Penn College News

Penn College Contingent Participates in Conferences

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Pennsylvania College of Technology students and faculty were big winners recently in Las Vegas. The contingent attended two major industry conferences during the same week.

Representatives from the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies participated in FABTECH 2016 and the Autodesk University conference. FABTECH is the largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event in North America; the Autodesk event is geared to those who utilize the company’s computer-aided design software.

J.D. Mather, assistant professor of engineering design technology, received special recognition at the Autodesk conference. He completed the Inventor 2017 certified professional exam and was presented with the Autodesk Expert Elite Award for his outstanding contribution to Autodesk community forums.



J.D. Mather, assistant professor of engineering design technology at Penn College, holds his Autodesk Expert Elite Award, which was presented to him for his outstanding contribution to Autodesk community forums.“We are proud of J.D. for his well-deserved honor,” said David R. Cotner, dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies. “He has established himself as a leader within the Autodesk community. His dedication and extensive knowledge of Autodesk benefits our students and inspires his peers.

“I’m also pleased that some of our students were able to experience, firsthand, two very important industry events that can lay the groundwork for their eventual careers.”

The students who attended one or both conferences were: Ian M. Dorman, of Mill Hall; Jessica L. Logue, of Bloomsburg; and Kyle T. Potts, of Colver. Potts and Dorman are engineering design technology majors, and Logue is seeking a welding and fabrication engineering technology degree.

“This was my first FABTECH that I attended, and it was extremely valuable to me,” Logue said. “I got to talk with past students in attendance and talk with companies from all over the world about their new equipment and different things that are going on in industry.”

Dorman learned vital information at the Autodesk conference. “Networking with vendors, it was emphasized to me how important it is as a student to have an ePortfolio for future career opportunities,” he said.

The students were joined by Nathan M. Eckstein, of Cambridge Springs, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology. During the Autodesk event, Eckstein participated in an invitation-only, all-day session on computer numeric control programming using Fusion 360 software.

In addition to Mather, four faculty members attended one or both conferences: Michael R. Allen, instructor of welding; James N. Colton II, assistant professor of welding; and Richard K. Hendricks Jr. and John G. Upcraft, both instructors of automated manufacturing and machining.

The college offers associate and baccalaureate degrees in automated manufacturing and machining, engineering and industrial design technology, and welding. For information on those majors and other programs offered by the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.

Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development. Email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.