Ohio Northern University’s T.J. Smull College of Engineering honored Brenda Reichelderfer and Carey (Wurgler) Smith with Distinguished Alumni Awards on Feb. 23.
Brenda Reichelderfer
As senior vice president and managing director of TriVista, Reichelderfer, who earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering with a business management option from ONU in 1980, has more than 30 years of experience in general management, engineering and operations.
She joined TriVista after retiring as senior vice president, director of engineering and chief technology officer of ITT Corporation in 2008. With ITT, Reichelderfer previously held the roles of group president of both the Electronic Components Group and the Motion and Flow Control Group.
Reichelderfer has broad international experience, having run operations in 17 different countries, including most of Europe and Asia. Through her years of leadership at ITT, she helped bring Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Integrated Product Development and other commercial best practices to ITT, first within her own plants and businesses, and then corporate-wide.
Reichelderfer is non-executive director of Meggitt PLC, non-executive director of Federal Signal Corporation and a member of the Technology Transfer Group of the Missile Defense Agency.
She also completed extensive executive leadership programs at Duke University and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Reichelderfer joined ONU’s Board of Trustees in 2011. She served on the ONU College of Engineering Advisory Board from 1991 until 2011.
Carey (Wurgler) Smith
Smith, who earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from ONU in 1985 and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Syracuse University, is president of Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. (HTSI), a subsidiary within Honeywell Aerospace.
Since September 2011, Smith has led the HTSI business, which provides space, physical and cyber security, logistics, engineering, and health solutions and services for military, federal, commercial and international customers. During this time, HTSI has achieved global expansion and diversification, and industry-leading performance while reducing cost.
In total, Smith has spent nearly 30 years in the aerospace and defense industries. She held both domestic and international assignments, including a role as president of Lockheed Martin Canada. Smith is a certified program management professional and a certified Green Belt, and she has published more than 10 papers, one of which was recognized by Time Life Books.
In 2012, she was recognized as one of the top 100 female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She is a member of the Professional Services Council Board of Directors and sits on the NATO Industry Advisory Board.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Established in 2010, the T.J. Smull College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes those who have distinguished themselves through outstanding personal qualities and significant contributions to his or her chosen field.
To be eligible for the award, an individual must be a graduate of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering; be distinguished in his or her profession, business or other worthy endeavor; have received recognition from his or her contemporaries; have made a significant contributions benefitting his or her community, state, nation, the University or the college; and be a person of such integrity, stature and demonstrated ability that the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the college will take pride in and be inspired by his or her recognition.
