MVCTC 2016 Hall of Fame
It is with pride that the Miami Valley Career Technology Center inducts 10 alumni into the 2016 Hall of Fame. Congratulations to the ten MCJVS/MVCTC Alumni inducted into the MVCTC Hall of Fame on October 6, 2016.
John Carter
Industrial Electronics
Vandalia-Butler High School 1979
John Carter used his technical training at MCJVS/MVCTC to become the President and Chief Technology Officer for ReconaSense of Austin, Texas. John currently designs physical security systems that think and learn. He was a member of the Security Industry Association (SIA) Board of Directors for five years and served on the SIA Executive Committee. John also served on the Homeland Security Advisory Group and participated in the Federal “Go Teams” following 9/11 to establish new guidelines and define new technologies for government security. John stated how his MCJVS/MVCTC instructors Mr. Melhorn and Mr. Albin were huge inspirations. Right out of high school, Mr. Albin helped John get hired by a NASA contractor to work on the Space Shuttle program. Later, John became the Director of Engineering for a security company where he developed specialized security products and technology. John has managed international companies and founded multiple successful technology companies. He founded, grew, and sold three companies, including one purchased by a $3 billion dollar Swiss company that has 9,600 employees in 60 countries, where they sold products that John designed. He has provided technology to the White House, Secret Service, Office of Naval Intelligence and many other federal sites. Additionally, he provided and designed security technology for casino gaming companies including Caesars Palace, The Mirage, Rio, Atlantis and others. He also provided and designed technology to universities including The Ohio State University. However, what John considers one of his biggest accomplishments is coaching kids for 10 years in a youth football league and participating as a mentor at a local school. As stated in his nomination, “John is a prime example that not everyone needs a college degree. Our country needs people who work with their hands and hearts as well as their brains.
Instructors: Mr. Carl Melhorn and Mr. Bob Albin
Nominator: Ms. Geri Johns
Benjamin Davis
Commercial Art
Miamisburg High School 1990
Benjamin (Ben) Davis took his love of art and turned it into a rewarding career introducing thousands of Miamisburg school children to the beauty, enjoyment, and appreciation of art. After MCJVS/MVCTC Ben attended the Columbus School of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio and later Wright State University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art in 1995. He returned to Wright State for his Certificate in Art Education in 1997. Ben has been employed as an Elementary Art Teacher in Miamisburg City Schools for the past 18 years. He plans curriculum for his various art classes and teaches 800 students each week in three of Miamisburg's elementary schools -- Kinder School, Bear School, and Bauer School. In addition, Ben plans three art festivals a year at the three elementary schools. He collaborates with other art teachers in the district to present the fine arts festival, featuring students' artwork throughout the district each spring at Miamisburg High School. He is actively involved in professional art organizations and is the 2016 recipient of the Ohio Art Education Association Outstanding Art Teacher Award. In his free time, Ben volunteers at a local soup kitchen type restaurant in Miamisburg called One Bistro along with his fellow staff members at Kinder Elementary School and is part of a singing acoustic duo called Ben and Pete who perform at various establishments and often appear gratis for special events in the community. As stated in his nomination, “Ben is a perfect example of how one can learn the basics of their profession in Career Technical Education and then, by cultivating that interest, take it to the highest level by teaching it to others. While some might view career technical education as a dead end to entry level jobs, Ben shows us how it can be a pathway to fulfillment and success."
Instructors: Mrs. Helen Stamas and Mr. Jack Wellbaum
Nominator: Mrs. Rosalie Bernard
Brent Fourman
Industrial Drafting
Tri-Village High School 1984
Brent Fourman has spent the past 18 years as the Senior Lead Designer/Supervisor for the BWI Group (formerly part of Delphi and General Motors). Brent started his career as a print boy progressing quickly to detailer on the board (pencil and vellum), working mainly in tool and die work. He took the training he received at MCJVS/MVCTC and obtained a job in the industrial drafting field and was able to take advantage of the company paid tuition to obtain his associate's degree in Applied Science Mechanical Engineering Technology from Sinclair Community College. With hard work and dedication, he moved into 2D CAD working on a variety of items from healthcare to automotive. Excelling in 2D CAD, Brent was soon promoted to 3D CAD beginning with wireframe and surfacing of steering wheel designs, and then into solid modeling with the design and development of engine and transmission mounting systems. This included the design of technologically advanced fluid filled mounts, on which Brent is the co-inventor on U.S. patents. MR Controlled Mounting Systems was the next and most current technology where again Brent is instrumental in the design of new technology with additional patents and pending patents in his portfolio. This technology led to the company receiving the Vehicle Dynamics Innovation of the Year award for 2009. Brent maintains a high degree of integrity and is highly regarded within his company, his subordinates and by the customers with which he interacts. MCJVS/MVCTC was the start of a very successful career in which he has made a good living and allowed him to give back to the community in various ways. In his spare time, Brent is a Tri-Village High School Varsity Bowling Coach, served as President and Vice President of the Tri-Village Music Boosters, and as Vice President of the Tri-Village Athletic Boosters.
