SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan 12, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --
Trimble
(Nasdaq: TRMB) today issued the following statement in response to inquiries
and press reports on the academic credentials of Dennis Workman. Workman
serves as Trimble's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and has been with the
company since 1995.
Trimble has received inquiries relating to Workman's academic credentials
and these credentials have also been the subject of several press reports. In
these press reports, Trimble spokespersons commented upon the facts available
at the time, and noted that Workman was pursuing the matter with MIT. Workman
has been in discussions with the MIT registrar's office and with MIT Physics
Department officials to try to confirm that he satisfied requirements for a
Master's degree. Since Workman has completed his discussions with MIT and no
further actions in this matter are contemplated, Trimble is providing the
following update.
Trimble has confirmed that Workman attended MIT from 1967 to 1968 as part
of a PhD program in Physics. Workman has indicated that he left the PhD
program after completing a year of study and submitting a Master's thesis,
with the understanding from his professor that he had performed the necessary
coursework qualifying him for a Master's degree. Workman indicated that he
did not retain a copy of his Master's thesis submission as it involved the
submission of a lab notebook and computer printouts. Workman has further
indicated that the professor involved, Dr. George Bekefi, stated that he would
complete the necessary paperwork. Dr. Bekefi passed away in 1995.
MIT's registrar's office and Physics Department have indicated that
available records have been searched, the Master's thesis and application for
the degree have not been found, and there is no record of a grade on a
Master's thesis. MIT has confirmed that Workman completed 72 units of course
work while at MIT. MIT has indicated that the process for completing a degree
given the available records would involve, at a minimum, formally re-enrolling
at the school in order to apply for the degree, and submitting a Master's
thesis. Workman does not intend to take these steps.
"I believe that I earned the Master's degree but at this point the key
records aren't available and it's unlikely they will be found. In light of
this, I have asked Trimble to revise all descriptions of my credentials," said
Workman.
"Dennis Workman is a valued member of Trimble's executive team and has
contributed substantially to Trimble's technology portfolio over the years,"
said Steven W. Berglund, president of Trimble. "From years of direct personal
experience, I know that Dennis is a person of the highest integrity. If any
mistakes were made here, I am confident that they were honest mistakes, and we
consider this matter resolved."
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses
and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on
applications requiring position or location -- including surveying,
construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and
mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS,
lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to
the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the
solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back
office. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has a
worldwide presence with more than 3,800 employees in over 18 countries.
For more information, visit Trimble's Web site at http://www.trimble.com.
GTRMB
SOURCE Trimble
http://www.trimble.com/
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