Ralph Christie

Butler grad chairs engineering council

Ralph Christie, a 1968 graduate of Butler High, has been elected chairman of the American Council of Engineering Companies.

It is the oldest business association of engineering companies in the nation with more than 5,000 member firms.

Christie, who has served on its executive committee, has a one-year term as chairman.

He is chairman of Merrick & Company in Greenwood Village, Colo. He attended University of Cincinnati and earned his engineering degree, then his MBA at the University of Pittsburgh.

He and Susan Ifft, also a Butler graduate, married in 1981 and moved to Denver for Ralph to begin his career. His parents are Ralph and Lauretta Christie of Butler.

Geyer named to state college board

HARRISBURG — Kim Geyer, a trustee for Butler County Community College, is the new secretary for the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges board. Officers were elected at the commission’s April 13 meeting.

Geyer, who will serve a two-year term, also is a member of the BC3 Education Foundation board.

BC3 President Nick Neupauer is the outgoing chairman of the commission.

Tesla CEO plugs into new market

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Tesla CEO Elon Musk is steering his electric car company’s battery technology into homes and businesses as part of a plan to reshape the power grid with millions of small power plants made of solar panels on roofs and batteries in garages. He announced Tesla’s expansion into the home battery market Thursday.

From staff and wire reports

PERSONNEL FILE

• Kevin Olin was promoted to co-manager at the 84 Lumber Company store in Cranberry Township. Olin joined 84 Lumber in 2012 as a manager trainee at that store. He is a native of Oil City and a graduate of Edinboro University.

• Dan Prokop of Mecco Marking & Traceability in Cranberry Township was recognized by Marketo Inc. with a 2015 Revvie Award as Marketer of the Year in the small- and mid-size business category. The Revvie Awards recognize customers and partners who use Marketo, a marketing software solutions company.