www.coppercountryexplorer.com

“Bob made teaching and learning fun by presenting concepts in a way that you couldn’t forget them,” said Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz. “He was a natural with students.”

Mark was awarded the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2008, only two years after joining the faculty. He was famous for using magic tricks in his classes and for his involvement with students outside the classroom.

“Bob had a great impact on our School, through his teaching, his work with the Institute for Leadership and Innovation and his direct involvement with students with dreams of being entrepreneurs,” said Darrell Radson, dean of the School of Business and Economics.

Mark was the driving force behind the Elevator Pitch Competition and the Business Plan Competition, both of which challenged students to present their best ideas for new, real businesses to a panel of judges. In fact, Mark had just announced the merger of the Business Plan Competition with Central Michigan University for next year, greatly increasing its prize monies and stature. He was also instrumental in bringing the Extreme Entrepreneur Tour to the Michigan Tech campus.

“Incredible teacher, respected colleague and generous person,” is how Mari Buche, associate professor in the School of Business and Economics, will remember Mark. “He was such a force. Everything he was involved in, he gave 100 percent. He could take a good idea and turn it into an experience.”

Mark’s specialties also included commercializing University research projects, and he had presented continuing education business seminars to engineers. He even worked on commercializing a Senior Design project, an improved hospital bed mattress, with which his son, Larry, was involved.

Locally, he was president of the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance. “Bob Mark had been a pillar in promoting entrepreneurship at Michigan Tech and in the business community,” said Carlton Carothers, CEO of the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation SmartZone. “I can’t think of anyone else with such ‘can-do’ and ‘get-it-done’ attitude. Our community has lost a strong advocate of business and entrepreneurship. We will also miss his uncanny humor.”

Johnathon Leinonen, also with the SmartZone, agreed.

“Bob was an exemplar for entrepreneurs, role model for students, and a leader in the community,” he said. “Bob was a great inspiration to me personally and I learned a lot from him through his tireless efforts to help students start businesses, to find funding for projects and to start the new Entrepreneurship Experiences capstone course. But what I really admire about Bob was that he had a heart for students: whether that was celebrating someone’s birthday with ice cream cones, cheering them on at athletic events, helping them move into the dorms, or in one case I know of, carrying furniture out of a second-story apartment after graduating and landing a new job. Bob will be sorely missed by everyone who got to know him.”

“Bob also developed the Introduction to Business course, an important part of our undergraduate curriculum,” Radson added. “He will be greatly missed. Please keep his wife, Nancy, daughter, Jacqualine, and sons, Phil and Larry, in your thoughts and prayers.”

Funeral arrangements are being made.

MDOT investigating
Portage Lake Lift Bridge operation problem

 
August 5, 2010– To correct the operation problem that resulted in the Portage Lake Lift Bridge being stuck in the open position on two occasions the past two days, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and consulting engineers will be diagnosing the cause of that problem today. The bridge is currently in the intermediate position and is open to auto traffic.
            In order to diagnose the problem, engineers will need to raise and lower the deck several times, starting at 6 p.m. today. As the cause of the closures is not yet known, this diagnosis may result in the bridge becoming stuck again, perhaps for an extended period.
            “We understand the inconvenience motorists and boaters experienced Tuesday and Wednesday, and that is why we are waiting until after the busiest traffic times have passed to begin this diagnosis,” said Andy Sikkema, manager of the MDOT Ishpeming Transportation Service Center. “However, there may be further delays before we can correct this issue completely.”
            To prevent the bridge becoming stuck in the “up” position, MDOT is currently not raising the bridge for boating traffic on Portage Lake. Vessels no higher than 30 feet may still pass beneath the bridge.
            In the event that the diagnostic work causes another traffic disruption, traffic will be rerouted through Houghton and Hancock. Motorists who need to travel near downtown Houghton or Hancock during a bridge closure must follow the signs and directions of local law enforcement agencies.
            For up-to-date information, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive, or follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT.

MDOT says: Construction work zones need your undivided attention.

Click HERE for the latest.

1st in Fraternity GPA
1st in Skit
1st in Fraternities overall in Carnival
ZERO manditory hours
100% HEART

MI Eta 45th Reunion: August 6-8 2010
RSVP at: www.mtusigeps.com

LROB Campaign Update:  Thanks to the growing number of alumni contributors, we now have 19 alumni who have pledged a total of $26,140!

If you did not receive the post card but would like to receive future mailings, please email me:

jmack@mtusigeps.com

Jon DeCleene, a brother from Michigan Eta who passed before his time, was recently mentioned online.  According to a new article in the Michigan Tech archives website:

“This picture is dedicated to Michigan Tech student and Sigma Phi Epsilon brother Jonathon DeCleene (1984-2007), who was a dedicated student assistant in the Archives.”

The full article can be read HERE.

For more information on this change click HERE.

College Ave is a bloody mess these days.  It has been much too long since they’ve resurfaced it, and its amazing just how bad it has become.  Great news:  College Ave will be resurfaced this summer.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN THE MINING GAZZETTE

Also, there will be a new club in downtown Houghton!
They are renovating the old Houghton fire station (previously owned by MTU) to be used as a dance hall.  They look to begin  this work soon and have it ready for students in the fall semester.  This building is located on Montezuma ave, right next to the Auto Value store (and across the street from the old Portage Library.

Here is a link to the MTU article