Mr. Rick D. Hess
President and Chief Executive Officer, Konarka Technologies
"I place great value on the fundamental engineering education that I received at Purdue. This well-rounded start to my education has served as a great base for me to build my career."
Rick Hess is President and Chief Executive Officer of Konarka Technologies in Lowell, MA. He earned his BSEE from Purdue University in 1975 and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.
Hess has a broad background as a leader in both start-up companies and established corporations. Prior to joining Konarka, he was Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Fuel Cell Technologies, a venture-backed company in Burlington, Mass. He was previously President of M/A-COM, a manufacturer, designer and marketer of high frequency components and systems for the wireless, defense, public safety and automotive markets, and now a unit of Tyco Electronics, the largest business unit of Tyco International. He led a team that more than doubled its business through launching new products, entering new markets and completing acquisitions.
After beginning his career as an engineer at Westinghouse Electric, Hess founded Stable Energy Sources, a manufacturer of microwave subsystems and components serving military and industrial accounts. He built this company before merging it with Herley Industries, and then leading the combined company as President.
Hess has been active in community affairs as a member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Regional Competitive Council, a Trustee of Lowell General Hospital and a member of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Industry Board of Advisors. He has been honored as the recipient of the University of Massachusetts Lifetime Achievement in Engineering Award.
Hess has a broad background as a leader in both start-up companies and established corporations. Prior to joining Konarka, he was Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Fuel Cell Technologies, a venture-backed company in Burlington, Mass. He was previously President of M/A-COM, a manufacturer, designer and marketer of high frequency components and systems for the wireless, defense, public safety and automotive markets, and now a unit of Tyco Electronics, the largest business unit of Tyco International. He led a team that more than doubled its business through launching new products, entering new markets and completing acquisitions.
After beginning his career as an engineer at Westinghouse Electric, Hess founded Stable Energy Sources, a manufacturer of microwave subsystems and components serving military and industrial accounts. He built this company before merging it with Herley Industries, and then leading the combined company as President.
Hess has been active in community affairs as a member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Regional Competitive Council, a Trustee of Lowell General Hospital and a member of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Industry Board of Advisors. He has been honored as the recipient of the University of Massachusetts Lifetime Achievement in Engineering Award.