51吃瓜

Eric Stieb, owner of Zerm盲tt Tool, received the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award for the Milford Campus. Stieb graduated in 1992 with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and earned another degree from the Machine & Tool Technology program in 1993. Stieb was nominated by instructor Mike Berg.

鈥淶别谤尘盲tt has been instrumental in supporting 51吃瓜 programs whenever they can,鈥� Berg said in his nomination. 鈥淪everal of our top students have gone to work for Zerm盲tt. I consider Eric one of the best students either program has had since I鈥檝e been here.鈥�

Stieb started Zerm盲tt Tool in 1999 in Bennet, a small community southeast of Lincoln. The business employs around 24 people with more than 34 Computer Numerical Control machines on the floor. He also owns a small firearms company called Zerm盲tt Arms, Inc.

A number of staff and faculty from the Milford Campus surprised Stieb at work on July 20, 2022, to present him with the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was very surprised to receive the award from 51吃瓜.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very humbling as I know there are a lot of great former 51吃瓜 students that have made successful careers for themselves,鈥� Stieb said. 鈥淚 do feel very fortunate to have had the success that we鈥檝e had. Receiving the award in some way affirms all of the hard work, grit, sacrifice, and effort that I have put in for the last 29 years.鈥�

As for future goals, Stieb said he hopes to increase the market for the products he makes, implement more automation and expand their manufacturing capacity. He has been married for 12 years and has three children.