College of Engineering Award Recipients
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
DR. ERIK M. PELL, ENG '44
Webster, N.Y.
If anyone can give the word copycat a good name, it’s Erik. The retired Swedish-born engineer spent most of his career with Xerox, recruiting, hiring, training and managing the amorphous photo conductor global team. Clearly a career worthy of replication.
Professional Achievement Award
WILLIAM J. KRUEGER, ENG '87
Brentwood, Tenn.
Nobody shifts expectations like Bill. The vice chairman for Nissan Americas, Bill steers the day-to-day operations of Nissan Americas’ business in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and 37 other Latin American and Caribbean countries. What makes Bill so successful? He keeps his eyes on the road ahead.
Entrepreneurial Award
MICHAEL J. NIGRO, ENG '83
Reston, Va.
Mike wasn’t satisfied simply building a business for himself.
So he has made a career of helping build businesses for others, working in the federal, commercial and international markets. He is currently CEO of M.J. Nigro Consulting, LLC and is active in numerous community programs.
Service Award
ROBERT P. FETTIG, ENG '68
Lake Geneva, Wis.
Bob is president and CEO of Tankcraft, which manufactures fuel tanks, hydraulic reservoirs and fabricated accessories — and serves as a great training ground for Marquette Co-op students to get real-world experience before graduating. Bob also has been on the college’s Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board since 1996 and supports many senior design projects.
Young Alumna of the Year Award
DENISE DEMARAIS ZARINS, ENG '93, GRAD '95
Saratoga, Calif.
It’s estimated that 1 billion people worldwide are affected by hypertension. In 2003, Denise co-founded Ardian Inc., a company committed to working with leading researchers to develop safe, effective new treatment options that could offer better ways to manage the disease.
