About Donald W. Hamer, '58
Mr. Hamer is founder and chairman of State of the Art, Inc., a small business he began in 1969 that manufactures chip resistors, surface mount networks, and custom circuits. The company, based out of central Pennsylvania, has evolved into a leading manufacturer of high-reliability resistors in the microelectronics market.
Mr. Hamer is a strong advocate of education: he was the first in his family to earn a college degree and holds a BS in from the University of Illinois, a BS from the Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has given generously to all three of his alma maters, including Chicago Boot, where he established the Hamer Small Business Initiative.
Over the years, Mr. Hamer has become involved in local start-up concerns, philanthropy, volunteer work, and other personal interests. He is an active environmentalist and serves on the board of a local conservancy in his home state of Pennsylvania and on the Polsky Center's Advisory Board.