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Press Release

2020 SME Education Foundation Board Officers and Directors Take Office

The 2020 SME Education Foundation Board of Directors have taken office. The governing body of the Foundation, the board is comprised of leaders from industry and academia.

“We’re looking forward to working with the board to further our mandate and mission this year,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “The Foundation is energized, focused and committed to inspiring, preparing and supporting young people in manufacturing and engineering fields, and our board plays a key role in that mission.”

2020 SME Education Foundation Officers:

President — Irving P. “Irv“ McPhail, EdD; The McPhail Group LLC

Vice President — Joseph A. “Joe” Kann; Cobble Creek Solutions

Secretary/Treasurer — John F. Miller; Siemens PLM Software

2020 SME Education Foundation Directors:

Frank W. Ervin III; Piston Group LLC

Wayne F. Frost, LSME, CMfgE; Deere & Co. (retired)

Brian A. Ruestow, LSME; Norton Pulpstones Inc.

Pamela J. Ruschau, Esq.; Leydig, Voit & Mayer Ltd.

President Irv McPhail is Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The McPhail Group LLC, a global higher education consulting practice. In 2007, he joined the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Inc. and was named president and CEO in 2009. He has served as a college president or chancellor of colleges and universities in Baltimore, Saint Louis and Memphis, Tennessee. McPhail earned an academic scholarship to Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in development sociology. He holds a master's degree in reading from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. McPhail was a National Fellowships Fund Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his doctorate in reading/language arts. McPhail joined the SME Education Foundation Board of Directors in 2010.

“I am honored to lead the SME Education Board of Directors at this critical juncture. The role of manufacturing in driving economic prosperity and global competitiveness is severely compromised by the absence of a diverse and talented manufacturing workforce in the U.S.,” said 2020 SME Education Foundation President Irv McPhail. “We’re key to developing the next generation of diverse manufacturing and engineering talent through scholarships and innovative academic programs. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues at SME, the SME Education Foundation, and our partners and stakeholders to make that vision a reality.”

Meet the Board

View photos and read the biographies of our 2020 Board of Directors.