Ravi Rahangdale Celebrated as Swanson School 2025 Distinguished Alumnus in Electrical & Computer Engineering

On April 10, 2025, the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering held its annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet at the University Club. Ravi Rahangdale, MSEE '74, was recognized at the event as the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

“It is a privilege to recognize Ravi Rahangdale and his inspiring journey,” said Alan George, Department Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “From staying at the YMCA and selling chimney sweeps door to door to attending night school at Pitt to turning a defunct North Carolina transformer manufacturing plant into a bustling company, Ravi embodies the quintessential immigrant story. With his wife, Shashi, he has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many people through their businesses and many charitable contributions.”

About Ravi Rahangdale

Ravi Rahangdale was born in Central India (later Maharashtra) before India's independence from Great Britain and while World War 2 was still raging. At age 9, he moved away from his village to obtain an education. You will hear many impressive things about Rahangdale, but this is what impresses his grandchildren the most.

He was admitted to Nagpur Science College and Jabalpur Engineering College and was the highest-ranking student in electrical engineering in his state. He began his engineering career in India as a civil servant working for B.H.E.L, where he was responsible for distributing electricity to rural communities.

In 1970, Rahangdale immigrated to the United States. His first job in the U.S. was as a door-to-door salesman.

Rahangdale started his U.S. engineering career at Uptegraph Transformer in Scottdale, PA. His wife, Shashi, and 3-year-old son joined him in 1971. His daughter was born in 1973. He went to night school at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a master's degree in electrical engineering in 1974.

After graduating, he moved to Lynchburg, VA, and worked for H.K. Porter Co., now Delta Star. In 1988, at 48, he took a chance and bought the defunct FayTranCo., a small transformer manufacturer in Fayetteville, NC. Rahangdale proved himself by providing high-quality products and services. He was soon able to build Fayetteville Transformer Company's facility in Raeford, NC, with 15 employees.

In 1996, he purchased the Canonsburg, PA, factory that once housed Cooper Industries, formerly McGraw Edison. This larger facility represented another opportunity in the transformer industry. Combined with the expanding plant in Raeford, the new company was named Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, Inc. (PTTI). PTTI manufactures power-class substation transformers of medium and large core-form design. Rahangdale was awarded a Key to the City of Canonsburg in 1998.

Rahangdale has employed as many as 400 employees. He prides himself on never having laid off any employees and on the positive economic impacts of his companies on the rural communities where they operated.

In November 2023, Rahangdale and Shashi retired after 35 years, selling their business to Quanta Services.

In January 2024, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper awarded Rahangdale the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, the governor's highest honor. The award is for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Through the businesses he and his wife built, they have helped hundreds of people through jobs and millions through access to electricity, and they have made numerous charitable contributions. They have raised two children—Sandeep (A&S ’89) and Lisa—and have helped raise their five grandchildren.