Distinguished Alumni Award

James Wilt, '82, works as a partner and chief software architect at Metrics Reporting Inc., a knowledge worker/strategy consulting company based in the Grand Rapids area.

He focuses his experience and problem-solving skills toward helping customers architect the best possible solutions to succeed with their needs related to system design, collaboration, data integration, and business intelligence.

Last year he was one of 40 people worldwide to earn the Microsoft Certified Architect-Solutions certification in the company's doctoral-level program. He has received several industry awards, including the 1993 Industry Week Technology of the Year award and the Burroughs Achievement Award for Excellence.

In a previous job, James developed operating systems for Burroughs Unisys as well as real-time machine control and CAD solutions for the production of products in the aerospace industry.

He is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and a Microsoft BPI Virtual Technical Specialist and a member of the Microsoft MCA Board of Directors, Microsoft UIFx Advisory Council, the Central Michigan University College of Science and Technology Alumni Advisory Board, and the Ferris State University Computer Science Graduate Studies Advisory Board.

His nominator wrote: "His triple major in physics, computer science, and mathematics from CMU has helped pave the way for many opportunities, and he has made the most of them."