Ben began at Newell Instruments immediately after graduating from the UI, growing the company’s activities from the basement of his parents’ house to a laboratory at the technology park at the University of Illinois, and now at Newell Instruments’ 4,400 square ft laboratory facility on the east side of Urbana. Ben is an avid runner and marathoner. He serves on an advisory board for the local Habitat for Humanity, and is a mentor at a local elementary school.

Ty was an engineer with Dupont at a manufacturing plant after finishing his BS degree in 1974. His graduate degree research investigated solar energy systems for residential and industrial process applications. After completion of his PhD in 1980, Ty joined the Mechanical Engineering faculty at the University of Illinois, retiring as an Assistant Dean of Engineering in 2007. His academic research concentrated on energy systems and resource conservation, Ty was a board member for many years with the Community Recycling Center, a national award winning not-for-profit corporation that pioneered many material collection and recycling systems. He also designed and constructed the 20,000 square ft University of Illinois salt gradient solar pond, one of the largest solar energy thermal collection systems in Illinois.

Alex began his work for Newell Instruments in 2008 as a summer intern. Upon his graduation from the University of Illinois in December of 2008, he became a full time employee. Alex has immense interest and experience in robotic control, as well as computer/microcontroller programming. Since joining Newell’s team, Alex’s control knowledge has expanded to include refrigeration and air conditioning systems. After leaving the office, Alex enjoys spending time lifting weights, running, and brewing beer. Alex has done much of the web design and programming for this website, so if you see something that doesn’t look right it is probably his fault.