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Russ Kratowicz, P.E., CMRP, Executive Editor
P: 630-467-1300 Ext: 309
E: russk@putman.net

Biography:
Russ Kratowicz brings a wealth of technical expertise to Plant Services. Often referred to as the magazine's historian, he developed an award-winning monthly column that's been running for the past eight years. In his spare time, he produces the bulk of the pages that appear in the magazine. Russ served on the strategic planning board for National Manufacturing Week and as the primary editorial contact for an advertiser's custom magazine. This editorial gig is really his third successful career.

The good folks at Purdue University, West Lafayette, launched his first one when they saw fit to bestow on him a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Trying to keep major manufacturing firms out of trouble, Russ became a process engineer optimizing the wet chemistry for producing ultra high-reliability circuit cards for independent telephone systems while helping the firm's ivory-tower R&D department commercialize its discoveries in the real world on the plant floor. He also developed closed-loop vehicle wash systems for another manufacturer and designed customized large-scale thermal processing equipment for a third. With this technical background, it should come as no surprise that Russ is a multi-state Registered Professional Engineer.

Once he armed himself with those credentials, he thought it was high time to explore engineering consulting, a shift in focus that led to what turned out to be his second career. Working with major engineering firms, the names of which anyone would recognize, Russ provided engineering for a project that recovered tall oil from kraft paper waste. He served as co-chair of a seven-member task force that commissioned a $250 million coal chemicals plant on schedule, thereby allowing client to avoid significant EPA penalties. After a moving to the high-tech arena, he designed systems to distribute the high-purity liquids and gases so important to semiconductor manufacturing. Working with chipmakers, both in the U.S. and Europe, gave Russ the chance to revel in a certain international wanderlust that was so easy to maintain. Other projects included supervising a four-person construction management team inspecting work on the four-mile, $120 million light rail project that shuffles visitors from one terminal to another at a local airport. He also led a five-person team in developing cost estimates for specialty gas systems, and provided project engineering for an 80 ton-per-year plant expansion at a major pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Russ snagged his Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated summa cum laude with a double concentration in only one year. He is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (having held a variety of offices at the local level), the National Society of Professional Engineers, as well as being a life member of American Mensa.

Russ has become an accomplished musician during the past 34 years, demonstrating competence on a variety of acoustic instruments. He brews beer, makes wine and regularly prepares gourmet dinners for friends and family. He has a General Class amateur radio license and maintains a Web site, but hasn't owned a television since 1984. He helps with the care and feeding of a troika of purebred German Shepherd Dogs that has managed to usurp his role as the alpha male. Russ is also an accomplished sailor and scuba diver, although currently landlocked. In spite of being a native Chicagoan, he maintains a second home in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.