild areas that have suffered from war or severe economic disruption. In October 2005 he received a medal of commendation from the Civilian Research and Development Foundation for his efforts to promote international collaboration in science and technology.
Pete Heimdahl
Dr. Pete Heimdahl serves as Associate Dean in the College of Engineering, Technology and Management at University of Wisconsin-Stout. His expertise is in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
Dr. Robert Meyer was one of the principle architects of Stout’s manufacturing engineering program. He is an outspoken supporter of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership programs and is a proponent of recent movement by the University of Wisconsin-Stout to become a focused polytechnic university. Dr. Meyer is also the co-chair of the newly formed “Our Future in Manufacturing” Technical Group within the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He will provide his insights and comments on the “Opportunities and Challenges for Manufacturing Engineering” and will develop the framework for our conference focus on Manufacturing and the Economic Impact of Engineering Education.
Dr. Robert Meyer is the Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Management at University of WIsconsin-Stout. His educational expertise includes industrial education, manufacturing management and industrial engineering.
Dr. Frederick M. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Fred Zimmerman helped found the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering as a department in 1985 and led the department for 10 years. He has held engineering and management positions at IBM, Control Data and National Computer Systems. He has served on the boards of directors of 14 corporations and has been an advisor to labor, government and business groups. A prolific author and provocative speaker, Zimmerman has appeared on television and radio, before legislative bodies, at academic conferences and at corporate meetings.
Fred retired from active teaching at the end of 2005. He has been recognized as "Professor Emeritus" by President Dennis Dease and his colleagues for exceptional teaching, active engagement of the profession, and service to the university and the external community.
Fred is now serving as editor for the Precision Manufacturing Journal, a publication of Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association and is interested in articles for publication. Fred is working on a new book which will discuss the state of health of the industrial economy of the United States. It will be sort of historical with quite a few statistics. It has a title which is sort of somber; "From Riches to Rags at a Time of Prosperity." Maybe the title will change – they often do.