Brilbeck of Naples Honored with Clarkson University's Most Prestigious Alumni Award

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Clarkson President Tony Collins, John Brilbeck, and Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Steve Newkofsky.

POTSDAM, NY (08/20/2013)(readMedia)-- John M. Brilbeck of Naples, Fla., former president and owner of Southern Heat Exchanger Corporation, has been honored with the Golden Knight Award by his alma mater, Clarkson University.

Presented each year during Reunion Weekend, Clarkson's most prestigious alumni award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves either by service to Clarkson through Alumni Association activities or have demonstrated outstanding career achievement, bringing distinction to themselves and to Clarkson.

Brilbeck received his bachelor of science degree in industrial distribution from Clarkson University in 1968 and was a member of the Omicron Pi Omicron fraternity. He received his master of business administration degree from Syracuse University in 1971.

Brilbeck began his business career with Carrier Corporation in 1968, achieving several management positions before moving to Southern Heat Exchanger in 1981.

As president and owner of Southern Heat Exchanger Corporation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from 1985 to 2000, Brilbeck directed the corporation's 600 percent growth in sales and 1,200 percent growth in profit from 1981. He increased the plant size three times and implemented innovative cost reduction programs in manufacturing and engineering, while establishing the strong market presence needed to increase the company's market share. At the time the company was sold to Harbor Group in 1998, it was the third largest supplier of shell and tube heat exchangers in the United States and was debt-free.

Brilbeck was a member of the board of directors executive committee for Regions Bank, president's cabinet and president's national advisory committee for the University of Alabama, and a member of boards of directors of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Holy Spirit School Foundation, the American Sports Medical Institute, Heat Transfer Research Inc., and the Shelton State Community College Foundation. He is past president of the Tubular Exchanges Manufacturers Association and has served as a member of many community committees and fundraising campaigns.

In 2009, Brilbeck was elected to serve on the Clarkson University Board of Trustees. He currently serves as co-chair of the highly successful Evolution to Excellence (E2E) Campaign and is a member of the development committee.

Brilbeck resides in Naples, Fla., with his wife, Pamela. They have four adult children.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

Photo caption: John Brilbeck recently received the Golden Knight Award from his alma mater, Clarkson University. Left to right: Clarkson President Tony Collins, Brilbeck, and Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Steve Newkofsky.

[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/jbrilbeck-gk.jpg.]