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National
Engineers Week Presents the New Faces of Engineering.
Shane Sevo has more than nine years experience developing and producing multimedia content ranging from computer generated illustrations to real-time interactive 3D environments. His ability to integrate multimedia technology into a civil engineering business environment has provided Wade Trim with a powerful presentation graphics tool. Sevo has a thorough understanding of all phases of the multimedia production process and can implement a complex coordination of 3D rendering and postproduction workflows. He has first hand experience with the most powerful professional digital content creation tools available, including 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, non linear video editing, fluid flow dynamics simulators, Macromedia Director, and DVD authoring. Sevo’s specialty is taking a project from idea to final delivery via video, internet, DVD, interactive kiosks, or plotted graphics. He has extensive experience in the pre-production process helping a client anticipate audience, focus on purpose, and develop desired output mediums for their multimedia project. He has applied a specific process for storyboarding a script and matching up tools to create the desired visuals. He takes this pre-production workflow directly into 3D animation, digital video, photographic manipulation, and digital compositing applications to create stunning visuals that reinforce and explain the intended purpose of the client to a wide variety of target audiences. During the production and post phases of a multimedia project, Sevo seamlessly combines a wide variety of hardware and software into one focused workflow that easily incorporates other 3D artists, 2D illustrators, videographers, and digital effects specialists. His work experience includes projects for DWSD Dewatering, Elizabeth Lake Pump Station, GWK Drain, Telegraph Road Streetscape Visualizations, Detroit Riverfront Corps of Engineers Video and the OCDC Elizabeth Lake Rehabilitation Video Documentary. Contact Shane Sevo:Ssevo@wadetrim.com
From 2001 to 2005, Orok was a Research Engineer (Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology) in the Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) process technology group supporting BP’s Global PTA business, a division of BP with 22 manufacturing plants worldwide. He conceived, developed, and assisted in commercial implementation of technology to enhance the productivity, reliability, and cost structure of PTA assets. Orok’s main focus during this period was providing technical leadership, consultation, and innovative new technology to the wastewater treatment facilities in these plants. While most of his work was conducted at the BP Research Center in Naperville, Illinois, Orok also provided extensive on-site technical support to manufacturing plants in Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Belgium, Indonesia, and the United States. One important contribution in this role was coordinating and leading a network of wastewater treatment staff from every BP PTA plant in the world to share best technical practices. Documented savings from the information shared in this group was $750,000 in 2004. Orok was also a key member of a technology team that drove the implementation of a specific wastewater process remediation at several manufacturing sites in the PTA system. Documented savings from this work is more than $10 million. In addition to these contributions, Orok also enhanced the development of several other novel technologies, most notably unique membrane technology for separation of PTA process solvents. Finally, he assumed several roles with broader impact, most notably Safety Leader of BP’s work team and other activities related to staff development, diversity and inclusion, and recruitment, especially in the BP African American Network and for the National Society of Black Engineers. Contact Orok Duke:Orok.duke@bp.com
In an era of higher accountability and audibility requirements, cost engineering is invaluable in accurately reporting environmental liabilities in the annual Department of Defense report to the U.S. Congress. Jason Adams has provided critical cost engineering support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in programming and estimating environmental liabilities for the Formerly Used Defense Sites Military Munitions Response Program. He has assisted in the development of more than 1,000 cost-to-complete estimates for the Military Munitions Response Program. The estimated remediation cost for the program is approximately $10.7 billion. One of the primary concerns for the Military Munitions Response Program is the remediation of chemical warfare material. Adams’ efforts under the U.S. Army’s Chemical Warfare Material Scoping and Security Study helped determine the magnitude and cost associated with the remediation of chemical warfare material at formerly used defense sites. Adams’ technical expertise and high degree of commitment helped successfully create better, more cost-effective remediation alternatives and helped develop the estimated costs associated with the remediation alternatives. The effort was performed under a critically short time constraint and required extensive coordination with numerous contractor personnel, project managers, and Corps of Engineers personnel. Adams’ work helped reduce the previously estimated remediation cost from more than $1 billion to approximately $146 million. Adams holds a Professional Engineer license from the State of Alabama and is an active member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. Contact Jason Adams:Jason.B.Adams@usace.army.mil
