Paul (Industrial Technology, ‘89) and Katie Winkler (Applied Art and Design, ‘91) know firsthand the value of a Learn by Doing education. To help ensure today’s students have the same hands-on opportunities, the alumni couple is providing a $25,000 matching gift during this year’s Poly Gives, April 9-11, 2026, to support the Industrial Technology Lab in the Orfalea College of Business.

“Cal Poly, in a lot of ways, provided me the opportunity to be where I am today,” Paul said. “I wasn’t the greatest student, and I wasn't sure I belonged at Cal Poly, but my advisors in industrial technology stuck with me. And for that I’m grateful.”

Industrial technology and packaging students learn how to design, produce, and test efficient and sustainable packing. The program incorporates a broad range of technical and business management skills, allowing students to gain practical insight into business operations, manufacturing and service organizations, emerging technologies and more.

Paul and Katie own Apex Technical Sales, a manufacturers’ representative firm, representing Glenair exclusively, a manufacturer of high-reliability connectors and cables for land, sea, air, and space applications. Both recall their days at Cal Poly fondly.

“I initially came in under agricultural business and then realized it was predominantly crop sales,” Paul said. “At the time, industrial technology had a technical sales concentration, and that's what I wanted to do. So I transferred into the industrial technology department and was very happy that I did.”

Katie appreciates the value of the practical arts education provided by the Art and Design department, which at the time — on the cusp of widespread adoption of personal computers — focused on hand skills as well as design fundamentals. Her work has been featured locally at numerous venues including shows at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, the SLO Arts Council and Big Sky Cafe.

For Paul, giving back to Cal Poly seems natural, as he credits his Learn by Doing education for the career and life that he has today.

“The education that I received at Cal Poly allowed me to be successful in three different industries,” he said. “I feel like you should give back. If Cal Poly is a feeder of industry, then we all benefit from the people who went before us. We should be reaching back and making sure that the people who follow us have the same opportunities that we did.”

Living locally allows the couple to stay closely connected to campus. They regularly attend Cal Poly football and baseball games. Paul also volunteers on the Industrial Technology and Packaging Advisory Board and speaks in industrial technology classes and to the Industrial Technology Society.

Katie said Paul’s passion for staying involved with Cal Poly has been evident since graduation.

“I think from the day he left campus, he was just a big cheerleader for Cal Poly,” she said. “He's been a champion of the program from day one.”

“That's why I give back,” Paul said. “Because I feel like they literally changed the trajectory of my life.”

Poly Gives 2026 raised over $835,000 from 1120 donors, thanks in part to generous matching gifts like this one. Thanks to everyone who helped support Poly Gives this year!

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