Helen Vögele Gourley is a graduate of the University of Rochester in Physics and Optics. After years of industry work as a system engineer in radiation physics, electro-optical design, and aerospace, Ms. Gourley founded System Sciences Group in 1983 to provide optical design for the expanding semiconductor and instrument companies in Silicon Valley.

She collaborated with Dr Darrell Mathis to develop the first PC-based ray trace program for non-sequential ray tracing. During the past 25 years, she has become a well-known expert in radiant system design, applying her customized software and her experience of semiconductor equipment, medical devices, and even TV and movie special effects. Among her clients are large U.S. companies such as Applied Materials, Xerox Research, General Electric Space Center, and the Naval Research Laboratory, as well as many small U.S. companies. International clients include the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, CSRA in Switzerland, and Aldermaston Weapons Establishment in England.

Ms. Gourley is an active member of many industry societies, and active in promoting science education. She is listed in Who's Who of American Women and in Marquis Who’s Who.

Dr. Darrell Mathis developed the custom software program, TRACE, that SSG uses in Illumination design. He regularly upgrades or expands our software to solve new problems.

On receiving his PhD degree from the University of Illinois, he was recruited by USC as Assistant Professor. The opportunity to solve practical problems attracted him to industry, where he has served as senior staff for Xerox Corporate Research and now for TomTom, world leader in digital mapping and navigation.