-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueBox Build
One trend is to add box build and final assembly to your product offering. In this issue, we explore the opportunities and risks of adding system assembly to your service portfolio.
IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Pre-show
This month’s issue devotes its pages to a comprehensive preview of the IPC APEX EXPO 2024 event. Whether your role is technical or business, if you're new-to-the-industry or seasoned veteran, you'll find value throughout this program.
Boost Your Sales
Every part of your business can be evaluated as a process, including your sales funnel. Optimizing your selling process requires a coordinated effort between marketing and sales. In this issue, industry experts in marketing and sales offer their best advice on how to boost your sales efforts.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Former President & CEO John Olson of Whelen Engineering Passes Away
August 6, 2018 | Whelen EngineeringEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
John F. Olson, Whelen Engineering executive vice president and former president and CEO known for his unprecedented impact on the emergency warning industry, passed away Thursday at the age of 83.
Olson grew up in Deep River, Connecticut and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1958 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He became one of the first full time Whelen employees in January of 1959. As an avid pilot and dedicated volunteer firefighter, ambulance driver, and snow plow operator, Mr. Olson was fully immersed and passionate about the industry.
For more than a half century, he was at the forefront of an ever-growing market for emergency warning products. His progressive philosophy was responsible for Whelen’s development of strobe technology in the 1960s, lightbar design in the 1970s, and LED advancement in the 2000s. He expanded Whelen into the four divisions it encompasses today and helped make Whelen a leader in the global market.
Olson became Whelen’s president in 1976. In 1984, he built Whelen’s corporate headquarters in Chester, Connecticut and in 1987 he helped expand the company by opening a second manufacturing facility in Charlestown, New Hampshire.
George “Sonny” Whelen IV said, “It has been my honor and pleasure to have known John for more than 60 years. Since 1976 when my mom passed, John led Whelen Engineering as it became the world’s leader in emergency warning products and systems. Loved by our company, feared by our competitors, John will truly be missed.”
His passion for American manufacturing was evident in his dedication to education. He supported collaborations between local school districts and Whelen to create a curriculum to train the next generation of manufacturers. His alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, is home to the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, where students can work toward a degree in mechanical engineering.
Olson stepped down from his role as President and CEO in 2015 and became executive vice president, where he continued to improve manufacturing processes and lead education programs.
“His determination, leadership, and expertise were instrumental to Whelen’s success over the last 59 years. Whelen would not be where it is today without the efforts and vision of John Olson. We will all miss John, but it will be comforting to see his influence on our culture continue to live on indefinitely,” said President and CEO George Whelen V.
About Whelen
Whelen Engineering designs and manufactures reliable and powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers, and high-powered warning systems for Automotive, Aviation, and Mass Notification industries worldwide. With two state-of-the-art facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire, Whelen has the largest design staff in the industry and over 1,500 employees, all dedicated to producing products that people count on when lives are on the line. On the road, in the air, and around the world, Whelen is trusted to be seen, trusted to be heard, trusted to perform. For more information, click here.
Suggested Items
SEMI Applauds U.S. Chips Act Award for Samsung Electronics Facilities to Strengthen Domestic Semiconductor Supply Chain
04/17/2024 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, applauded the United States Department of Commerce’s announcement of a Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for an award under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion of Samsung Electronics’ presence in Texas and the company’s development and production of leading-edge chips.
Ark Electronics Expands Global Manufacturing Factory Network in North America and Europe
04/17/2024 | PRNewswireElectronic Manufacturing Company Ark Electronics recently announced the expansion of its Global Factory Network with the addition of Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS) capabilities in Mexico and Europe.
SIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Samsung Manufacturing Projects in Texas
04/16/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released the following statement from SIA President and CEO John Neuffer applauding semiconductor manufacturing incentives announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Samsung.
Report Reveals ‘True Impact’ of Manufacturing is Nearly a Quarter of UK GDP
04/15/2024 | Manufacturing Technologies AssociationManufacturing is having a far greater impact on the UK economy than first thought according to a major new report released today.
Design Community Town Hall Review
04/11/2024 | Kelly Dack, CID+, EPTACThe Design Community Town Hall took place on the afternoon of April 10, 2024. I was fortunate to attend this event, which marked an opportunity for members of some newly found design groups to get together and exchange ideas. Peter Tranitz, senior director of solutions for IPC, opened the session with a slide presentation introducing these new groups and members within the solutions department.