Thomas G. Capek, senior vice president and chief engineer at Corning Incorporated, was named to the Clarkson University Board of Trustees on October 14. As a trustee, Tom will serve on the Financial Affairs Committee and the Facilities Subcommittee. Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science and has worked with Clarkson’s leadership to build a relationship that encompasses research support, philanthropic efforts, and student recruitment.
“We are thrilled to have Tom Capek join the Clarkson Board of Trustees. In addition to his leadership at Corning, Tom is the proud parent of a successful Clarkson alumna,” said Clarkson University President Marc P. Christensen, Ph. D. P.E. “Tom brings not only his corporate vision but also his perspective as a former Clarkson parent to his service. For more than 50 years, Corning has had a representative on the Clarkson Board of Trustees. In joining the Clarkson Board of Trustees, Tom is the latest link in a long legacy of service of Corning leaders at Clarkson. We are grateful to Tom for prioritizing his service as a member of our Board of Trustees.”
“The combination of academia and industry is what drives innovation in today’s world,” said Tom Capek. “I am excited to represent Corning, and to support the collaborative relationship Corning and Clarkson have developed over the last 50 years to deliver life-changing innovations and educate the next-generation of engineers.”
About Tom Capek
In his role at Corning, Tom is responsible for leading Corning’s corporate Manufacturing Technology and Engineering organization and the global Engineering function.
Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and civil engineering. He joined Corning as a design engineer in 1986 and has spent the majority of his career focused on Corning’s flat-glass manufacturing processes. Shortly after joining Corning, Tom and his family relocated to Harrodsburg, Kentucky to support Corning’s first joint development program with Samsung Corning Precision. Tom continued to support Corning’s Harrodsburg facility in a variety of roles, until he returned to Corning, New York in 2003 to support Corning’s global Display Technologies business as the division engineering manager. In 2014, Tom was appointed vice president and chief engineer for Corning’s Manufacturing Technology and Engineering group and continues to support Corning today as the senior vice president and chief engineer.
Outside of work, Tom and his family support the community through various commitments. The Capek Family is a leading sponsor for the local chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – a free book-gifting program for any child under the age of five who lives in Chemung or Steuben County. Tom is also an active member of Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, an organization that represents engineers of all disciplines. Additionally, Tom supports the Coulter School of Engineering at Clarkson, and other engineering schools where he sits on multiple advisory boards to help foster a strong collaboration between academia and industry, educate students on next-generation technologies and real-world applications, and build a strong talent pipeline for Corning.
His daughter, Emily N. Capek, graduated from Clarkson in 2015 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, and is a proud Clarkson alumna. In her current role, Emily is a glassmaking operations supervisor for Corning’s Optical Communications business. Prior to this role she has supported Corning’s Display Technologies and Pharmaceutical Technologies businesses.
Tom and his wife, Lisa, split their time between Corning, New York and North Carolina.