Grand Rapids, MICHIGAN – Mike Valz, president and chief operating officer of Cascade Engineering, has announced the appointment of John Kundrat as Vice President - Technology for Cascade Engineering.

In this new role at Cascade Engineering, Kundrat is directly responsible for the Center For Innovation (CFI), including research and development, product and process engineering and materials science and production.

Kundrat’s operational responsibility will be managing the technology-related elements of the company's value chain – industrial marketing analysis, concept design, engineering, product simulation and modeling, and process development.

“Under John's leadership, the CFI and its capable staff will play an even more vital role in helping Cascade Engineering meet its goals and objectives,” said Valz.

Kundrat brings a wide array of experience in engineering, marketing and business development. His business experience includes product engineering and experimental engineering positions with General Motors, as well as development engineering and computer modeling positions at Goodyear Tire and Rubber's Tire Dynamics Laboratory. He also held senior-level business development and marketing positions with Structural Dynamics Research Corporation (SDRC), a leading manufacturer of computer-aided engineering technology for the automotive, electronics, aerospace and industrial equipment industries.

Kundrat holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton. He has also completed doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Akron in vehicle dynamics and finite element modeling.