Professional News

UK Engineering Inducting Six New Members Into Hall of Distinction

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 20, 2015) — Recognizing alumni who have demonstrated distinguished professional accomplishments, outstanding character and commitment to community service, the University of Kentucky College of Engineering will induct six honorees into its Hall of Distinction Friday, April 24.

Initiated in 1992, the Hall of Distinction not only recognizes notable engineering alumni, but also serves to encourage exemplary achievements by current students and others.

The Class of 2015 includes:

Floyd E. Henson - Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, 1970

The son of an entrepreneurial father, Floyd Henson founded Veytec, Inc., as an internal start-up and has been the president and CEO since 1982. Veytec is a leading provider of networking security and storage solutions in the southeastern United States to businesses as well as state and local governments. It partners with top companies such as Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, IBM, HP and others to offer the most advanced products available coupled with superior customer service. Under Henson’s leadership, Veytec designed, built and deployed Unix servers and communications in over 3,500 truck stops and designed and implemented the communication network for more than 5,000 auto parts stores. Henson has won numerous awards, including the 1978 Intel Developer of the Year.

John W. Kyle - Bachelor of Science in computer science, 1991

A summer spent tinkering with a Texas Instruments computer (TI-99) coupled with a love for mathematics led John Kyle to major in computer science. After graduating, he embarked on a successful career that began with designing software for Ford Aerospace Corp., and applications for supercomputing industry leader Cray Research, which eventually propelled him into marketing, customer service and high-level leadership roles. In 2007, he won a Web Marketing Association award for his Web presence strategy. Kyle is currently president of Apesoft, Inc., and operates his own consulting firm, Kyle Venture Advisors. Passionate about leadership development, Kyle helps companies identify and mold leaders and launch internal start-up companies within the parent company.

J. Wayne Purdom - Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering, 1969

Wayne Purdom began his career in the refining industry at Humble Oil & Refining Company in 1969. Sixteen years later, he became operating services department manager for ExxonMobil Refining and Supply — Baton Rouge. He worked for ExxonMobil until his retirement in 2012. During Purdom’s 44-year career, he became a recognized leader in applied process safety management, improving business unit performance, personnel selection and development, litigation and emergency response. In the United States and abroad, Purdom consistently demonstrated leadership in normal and abnormal situations — in 1989, he coordinated the cleanup operation of the Exxon Valdez oil spill — as well as entrepreneurial instincts that increased business unit safety, efficiency and profitability. Upon retiring, Purdom founded Assessments, Consulting & Emergency Services, LLC.

G. Michael Ritchie - Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, 1972

Mike Ritchie is the former president and CEO of Photo Science (now Quantum Spatial), an aerial mapping company headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Ritchie bought the company in 1990 and under his leadership, Photo Science became one of the largest geospatial solutions companies in the United States, increasing revenue from $1 million to $42 million annually. Photo Science’s operations expanded to 10 regional offices across the U.S. with a staff of more than 200 employees. During his time as president and CEO, Photo Science won numerous national awards for its work, including the American Council of Engineering Companies National Engineering Excellence Award in 2003 and 2011. In 2008, Ritchie was appointed by President George W. Bush to advise the federal government on how to implement geospatial technology.

Kenneth L. Seibert - Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, 1983

Ken Seibert is president of CMTA Consulting Engineers, the largest mechanical, electrical and plumbing consulting firm in Kentucky and a top 60 firm in North America. Under Seibert’s direction, CMTA has earned a national reputation for designing energy efficient buildings that leave a smaller carbon footprint on the environment. The firm has engineered 126 ENERGY STAR® buildings and 35 LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) projects, incorporating high performance design strategies into all of its building projects. CMTA is the national leader in Net Zero Energy buildings — structures able to generate needed energy through renewable systems on site — and has completed nine of them. Seibert was named the 2008 Planner of the Year by the Kentucky Chapter of the Council for Educational Facilities Planners International.

Michael L. Strain - Bachelor of Science in computer science, 1973

Mike Strain’s inspiration to pursue an education in computer science came from a three-year stint in the United States Army; the prevalence of computerized communications in the Army convinced him computers were going to be the future. Beginning in 1976, Strain spent seven and a half years at Texas Instruments (TI), an experience that led him to found Spectrum Digital, Inc., in 1986. Spectrum Digital generates development tools that allow engineers and programmers to develop with new technology. Over the last 29 years, it has gone from a three-person operation to a fully integrated company that sells products worldwide. The company targets high growth, large volume markets that require specialized technology and is the largest provider of development boards and emulators for TI microprocessors. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu