An Audio Interview with Mr. Bill Dodge, CEO – Emeritus of Buckley Systems Ltd.
It was wonderful to re-connect with Bill Dodge in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, USA on April 15, 2025. Bill has been involved with manufacturing magnets for the Particle Accelerator industry since the late 1970’s. It is fascinating to follow the arc of Bill’s career through the following interview.
The link to the audio interview is below, and following the link there are time stamps for each question, and the first few words of Bill’s answer.
Question 1 (00:00): What company did you first work with in the power industry?
Dobel Engineering …
Question 2 (00:35): What type of equipment did they make?
Test equipment for the Utilities …
Question 3 (01:19): What year did Dobel buy the transformer company?
1974-75 …
Question 4 (01:32): And what was the name of the company you started to run for them?
Boston Transformer …
Question 5 (01:38): And how old were you then?
I think I was 28 …
Question 6 (02:36): How did the transition from transformers to magnets for particle accelerators happen?
One of our main customers was Varian Associates …
Question 7 (03:19): And Varian Associates was making ion implanters?
Yes, ion implanters for making computer chips …
Question 8 (06:45): As Buckley Systems International you became a staging … just in time … type of company, but also with some manufacturing?
We wound some small magnets …
Question 9 (08:32): When we worked together, we formed a sales team …
Yes, I became more of a salesperson …
Question 10 (10:43): How did you transition to CEO of Buckley Systems Ltd?
The COO resigned … and Bill Buckley called me on Christmas Day …
Question 11 (13:02): You were commuting from Boston to Auckland. How often were you doing that?
It fluctuated, but one month there, and one month here …
Question 12 (16:45): I think Buckley Systems Ltd is now manufacturing RF Resonators?
Yes …
It was a great privilege to work with Bill, and we had many delightful times attending conferences; and visiting National Laboratories, Universities, and commercial manufacturing facilities around the globe. The technologies witnessed were fascinating, and it meant a lot for both of us to develop friendships with people in the particle accelerator industry in many countries. It was very enjoyable sharing a meal with colleagues in these different countries, and with each a new cuisine (to us). It was lovely on many occasions to also meet with Bill’s spouse, Cindy, whilst travelling abroad.
