Arkansas Academy of Mechanical Engineering Welcomes 2021 Inductees

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2021 AAME Inductees. From top left: Stanton Apple, Thomas Carter, Rodney Goodwin, Jerry Newton, Greg Pillar, Nathan Porbeck, Billy Ray Qualls, John Reynolds and Adam Shallenberg.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, the Arkansas Academy of Mechanical Engineering inducted nine new members during a virtual ceremony. Led by academy President Cristine Wolf, the ceremony recognized the new members for their professional accomplishments and welcomed them into the organization.

Each year, the academy selects outstanding mechanical engineering alumni to join the honored ranks of the organization. The nominees are reviewed and elected by the academy membership and are recognized for their contributions to their discipline, communities and overall impact they have made on the field of engineering. Academy members reflect the absolute best mechanical engineers in the industry.

Wolf said, "It is an honor to welcome these amazing engineers to AAME. They show a great passion for supporting the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the students. We look forward to their direct participation to make a difference in the lives of future mechanical engineers."

The 2021 inductees are:

• Stanton C. Apple, B.S.M.E. 1989, M.S.E.M. 2019 – Assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Arkansas Tech University.
• Thomas F. Carter, B.S.M.E. 1967 – Construction engineering manager at B2Gold Fekola Project.
• Rodney R. Goodwin, B.S.M.E. 1996 – Corporate reliability and maintenance manager at DuPont.
• Jerry D. Newton, B.S.M.E. 1995, M.B.A. 2000 (Dartmouth) – Group chief operating officer at Ecofibre Limited.
• Gregory A. Pillar, B.S.M.E. 2004, M.S.M.E. 2006, M.E.M. 2009 (Washington State University) – Senior airframe design lead at the Boeing Company.
• Nathan M. Porbeck, B.S.M.E. 2005 – President of Porbeck Engineering.
• Billy Ray Qualls, B.S.M.E. 1983 – Senior mechanical engineer for operations in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• John M. Reynolds, B.S.M.E. 2004, M.S.O.M. 2008 – Director of product development at the Marshalltown Company.
• Adam D. Shallenberg, B.S.M.E. 2005 – Engineering manager at DJO Surgical.

Darin Nutter, Mechanical Engineering Department head, congratulated the inductees for their success. "These new AAME members are further examples of how accomplished and impactful our alumni are in their careers and lives," Nutter said. "Going forward, I know our students and department will benefit from their involvement with the academy."

The 2021 inductees will also be recognized at the upcoming banquet and ceremony scheduled for April 2022.