Meet your Technology Alumni Association board

The purpose of the Purdue Technology Alumni Association (PTAA) is to promote and support the College of Technology, to promote communication between the school and its alumni, to provide programs for professional growth for alumni, to provide a means for mutual assistance between the college and its alumni, and to enhance alumni relationships with the University and the Purdue Alumni Association.

Nomination applications for new technology alumni board members are being accepted for the two-year terms from April 2011 to June 2013. If you are interested, please fill out and return the nomination form as directed. Deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 2010.

Current members of PTAA are:

Zarjon Baha, term expires June 2013. Zarjon holds a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue. He joined Purdue in 1995 as a resident program coordinator for International Programs. Since 1982, he has been a professor in the Department of Building Construction Management. Zarhon has published numerous periodicals for student reference. He received the D. Dorsey Moss Excellence in Teaching Award in 2002.
Tod Bassler, treasurer, term expires June 2013. Tod earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology in 1981. He has worked for the last 29 years in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, finance and insurance industries. His responsibilities include protecting computer-based intellectual property at Eli Lilly and Company. "I am passionate about using the computer "tool" to the best of its ability and doing it correctly the first time," Tod says. Tod and his wife, Dawn, have one adult daughter, Sarah, and live in Indianapolis. He enjoys travel and photography and is also actively involved in bringing the country's passenger rail system into the 21st century.
Bryan Boyd, term expires June 2013.
Christy Bozic, term expires June 2011. Christy earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Purdue in 1993 and an MBA from Butler University in 2001. She has been director of the College of Technology location in Kokomo since Fall 2008. Prior to that, she spent 15 years working in the automotive industry and two years with Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program. She and her husband, Chris, have one son and enjoy travelling, boating and attending Purdue football games.
Bruce Brineman, term expires June 2013. Bruce earned a master’s degree in industrial technology in 1990 and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision in 1989. He has held numerous positions of responsibility with Caterpillar Incorporated, including his current position as operations manager in Aurora, Ill.
Dennis Boyd, vice president, term expires June 2011. Dennis earned is associate’s degree in computer graphic technology from Purdue in 1965. Later he received his bachelor’s from Indiana Wesleyan University. After a short tenure at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Mich., he relocated to Lafayette to work for Caterpillar Inc. He worked there for over 25 years, spending much of his time in quality engineering. He assisted in developing Caterpillar’s Six Sigma Program and became a Master Blackbelt in the program. Dennis retired in 2007 and now lives in Monticello, Ind. He is a quality consultant engineer for supply chain services international located in Peoria, Ill.
Kevin Hendress, term expires June 2011. Kevin earned an associate’s degree in organizational leadership and supervision and a bachelor’s degree in computer technology in 2002. A nine-year employee with Deere & Company, he is a system administrator for the IT systems within the treasury department. In 2006, Kevin successfully completed Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification. Originally from Rensselaer, Ind., Kevin and his wife, Liz, live in Davenport, Iowa. They are expecting their first child in December 2010. They are active in their church, and Kevin enjoys collecting and restoring antique tractors and other farming activities.
Rhonda Kerr, president, term expires June 2013. Rhonda earned her bachelor’s degree in computer technology in 1987. Originally from Mitchell, S.D., she has three children, all of whom attend Purdue. Rhonda is an instructional designer with Purdue’s Rosen Center for Advanced Computing. She teaches and/or consults on SharePoint, Adobe Connect, Brio, BEx, Cognos and Microsoft Access. Rhonda also serves as an APSAC representative for information technology at Purdue. She is involved with the Faith Community Center as their soccer director, is an instructor for LifeCare Services and the Faith Community Institute and serves as a fill-in parent at the Sunrise House.
Julie Mariga, term expires June 2011. Julie, an associate professor of computer and information technology, earned her bachlor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue. Her areas of interest include: social media and its impact on business, global information technology, broadening participation in computing and developing study abroad programs and opportunities for students in the College of Technology.
Rue Patel, secretary, term expires June 2011. Rue earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology in 1988. He serves on the Industrial Technology Industrial Advisory Board and, in 2003, was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Rue is a plant manager for General Mills in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He has worked for General Mills for over 19 years, holding various positions including lead for the cereal plant in Buffalo, N.Y., and at headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn. Rue and his wife, Laurie, have three children. He serves on several board, and he also enjoys collecting guitars, playing bass in a garage band, golf and is a car buff.
Michael Sanders, term expires June 2013. Michael has spent most of his career in higher education. He is director of the College of Technology at South Bend. He was an assistant professor in the Department of Business Administration and Economics and served as the director of the Eli Lilly grant program “Indiana Careers at Saint Mary’s College” from 2002 to 2007. Mike worked on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus from 1984 to 2002, first as the head academic advisor in electrical engineering technology and then as the director of the Krannert School of Business undergraduate program. Mike earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the College of Technology.
Pam White, term expires June 2011. After being away from the classroom for 20 years, Pam earned two Purdue degrees: a bachelor’s degree in technical graphics in 1998 and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2002. She is an instructional designer for Purdue’s Rosen Center for Advanced Computing and manager of the Undergraduate Training at Purdue (UTaP) students. Before coming to Purdue, Pam was a technology professional development coordinator and webmaster at North West Hendricks Schools. She and her husband have two sons and two grandchildren. They live in Lafayette.
Randy Zylstra, term expires June 2011. Randy earned his bachelor’s degree in building construction management in 1990. He spent eight years on the east coast before moving back to the Midwest in 1998. During his career, he has been all over the country working on a variety of projects, including the new Stephen M. Ross School of Business for the University of Michigan. Randy works in Chicago as the Gilbane Building Company’s senior project manager for the Hospital Pavilion Project at the University of Chicago. Randy and his wife of 19 years, Teresa, have two children: Amanda, 13, and Justin, 11.