MBA@Calvin congratulates David K. Dorner, the inaugural recipient of the Horizon Award. Dorner is the president and founder of DornerWorks, a company specializing in embedded systems engineering.

Dorner graduated from Calvin in 1993 with degrees in electrical engineering, physics and mathematics and received his MSE from Michigan State University in 1997.

From 1993-2000, Dorner worked as an engineer for Smiths Aerospace (now GE - Aviation) before setting up his own consulting practice. He hired his first partner in 2002 and now employs a staff of 28. Dorner is known as a supportive business leader, interested in the total growth of his employees — professionally, personally and spiritually.

The Grand Rapids Business Journal has selected Dorner as one of its "40 Under 40" list, which highlights outstanding business achievement by young men and women in the local area.

Dorner has avidly recruited Calvin engineering students and alumni for his business. His entrepreneurial ventures and strong Christian faith have garnered the respect and admiration of his former professors, colleagues and fellow young alumni.

He has also nurtured a years-long partnership with Professor Steve Vander Leest of Calvin's engineering department, to connect Calvin to the cutting-edge advancements that DornerWorks is making. Dorner and Vander Leest hope to have the college approve a proposal that gives Vander Leest a teaching sabbatical so the professor can work full-time at DornerWorks. These partnerships are handled through the Spoelhof Business Institute. Both the business and the college benefit from these innovative collaborations.

Dorner is an active member of Easern Avenue Christian Reformed Church and also a saxophonist in the Grand River Big Band and Grand Rapids Symphonic Band.