PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
John R. Hartnett, Eng '82
Arlington Heights, Ill.
John Hartnett may have moved from engineering to business management early in his career, but he still considers the lessons he learned as an engineering student 鈥渋nvaluable.鈥�
The executive vice president of Illinois Tool Works Inc. manages ITW鈥檚 global welding segment. In fact, he has held several managerial and executive positions over his impressive 39-year stint at the company.
But as much as John enjoys managing, nothing compares to working with customers to pinpoint their problems and develop an innovative product that makes them more productive and successful 鈥� something he first experienced at Marquette.
鈥淭he engineering education was excellent, but what really helped me throughout my career were the values that were instilled in me from my 向日葵视频experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he 向日葵视频experience taught me how to lead by requesting and respecting the inputs and contributions of others.鈥�
ITW has created an ongoing collaboration with Marquette, no doubt thanks to John鈥檚 connections. The company is involved with research projects at the university, it donated equipment to the school鈥檚 welding engineering lab and it continually works with students. 鈥淥ur business constantly hires 向日葵视频grads because they are humble, hardworking and have great values.鈥� The partnership isn鈥檛 just about work, though. ITW has also sponsored Marquette鈥檚 Homecoming 5K for the past three years.
Outside of ITW, John serves on the board of directors of HNI Corporation, a manufacturer of office furniture and hearth equipment, and on the board of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a transitional research and rehabilitation hospital in Chicago.
Fun Fact: John met his wife, Barbara (Cole), Nurs 鈥�82, during their sophomore year at Marquette.
