OCOB Mag Spring 07-2b - Cal Poly College of Business

More documents

Recommendations

Info

COVER STORY Nelson “Smitty” Smith III (left) and Mark Alexander impact The of one IT professor in a student’s life Mark Alexander (IT ’71) had to ask his advisor to repeat himself. He had asked for advice about which job offer he should accept, and he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His industrial technology professor had told him to take the lowest offer. Not exactly the words he was waiting to hear, so he asked him to repeat what he had said. Sure enough, he had heard right – Nelson L. Smith III, “Smitty” had indeed advised him to take the lowest offer. His rationale was that, “If I could bite the bullet for five years at the lower wage, I would be able to gain invaluable experience and write my own ticket after that time,” said Mark recently. The company was Bechtel. Mark took Smitty’s advice and accepted the company’s offer, working there for 34 years until his retirement in 2006. He did manage to negotiate a slight increase in starting salary from $730 a month to $780 a month. Considering that an associate professor was making $900 a month at the time, it WWW.COB.CALPOLY.EDU ❚ 10
was no doubt a livable wage, but certainly not the amount the other companies were willing to pay. But the other companies didn’t offer the international travel and intrigue that Mark wanted. Because of his career, Mark and Carolyn and their two boys were able to live all over the world – and they did, moving 22 times in 34 years. After only three years with Bechtel, Mark had the opportunity to move to Indonesia, and from there, wanderlust continued to fan his decisions. Mark’s eyes light up when he talks about the people with whom he has worked, the places they have been, and the amazing things that his family has seen and shared. He wouldn’t change one single detail. And it all began with his industrial technology professor telling him to take the lowest offer. Looking back on his career, Mark felt that it was time to give back and try to make sure that others had some of the opportunities that he has enjoyed. He decided that he wanted to make sure the name of that professor would forever be honored in the Orfalea College of Business by students in the Industrial Technology major. Mark started an endowment in Smitty’s name, and by working with Orfalea College personnel, was able to send out a letter inviting all industrial technology alumni who were here during the years when Smitty was teaching (1962-1994) to join him in contributing to that endowment. It has been clear that Mark is not the only student who was deeply touched by Smitty and his genuine affection and concern for his students. The response to Mark’s letter for Smitty’s endowment has been incredible, and at the second annual IT alumni banquet in May, attendees will celebrate as Smitty bestows the first Nelson L. Smith Scholarship. Smitty was moved to tears when told of the Nelson L. Smith Scholarship Endowment and Mark’s wishes to memorialize his name. When he sat and advised that student 36 years ago, he had no idea of the profound impact that he would COVER STORY What is the Industrial Technology Story? Nelson L. “Smitty” Smith was an Industrial Technology (IT) professor from 1962 until his retirement in 1994. Many were touched by him. The Orfalea College of Business has been the home to the IT area since 1992, but we have often been asked how it came to be a part of our College. In the course of several meetings with Smitty, it became apparent that we needed to also meet with some of the other founding fathers of the area and go back to the very beginning to answer that question. Thus began our journey to Santa Barbara in the summer of 2006. Lou Tornatzky, the newly appointed chair of the Industrial Technology area, and I, director of college and alumni relations for the Orfalea College of Business, accompanied Smitty and Alice Smith have on that student’s life. He had no idea that student would forever be grateful to him or hold him in such high regard that he would always set a standard of excellence by him. He had no idea that there would be a legion of people that he would ORFALEA BUSINESS ❚ COLLEGE & ALUMNI MAGAZINE ❚ 11 to a reunion and lunch with Mac and Mary McRobbie. In 1962, Professor Carl Cummins was selected as the dean of the newlyformed College of Applied Arts. Carl had run the IT area single-handedly for three years and the area had grown. It was time now to build. Mac was in Colorado at the University of Greeley working on his doctorate when Carl sent a telegram asking him to apply for the job. Mac was hired as department head with the stipulation that he teach 50 percent of the time. IT was in Applied Arts and Mac and Smitty reminisced that they had to argue with the Physical Education department over money for equipment versus stop watches. Mac stayed 17 years as head of IT. He remembers hiring many IT faculty – Frank Barrows, Roger Keep, continued on page 13 From left: Mac McRobbie, Smitty and Lou Tornatzky (August 2006) touch, each in a unique way, who would feel indebted to him. That is the impact a professor can make in a student’s life. That is what the best of the best can do. – Leslie McKinley • director, college & alumni relations
Page 1 and 2: Retired IT Professor Nelson “Smit
Page 3 and 4: Randy Bernard In the second year of
Page 5 and 6: MS in Taxation available starting f
Page 7 and 8: Taxing work VITA program serves com
Page 9: The Under 4 Campaign was originally
Page 13 and 14: Bill Bruckart, Dave Fretwell, Lynn
Page 15 and 16: Industrial Technology Society place
Page 17 and 18: Outstanding! Cal Poly’s Delta Sig
Page 19 and 20: FMA members benefit from corporate
Page 21 and 22: Mingling with the pros PackExpo ’

OCOB Mag Spring 07-2b - Cal Poly College of Business

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?