Alumni

Ray Kauppila earned bachelor degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1951. He then came to Tech as a teacher in 1957 and received a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1960. He left Michigan Tech briefly to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1968. Kauppila served Michigan Tech as a teacher and researcher from 1957 until his retirement . . .

Karl LaPeer is currently a partner at Peninsula Capital Partners, LLC, a Detroit-based $1.9 billion private equity firm.  From 1998-2009 he was Senior Vice President amp; Principal, and from 1996-1998 he was an Investment Manager. He and his partners at Peninsula Capital began with $20 million in capital back in 1995, and they have since invested over $1.5 billion, in more than 140 small and mid-sized companies with . . .

Pete Knudson earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1964 and began his career with the Budd Company as a management trainee. He would spend the next 19 years with the company, including stints as executive vice president and general manager of Auto Manufacturas and as president and general manager of Budd's Canadian subsidiary. He became group vice president of automotive products for Budd in . . .

Susan received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Tech in 1981. After graduation she accepted a position with General Motors Corporation. In 1982, Susan left GM and went to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. She stayed with TI from 1982 to 1988 and during this time worked as Deputy Program Manager, Lead Mechanical Engineer, and Mechanical Design Engineer for various Fire Control . . .