Meet Educators Bill Kimmel, PE and Daryl Gerke, PE
Kimmel Gerke Associates, Ltd.
Bill Kimmel, PE
Forty-nine years as an electrical engineer. Past employers include Sperry Univac and Control Data Corporation. Co-founder of Kimmel Gerke Associates – part time in 1978, full time since 1987. Professionally involved with EMI/EMC since 1965. BSEE, University of Minnesota. Registered Professional Engineer (PE). NARTE Certified EMC Engineer.
Daryl Gerke, PE
Forty-three years as an electrical engineer. Past employers include Collins Radio, Sperry Univac, Tektronix, and Intel. Co-founder of Kimmel Gerke Associates – part time in 1978, full time since 1987. Professionally involved with EMI/EMC since 1970. BSEE, University of Nebraska. Registered Professional Engineer (PE). NARTE Certified EMC Engineer. FCC licenses (Commercial and Amateur Radio.)
ICM: What led to your commitment to becoming educators in your field?
Kimmel Gerke: We began moonlighting as technical instructors for a vocational school in 1975. Working together soon led to founding our consulting firm. In addition to teaching, we developed the curriculum for an adult evening electronics program. Later, under a state grant, we developed a one year certificate program for printed circuit board designers.
After going into full time EMC consulting, we decided to offer training classes to help our clients prevent problems at the design stage. At first, classes were only offered in-house, but since 1992 we have partnered with Tektronix on our public EMC design classes. Almost 20 years later, we have trained over 10,000 engineers and technicians in EMC design methods through our public and in-house classes.
We have found the educational aspects of our consulting practice to be very gratifying. Not only have we helped our fellow engineers do a better job, but we’ve helped improve products as well.
ICM: What do you hope attendees will leave your class having learned?
Kimmel Gerke: Our emphasis is on design and troubleshooting EMI/EMC issues, NOT on testing and regulations. We hope our students leave our classes with two things:
- A general understanding of EMI/EMC and how to design to prevent problems.
- A specific set of design guidelines that can be immediately applied (rules of thumb, checklists.)
Kimmel Gerke plans to offer the following classes and workshops in 2012. To learn more about their classes, visit their website at www.emiguru.com.
Design For EMC: Two days focused on how to “identify, prevent, and fix” common EMI/EMC problems. Includes over 40 “fixes”. Very practical with minimal math.
EMC Troubleshooting: One day workshop covering troubleshooting methods. Includes several interactive case studies. Only offered in February in two locations – Orlando and San Diego.
2012 Class Schedule
(Subject to change)
Current plans include six classes, which may expand if business conditions warrant.
February 2012: Orlando, FL and San Diego, CA (Includes optional troubleshooting workshop)
March 2012: Dallas, TX and Washington DC/Baltimore, MD
April 2012: Boston, MA and Syracuse, NY
