University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, October 22, 1986
7
KU grad prospers after leaving IBM
By BILL RAYNOLDS
Staff notice
A KU engineering graduate left International Business Machines Corp., in 1969 to earn a doctoral degree in engineering from the University of Kansas and to start his own business — manufacturing and selling two-way radio equipment. Phil Anderson, a KU doctoral engineering graduate, has not regretted leaving IBM.
"I left IBM because it was large, impersonal and restricting." Anderson, owner and president of Kantronics, Inc., 1202 E. 23rd St., said recently.
"I felt as if I was lost in a haystack," he said.
"The pay was good, but the motivation was low.
The work was too specific andRenitous."
Twenty-five people work at the Kantronics plant, which covers 9.000 square feet.
Anderson said that he founded Kantronics in 1971 because of a high-profit potential and because self-employment would offer a greater variety of work.
"It's self-employment) exciting, challenging and fun," he said. "You must work longer hours, be willing to take risks and to borrow money."
Anderson decided to start his own business after one of his friends at IBM started a successful business designing image-processing equipment, such as television cameras.
"If you want to survive in the marketplace, you become a student of business," he said.
"You must understand financing and the flow of money, and you must find a niche within your marketplace to generate a profitable company or enterprise."
Anderson said he found his niche in modems, which convert computer signals into audio signals. The audio signals are transmitted over radio transmitter receivers and aid in telemetry. Telemetry is the collection of data from sources other than computers.
Modems have many practical applications, Anderson said, ranging from measuring stream flow rates to aiding in flood control to transmitting data from ships to shore stations.
He said modems were a small-market product that could be produced more efficiently and profitably in smaller companies, since larger companies rely on mass-produced products to earn profits.
Although Kantonics has grown large enough to set its sales goal for next year at $5 million, Anderson said he lacked business experience when he started the business.
Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at KU in 1963. He worked as a junior engineer in IBM's developmental laboratories in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., from 1963 to 1969.
From 1963 to 1965, Anderson attended night classes at Syracuse University, and in 1965 he earned a master's degree in electrical engineering. IBM paid his way through the program.
Phil Anderson
In 1969, Anderson received a National Aeronautics Space Administration scholarship from KU. He then came to KU and earned a doctorate of engineering in 1971.
Tom Polcyn, who co-founded Kantronics with Anderson, is vice president of the business.
Polynay he designed most of the hardware, while Anderson focused on sales and marketing.
Community groups to provide 'caps for kids'
Bv CRAIG HERRMANN
Staff writer
Heavin, owner of the Crewel Cupboard, 1029 Massachusetts St., yesterday said she started the "Caps for Kids" program this year to collect stocking caps for distribution to needy children in Lawrence.
Linda Heavin hopes the phrase "caps for kids" becomes common in Lawrence each winter.
"We're asking our customers to help out by picking up a free pattern and knitting or crocheting a cap using scrap yarn," Heavin said.
Several local residents have donated either time or yarn to the caps project, she said.
"We've had a good response to the project," she said. "I think this is a great way for people who knit or crochet to help the needy in our community and have fun doing it."
She said the store had collected about 100 caps so far, but she hoped to have 150 by Thanksgiving, given the Salvation Army will collect them.
Dan Jennings, a caseworker for the Lawrence Salvation Army, 946 New Hampshire St., said the Salvation Army had been distributing hats to the needy in Lawrence for about three years.
"Children who need a hat can come in with their parents and pick one up." Jennings said.
He said the Salvation Army distributed all the hats, scarves and mittens they received each year and invited residents to donate what they could.
Sherri Cannon, executive director of the Ballard Community Center, 708 Elm St., said the center had given away about 200 hats and scarves to
needy children last year as part of school supply kits.
Although she didn't know exactly how many children in Lawrence might need a cap this winter, Cannon said she thought about 1,000 children under the age of 12 would need warm clothing.
Susan Beers, coordinator of ECKAN Community Action Agency, 331 Maine St., said she began receiving calls on the first day of the school year from parents looking for winter clothing.
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Watkins Awareness
Who will win the Virgin Award?
Did You Know...?
- From August 1974 through August 1986, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield underpaid student claims for Watkins, especially claims for Physical Therapy and Doctor Visits between semesters.
- No deductible or co-insurance should have been applied at Watkins except for prescription drugs.
- If you think your claim was underpaid, find the claims summary BC/BS sent to you and call 1-800-432-3990.
The KU Kempo Karate and Self Defense Club will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in 130 Robinson Center.
The Student Assistance Center will sponsor a workshop on writing research papers at 3 p.m. tomorrow in 4001 Wesco Hall.
The KU Dungeons and Dragons Club will meet at 7 p.m. today in the Trail Room of the Kansas Union.
The KU Dr. Who Appreciation Society will meet at 7 p.m. today in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.
Le Cerule Francais will meet at 3:30 p.m. today in the French depart- ment lounge on the second floor of Wescoc Hall.
Sponsored by The Student Health Advisory Board. Paid for by Student Senate
■ Gus Liebenow of Universities Field Staff International, will speak on "The Continuing Legacy of Colonial Rule in Africa" as part of a University Forum at 11:40 a.m. today at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.
"A Sociological Theory of War" at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow in 706 Fraser Hall.
- If you need legal help or are unable to resolve your claim, and are a current KU student ,you may seek assistance at Legal Services for Students.
Sponsored by The Student!
The KU Soccer Club will practice at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets.
The department of geography will sponsor a seminar on "Cost Estimates of Using Landsat Data in Water Quality Assessment" at 4 p.m. tomorrow in 412 Lindley Hall.
The Student Union Activities Champion's Club will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Trail Room of the Kansas Union.
"The KU Women's Soccer Club will practice at 5:45 p.m. tomorrow at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets."
The American Association of University Professors will sponsor a dinner and meeting on collective bargaining at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
On Campus
located west of Lawrence on U.S. Highway 40, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported.
A radar detector and a bag containing scuba equipment and clothing, valued together at $630, were taken sometime between Saturday and Monday from a vehicle on Rural Route 3, the Douglas County Sheriff's office reported.
On the Record
■ A boat, trailer, motor and fishing tackle, valued together at $17,995, were taken Sunday from a boat ramp at Clinton Lake, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported.
■ A radar detector, valued at $245, was taken between 11 p.m. Sunday and 12:30 p.m. Monday from a vehicle parked in Lewis Hall's parking lot. KU police reported
Cash totaling $200 was taken at about 11:30 a.m. Monday from a gas station in Big Springs, which is
A ladder valued at $230 was taken this weekend from a residence in the 1500 block of New Hampshire
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