My home town tie-in was Saginaw Steering Gear Division (now Xsteer)of General Motors Corporation. SSG had no program relationship with WMU; and WMU only worked with vehicle manufacturers. There was zero interest in having an automotive stent connected with a simple “auto parts” organization.

A compromise was reached. I was the first experiment. I started on the factory floor, then multiple 8 week assignments in tooling, process, industrial, and product engineering assignments.

In December 1971, I graduated from WMU with a job as a Product Engineer for General Motors! Pay was $1,027.45 per month and I had NO DEBT! My fellow grads were getting $925.00 to $950.00a month at Ford and Chrysler.

I left GM and Saginaw in 1975. I enjoyed engineering careers at American Seating Company and SUSPA, Inc. I stayed connected to the auto industry, be i was more attracted to commercial seating and swivel chairs. SUSPA had invented the first self-supporting pneumatic height adjustment a few years earlier and I helped introduce it to North America during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

In 2003, I formed my own consulting business where I remain focused on the office, education, healthcare, and hospitality furniture industries. I love what I do and I am eternally grateful for my co-op working / learning experience.

There is a new successor program at WMU. The School of Product Design & Innovation, combining The Arts, Engineering, and Business Schools has opened this month with 22 students.

History CAN repeat itself!