In celebration of its 25 years at Michigan Technological University, the Enterprise Program has awarded eight inaugural Enterprise Distinguished Service Awards to recognize the dedication and exceptional contributions of advisors and champions who have played pivotal roles in shaping the program’s success. The recipients of the Enterprise Distinguished Service Award are Brett Hamlin, Glen Archer, Rick Berkey, Jason Blough, Brad King, Robert Pastel, Tony Rogers, and Christopher “Kit” Cischke.
Each of the award winners has more than 15 years of service within Enterprise, dedicating their time and expertise to guide teams, ensure student success, and advance the program’s discovery-based learning mission. The eight advisors have also fostered industry collaborations and strengthened the bridge between academia and industry.
This eight-part series highlights the contributions of each award recipient.
The Enterprise journey began in 1998 when Michigan Technological University proposed and was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a three-year pilot program. Tony Rogers, now a professor emeritus in the Department of Chemical Engineering, worked on implementing that original NSF grant. And when the program launched in 2000, he began his tenure as faculty advisor for what is now the Consumer Product Manufacturing Enterprise (CPM).
“Kimberly Clark was our first sponsor in the fall of 2000,” Rogers recalls, “and we focused on disposable consumer products. After about four years, we became a general manufacturing Enterprise with a variety of sponsors and products.”
Rogers advised CPM for more than 20 years, up until his retirement in 2023. Throughout the years, the most rewarding aspect of working with the Enterprise students was watching them grow. “They come in as second years, and sometimes even halfway through their first year, and I got to work with them through graduation. By spending multiple years with Enterprise, they’d be seasoned pros by the time they graduated. That’s where the real magic happens — the maturation.”
Rogers says it’s hard to pinpoint just one standout experience or memory from his time with Enterprise. “There were so many, and it’s hard to pick a single one. There was a joint project in 2009 with the Blue Marble Security Enterprise that stands out. We were asked to thermoform an LED tail light cover using 3M film. The film’s optical properties spread the light uniformly across the cavity with relatively few light sources.” Compared to an incandescent bulb, the LED tail light had a lower volume and weight and required less energy. It became standard equipment in the Buick Enclave.
“We also had a project with alumnus Bob Carnahan, who funded the project out of his own pocket,” Rogers continues. “He wanted students to look at developing alternative uses for his nanostructured magnesium product, nanoMAG. The students looked at putting nanoMAG strips inside skis. The strips would absorb vibrations on downhill runs. The end result was a high-end specialty ski that went into the Shaggy’s Skis commercial line.”
Rogers says that what he liked about the Enterprise program from the beginning was that it created an on-campus co-op experience.
“Companies look at it like a co-op experience because you interact with a client, you manage projects, and you have a budget — all the things you might do on a co-op, but you do it while you’re at school.”
Rogers notes that the continuity aspect of Enterprise is unique. “It’s not a project that’s one and done. You have a pathway going from second year to senior year. And the identity of each Enterprise is different. We had a large university come visit one time to learn more about our Enterprise program. They wanted to do something more regimented on their campus, but I told them a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. You can’t mandate how each group does things. Each Enterprise needs its own standard operating procedures and its own governance, and it must be organic. It must come from within the individual Enterprise.”
Receiving the Distinguished Service Award is an indicator to Rogers that “the Enterprise program is healthy. I was glad to have a part in it, and receiving this award is truly an honor. There were a lot of folks doing great things in Enterprise when I was there — I wasn’t the only one. And the great work continues on. Jon Herlevich took over advising CPM when I retired. He’s a professor of practice in chemical engineering, and he’s doing a wonderful job with CPM. I’m glad to see the program is in such good hands.”
About the Enterprise Program
Michigan Tech’s Enterprise Program offers students a unique, hands-on learning experience that goes beyond the classroom. With more than 25+ Enterprise teams spanning disciplines such as engineering, business, computing, and science, students collaborate on real-world projects sponsored by industry and government partners. Enterprise students develop technical expertise, leadership skills, and teamwork experience—preparing them for success in their careers. Many teams work on cutting-edge innovations, from automotive and aerospace to sustainability and emerging technologies.
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