Tamerate Tadesse is a SCADA automation engineer but started his career as an airport taxi driver.
“I like to talk to people, I like to ask questions,” says Tadesse, a 2015 electrical engineering graduate. One day, Tadesse gave Peter Desloge, chairman and CEO of Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co., a ride to his home.
After seeing Tadesse’s adapted laptop charger, Desloge inquired about Tadesse’s hobbies and plans for the future. Tadesse told Desloge he has always enjoyed fixing things, especially electronics. Desloge encouraged Tadesse to pursue engineering, and even shared some of his own experience with his cab driver.
“Something clicked in my mind,” he says. “It was kind of a miracle for me.” The chance experience encouraged Tadesse to further his education and study engineering at S&T. He still keeps Desloge’s business card in his wallet for good luck.
Share This Story
Spark a Memory?
Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).
Mo Dehghani: what lies ahead
Mohammad “Mo” Dehghani, who has been chancellor at S&T since 2019, discusses what he believes...
The ‘steam locomotive’ of printers
When Philip Chen joined Xerox Corp. in 1967, only big companies could afford printers and scanners. Now retired and with…
Suzanna Long: An ‘80s alumna remembers
Engineering management Chair Suzanna Long, who holds four degrees from the university...
Serial entrepreneurship
Gary Havener, a 1962 graduate in mathematics, is the founder of several companies, with business dealings including real estate development…
Memories from “Mr. Miner,” Jerry Bayless
After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1959, Jerry Bayless began teaching in the department...
Abby (Pittroff) and Ryan Riess
Student athletes Abby (Pittroff) and Ryan Riess met in August 2002 outside the campus’s Rayle Cafeteria. “I thought to myself,…