Instructors: Mr. Ernest Gary and Mr. Donald Rinehart
Nominator: Mrs. Kimberly Fourman
Elizabeth Gratton
Culinary Arts
Bethel High School 2004
Elizabeth (Liz) Gratton Liz started off her career in the MVCTC Advanced Placement program as a Culinary Arts students working her senior year in a corporate restaurant, O'Charley's. After MVCTC, Liz went to Johnson & Wales University and completed her Advanced Standing Associates of Science in Culinary Arts Degree and then earned her Bachelors of Business in Hospitality Management at The Ohio State University. She is currently completing the Career Technical Licensure Program at Wright State University. As Liz worked her way through college she became a chef at the Vanderbilt Hall Hotel, in Newport, Rhode Island. Then spent her internship through Johnson & Wales University at the Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Waters, England. Liz has always loved to travel and experience cuisines in new places. She absorbs as much of the local culture as she can. She was offered a chef position to stay on after she finished school but chose to return to Ohio for her family. When Liz returned to Ohio, she was given the opportunity to start the chef program with Kroger Marketplace stores. She was hired in the very first group of chefs, completed training in Cincinnati, and then began moving around opening Marketplace stores in Southwest Ohio. Then, the opportunity to go back to school to earn her Bachelor's Degree came and she had to take it.
Liz lived in Columbus for six years while she completed her degree. She worked her way through college at a privately owned brewery and restaurant in downtown Columbus, the Elevator Brewery. She also worked at The Ohio State University as a building manager for the student union. Liz completed her internship through OSU at the Courtyard by Marriott in Springfield. She was again given the opportunity to stay on after her internship was complete and this time she took it. A rare opportunity to work at a restaurant that specializes in allergies and dietary restrictions came along, and with Liz's personal food allergies and interest in what causes them, she took the job at Olive, an Urban Dive. Her time there was well spent researching allergens, dietary restrictions, learning about farm to table and actually assisting in the creation and upkeep of the two-acre farm that fed the restaurant year round. During her time at Olive, Liz learned of a culinary arts instructor position opening at MVCTC. It has always been Liz's dream to come back and teach the Culinary Arts Program at MVCTC, and after 10 years in the culinary industry, she was given the chance to do just that.
Instructors: Ms. Marian Scarazzo and Chef Edward Stanziano
Nominator: Ms. Molly Glett
Cheryl Artz Johnson
Dental Assisting
Northmont High School 1977
Cheryl Johnson has been an integral part of the MCVJS/MVCTC for over 30 years, as first a student in the Dental Assisting program and then the Dental Assisting instructor for 30 years. It is often say you cannot go to a dentist office in the area without running into one of Cheryl’s former students. She has prepared many young people for an extremely rewarding career. Cheryl worked diligently throughout her career providing outstanding educational and professional opportunities for all of her students. Cheryl served as the SkillsUSA chapter advisor for 15 years and has taken students to the national level in SkillsUSA contests twelve times. She has had a first place and three 3rd place national winner. She also consistently offered assistance to students in other CTSOs such as HOSA and FCCLA. Cheryl established an excellent working relationship with area dental and orthodontic offices. Her students were continually sought after for jobs because the dental offices knew that a recommendation from Cheryl confirmed that the prospective employee was well prepared for employment in both a technical and professional manner. Outside of MVCTC, Cheryl has sponsored multiple foreign exchange students through the years. Cheryl represents the importance of career technical education by strengthening awareness of her program and MVCTC in our communities. She has provided so many dentists with high-quality employees immediately out of high school. Cheryl has demonstrated the value of career-technical education through her high job placement each year. Cheryl is still working as a substitute teacher for MVCTC and currently has two children attending MVCTC! One child in HVAC and one in Natural Resource Management.
