General Engineering opened opportunity’s door for my family. Our lives are defined by how we invest our time, talent, and treasure. My wife and I are the principal investors in the Diane and Donald Field Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering Visionary Scholarship Fund.
My wife and I chose to invest in the ISE Department and, more specifically, in the ISE recipients of Engineering Visionary Scholarships.
My 33-year career began as a design engineer and culminated as President & Chief Operating Officer of a $2 billion corporation, employing 2,500 individuals. More than half of my professional career involved engineering and operations. Non-engineering assignments included human resources, marketing, mergers & acquisition, and strategic planning. My career had three distinct phases – as a staff/supervisory engineer; as a manager/director of both engineering and non-operations departments; and in executive management. Underlying each assignment was my licensure as a Professional Engineer.
Complementing my career, I invested time and talent in the energy industry. My 31 collective years of board service encompassed engineering, operations, infrastructure security, and research with the American Gas Association, the Midwest Energy Association, and the Gas Technology Institute. My board service included being elected to the leadership position of chair on multiple occasions.
My most satisfying investment of time, talent, and treasure took place in the not-for-profit community. My volunteer activity began with the Chicago Jaycees, the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and Junior Achievement. In volunteering I developed leadership abilities outside my professional career. I accumulated 32 collective years of board service with Roosevelt University, the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Naperville United Way, including leadership positions as chair.
As principal investors in our endowed scholarship, my wife and I expect a return on our investment. Our ROI are the lives led by EVS recipients and how they invest their time, talent, and treasure. We hope each recipient transforms the lives of those they touch, serves their community well, and serves society well.