As a graduate student at West Virginia University (WVU), Lora Freeman began her civil engineering career by developing a relationship with the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways (WVDOH) structural department while working on her thesis, “Development of an Optimized Short-span Steel Bridge Package,” under the guidance of Dr. Karl Barth. Freeman’s thesis will result in a standardized bridge package for short-span steel bridge girders. Her research has been incorporated by the WVDOH into a training seminar presentation for West Virginia structural engineers on Steel Beam Design Standards. While in her junior year at WVU, Lora was inducted into the Chi Epsilon society, where she also served as secretary her senior year. Upon completion of her course work for her Master’s degree, she was hired by Parsons Brinckerhoff in their Fairmont, West Virginia office where she continues her structural engineering career development working under a professional structural engineer. Her intelligence, attention to detail, and ability to work with minimal supervision are outstanding traits for an engineer this early in her career. In addition, she continues to work with WVU in the finalization of her thesis and its incorporation into the WVDOH design program. Contact Lora Freeman:freemanL@pbworld.com
Roger Chang has played a key role in a variety of projects, including several art museums such as the Wexner Center for the Arts, Cleveland Museum of Art, High Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He has synthesized the use of a variety of techniques, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD), two-dimensional heat transfer analysis, and dynamic thermal modeling to develop robust façade and mechanical designs for gallery spaces requiring tight environmental control. Chang presented a talk on museum design at the 2005 ASHRAE Meeting as part of a seminar on Indoor Environmental Modeling of Museums, Art Galleries and Performing Arts Theaters. He has developed dynamic condensation analysis methods for use by Arup globally and serves as a leader in training members of the company’s mechanical team to perform load calculations, energy analysis, and CFD analysis. Roger is a LEED accredited professional and is currently leading the mechanical design of a LEED Platinum building, the Syracuse Center of Excellence. Chang is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he undertook research on indoor air quality of ice rinks, performance of double-skin ventilated facades, and mixed-mode buildings. His work has been acknowledged by the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Contact Roger Chang:Roger.chang@arup.com
After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Zulia, Venezuela, Timo Marquez participated in short projects for international companies such as BMW and Synlift Systems. In 2002, after working for almost two years in oil sector research, he obtained a master of science in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. This experience led him to be involved in projects related to energy in The Netherlands and Sweden. Marquez is currently involved in promoting sustainable practices with several professional groups such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Engineers for a Sustainable World, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), for whom he chaired the Technology and Society Sustainable Engineering Committee. He also serves as a consultant for ETH Sustainability’s World YES Forum project in Zurich, where he is project manager of a 15-member team in the area of sustainability, corporate responsibility, and youth engagement. Marquez has contributed to several magazines in issues related to engineering, technology and the environment, and was a UNESCO-sponsored speaker at the Engineers for a Sustainable World congress in 2005. Currently living in Venezuela, his interests include sustainable construction design and environmental education for primary schools. In his free time, he enjoys travelling and outdoor activities; his last trips include Costa Rica, Slovakia, Switzerland and Belgium. Contact Timo Marquez:Marquezt@asme.org Yazhou (Joel) Liu, Ph.D.
Yazhou Liu, a Senior Power Conversion System Engineer at THALES group (a Fortune 500 company), plays a key role in designing the power conversion system for the Boeing Dream Liner 787 aircraft. He is leading the THALES simulation and modeling activities and the system design of APU start system for Boeing 787. Dr. Liu worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Florida State University, where he was extensively involved in the conceptual design of the US NAVY all-electric-ship power system and its power quality study. During the past five years, Dr. Liu has published 19 technical papers in leading international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He has presented papers at 11 international conferences, and has been a frequent reviewer on international peer-reviewed journals in power engineering. Because of his significant contribution to power quality studies on utility systems, shipboard power systems, and aircraft power systems, he was elevated to senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2005, one of the youngest senior members in the society. He also won first prize in the 2003 IEEE Transmission and Distribution meeting student paper contest. Dr. Liu is an active member of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, an organization that strengthens the mainstream role of Chinese American professionals in the U.S. He was also an active member in Chinese scholar and student associations in Arizona and Florida. In these organizations, he participated in many community and Chinese cultural activities to build bridges between America and China. He is also the vice chairman of SCAAE (Society of Chinese American Aerospace Engineers) in Seattle. Contact Yazhou Liu:yazhou_liu@hotmail.com
