The Industry Advisory Board for the Graduate Program in the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying represents organizations that employ graduates, supports the department in establishing, achieving, and assessing its goals, and fosters mutually beneficial collaborations between the department and industry. The board reviews program curricula, student outcomes and program educational objectives and provides advice on current and future needs in the technical and entrepreneurial fields in which students graduate.
George Brilmyer
George Brilmyer holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin where he specialized in electrochemistry under the tutelage of Prof. Allen J. Bard. For the past 35 years he has been involved in all facets of battery development with several major corporations including Johnson Controls (PbA batteries) and Corus Special Steel (Alkaline Batteries). He has introduced new products in several different industries and holds more than a dozen patents. He is now a partner and co-founder of HighWater Innovations, LLC where he is focused on the development of new products for the airline and battery industry. George also founded Batt-Tek Consulting in 1997 and continues offer design and process assistance to the battery industry.
Dr. Brilmyer’s other interests include community service through the Evening Rotary Club of Johnson City. Rotary International is a world-wide organization (1.3MM members in more than 33,000 clubs), connecting business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards and peace & goodwill throughout the world.
Joshua Davis
Joshua Davis is an Engineering Technician at Eastman Chemical Company. Joshua graduated from ETSU in 2011 with a B.S. in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Product Development. Joshua’s initial position at Eastman was in a Mechanical Design role supporting numerous growth projects in Acetate Fibers. He currently works in the Technology Division providing Mechanical Design support for all divisions of Technology. In addition to his primary mechanical design responsibilities, Joshua plays an integral role in Eastman’s additive manufacturing (3D printing) materials development projects and as a mechanical design consultant on numerous corporate initiatives.
Scott Ledford
Scott Ledford is a native of Piney Flats, TN and a graduate of East Tennessee State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree. After college, Scott joined Burlington Industries, a North Carolina based textile manufacturer, as a Human Resources trainee and for several years transferred to various manufacturing locations around North Carolina as his career with Burlington advanced.
In 1998, Scott had the opportunity to return to the Tri-Cities with General Shale where he was hired as the company’s Quality and Training Manager. Since then, he has continued to work in a variety of HR capacities with General Shale including recruitment, labor relations, HR Manager and his current position, Director of Human Resources.
Scott is a former examiner for the Tennessee Quality Award, a graduate of the 2007-2008 Chamber Leadership 2015 class and in 2008 was recognized as one of the Tri-Cities Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty. Scott enjoys maintaining an active role in the community and within the brick industry. Currently, he serves on the Piney Flats Community Chest, various roles with Fellowship Baptist Church and on the Brick Industry Association’s Training and Education Committee. Scott and his wife, Tracie, have been married for 20 years and have two children: Lauren (15) and Drew (13).
Michael Washington
Michael Washington has had a 35-year career in electronics manufacturing and design since 1981, having worked with several global companies including Texas Instruments and EPIC Technologies. Currently, Michael is an Engineering Manager, employed by Siemens Industry Inc., leading a cross-functional Research and Development team. He is responsible for designing functional-safety programmable logic control devices. In addition, he manages the technical communications group responsible for user documentation for all automation products designed in Johnson City TN. Michael has a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from The University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Clemson University. Early in his career Michael served as a mentor / tutor for Communities in Schools and served one year on their board. As a young adult he achieved the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America. Michael lives in Johnson City, TN with his wife Georgita. They are recent empty nesters as their two daughters have launched their engineering and science based careers. To relax he enjoys auto-related activities, watching movies, and listening to jazz music.