Louis Laurich
The University of Akron College of Engineering will honor its 2010 distinguished alumni at a recognition ceremony at the University's InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field on Friday, April 16. Honorees include:
Louis Laurich ’71
Akron native and former Army Air National Guardsman Laurich spent most of his career with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. where he rose in the ranks from junior to senior management and provided engineering concepts and designs for corporate study.
Laurich has received numerous aircraft awards and certificates from Kent State University and is the current commander of the International Shrine Aviation Association. As a UA supporter, Laurich has established the Scholarship for First Generation Engineering Students through his estate plans and awarded scholarships to deserving engineering students in 2009 and 2010. Laurich earned Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from UA in 1971.
Jim Maser ’83, ’85
Jim Maser
Maser is the president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) liquid rocket propulsion and power technology company. A Norton native, Maser earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in civil engineering at UA and an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Before he joined PWR, Maser was president and general manager of the Sea Launch Co., an international partnership that launches commercial communications satellites. He later served as president and chief operating officer of Space Exploration Technologies, which was selected by NASA to demonstrate the delivery and return of cargo to the International Space Station.
Earlier, Maser served as a research fellow at NASA/Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center. In 2000, he was honored by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics with its George M. Low Space Transportation Award. He is scheduled to throw the first pitch at the April 17 Zips-Eastern Michigan home baseball game.
Robert Reffner ’73
Reffner is the vice president for legal for FirstEnergy Service Co., where he works with a team of 24 staff attorneys and with outside counsel.
Robert Reffner
An Akron resident, Reffner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at UA in 1973 and received a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1977.
Before he joined FirstEnergy, Reffner was a partner at Brouse McDowell in Northeast Ohio. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1977 and is a member of the Ohio State and Akron Bar Associations.
A longtime community leader, Reffner has served as a trustee for the University of Akron Research Foundation, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and Akron General Health Systems among other organizations. Reffner received the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Award from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and is a life trustee of the Greater Akron Chamber.
Roger Swart ’76
A Tallmadge resident, Swart joined the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. shortly after he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering at UA in 1976. He began is 34-year career at Goodyear as a staff engineer, moved to Oklahoma as a field civil engineer for the construction of a new tire plant and returned Akron as a field civil engineer and resident engineer for the Akron Technical Center.
Roger Swart
Swart later was promoted to project manager and oversaw several tire expansions globally. He currently serves as a senior project manager for Goodyear and manages plant expansions.
Swart is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is actively involved in supporting community organizations, including the United Way and its Day of Caring at Camp Y-Noah in Akron. Swart received the 2005 Spirit of Caring Award from Goodyear for providing outstanding service to the community through volunteerism.
About the UA College of Engineering
The UA College of Engineering is the fourth fastest growing college of engineering in the country (among the 150 largest; source: American Society for Engineering Education) and the fastest growing in the state. The college’s current 2,142 undergraduate enrollment represents a 54.9 percent increase in students between fall 2004 and fall 2009.
Media contact: Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@uakron.edu.