Norman Rautiola

Founder & Chairman Emeritus
Nartron
BS EMY 1954, MBA 1960

Norm graduated with his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1954. He then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-56, and earned an MBA from George Washington University in 1960.

Norm was manager of corporate patent development for Texas Instruments before striking out on his own in 1967 to form Nartron Electronics Corporation in Jackson, Michigan. He later moved his headquarters to Reed City and simplified the company name to Nartron, which has become known as a leader in the field of high-tech automotive and electronic systems development. Nartron has created a number of ‘firsts’ – the first keyless entry system for cars, the first electrically powered steering system, the first touch controlled operating control system, and more. Nartron has also developed safety systems for the military. Most recently, Nartron developed a system trademarked as “Smart Close,” that senses human presence through a change in the electromagnetic field and responds to that presence by reversing the closing of doors or windows.

Norm presently serves as Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Nartron, and resides in Santa Barbara, CA, with his wife Sara-Bina, daughter Leijona (Leona), and sons Niikolas and Ari.

From 2008 Induction to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Academy