Each week, the College of Engineering features an outstanding member of the engineering community as part of our spotlight campaign. This week, we are highlighting Industrial Advisory Board member and environmental engineering graduate Tim O’Connor. 

O’Connor’s Cal Poly acceptance story is a unique one. While at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, he originally was accepted as a transfer student to Cal Poly but was unable to pay for school. After landing a job at Carrier Corp. and later reapplying, he realized he hadn’t received an acceptance letter, and it was already the end of July just weeks before school were to start. 

O’Connor used his resources and reached out to environmental engineering professor and department chair James McGrath. 

“I told him that I had originally applied and got accepted, but I had applied again in the fall and hadn’t heard anything,” O’Connor said. 

McGrath told O’Connor that he’d call back the following week, and that’s when he heard what he’d been waiting for. 

“You’re in,” O’Connor recalled McGrath telling him. No paperwork or official confirmation needed — just drive to California and visit McGrath’s office, and he was good to go. 

That resourceful phone call led to O’Connor’s Cal Poly education, and he’s been giving back ever since. 

What made you choose to study engineering at Cal Poly?  

I was fortunate to study engineering technology at a community college in New York with a strong transfer program to Cal Poly. A professional relationship between professors in New York and at Cal Poly made all the difference in my decision to attend Cal Poly. 

How does your Cal Poly education apply to your job and daily life?  

Strong engineering fundamentals formed the basis of my design skills, and the confidence I developed at Cal Poly led to a role as president and CEO at Robson & Woese Inc. I try to stay curious and focused. 

What advice would you give to current engineering students?  

Stay focused, seek mentors, be curious, be disciplined and network – always. 

What clubs or activities were you involved in while at Cal Poly?  

I was fortunate to represent the Environmental Engineering Department in ASI student government, where I learned about policy development, which greatly strengthened my client and government relations capabilities. I was also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) student chapter. I continue as a life member. 

You’ve played a key role in leading several initiatives through the Industrial Advisory Board. What has motivated you to take on that leadership, and what impact do you hope those efforts will have on the department and its students?  

When an organization such as the IAB or your company has a positive and welcoming culture, it’s not difficult to make a commitment and help advance the group. This is the case with our CE/ENVE IAB. Hopefully, the positive culture the IAB possesses can be shared internally and throughout our alumni community, where it can make all the difference. It’s a pleasure working with a team that gets things done. 

You’ve also helped strengthen connections between the department and industry. What makes those relationships so valuable from your perspective?  

In my opinion, there is no other way to move forward in life than through our connections with others. Calculations do not say “Good morning, how are you today?” 

Please share more about the ENVE and ME HVAC&R scholarships. 

The O’Connor Engineering Scholarship was founded in 1997 and has recognized students whose potential, curiosity and discipline can positively impact our future. The newly endowed ENVE and ME HVAC&R Scholarships at Cal Poly are a continuation of this philosophy. Cal Poly is a perfect fit.