Clarke J. Gernon, Sr., P.E.-Principal
Futuretech Design
Biography:
Clarke was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He
attended Catholic Schools in the metropolitan area and graduated from Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin High School). He attended
Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge
and earned
a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in
Engineering Mechanics.
A major portion of Clarke's engineering career was spent
in the engineering and construction business. Early on,
he developed computer programs for thermal stress
analysis of piping systems and equipment, and for flow
analysis of municipal water and natural gas systems. He
became a Project Manager for the Rust Engineering
Company (Rust International) responsible for fats and edible oil projects
using proprietary technology from Lurgi-Apprate
Technik of Frankfurt. Some of his more notable projects
included a processing facility for a manganese anti-knock
compound for motor fuels, Ibuprofen bulk manufacturing
plant, the conversion of Fort Dietrich from biological and
chemical weapons production to a cancer research
facility, and a viscosity improver processing facility for
crankcase oils.
Clarke holds a United States Patent for a precision
indexing mechanism used by model railroaders around
the world.
He left the corporate engineering world in the mid 1980's
to work as a private engineering consultant. He
developed a closed loop test system for turbine
helicopter engines and had the honor of providing a
number of these devices for Operation Desert Storm.
Today he practices Forensic Mechanical Engineering on
a consulting basis and provides expert testimony on
fires, engine fuel systems, automotive systems,
agricultural equipment, hand tools and explosions. He
also provides engineering consultation for chemical
processing plants, waste disposal facilities, and
helicopter operators.
Clarke is active in civic matters, too. He served as Vice
Chairmen of the Dixie Electric Membership Cooperative
Advisory Board and the founding Chairman of the Capital
Area Resource Conservation and Development Council.
He is a member of the Aerospace Task Force of the
New Orleans Metrovision Partnership and a major
supporter of A Child's Wish.
He is a biographee of record in Marquis' Who's Who in
America, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's
Who in the World, Who's Who in the South and
Southwest, and in The Dictionary of International
Biography (published in Cambridge, England). Clarke is also an Alumnus of The International Platform Association, an association of orators.
Professional Memberships:
Clarke also grows Christmas trees at Shady
Pond Farm
in Pearl River, Louisiana. This 45 acre site is home to
16,000 trees of a dozen different varieties including
many exotics. Clarke is a member of both the National
Christmas Tree Association and the
Southern Christmas Tree Association. He
has served on the Boards of Directors of both
organizations and as Vice President and President of
Louisiana/Mississippi Association.
Clarke has been a guest speaker at State Christmas Tree Association functions in Alabama, South Carolina, Oregon, Illinois, Virginia, and Georgia; and at NCTA functions in Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, Milwaukee, Orlando, Las Vegas, Asheville, and Rochester, New York. He hosted the NCTA Marketing Conference in 1994 and the Louisiana/Mississippi Annual Meeting at Shady Pond Tree Farm in 1994 and 2000.
Clarke is an information resource for the Washington Post, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans), and The Sentry News (Slidell, Louisiana) among others. He has done numerous television and radio interviews including Voice of America Radio broadcast globally from Washington, D.C. and NBC's Weekend Today Show broadcast nationally from Rockefeller Plaza in New York.
Clarke also serves on the Grading and Marketing Committee of the Louisiana/Mississippi Association and on the Quarantine Advisory Committee to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. He is Chairman of the NCTA Internet Committee. And, he represents the Christmas tree industry on Louisiana's Agriculture and Forestry Round Table.