College of Engineering Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
JAMES H. GROTELUESCHEN, ENG '73,
GRAD '74
Glen Ellyn, Ill.
鈥淚 really like to do two things,鈥� says Jim Grotelueschen, 鈥渓aunch new products and solve problems.鈥� In both areas, Jim has been extraordinarily successful.
At Motorola, he drove the design completion and production ramp of the world鈥檚 first portable cell phone. At Research in Motion, he helped launch Blackberries in all cellular technologies. And at the many startup companies with which he is involved, his projects include a smart phone application that helps manage conditions such as diabetes; a universal entertainment remote that displays television program listings, e-mail and e-commerce; solar panels, high-efficiency LED-based light bulbs; and visually enhanced search engines.
鈥淚 am an active investor,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 going to invest in a business, I鈥檓 going to either be on the board, act as an adviser, work full time or consult on the side.鈥�
The work makes for a rather diverse r茅sum茅. As does being chairman of the board of Milwaukee鈥檚 Helios-USA; a board member of Nothing but Nature, GenerationOne and Naka-Media; and an adviser for Digital Optics International, Gearbox Express and ISCO.
Where does one go from here? 鈥淚鈥檓 going to stay involved in these start-ups,鈥� Jim says. 鈥淚 will also get more involved with the Red Cross.鈥�
Jim鈥檚 formula for success is sound and simple: 鈥淲ork hard, try hard and have fun along the way.鈥�
Fun fact: Originally from Logansport, Ind., Jim would like to have dinner with Bill Gates to discuss K-12 education.
