2020 SME Education Foundation Board Officers and Directors Take Office February 14, 2020 by SME Communications The 2020 SME Education Foundation Board of Directors have taken office. The governing body of the Foundation, the board is comprised of leaders from industry and academia. “We’re looking forward to working with the board to further our mandate and mission this year,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “The Foundation is energized, focused and committed to inspiring, preparing and supporting young people in manufacturing and engineering fields, and our board plays a key role in that mission.” 2020 SME Education Foundation Officers: President — Irving P. “Irv“ McPhail, EdD; The McPhail Group LLC Vice President — Joseph A. “Joe” Kann; Cobble Creek Solutions Secretary/Treasurer — John F. Miller; Siemens PLM Software 2020 SME Education Foundation Directors: Frank W. Ervin III; Piston Group LLC Wayne F. Frost, LSME, CMfgE; Deere & Co. (retired) Brian A. Ruestow, LSME; Norton Pulpstones Inc. Pamela J. Ruschau, Esq.; Leydig, Voit & Mayer Ltd. President Irv McPhail is Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of The McPhail Group LLC, a global higher education consulting practice. In 2007, he joined the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Inc. and was named president and CEO in 2009. He has served as a college president or chancellor of colleges and universities in Baltimore, Saint Louis and Memphis, Tennessee. McPhail earned an academic scholarship to Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in development sociology. He holds a master's degree in reading from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. McPhail was a National Fellowships Fund Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his doctorate in reading/language arts. McPhail joined the SME Education Foundation Board of Directors in 2010. “I am honored to lead the SME Education Board of Directors at this critical juncture. The role of manufacturing in driving economic prosperity and global competitiveness is severely compromised by the absence of a diverse and talented manufacturing workforce in the U.S.,” said 2020 SME Education Foundation President Irv McPhail. “We’re key to developing the next generation of diverse manufacturing and engineering talent through scholarships and innovative academic programs. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues at SME, the SME Education Foundation, and our partners and stakeholders to make that vision a reality.” Officer and director photos and biographies are available online at the SME Education Foundation website.