Instructors: Mrs. Trula Butcher and Mrs. Mary Hart
Nominator: Mrs. Paula Wathen
Donnie Lewis
Small Animal Care
Preble-Shawnee High School 1979
Coming from the small town of Gratis, Ohio, Donnie Lewis never dreamed as a child that he would travel around the world several times, visit every one of the fifty states, and meet with Presidents, and sports and entrainment personalities. He just knew that he loved to play drums and take care of his numerous pets. So when he decided to attend the MCJVS/MVCTC/MVCTC, it seemed the logical course of action. He loved taking care of animals and if you wanted a career in this field, this was the place to go and learn a profession. It provided him with the experience and technical skills to get a job at a good veterinarian office. But, as life has a tendency to do, it changed course. Opportunities to follow his other passion, music, became a reality and his course deviated slightly from taking care of small animals professionally to become a full-time drummer and touring around the country. That opportunity to play drums along with some of his buddies turned to a career that has spanned nearly forty years.
In the early 1980s, Donnie moved from Gratis to Sheridan, AR, then on to Nashville, TN where he became the drummer of a group known as the MidSouth Boys. With a growing fan base, MidSouth revolutionized the format of Southern Gospel music. They were successfully able to put a new spin on the old four-part harmony style of Gospel music and establish the foundation of vocal bands that are prominent on today’s airwaves. Crafting a new style of music, MidSouth had quite a few chart-topping songs and multiple industry awards including a Grammy Award nomination. They even established a new trend in the music industry by being the first musical group to ever have a graphic picture on a CD. After many years of touring and recording with MidSouth, Donnie decided to make an industry move from behind the drums on stage to the management side of the music business. Working with the First Lady of Country music, Tammy Wynette, Donnie learned the ends and out of the business aspect of the music business from Tammy’s husband George Ritchie. From the onset of his career change, Donnie wanted to give back by becoming a mentor and helping to give direction to young, musicians who were new in town. Throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, Donnie was tour manager for Trisha Yearwood. During this time, Donnie began to be a tour manager that other tour managers would come to for tips on how the put a successful tour together, to find out who were the best people to work with on travel, contracts, and leasing tour buses. He was fortunate enough to be with Trisha at music award events, the Oscars, two White House dinners as well as in attendance at two Presidential Inaugurations and countless sporting events, such as the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA when Trisha sang the National Anthem. For the last thirteen years, Donnie has been working with renowned guitarist, Peter Frampton. Due to Frampton dividing his yearly time between touring and working in his recording studio in Nashville, Donnie has been able to guest lecture at Belmont University on several occasions speaking to students about the music industry in general and the best way to make an impact and start a career in the very competitive field of touring personnel and artists. The fundamental skill sets, which Donnie learned as a student at MCJVS/MVCTC, have allowed him to expand his career choices in ways that he never anticipated. Organization is the key element to everything he does. The title of tour manager encompasses so many roles and responsibilities that he has to be extremely organized to keep not only himself but the entire tour on schedule. Donnie found in leaving his familiar high school for the MVCTC/MCJVS, a chance to spread his wings and meet new people, accept new challenges and step up into a leadership role that when beyond his academic program and has helped sustain him throughout his long career. This is a clear indication of the success and life lessons that the students of MCJVS/MVCTC are able to take away with them.
Instructors: Mr. Steve Johnson and Mr. Bob Nehring
Nominator: Dr. Debra Back
Rick Little
Precision Machining
Northridge High School 1971
Rick Little has worked in manufacturing his entire career, which started with his attending the MVCTC /MCJVS the very first year it opened. Upon graduation, he used the skills he learned in the Precision Machining program to secure a job as a machinist trainee. Over the course of the last 40 years, Rick assumed positions of increasing responsibility, from machinist to floor supervisor to manufacturing manager, culminating in his current role as president. Rick attributes his success to the solid foundation he acquired from his education and training at MCJVS/MVCTC. He has positively affected many machinists through his guidance and mentorship, in an effort to show young people that they, too, can have a great career in manufacturing. Throughout his career, Rick has been a committed advocate for manufacturing in the Dayton Region. He has been active in the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association for a number of years, first by serving on its Government Relations Committee and then on its Board of Trustees. Rick is the current chairman of the Board. Rick also serves on the City of Dayton Mayor’s Manufacturing Task Force, which is a committee of community leaders, manufacturers, and labor representatives who advocate for manufacturing in the city. He also serves on the Dayton Region Military Collaborative, representing the manufacturing industry in defense-related initiatives. He was the keynote speaker at the 2016 STEP II graduate recognition ceremony hosted by Sinclair Community College. Rick is the "poster child" for career technical education. He was a member of the first graduating class at MVCTC, found immediate employment in his field (precision machining), and is now the president of Starwin Industries and the chairman of the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association's Board of Trustees. He is the epitome of how career technical education lays the foundation for a successful and lucrative career!
