DiscoverE Announces 2014 New Faces of Engineering Honorees

Washington DC, February 20, 2014 – DiscoverE announces the 2014 New Faces of Engineering honorees. This class includes 13 emerging young professionals innovating solutions in energy, technology, water resources, national security and the environment. Many have gone on to launch global businesses and NGOs. This year, for the first time, the program is underwritten by anchor sponsor TE Connectivity.

Since 2003, DiscoverE has honored the work of up-and-coming engineers who are already making their mark on the industry and on society. In a TE Connectivity survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by ORC International’s CARAVAN® Omnibus services in January 2014, an overwhelming amount of Americans (87%) found that engineers are most frequently contributing to positive innovations and inventions in society.      

What each of these honorees has in common, beyond multitudes of professional achievements, is an inherent desire to make the world a better place. Each of these young professionals are active in their communities and around the world, and are quickly becoming role models for generations of engineers to come.

This year’s New Faces have consistently credited family and early education in setting their paths toward engineering. A majority of them pay it forward by doing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outreach, mentorship and other educational efforts aimed at empowering even younger engineers. 

“We are extremely grateful for the support of TE Connectivity, as they join with us in recognizing these young engineers," says Leslie Collins, Executive Director of DiscoverE.  "This next generation of engineering professionals is poised to help lead us all to a better future. TE's commitment to New Faces of Engineering ensures that the program will remain dynamic and continue to grow."

"TE Connectivity is proud to sponsor the 2014 New Faces of Engineering and celebrate the inventive work of young engineers. For this year’s honorees, engineering is more than a profession, it’s a way of improving the world through continuous innovation,” states Rob Shaddock, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of TE Connectivity.

Every year, national engineering societies nominate colleagues 30 years or younger for consideration. This highly coveted award is recognized as a top honor for young engineers by their peers in the engineering community, and continues to grow in prestige.

The announcement of this year’s New Faces of Engineering coincides with Engineers Week, which takes place February 16-22, 2014. IEEE-USA and DuPont are co-chairs of Engineers Week 2014.
 

About DiscoverE
The mission of DiscoverE is to sustain and grow a dynamic engineering profession through outreach, education, celebration and volunteerism. DiscoverE supports a network of thousands of volunteers in its partner coalition of more than 100 professional societies, major corporations and government agencies. Together we meet a vital need: introducing students, parents, and educators to engineering, engaging them in hands-on engineering experiences and making science and math relevant. For more information, visit www.discovere.org. #eweek2014

 

About TE Connectivity

TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) is a $13 billion world leader in connectivity. The company designs and manufactures products at the heart of electronic connections for the world’s leading industries including automotive, energy and industrial, broadband communications, consumer devices, healthcare, and aerospace and defense. TE Connectivity’s long-standing commitment to innovation and engineering excellence helps its customers solve the need for more energy efficiency, always-on communications and ever-increasing productivity. With nearly 90,000 employees in over 50 countries, TE Connectivity makes connections the world relies on to work flawlessly every day. To connect with the company, visit: www.TE.com.

 

2014 New Faces of Engineering honorees:

Christopher Agrawal, J.D. (Washington, DC)
Bookoff McAndrews  PLLC
Nominated by: SME Education Foundation
Agrawal, 30, a patent attorney, uses his engineering degree protecting the portfolios and new technologies of Internet companies like Speek.com.

 

Rebecca Delaney, P.E. (Chicago, IL)
Primera Engineers
Nominated by: ASHRAE
Delaney, 30, applies a global perspective to her innovative energy solutions and volunteer service with Engineers Without Borders and African Dream Initiative.

 

Joseph Flaxbeard, P.E. (Omaha, NE)
Lamp, Rynearson & Associates
Nominated by: American Council of Engineering Companies
Flaxbeard, 29, leads myriad projects but also drives his company’s community involvement including cleanups, hunger relief, and youth outreach.

 

Julia Bower Green, P.E. (Birmingham, AL)
Southern Company
Nominated by: American Society of Civil Engineers
Green, 30, manages environmental strategy and compliance for Southern Co.; and was part of the team that created the environmental strategy for the U.S.’s first nuclear units in 30 years.

 

Madhavi Jadhav, P.E. (Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India)
Schlumberger Asia Services Limited
Nominated by: Society of Petroleum Engineers
Jadhav, 28, who was the first female to go offshore in India, contributes tirelessly to the Indian Youth Climate Network.

 

Amy Jones (Dubuque, IA)
John Deere
Nominated by: IEEE / IEEE-USA
Jones, 27, leads the team responsible for the first complete embedded software development process on a construction product line.

 

Felicia Knox, E.I.T. (Coos Bay, OR)
SHN Consulting Engineers & Geologists
Nominated by: National Society of Professional Engineers
Knox, 25, designs multi-directional drilled crossings using new trenchless technologies to bring water solutions to the Northwest.

 

Tarun Mohan Lal (Rochester, MN)
Mayo Clinic
Nominated by: Institute of Industrial Engineers
Lal, 27, driven by a passion for universal access, improves patient-facing healthcare provider systems, which boost user experience and reduce costs.    

 

Kalyani Mallela (Eden Prairie, MN)
Starkey Hearing Technologies
Nominated by: Society of Women Engineers
Mallela, 29, champions STEM education and leads a cross-functional team in developing cutting edge hearing technology.

 

Stacy Moss (Newport, RI)
Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport
Nominated by: ASME
Moss, 29, uses her unique combination of technical, analytical, and people skills in leading efficiency programs for weapons systems.

 

Grace Richardson (Fayetteville, AR)
University of Arkansas
Nominated by: American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers
Richardson, 28, develops water treatment methods geared toward disaster response, water conservation, and improving lake ecosystems.

 

Gregory Von White II, Ph.D. (Albuquerque, NM)
Sandia National Laboratories
Nominated by: National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
White II, 29, is a systems engineer working on the B61-12 Life Extension Program, a project crucial to the U.S.’s national security.

 

Tao Reno Wang, Ph.D. (Southlake, TX)
SabreNominated by: CIE-USA
Wang, 30, maximizes internal systems for 20+ airlines around the world, in addition to improving travel booking sites.