Vanessa Koutroupas completed her first undergraduate degree at age 20 and was hired as a reliability engineer by Lockheed Martin Corp. Within the first year, she earned a patent for software used in reliability analysis, authored “Sampling Inspection Guidebook,” and co-published “LifeTests: Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck” – seen in various magazines including NASA EE Links, Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry and Assembly Magazine. She also completed a second undergraduate degree. During a rotation in Supply Management at age 22, Koutroupas earned her Six Sigma Black Belt Certification and spearheaded the creation of a program to drive lean manufacturing into the supply base. She conducted lean and six sigma training courses at 15 suppliers, including “Lean Leadership” for senior executives and “Green Belt Training” for personnel. She also led team projects that claimed more than $1 million in cost savings within the first year. Koutroupas was promoted to Production Program Management for a $6M F-16 Aircraft contract at age 24. Her demonstrated ability to effectively lead a cross-functional team and meet contract delivery schedule won her a Mission Success Award. She accepted a position at General Dynamics a year later and now serves as a key member of the sustainment engineering and support team that is designing an Integrated Computer System (ICS) for the U.S. Army Future Combat System. Within six months, she received a STAR Award for exemplary teamwork and outstanding performance on the ICS Program. Contact Vanessa Koutroupas:vanessakoutroupas@yahoo.com
As an undergraduate student at the University of Houston, Mario Duarte became convinced that industrial engineering should be a leading discipline in homeland security research and development efforts. And that’s exactly the career he embarked upon. Working for the Houston Airport System, Duarte has been able to pursue his professional dream, focusing on homeland security, critical infrastructure security, and risk management. Recent projects include the design of a specialized mathematics-based security, threat, and vulnerability analysis method for the Houston Airport System, analysis and simulation of the University of Houston’s police department patrolling areas to improve the response time of officers to emergency calls, and an independent study for a US federal agency. Thanks to the experience gained by working on these projects, Duarte has taken on even more challenging projects, including analyzing the efficiency of the explosive detection and baggage handling system at the Houston Airport and conducting research and analysis on federal inspection service areas in several major airports. Contact Mario Duarte:Mario.duarte@cityofhouston.net
Lieutenant Junior Grade Darrin Barber is a naval officer whose technical abilities have significantly contributed to the successful construction of the newest nuclear powered attack submarine, the PCU TEXAS (SSN 775). Barber served as an Engineering Officer of the Watch during rigorous testing to certify the ship’s nuclear reactor plant. His meticulous preparation for each test, thorough knowledge of the S9G Reactor Plant, and leadership abilities resulted in the flawless completion of more than 15 complex test procedures. As the ship’s Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant, he implemented a detailed training plan that ensured his division was always ready to support the ship’s schedule. He and six divisional personnel monitored numerous radiological and steam plant sampling evolutions and completed all chemical analysis and processing procedures. Recently, Barber rapidly qualified and supported the crew during a two-month period on USS TENNESSEE (SSBN 734). He qualified as Officer of the Deck and earned the right to wear submarine warfare insignia, an unusual accomplishment in a new construction environment. Lieutenant Junior Grade Barber is a talented and enthusiastic engineer who excels in all aspects of naval submarining. Contact Darrin Barber:Barberde@texas.navy.mil
Dr. Jennifer L. Wilcox is using her engineering expertise to research ways to make energy production more environmentally friendly. Dr. Wilcox successfully competed for a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award for a project to unravel the chemistry of toxic metals – such as mercury, arsenic and selenium – emitted from coal-fired power plants. Part of her project also involved developing innovative high school outreach programs and examining novel educational approaches such as one that involves students as guest lecturers within their own classrooms. Dr. Wilcox is an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and a M.A. in physical chemistry from the University of Arizona. She is also an innovator in engineering education. Throughout graduate school at the University of Arizona, she taught introductory algebra and chemistry courses at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to graduate school, she worked for a year as an Environmental Scientist at Enviro Engineering in Tucson. In addition to her passion for engineering and the environment, Dr. Wilcox is also an accomplished marathon runner. She ran four marathons in 2005, including the Boston Marathon, and the Maine Marathon – placing 4th in the female category for that race. Contact Jennifer Wilcox:jwilcox@WPI.EDU
For those who have wondered what it takes to create a major theme park attraction, behind the thrilling rides and breathtaking effects is a team of engineers that spends countless hours ensuring that the attraction is safe to operate and maintain. Timothy Swieter is one of those individuals, an electrical engineer at Birket Engineer Inc. where his responsibilities are to provide a safe control system that is easy to operate and maintain for the park, and that provides an illusion of danger and excitement to the guests. These illusions are not created by smoke and mirrors, but by hard-working engineers. Two years ago, Swieter joined the Birket Engineering team responsible for the LIM launch ride control system of “Revenge of the Mummy, The Ride,” at Universal Studios Orlando. Since then, his roles have included project engineer of the Hong Kong Disneyland fireworks control system and of the show safety control system for “Fear Factor Live!” at Universal Studios Hollywood. Outside of work, Swieter enjoys tinkering with robotics, reviewing new attractions at theme parks, volunteering at church, talking with students about engineering, and attending IEEE special events. Contact Timothy Swieter:tims@birket.com
Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Colombia, Tatiana Hernandez came to the United States in 1998 with limited knowledge of English. With determination to succeed, she enrolled in English classes and volunteered as an assistant engineer. Eight years later, she earned a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, has gained extensive experience in civil design and water resources modeling working for government and private consulting engineering firms and obtained her Professional Engineering License in the State of Florida. Hernandez has taken leadership roles in several professional organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the local Engineers Week committee, affording her the opportunity to encourage students to pursue careers in engineering by mentoring, teaching, and giving presentations. She has just completed a two-year term as the president of the Central Florida Professional Chapter of SHPE. Her research has been published in peer reviewed technical journals and has been presented at three conferences. Hernandez is currently employed by Tetra Tech as a Water Resources Engineer. As project engineer, she was responsible for developing FEMA floodplain zones in the city of Deltona, Florida. There she contributed to the design and permitting of a $2 million emergency system that provides an outfall to 31 lakes and flooding relief to 57,000 residents in Deltona, in response to the 2002-2003 flooding emergency. She has also designed and permitted several other stormwater projects in Central Florida. Hernandez recently transferred to Tetra Tech’s office in Chicago. Contact Tatiana Hernandez:tatiana.hernandez@ttemi.com
As Operations Manager, Jennifer Sutherland has employed exemplary vision, engineering and management to lead Vista Technologies LLC to the forefront of the rapid prototyping/rapid tooling industry. Her innovations in high-speed milling (speeds, feeds, automating tool path programming, fixturing and specially designed cutters), have enabled production basis manufacturing of plastic injection molds with very abbreviated lead times. As a result, Vista has realized triple digit growth in mold building – an industry that has recently seen significant competition by Chinese companies. Sutherland is engaged in advancing rapid prototyping, particularly in the area of testing of new resins for stereolithography. She also developed a sophisticated system for online quoting and ordering, while establishing and maintaining Vista’s internal networking system. At her former position at Pentair Corp, Sutherland gained invaluable experience in design, international manufacturing, project management and outsourcing, transferring the entire engineering database of a $60-million company to Asia and Mexico in less than one year. Additionally, Sutherland developed a new automotive lifting device resulting in a 75 percent cost savings. At Higher Dimension Research, Sutherland took a new puncture/cut resistant material from concept to large-scale, cost effective manufacturing. She also designed and manufactured new product testing equipment. Finally, as a person who recognizes the importance of contributing to the field of engineering, Sutherland regularly participates in Society of Manufacturing Engineer activities, as well as in youth programs that expose children to science and engineering. Contact Jennifer Sutherland:Jenny@vistatek.com
As a reservoir engineer for Schlumberger in Abu Dhabi, Florian Hollaender works on the planning of well test data acquisition and the interpretation of that data. The development of new methodologies and training of field personnel to deliver accurate and timely interpretation results is his other current priority. This work allows customers to make rapid and informed decisions about how best to develop their assets. His previous assignment was sharing technical knowledge with university students and faculty. Training engineers and ensuring that the best possible tools are made available to them will maximize delivery of the energy the world needs. Hollaender enjoys the challenge of problem solving and developing an understanding of often- complex physical phenomena. Since engineering touches on concrete applications that have direct implications on everyday life, his work leads to improvements that can be implemented immediately. Outside the office, Hollaender’s main activity is helping to take care of his first child, only a few months old. As a photographer, he uses film cameras and develops his own black and white prints. Hollaender is also a pianist and tries to bring his baby to sleep to the sound of music. Contact Florian Hollaender:Hollaender@abu-dhabi.oilfield.slb.com
In today’s competitive marketplace, Intel must deliver not only a functional microprocessor but also compelling performance to the end-user. As a member of the Processor Performance team, Reena Singhal develops software models of the next-generation Intel mobility processor in order to analyze and improve its performance before committing features to silicon. Singhal conducts performance simulations and the subsequent analysis to drive design decisions. She also defines and validates on-chip counters that are used by software developers to optimize software performance on Intel’s hardware. In addition to her work at Intel, Singhal volunteers as a Tau Beta Pi “Engineering Futures” facilitator. In this role, she leads sessions with university engineering students nationwide to teach “soft skills” such as problem-solving and people skills. Her use of real-world engineering examples illustrates the importance of coupling soft skills with technical skills. Singhal is also an active member of the Society of Women Engineers. Each year, she designs a day-long, interactive engineering workshop for local Girl Scouts, such as Engineering Olympics. She reinvents the program each year, ensuring that the girls benefit from the best program possible. As an Intel representative, Singhal also mentors young women at local schools and at numerous career guidance events. Contact Reena Singhal:reenasinghal@hotmail.com |
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National Engineers Week Foundation
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