Turic, Denise

2014 Marcia Peterman ECE Award

In recognition of devoted and loyal service to the University of Illinois and the Alumni Association.

Denise served on the ECE Alumni Board of Directors from 2006 until 2013, and served as president from 2007 to 2010. She received the Orange and Blue Appreciation Award in 2013.

Denise’s career in semiconductors began as a product engineer at SGS-Thompson Microelectronics in Dallas, a position obtained through on-campus interviews. This led to work at the first of two successful startups. At Benchmarq (acquired by Texas Instruments) she designed and implemented a state-of-the-art Unix-based document control system using hypertext links. The system was instrumental in Benchmarq’s obtaining ISO9000 certification and passing rigorous quality audits. Next, Denise joined a small group of engineers designing MOS integrated circuits, including memory modules, at Cirrus Logic, where she was a senior design engineer.

Denise then helped form the Dallas-based microelectronics division of PowerSmart (acquired by Microchip Technology), a spin-off from Duracell. It developed smart-battery ICs. Since the acquisition in 2002, she has supported customers in the Americas and Europe as principal marketing engineer and currently as a senior field sales engineer.