Instructor: Mr. Dale Parkey
Nominator: Ms. Angelia Erbaugh
Paul McDowell
Electronics
Brookville High School 1994
Paul McDowell completed the Electronics Program in 1994 from MVCTC, he went on to earn degrees in Electronics Engineering Technology from Sinclair Community College and the University of Dayton. Paul worked for six years at Sytronics and RDS as an Engineer and Test Engineer. For the past 12 years, he has worked at Indigenous Technology as a Electronics Spectrum Certification Engineer. Paul completes spectrum certification of Radio Frequency (RF) systems used by the Air Force and supports roughly 50 Program Offices located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He has become one of the top Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Spectrum Certifiers for the Air Force. Paul gives briefings at the IFF Conference to over 500 attendees yearly and works with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Spectrum Certification. Paul also has an Air Force Patent for special pilot gloves for touch screens. Paul has shown that the good foundation of electronics knowledge received from MVCTC can lead to a lifetime career in electronics engineering.
Instructors: Mr. Steve Brandt, Mr. Bob Frantz, Mr. Clarence Honeyman, and Mr. Mike Wilson
Nominator: Mrs. Misty McDowell
Andrew Miller
Computer Technology Tech Prep
Eaton High School 1998
Andrew (Andy) Miller completed the MVCTC Computer Technology Tech Program and went on to Wright State University earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Technology. Besides being president and owner of Miller Network Innovations, Andy is also the owner of a successful pizza restaurant. In 2014, Andy purchased The Don's Pizza in a landmark Greenville, Ohio, location. Then, in 2016, he opened a communications and security product distribution, Vendor Discounters in Dayton, Ohio. These investments are proving to be very successful for Andy. The vision he has for business is extraordinary, and his friendliness and creativity have made him successful in all of his ventures. Andy has served as the President of Professional Referral Exchange, a member of the Far Hills Masonic Lodge, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Microsoft Partners, a member of Sales Best Practices, a member of Entrepreneurs of Dayton, and a member of IT Focus Expert Group. Andy has demonstrated the importance of career technical education by expanding his education and employment in the career field he studied at MVCTC. He excelled as a student at MVCTC in both the classroom and in his Business Professionals of America experiences. As you can see from his accomplishments, he continues to excel in his professional life. He truly is an excellent representative of career technical education and MVCTC.
Instructors: Mrs. Pamela Oldham and Mr. Mike Wilson
Nominator: Mrs. Pamela Oldham
Matthew Robbins
Diesel Mechanics
West Carrollton High School 1990
Matthew (Matt) Robbins started at MCJVS/MVCTC as a Diesel Mechanics student in September 1988, little did he know that he would become an integral part of MVCTC for the next 28-years. Mr. John Hanson asked the very first day of school if anyone was interested in maintaining the school busses after school and Matt was the only one who held up a hand. As a junior student, he began working three hours a day after school each day and all day in the summer. After graduation in 1990, he was offered a full-time job. For the next 26 years, Matt would be invaluable as a Maintenance Technician for MVCTC. In addition to the basic job responsibilities of a Maintenance Technician, which included everything from performing minor repairs to the buildings and grounds to clearing snow, Matt was responsible for maintaining all of the District vehicles, overseeing the scheduling of all trips, and supervising a staff of 15 part-time drivers. In addition, Matt scheduled and performed driver training, annual physicals, and assisted with the hiring of drivers for the District. Matt was asked to absorb these additional duties many years ago and, through his meticulous attention to detail, he created a viable and sustainable process for ensuring the safety of students and the completeness of District Transportation records. In 2009-2010, Matt was a member of the first 21st Century Leadership Academy held in the State of Ohio. This program was started by MVCTC as an opportunity to help develop leadership potential for any employee of MVCTC. Matt is an innovative thinker and helped with the development of new systems at MVCTC, including the new Transportation Scheduler introduced in 2015. In August of 2016, Matt accepted the new position as Director of Operations at Eaton Community Schools. He is supervising facilities, maintenance, and transportation for Eaton. Matt will go out of his way to help anyone in need. Over the years of his career, Matt has volunteered countless hours of his time and energy to assist MVCTC in any way he can. Matt has also found time to volunteer helping the local (Brookville) community theater building sets, running lights and sound, as well as helping out at the local high school with the sets for theater shows.
Instructors: Mr. John Hanson
Nominator: Ms. Margaret Correale
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