Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Pipestone, Minnesota
Electrical Engineering ,
Ron Schmidt worked for Control Data Corp. for 20 years in various management positions both domestic and international. He founded Zytec Corp., in 1984 and served as its chairman, president and CEO until its merger with Computer Products, Inc., in December 1997. His management philosophy was based on the teachings of W. Edwards Deming which helped him lead Zytec to being awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing in 1991. Zytec also won the first Minnesota State Quality Award that same year. Zytec Corp. grew to become the fifth largest U.S. manufacturer of AC to DC power supplies prior to the merger. Schmidt retired from active management in January 1998 and remained active on the board of directors of the merged company, Artesyn Technologies. Schmidt was recognized in "Who’s Who of American Business Leaders Special Edition" in 1991. He is married to the former Alice Borg of Pipestone, Minnesota.