Herff College of Engineering Will Host Awards Dinner March 18
For release: Mar. 3, 2004
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

The Herff College of Engineering will host its annual awards dinner Thursday, March 18, at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6:30.

The college will honor Rick Bursi as its Outstanding Alumnus for 2004. Bursi is president and CEO of OGCB Inc., a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm. He joined the firm in 1982. After earning his professional engineer license, Bursi became a lead designer and project manager, then overall production manager. He was named president of OGCB in1999 and CEO last year.

Bursi has 22 years of experience in mechanical design on projects that include the new Central Library on Poplar Avenue, AutoZone corporate headquarters, Rhodes College's Bryan Campus Life Center, and the Union Planters Bank headquarters building. In 1999 his design for Benedict Hall at the University of the South won first place in the ASHRAE Technology Awards Region VII, Existing Institutional Buildings category.

Bursi is president of the Consulting Engineers of Memphis. He also has served as president of the Engineering Alumni Chapter.

The Herff Honor Awards for Distinguished Service in Engineering will be presented to three individuals: Phillip G. Coop, president and co-founder of EnSafe; Jack E. Parr, executive vice president for research and development with Wright Medical Technology; and Michael E. Pohlman, CEO and president of Pickering Inc.

Coop coordinates scientific and technical efforts for EnSafe. He has 23 years of experience in environmental management, including 20 years as an environmental consultant.

Parr is chief scientific officer responsible for the technical area of Wright involved in the research direction and product development programs, the engineering departments and regulatory and clinical activities.

Pohlman, during more than 20 years with Pickering, has managed numerous projects, including the new performance facility for Ballet Memphis, the headquarters for the Better Business Bureau, and the Komodo Dragon Exhibit at the Memphis Zoo.

Other awards will go to Mark Farrar, Outstanding Staff; Calvin Abernathy, Outstanding Faculty, Teaching; and Roger Meier, Outstanding Faculty, Research.

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