Enercon's EDucation Program

Enercon Engineering, a global leader in power systems and a trusted defense contractor, launched the “ED-ucation Program,” in honor of company founder and Chairman Ed Tangel’s milestone 90th birthday. The program’s mission is to promote electrical engineering through STEM educational experiences designed for local youths. Enercon’s ED-ucation Program will initially donate KiwiCo’s STEM Classroom Kits to select local schools, teachers, and community within the greater Peoria area, starting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria located at 2703 W Grinnell St, Peoria, Illinois 61605, Wednesday, November 16th, 2022, at 4:30PM.

Each STEM Classroom Kit awarded by Enercon’s ED-ucation Program is meant to encourage and inspire elementary school students to follow in Ed’s inquisitive footsteps by exposing them to the wonders of energy and engineering. Enercon’s goal is to deliver an engineering experience to 500 elementary school students in 2022.

“I’ve used science to serve society throughout my life and that’s why I'm truly honored and excited about Enercon's new outreach effort to the central Illinois community I love and have called home for nearly 50 years,” said Ed Tangel, Enercon’s founder and chairman. “It’s so wonderful and humbling to witness the launch of the ED-ucation Program to mark my 90th birthday. This program will expose our youth to the wonders of engineering and help our veterans make the transition back to civilian life through job training. This is a really special opportunity to give back."

"Ed Tangel is a pioneer and a patriot, who has not only given to his community, he has helped put Peoria on the map as one of the most trusted suppliers of electrical systems and power sources for defense systems that protect our country and allies,” remarked Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria CEO, Chiristian Lee. “Ed turned a start-up inside a garage into a worldwide leader of state-of-the-art engineering and customized power solutions. That company has generated good-paying, meaningful jobs and given global influence to our community. We’re excited to introduce this mindset to a new generation.”

Tangel continues to be the high-energy spark that drives Enercon. The company has a global reputation as the go-to provider of critical power components. For more than four decades, Enercon high-quality, high-performance power equipment and technology have helped overcome the most challenging electrical power obstacles facing military, industrial, commercial, and municipal customers.

Even at the ripe young age of 90, Tangel’s energy and passion are infectious. He still comes to work each day – and often six days a week – personally demonstrating a commitment to Enercon’s shareholders, employees, customers, and vendor/partners.

That drive and pursuit of excellence and service are why Tangel has managed to grow his business from a 5,000 sq. ft. boathouse “garage” he co-founded in 1975 with Bill Rogers, to a worldwide, multi-national organization, headquartered in East Peoria. Today, Enercon has equipment in more than 110 countries and a sales/service presence in six countries, including manufacturing and engineering centers in Singapore.

Enercon continues to lead the way in the power-generation industry. It designed and manufactured prime power units for the THAAD missile defense system that contributes to our national defense commitment. Its other noteworthy projects include power units that operate in unforgiving, -90 degree temperatures in Antartica; Enercon-powered standby units that will operate flood pumps in New Orleans in the next hurricane; and custom engineering units that provide power for off-shore oil platforms and on-shore drilling rigs.

As Enercon approaches its 50th year of service, and Ed Tangel celebrates his 90th birthday, both continue their mission to meet the power and engineering needs around the world. They also look forward to inspiring youngsters and veterans to take power systems and engineering into the future, thanks to Enercon’s new ED-ucation Program.