MORGAN HILL HAS PROS
Dana C . Ditmore …
the man who failed retirement
By Larry J . Mickartz
60
M O R G A N H I L L T O D A Y S U M M E R 2 0 1 3
Dana Ditmore is someone who can be found at just about every meaningful event in Morgan Hill . Although he is a “ retiree ,” he is very involved in the community . He is a Rotarian . He has served on the Board of Leadership Morgan Hill and he continues to make presentations to Leadership Class participants . He has also sat on the Board of the Charter School of Morgan Hill . Dana and his family are well know for their generosity and involvement locally . Tall and fit , he always packs a big smile and a friendly greeting .
Outside of Morgan Hill , Dana is a big-hitter in the world of technology , engineering , corporate leadership , education , philanthropy and healthcare . Dana C . Ditmore is also President of Oak Valley Consulting . Dana started his work life with BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from Cal Berkley but quickly moved up the management ladders at GE Nuclear and Applied Materials where he was Vice President . These positions led to contract executive positions at Lam Research and Tru-Si Technologies . He retired from corporate life expecting to slow down and kick back . But in his own words he had two problems : he “ had trouble saying no ” and he “ failed at retirement .” The kick back life was not for him ! A fellow Board member at Cal Poly described it as “ retirement is in my future , just not in my plans .”
Soon he was on numerous corporate boards and a board of an employee-owned company . He continues to sit on five foundation boards and one non-profit board . For seventeen years he has done consulting and executive coaching at the CEO level and below . He works with technology executives to articulate their strategic vision , mission and objectives through a strategic planning process . Using these same skills he came to a realization , he needed to articulate his own mission . When he finally worked it out , his mission was to “ use my experience to the benefit of others .”
His mission might have closed some doors but it opened others . While he continues his corporate consulting , he also invests considerable energy in STEM ( Science , Technology , Engineering and Math ) education . He has been the Executive Director and board member for the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair hosted by San Jose in 2001 and 2010 . He is on the Board of Synopsys Outreach Foundation , which sponsors the Synopsys Championship – Silicon Valley Science & Engineering Fair . Dana served on the San Jose State University Research Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves on the San Jose State University Tower Foundation Board of Directors . SJSU Tower Foundation assists with the development , investment , administration and banking of all SJSU philanthropic donations . Dana also does engineering consulting and education work with Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo .
Outside of his STEM education work , Dana is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Healthier Kids Foundation , Santa Clara County . Healthier Kids Foundation ( HKF ) is a nonprofit , 501 ( c )( 3 ) organization whose focus is raising funds to ensure access to and advocacy for health care services for all children through family-centered and innovative approaches .
Life might be busy for Dana but it is also good . He and his wife , Elaine , often work in visits with family ( visiting his 20 grand and great-grandchildren ) on Dana ’ s business trips . A slow day at “ retirement work ” is only two teleconferences .
Good to have you in Morgan Hill , Dana !