From $2.40 an hour to $65 an hour, Tusculum College Duke Okes seized the opportunities of education to become a titan in his field.
Founder and president of the APLOMET consulting firm, Okes was the featured speaker for The Alumni Lecture Series: Paths to Success on November 10, at the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts on the Northeast State Community College’s main campus. Okes received his bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College in 1986 and a master’s degree in 1997. He received his associate’s degree from Northeast State.
The first-ever event brought an outstanding Northeast State graduate back to campus to share his journey to success with current students, fellow alumni, and the community.
Okes presented his lecture, “The Perfect Economic Stimulus” in the morning and then spent the day visiting with students in classes around campus. His presentation delved into his knowledge of quality manufacturing and how efficiency can revitalize an entire national economy. Okes spoke about his own path to success from Northeast State to an entrepreneur working around the globe.
Okes was earning $2.40 per hour in 1974 when he enrolled at Northeast State. His 1976 associate degrees in electronics and mechanical engineering technology propelled him to a new job and more than doubled his paycheck with the TRW company in Rogersville. After nine years with TRW as a quality technician and later quality engineer, Okes formed his consulting company APLOMET in 1985 where he commanded $65 per hour from companies in need of his knowledge services.
An acronym for Applied Logical Methods, APLOMET provides quality systems and organizational management consultation to Fortune 500 companies, family-owned businesses, nonprofits, and start-up firms. Okes ranks as one of the most sought-after experts in the global manufacturing industry. He provides consultation services to companies both large and small in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom.
Okes went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in adult education from Tusculum College.
A college degree coupled with personal initiative gives students the ability to create career opportunities with marketable skils, he says.
Okes wrote the book “Root Cause Analysis: The Core of Problem Solving and Corrective Action” that is now used in quality training courses throughout the country.