Professional Achievement Award 2007
Nick Khoury emigrated from his native Lebanon to the United States, and the Lehigh Valley and, unable to speak English, enrolled at Northampton one night a week to strengthen his command of the language. But being a science-minded guy, Nick also took math and science courses and after earning an AS in engineering from NCC, he transferred to Lehigh University, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Today, Nick is president of iFire Technology in Toronto. If you've ever complained about commuting on Route 22, consider Nick's trek to work. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, he flies out of that southern city on Monday to work way up north, not returning home until Friday.
iFire is a research and technology company employing 50 scientists, engineers, and technicians who work at perfecting its solid state proprietary Thick Dielectric Electroluminescent (TDEL) technology for various flat panel display applications. Nick was hired in 2005 to lead the company's transition from research and development to commercialization.
Nick's accomplishments in the professional field are many, and quite impressive.
He was the principal officer of The Khoury Group, LLC., a consulting firm he established in 2004. He was also president and board member of OFS Fitel, LLC., an optical fiber subsidiary of Furukawa Electric of Japan, located in Atlanta, Georgia, where he restructured the organization while expanding the business into such growing markets as China.
Prior to that, Nick was vice president and general manager of the fiber business of Lucent Technologies; during this period the fiber business unit achieved a turnaround and added $100 million profit. In 2001, he played a key role in the sale of the company for $2.3 billion to Furukawa Electric.
In addition to Nick's 20 years experience in the semiconductor and fiber optics sectors, he has served on several boards: chairman of Litespec (a joint venture between Lucent Technologies and Sumitomo Electric of Japan); board member of Shanghai Fiber Optics Company in China, and board member of Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown.
That NCC is proud of Nick's accomplishments is an understatement. Tonight Northampton's Alumni Association recognizes his talents with great pride as we present to Nick Khoury our Professional Achievement Award.
