Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering Honors Notable Alumni

Steven R. Tritch

In recognition of individual alumni accomplishments in their respective fields, the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering and its departments will honor seven alumni at the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Banquet March 3 in the J.W. Connolly Ballroom of Alumni Hall. The awards include the schoolwide Distinguished Alumni Award, the Young Alumni Award, and alumni awards for each of the Swanson School’s departments.

Steven R. Tritch was given the Distinguished Alumnus award; Ray Andrick, the Young Alumnus award; and distinguished alumni awards for the individual departments were given to James McCaffrey, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Ronald G. Stovash, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Timothy Shack, Department of Industrial Engineering; Luke Gill, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; and Richard Baxendell, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

Brief biographical information on the awardees follows. For full biographies, visit the Swanson School’s Web site at www.engr.pitt.edu/alumni/spring09/bios.html.

Steven R. Tritch served as chair of Westinghouse Electric Company before recently retiring. In more than 35 years with Westinghouse, Tritch worked as the president and CEO and senior vice president of Nuclear Services and held numerous other managerial positions. He was named the 2004 Engineer of the Year by the Pittsburgh section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering International. He is a member of the American Nuclear Society and was appointed by President Bush to the President’s Export Council. Tritch earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and his MBA degree at Pitt in 1971 and 1977, respectively. He is chair of the Swanson School of Engineering’s Board of Visitors and serves on Pitt’s Board of Trustees.

Ray Andrick is the director of software development for Inmedius Software. He joined Inmedius in 2007 with more than 10 years of technical and managerial experience in software development projects. Andrick cofounded and served as president of Perceptive Solutions, Inc., a technology company specializing in the development of enterprise software solutions for the collection and processing of commercial and military aircraft records. Andrick earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at Pitt in 1990.

James McCaffrey is the senior vice president of CONSOL Energy Inc., a multifaceted energy company specializing in coal and natural gas as well as transportation and other energy services. In his 33-year career, McCaffrey has contributed to several underground mining innovations, including roof support technologies, longwall move methodology, and new equipment development. McCaffrey earned a BS degree in mining engineering and an MBA degree at Pitt in 1978 and 1987, respectively.

Ronald Stovash served the energy industry as a member of the World Coal Institute, International Energy Agency, National Mining Association, U.S. Marine Transportation Council, West Virginia Public Energy Authority, National Coal Transportation Association, U.S. Inland Waterway Board, and other state associations. Before retiring in 2007, Stovash served as the president and CEO of PinnOak Resources, a coal mining company, as well as holding various positions within CONSOL Energy Inc., where he served as both a laborer and an executive for more than 35 years. Stovash earned a BS degree in electrical engineering at Pitt in 1970.

Timothy Shack is the chair of PNC Global Investment Servicing, where he is responsible for strategic business initiatives and technology advances. In addition, he oversees PNC’s technology and operations efforts. Shack earned a BS degree in industrial engineering and an MBA degree at Pitt in 1972 and 1979, respectively.

Luke Gill is founder and president of G Squared Limited, an aerospace and defense consulting company focused on strategic planning, business development, logistics, and supply-chain management. He joined Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company after having served in executive positions with Continental and Northwest Airlines as well as vice president of maintenance and engineering at Southwest Airlines. Gill earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering at Pitt in 1965.

Richard Baxendell has been with Bayer Material Science (BMS) in various capacities for more than 24 years. During a variety of assignments in production capacities with BMS, he helped lead the successful startup of $100 million worth of capital projects. As president and CEO of Deerfield Urethane, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BMS, Baxendell helped the company set records for sales and profitability. Baxendell earned a BS degree in chemical and petroleum engineering at Pitt in 1980.