Ron Baysinger is a 1993 graduate of the School of Engineering Technology with a degree in manufacturing engineering technology. In 2011, Baysinger was appointed to the newly created position of market development manager for Phoenix Contact. He is tasked with creating a new corporate engineering team. They will focus on vertical market control solutions that develop new corporate partnerships based on technical and applied expertise, as well as new innovations. As part of his duties, he will collaborate with global peers on best practices.
While a student at Purdue, Baysinger says he “lived” in the second-floor manufacturing lab where he learned on current industry tools and created his first machine controlled program. Because of this experience, he says, his Technology degree really benefitted his professional career in two ways: 1) by having three job offers with major companies upon graduation, and 2) by increasing his understanding of technical applications and how automation is implemented in many industries.
Baysinger received the 2014 Outstanding Technology Alumni Award from the College of Technology. Award winners were asked to how their degree benefited their career. He answered:
- "My first job was as a manufacturing systems and controls engineer. I was well prepared and excelled in this role using mechanical and electrical skills learned at Purdue. Now, as a leader with a global automation products manufacturer, I can say that my entire career has been in some way connected to my degree. Throughout my various responsibilities I have been able to gain the trust and confidence of superiors, colleagues and clients based on my understanding of technical applications and how automation is implemented in many industries. Today I lead teams rather than design control systems, but my technology education allows me to guide discussions and provide direction to help these teams be more successful."