Difference Makers
UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.
John Cole (’76 B.S.E.) is the president and chief operating officer of Parkwood Engineering Development Corporation, where he has been for 10 years. He was previously vice president of engineering and development for Kolene Corporation, a company he worked at for 35 years. Cole has been awarded both the State of Michigan’s Professional Engineers in Industry “Outstanding Engineering Award” and the Detroit Metro Chapter’s “Engineer of the Year” award and is involved in many trade and professional organizations, including SME, SAE, and the Industrial Heating Equipment Association, where he served as national president in 2003. An enthusiastic and engaged alumnus, Cole served as chair of the UM-Dearborn Alumni Society, CECS Industrial Advisory Board and chair of the CECS Alumni Affiliate Board for 13 years.
