Reuben Zielinski

Alumni Profile | Fall 2021

hands-on For Life

Working with his hands has been a lifelong passion for 1982 Alfred State graduate Reuben Zielinski. The hands-on approach that he craved when looking for a place to further his education in his early 20’s still drives him today in the business world.

Zielinski worked for a roofing company for two years after graduating from Dunkirk High School. At the urging of his good friend’s father, he started looking at places to pursue a career in engineering. Zielinski’s father was a toolmaker and his two older brothers were electricians.

Reuben Zielinski's School ID
Zielinksi's ASC ID

That nudge led Zielinski to find Alfred State and with one visit, he knew it was the right place for him. “Alfred State had good academic programs, a great reputation, and wasn’t far away from home. Math and science came easy to me so I knew that with hard work I would be successful in the electrical engineering technology program. It was obvious to me and others around me that I would become an engineer.”

Sitting in Circuit Analysis I, during his first semester, Zielinski knew he made the right choice and by the third or fourth class he knew he wanted to study this for the rest of his life. The hands-on learning he received set him on a mission to achieve his goals.

The beginning of my career started at Alfred State. I still have the books and notes from my classes. I built great friendships and have great memories of my time at Alfred.

“I learned the value of hard work, honed my study habits, and treated my education as a job. The hands-on approach set me up for success in my future studies and was a springboard to bigger and better things for me.”

Two weeks after graduation from ASC, Zielinski enrolled at RIT, and he quickly used his experience at Alfred State to land a co-op at IBM. The co-op led to his first job at IBM after getting his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

“The hands-on lab experience I had from Alfred State helped me land the co-op at RIT and a job offer a year before I graduated.”

A notebook and a pencil sit next to Zielinski’s bed. He often writes down ideas in the middle of the night and tries to conceive new ways of creating things. He spends his free time in a lab in his basement working on these ideas.

Zielinski always had a dream of owning his own company one day. He put that dream off to allow his children to enjoy his and his wife’s large families.

A new job opportunity moved Zielinski to Indiana. One day, his neighbor came to him when his wife’s phone went through the washing machine. That discussion took Zielinski to his lab to find a solution and eventually led him to cofound his own company Redux.

Redux uses a patented technique to remove moisture from personal electronic devices with a vacuum drying process that reduces the evaporating point of water so that all moisture is removed quickly, completely, and at a safe temperature. Redux saves phones, tablets, and greatly extends the lifespan of hearing instruments.

Reuben Zielinski, '82
Reuben Zielinski, '82

When Alfred State started the Major Gifts Campaign, Zielinski knew he wanted to give back. “The beginning of my career started at Alfred State. I still have the books and notes from my classes. I built great friendships and have great memories of my time at Alfred.”

Recently Zielinski returned to Alfred and toured campus. He noticed the things that were the same and marveled at the new. He reminisced about living in Main Gate, playing intramural sports, and taking classes in the Engineering building.

“I felt like I was back home.”

Zielinski does not think he will ever retire. He wants to keep finding solutions to problems. He has written and holds over 50 patents and is not planning on stopping. His smile increases when he shares what might be the next big thing coming out of his lab.

“I have fun at work and I don’t consider it work. I am very fortunate.”

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