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2006-2007 Speaker Series
Dr. Ralph Ford (left) Director of the School of Engineering Dr. John Magenau (right) Director of the School of Business
Penn State Behrend
Overview of the Business and Engineering Partnership and the Research and Economic Development Center
October 20, 2006 10:00 a.m. in REDC 001
In 1997 John Beaumont, a faculty member at Penn State Behrend, patented what is now marketed as MeltFlipper technology. Currently John has licensed this technology in well over one thousand plastics injections molds throughout North and South American as well as Europe and Asia . This talk will present an overview of his technology as well as the process and challenges undertaken to develop his patent and business. The presentation will include discussion of issues such as:
- who pays for your patent
- what assistance and roadblocks exist at Penn State
- the challenges vs. rewards
- how one maintains a faculty position while operating a full-time business.
For Video Presentation: Click Here
Tour of the Research and Economic Development Center
10:30 a.m. beginning at the Café at REDC
The Research and Economic Development Center is an impressive 160,000 square foot building. This tour will take you through the main areas of the building and highlight its capabilities, including the behavioral science lab, electrical sciences labs, mechanical and manufacturing labs, plastics labs, the RFID center, and the stock market trading floor simulation lab.
10:30 a.m. beginning at the Café at REDC
The Research and Economic Development Center is an impressive 160,000 square foot building. This tour will take you through the main areas of the building and highlight its capabilities, including the behavioral science lab, electrical sciences labs, mechanical and manufacturing labs, plastics labs, the RFID center, and the stock market trading floor simulation lab.
Dr. James Fairbank Penn State Behrend
Technical Entrepreneurship
1:00 in REDC 001
This panel session features successful entrepreneurs who have developed technology-based companies. Members of the panel are:
- Thomas Briselden, Lecturer in Engineering; CEO/President of Spinworks, Erie, PA
- Dr. Robert Mehalso, President, Microtec Associates;Penn State Behrend alumnus
- Tom Peterson, CEO of NuvoSurgical, Erie, PA
- Stan Shumway, CEO Erie Management Group
For Video Presentation: Click Here
Mr. Kurt CavanoTradecard Inc.
From the Classroom to the Boardroom
1:00 in REDC 002
How do students prepare to work in global environments once they graduate? What strategies have successful CEOs and entrepreneurs used to transition from college to company, and from employee to chairman of a global company? Kurt Cavano, a Behrend College graduate, has made the transition at TradeCard, Inc., a Wall Street provider of automated procurement for corporations worldwide.
For Video Presentation: Click Here
Mr. Chris Wassel
A Primer on RFID Technology
2:00 in REDC 102
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that allows products and assets to be "tagged" and uniquely identified, located, and tracked using radio waves. RFID is a paradigm-shifting technology with significant challenges and opportunities. RFID tags will eventually be found in consumer goods, industrial equipment, and hospital assets. Wal-Mart, Target, Boeing, and the United States Department of Defense all have mandates requiring their largest vendors to ship pallets and cases of material with attached RFID tags. These mandates will soon include 100 percent of their vendors and the requirements will quickly trickle through the supply chain. Businesses will need to adopt RFID technology not only to satisfy customer requirements but also to increase productivity to stay competitive. This session will provide an overview of the current state of the RFID industry and company best practices, and will include many live RFID demonstrations using state-of-the-art RFID equipment.
A Primer on RFID Technology
2:00 in REDC 102
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that allows products and assets to be "tagged" and uniquely identified, located, and tracked using radio waves. RFID is a paradigm-shifting technology with significant challenges and opportunities. RFID tags will eventually be found in consumer goods, industrial equipment, and hospital assets. Wal-Mart, Target, Boeing, and the United States Department of Defense all have mandates requiring their largest vendors to ship pallets and cases of material with attached RFID tags. These mandates will soon include 100 percent of their vendors and the requirements will quickly trickle through the supply chain. Businesses will need to adopt RFID technology not only to satisfy customer requirements but also to increase productivity to stay competitive. This session will provide an overview of the current state of the RFID industry and company best practices, and will include many live RFID demonstrations using state-of-the-art RFID equipment.
For Video Presentation: Click Here
Dr. Ido MilletPenn State Behrend
Business Intelligence
2:00 in REDC 001
This session demonstrates the power of Business Intelligence concepts and tools (report generators and schedulers, data mining, pivot tables). Ido Millet is a professor of MIS, a consultant, and a developer of several software utilities ( www.MilletSoftware.com) for Crystal Reports. He received his Ph.D. from the Wharton School of Business and has worked as a developer and systems analyst on many reporting-related projects. For the last nine years, he has been teaching a management reporting systems course. Dr. Millet has also answered more than 4,000 questions on the Crystal Reports Tek-Tips and Experts-Exchange forums.
For Video Presentation: Click Here
Dr. Robert Weissbach (left)Dr. James Sonnenmeier (right)
Penn State Behrend
Directions in Energy Research
2:00 in REDC 002
The high cost of energy from fossil fuels, as well as the decline in new coal or nuclear power plant development, has made the need for the development of renewable forms of energy extremely important. These renewable energy sources not only help feed the power grid, they also typically generate the energy without harmful emissions, thus protecting our environment and reducing our country’s dependency on fossil fuels. One of the most widely used renewable energy sources is the wind. Compared to other renewable energy sources, wind turbine technology is relatively mature and robust. Wind turbines are now capable of generating greater than two megawatts (2 MW) of power, enough to power 1000 or more residential homes. The cost of generation is at a level that also makes wind energy economically viable. In this session, the presenters will discuss their efforts to date in developing a protocol, funded by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, for rural landowners and communities to evaluate the feasibility of installing a wind turbine on their site.
For Video Presentation: Click Here
All School of Engineering Speaker Series seminars are free and open to the public. We do ask that you notify us at (814) 898-6153 if you plan to attend the programs. For directions to the campus click here.