Lawrence Tech in Southfield Inducts 10 to Engineering Hall of Fame

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The seven 2020 and three 2022 inductees to the Lawrence Technological University College of Engineering Hall of Fame. // Courtesy of LTU
The seven 2020 and three 2022 inductees to the Lawrence Technological University College of Engineering Hall of Fame. // Courtesy of LTU

Ten people were inducted into the Lawrence Technological University College of Engineering Hall of Fame in Southfield, including seven people who would have been inducted in a ceremony in the fall of 2020 were it not for the pandemic.

“The achievements of these outstanding alumni are further evidence that LTU produces not just capable engineers, architects, scientists, and business executives, but top-notch leaders in every field of study that we offer,” says Tarek M. Sobh, president of LTU. “We anticipate even greater things from them, as we do all of our current students and recent graduates, as they strive to become the innovators of tomorrow.”

In alphabetical order, the 2020 inductees were:

  • Rajeev Batra, who graduated from LTU with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering in 1990. He is president of digital industries for Siemens USA and a board member of the Siemens Foundation. Batra held a wide range of management strategy and sales positions since joining Siemens in 1993. In 2019, he was named chairman of the board of governors of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation. He also earned LTU’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2017.
  • Donna Bell, who graduated from LTU with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering in 1989. Bell, with almost 30 years of automotive product development and technology innovation leadership experience, is executive vice president of product creation, engineering, and supply chain at the electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors. She spent more than 25 years with Ford Motor Co., including as director of technology and feature strategy; and planning, technical, and leadership roles in product development, purchasing, quality, research, and advanced engineering. Bell gives back to the community through mentorship and serving in various roles of many professional organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation, and National Action Coalition for Minorities in Engineering among others.
  • David Darbyshire, who graduated from LTU with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1987. As co-founder and chief innovation officer, Darbyshire leads engineering market development for DASI Solutions; Cyb Lings Inc.; and Revitalize IT Inc. He is involved in business and educational organizations such as Automation Alley, SAE, National Defense Industrial Association, SME, and the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan. Darbyshire serves on various boards and professional committees. He was instrumental in the launch of the innovative Industrial Design Technician Professional Apprenticeship program in partnership with Focus Hope: Detroit that received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. He also is involved in the Lawrence Tech Alumni Association and Phi Kappa Upsilon Fraternity.
  • Gino DiClemente, who graduated from the Detroit Institute of Technology in 1961 with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. Born and raised in Italy, DiClemente started his career as a schoolteacher. He moved to Detroit at 21, became a U.S. citizen, and served in the Army. Later, he opened his own engineering firm with General Motors and Ford as the main clients. In 1969, his firm continued to expand when mechanical engineer Ed Siegel joined and the company became DiClemente Siegel Engineering, offering electrical and mechanical engineering. In 1996, his company added architectural services, and now has more than 45 employees working on projects throughout Michigan. A philanthropist and supporter of Lawrence Tech, DiClemente created the Gino and Luciana DiClemente Endowed Scholarship in 2015 to support architectural engineering students.
  • Jason Hammond, who earned an associate’s degree in construction engineering technology from LTU in 2005 and a Bachelor of Science in construction management in 2009. Hammond is vice president at A.Z. Shmina, a Brighton construction firm. His other roles at the company include superintendent, project manager, and director of construction operations. While at A.Z. Shmina, Hammond has worked primarily on building projects for the University of Michigan including athletics, health care, and housing structures. Hammond has been recognized by his peers for his work at U-M and has earned Pyramid Awards from the Washtenaw Contractor Association. He shares his experience with Lawrence Tech students as a member of the adjunct faculty and Lawrence Tech’s Construction Advisory Committee and has helped shape LTU curricula. Hammond is also scuba rescue certified and is a rescue divemaster.
  • Nicole Kennedy, who started her multifaceted education with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from LTU in 1995 and won the University’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2019. Kennedy is CEO at ArborHive, an Ann Arbor-based medical device and biotech consulting firm. She began her career as an electrical engineer and continued her education with master’s degrees in electrical and biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan, a medical degree from Wayne State University, and an MBA from U-M. She is experienced in device development, regulatory affairs, and quality assurance. She is also a member of multiple surgical organizations including the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Vascular Surgery, and the Academy of Surgery of Detroit.
  • Andrew Rener earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1999 and a master’s in civil engineering in 2000, both from LTU. Rener spent summers and school breaks working for his parents’ construction company as a laborer and carpenter, then followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, becoming a third-generation alumnus of Lawrence Tech. After graduation, Rener joined Barton Malow Co. as a field engineer, working his way up to senior director. In 2013, Rener joined Bouma and today serves as president. He leads the manufacturing business and prime contracting efforts across the country. Passionate about education and giving back to LTU, he taught as an adjunct professor for 15 years, earning the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty award. Rener is a peer-reviewed author, a trade journal corresponding editor, and serves on national committees for industry organizations. He has served as both a chair and member on many national committees including the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The three 2022 inductees are:

  • Harvey Ferrero, who earned a bachelor of science in architectural engineering from LTU in 1955. Ferrero was going to work with Alden B. Dow, a Midland architect, but was drafted in 1956 before he could take the position. Upon returning to Detroit in 1960, he worked for architecture firms but was inspired to create freelance architectural renderings. He worked with the firm now known as Tozai Architecture + Interiors until he got his architectural license in 1962 and began teaching as an adjunct professor at LTU. His clientele has consisted of many local and national firms. Ferrero’s breakthrough project was the Max Klein office building in Southfield, completed in 1984. The project earned an AIA Detroit award that year. His drawings have been published in eight books, and his projects have been featured in several architectural journals.
  • Kenneth Grezlik, who earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from LTU in 1978. He attended LTU completely in the evening while working for General Motors during the day. His career included prominent positions at Detroit Diesel, TRW, and Johnson Controls, where he retired as quality director. In 2007 he formed Grezlik International, a consulting company specializing in quality manufacturing and controls for metal products. He was a certified program instructor with Kepner-Tregoe. Grezlik is a senior member of the American Society of Quality, was chairman of the Detroit Chapter of the American Society for Metals and served on the chapter’s executive committee for 20 years. He and his wife, Margaret, are avid supporters of Blue Devil Motorsports, volunteering with the Formula SAE team at local and national competitions. They also established the Kenneth and Margaret Grezlik Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 to help students succeed academically.
  • Javad Mokhbery, who earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from LTU in 1979. Mokhbery, a native of Iran, came to Lawrence Tech in 1974. After graduating from LTU, he worked for sensor companies in Detroit and California. Mokhbery built a career as a problem solver for tech giants like Rockwell International before starting his own business in 1988, FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology Inc., in his one-bedroom apartment in Irvine, Ca., while he was working as an engineer at Rockwell, designing instruments for NASA space shuttles. FUTEK’s embedded instrumentation has also made the company a leading single-source supplier for the med-tech sector, as well as industries with advanced high-precision automated assembly.