A native of Highland Park, MI, John Calder earned both his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1967 and his MS in Business Administration in 1977 at Michigan Tech. When he graduated in 1967, he completed nine interviews and had eight job offers. Calder began his career as a design engineer, became an applications engineer, and later a sales engineer. In 1975, he joined Dorsey-Alexander, Inc., of Cincinnati.
In 1980, Calder co-founded Cincinnati Controls, Inc., a firm that distributes microprocessors for motion control and human-machine interface. CEO of Cincinnati Controls since 1992, he attributes his professional success to hard work, his education, and to Joan, his wife of 41 years. Calder firmly believes in balance in life, evidenced by his three passions: family, work, and fun. He is also an avid hunter and gardener, and works with the Boy Scouts.
Calder affirms that his exemplary education led him down this entrepreneurial path. “Michigan Tech shows wonderful vision in combining the engineering and business disciplines,” he adds. Combining the two is “critically important,” especially in our global economy.
“Repayment for an outstanding education,” is equally important to John Calder. He has served as Vice Chair of the Tech Fund Board of Directors and Committee Chair for the ME-EM’s Phase II Building for the Future Campaign, Endowing Excellence. Already a member of the Dillman Society for his lifetime contributions to Michigan Tech, Calder plans on raising that level to the Hubbell Society in the very near future. The Calders have also supported Michigan Tech through the establishment of the ME-EM Calder Systems and Controls Laboratory. www.cincinnaticontrols.com
