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SATOP — Technology Outreach

SATOP presents alliance partner awards

Each year the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program recognizes the outstanding work of its alliance partners by presenting awards to talented professionals within these organizations. The consortium of Space Alliance Partners is the driving force behind the success of SATOP. Essentially, the partners are the fuel that powers the program.

Successive Solutions Award for David Dai

Eugene Schwanbeck

Ed O'Keefe, left, receives award from Bob Payne, SATOP program manager

SATOP representatives recently presented the last of its nine awards to Ed O’Keefe of The Boeing Company, who received SATOP’s Successive Solutions Award. O’Keefe is one of only three engineers who have helped a small business. The other two recipients of the Successive Solutions Award are David Dai and Eugene Schwanbeck. Dai was formerly employed with GB Tech Inc., while Schwanbeck was with Barrios Technology when providing his expertise. Dai is now employed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and Schwanbeck is with NASA-Johnson Space Center.

Shown from left are Sam Boyd, president, MEI Technologies; Fernando Amaton; Bob Payne, SATOP program manager; Mike Van Chau, MEI program manager

Paul Ledoux

Six additional awardees contributed their efforts toward helping 14 more businesses. Fernando Amaton, MEI Technologies Inc., received a Special Achievement Award for his work on the BoGo Light, a solar-powered flashlight success story. Paul Ledoux, formerly with SPACEHAB and now with Cimarron Software Services Inc. worked with eight small business owners, thereby earning the Overall Productivity Award. Nani Arce, United Space Alliance, was named Newcomer of the Year for contributions made to the salad dressing success story. The Safety

Nani Arce

Patrick and Teresita Fink

Innovations Award was presented to both Patrick Fink, Ph.D., NASA-Johnson Space Center, and Xiang Ni, Jacobs Engineering, for their work on resolving a problem in regard to the clarity of remote communications with workers in confined spaces. Ed “Bear” Handwerk, formerly with MEI Technologies Inc. and now working at the College of the Mainland, was presented the Economic Impact Award for his contributions toward the fire extinguisher success story.

Xiang Ni

Ed "Bear" Handwerk's Economic Impact Award

SATOP, administered by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, is a State of Texas funded initiative designed to transfer the knowledge and technology of the U.S. Space Program to the private sector. Small business owners faced with a technical challenge can receive up to 40 hours of free assistance from a scientist or engineer with expertise in acoustical, chemical, electrical, environmental, manufacturing, materials, mechanical, structural, and a host of other technical disciplines. Since 1999, SATOP-Texas has solved more than 600 technical challenges, created or maintained more than 500 jobs, and infused more than $125 million into the state’s economy.

The assistance provided by SATOP’s Alliance Partners has proven to be invaluable to the many small businesses that have benefited from it. The Alliance Partners benefit, as well, knowing that they have made a positive contribution to these businesses and the people they serve around the world.