USU education helps broaden alumnus’ life
Sometimes it may be hard to imagine life beyond college. Between cramming for exams, cranking out eight-page papers by midnight and reading through an exhaustive course reader, it becomes easy to question whether the college experience is worth it.
But Ken Alder, a Utah State University alumnus, the years at Utah State University, coupled with hard work, have proven more than worthwhile.
Since graduating in 1974 in accounting and in 1978 with a second bachelor’s degree in finance, Alder has become the CEO of TTM Technologies, a company he founded in 1998 which is now worth $1.4 billion.
He credits at least some of his success to his time at Utah State.
“Certainly the education itself and the skill I learned with the accounting major was very helpful in helping me understand business,” Alder said. “Just learning about different cultures in college helped expand what would maybe be a narrow view of life.”
As a CEO, Alder has had to learn how to work and relate to a variety of people.
“You have a lot of responsibility with your customers, with employees, with shareholders and suppliers,” Alder said.
Since TTM Technologies is a public company, Alder meets quarterly with shareholders to talk about the condition of the business and work to create “a vision that everyone can work for.”
Right now, that vision is ever-growing and expanding. TTM Technologies is the 4th-largest printed circuit board company in the world. They are headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., and have six other locations, including one in Logan.
“(There are) a lot of good people to work with,” Alder said of the 16,000 TTM employees. “They have enhanced my life.”
Alder doesn’t regret that, for him, Utah State University was the only option. He was born and raised in Logan.
“There was never any other consideration I would give to another school,” Alder said. “It was just ingrained that out of high school I would go to college and Utah State was college.”
For Alder, this was a good choice. “USU is a great school,” he said. “I think it has everything to offer that you would look for in a university. I think the current leadership and president are doing just a super job.”
Alder splits his time between Southern California and Logan. He said he visits the Utah State campus from time to time for as many football and basketball games as he can attend.
“It seems to me that Utah State has established itself more competitively with the other universities,” Alder said. “I think it is a very well respected university. It was while I was there, too, but they have continued to put USU on the map.”
Alder said current students should keep in mind that they “only get one shot” at college and should make the most of it.
“Make sure you learn all the skills you can,” he said. “(College) is also a time to interact with the other students that are from different backgrounds.”
College is an opportunity to learn how to resolve conflicts with people and work through complex situations together, Alder said.
He said he remembers a mixture of stress and excitement during his time at USU.
“A test could be fun and could be stressful,” he said. He said he remembers “the fun part of studying and growing.”
Alder worked throughout his college career, but did take some time to enjoy Aggie athletics.
“I always remember sitting in the cold, watching football games,” he said. “I remember the excitement around the basketball games. I obviously enjoyed it so much then that I continue to participate in those now.”
Alder said he has achieved more career knowledge than he ever expected, but one of the greatest parts of his life is his family. He is married and has six children.
“I think we’ve been able to balance the hard work with having some fun along the way,” he said. “The experience I had at Utah State was an excellent foundation with which to have opportunities I’ve been grateful for.”
To sum up his life, Alder said: “It’s been mainly about family, work, and Aggie athletics.”
– marleah.jacobson@aggiemail.usu.edu