Swanson School’s Department of Industrial Engineering Presents Kevin D. Braun with 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award

PITTSBURGH (April 11, 2019) … This year’s Distinguished Alumni from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering have worked with lesson plans and strategic plans, cosmetics and the cosmos, brains and barrels and bridges. It’s a diverse group, but each honoree shares two things in common on their long lists of accomplishments: outstanding achievement in their fields, and of course, graduation from the University of Pittsburgh.

This year’s recipient for the Department of Industrial Engineering is Kevin D. Braun, BSIE ’90, MBA, Vice President of Industrial Coatings at PPG.

The six individuals representing each of the Swanson School’s departments and one overall honoree representing the entire school gathered at the 55th annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet at the University of Pittsburgh’s Alumni Hall to accept their awards. James R. Martin, US Steel Dean of Engineering, led the banquet for the first time since starting his tenure at Pitt in the fall. 

“Our Industrial Engineering program is the second oldest in the U.S., and one of the top ten public programs. It has graduated outstanding IEs throughout its history, and Kevin is no exception,” says Dean Martin. “What especially is remarkable about Kevin is his understanding of disruption, and how it affects change, both good and bad. The coatings industry is no different in this regard.”

About Kevin D. Braun

Kevin D. Braun earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. 

Mr. Braun joined PPG, in 1991 as a Production Engineer at the Coatings Manufacturing Facility in Delaware, Ohio. He joined the industrial coatings business in 1994 as a Sales/Service Representative in the Appliance Division. In 1997, he moved to the fiber glass business, serving as a Market Development Manager before returning to industrial coatings in 2000 as a Market Manager in Consumer Electronics. In 2001, he became a Regional Sales Manager for Industrial Coatings.

Starting in 2003, Mr. Braun joined the architectural coatings business as a National Sales Manager for the Lowe’s account. He held this position until 2007 when he was named the Zone Sales Director for Midwest Dealers and Stores. Later that year, Mr. Braun relocated to Sydney, Australia as a General Manager of Architectural Coatings, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). He was appointed the General Manager of Silica Products in 2011, then promoted as the Vice President of Global Raw Materials and Americas Purchasing in 2013. He has been in his current position as Vice President of Industrial Coatings since 2013.

For the past three years, Mr. Braun has served on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and sits on the business development and nominating sub committees. 

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