Professional Award in Electrical & Computer Engineering presented to Michael Harris

Michael Harris was presented the Professional Award in Engineering (PAE) for Electrical and Computer Engineering during the 2017 Speed School Homecoming celebration held October 13 at the Brown Hotel.

The award is based on outstanding career performance in engineering, exceptional efforts by an individual to foster the professional development of young engineering college students. exceptional ability in the planning and direction of significant and important projects in technical engineering; and individual contributions to technical engineering knowledgeh School. He attended the University of Louisville’s Speed Scientific School obtaining an Associate of Applied Science in 1984, a Bachelor of Science in 1987, and a Master of Electrical Engineering in 1990 with Highest Honors. Michael received the Bennett M. Brigman Award in 1989 and the Lewis S. Streng Award in 1991.

Michael began his engineering career through the Speed School cooperative internship program with General Electrical in Louisville. The internship program was a valued aspect of his engineering training. Through his experiences interning, he was introduced to factory automation and industry controls, which would set the direction of his future engineering endeavors.

In 1990, Michael and two partners started an engineering firm, ControlTouch Systems, which specializes in control system design, programming and factory automation. The company has a diverse customer base and provides automated solutions for the automotive, water treatment, parcel and airport baggage handling markets. ControlTouch grew from the three founding partners to a firm which employees well over 50 engineers and support staff. In addition to full-time staff engineers, Michael and his partners have always believed in the value of the Speed School cooperative internship, and from the very beginning of ControlTouch, has hired cooperative interns from the Speed School program. ControlTouch was recognized as one of the 50 fastest growing companies by Louisville’s Business First Magazine Fast 50 in 2004, 2005, 2006, as again in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

In September 2016, Michael and the other two owners of ControlTouch sold the engineering firm to a local buyer. He remains with the company to assist in the transition and to help with the company’s continued growth and success.

Michael looks forward to charity and philanthropic work, as well as enjoying his many hobbies and traveling with his wife and family. Michael and his lovely wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 19 years and have two children, Drew and Danielle.