Networking Sessions

Special thanks to all the industry and other partners who volunteered their time to host these sessions, field questions, and offer space for these conversations to take place.

General Motors and Zero | Zero | Zero – The Future Looks Good

Join Dan Deschamps from GM for a networking session focused on a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion.

Dan Deschamps is a Senior Manager for General Motors Information Technology located at the GM IT Arizona Innovation Center in Chandler, Arizona. Dan has been working in software development roles within Information Technology over the past two decades and currently supports General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales line of business which includes: Supply Chain and Logistics, Lean Warehousing, Service Engineering, Warranty Claims, and overall Service Lane Customer Experience. Prior to working for General Motors Dan worked in Banking, Finance, and Fintech leadership roles for Wells Fargo’s Technology Information Group. Dan has an Undergraduate Degree in Engineering from Arizona State University and is a Season Ticketholder for both Sun Devil Football and Basketball. Go Devils!

Transportation Engineering

From connected & autonomous vehicle technologies & smart work zones, to bridge slides and different forms of contract delivery. Everything about horizontal engineering with Adam Carreon from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Adam Carreon is a member of the Operational Traffic and Safety Group within the TSMO Division at the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Adam’s first 11 years at ADOT were in the Construction Group. He then spent 2 years as a Traffic Designer before moving into his current role within TSMO in 2018. Adam’s primary responsibility is achieving statewide consistency of components and processes for traffic operations and traffic safety. He is published within the Transportation Research Board (TRB). He is continuing research on work zones with the State Transportation Research Program and TRB. He is an ASU Grad, and former Tau Beta Pi, ASCE, SHPE member.

Digital Skills Needed for Today and Tomorrow

Join Gerry Deren from Siemens to discuss digital skills needed for today and tomorrow. This session is focused on helping engineering & manufacturing students improve their awareness of the trends in Digital Transformation and give up-to-date knowledge about helping companies succeed in a highly competitive market through using Digital Manufacturing technologies.

Mr. Deren has spent the past 39 years primarily focused on helping companies and customers in the mature and emerging markets find ways to improve their product and/or process development needs. His work has resulted in finding ways to improve their efficiency, reduce development costs or in helping them to develop a competitive advantage. As a process SME, he helps them focus on improving quality, reducing cycle time or purely improving efficiency and execution through the use of enabling technology, process optimization and skill enhancement. He represents the voice of the customer and coaches and counsels improvement into solution development.
Today, Gerry leads a team of Academic Enablement professionals across the Americas for Siemens PLM Software focused on helping academia become the “relevant” for Small to Large companies as they face the challenges of sustainment within their innovation, validation and manufacturing lifecycles.

30 years versus 30 weeks - Legacy OEM versus Start-up

Join Darlene Dean for discussions on her experience of 30 years with Legacy OEM versus 30 weeks at a Start-up.

Darlene Deane is an experienced supply chain and product management professional with expertise in risk management, supplier auditing, and supplier launch, primarily in the US but also extensive experience in Europe, Mexico, and Asia. She is often called upon to lead teams where the issues are complex or without well-defined roles and responsibilities.Her most recent experience was as Senior Launch Director for new model launch processes at Rivian – an automotive technology company building electric vehicles. She also led the supplier quality team at Ford Motor Company during the 2009 financial crisis guiding the team through multiple OEM and supplier bankruptcies disrupting the industry. That project, “Project Quark”, is even noted in the book, An American Icon. During her 30-year career at Ford Motor Company, Darlene held multiple roles in supplier quality and launch including the Ford Mustang and Ford Explorer leading her teams to beat their quality, cost and timing objectives. This included working in Germany and leading the expansion of the supply base into India and Eastern Europe during Ford 2000. She has audited or led crisis teams in almost every aspect of the vehicle not related to engine components with hundreds of positive supplier reviews.In 2019, Darlene established her own contract company, Divine Quality, LLC which has been profitable since inception.Darlene is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and served two terms on the Board of Directors and as a Regional Director. She holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering from University of Michigan – Dearborn and an undergraduate engineering degree in Industrial Engineering from Kettering University.

Summer Internship Opportunities – 20+ FedEx Freight Internships Nationwide

Join Summer Harris for a networking session focused on Summer internship opportunities with FedEx Freight.

Summer started her career with FedEx in 2006 as a Sales Executive and transitioned to her current position as a Talent Acquisition Specialist in 2019. "Working for FedEx Freight has been very rewarding. I am passionate about my role in connecting talented people to the right positions in the FedEx network. Our FedEx ‘People First’ philosophy is demonstrated every day in the value we place on all our team members."

Chubb Risk Engineering Services

Join Brad Shedek and Israel Montoya from Chubb for a networking session focused on exciting internship and full-time risk engineering opportunities at Chubb – the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer.

Brad has been in the engineering field for 15 years and began his career with Chubb in 2012 as a Property & Casualty Risk Engineer based out of the Des Moines, IA Branch. In his current role, he manages and supports Risk Engineers in the Midwest Region.
Mr. Israel Montoya has been in the engineering field for 18 years and began his career with Chubb in 2013 as an Equipment Breakdown Risk Engineer based out of the San Ramon Branch. In his current role, he manages and supports the Equipment Breakdown Risk Engineers in the Pacific Region.

Graduate Student Networking: Sharing Grad School Experiences

Join Zeynep Ayla for conversations about graduate school and her journey in her PhD program.

Zeynep is a fourth year PhD student in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She received her bachelors in chemical engineering with a minor in sustainability from Arizona State University in 2017 and graduated as a Grand Challenges Scholar.

Joining GCSP - Proposal Q&A for Prospective Schools

Join Katie Evans from the GCSP Proposal Review Committee for an open networking session for prospective GCSP schools.

Dr. Katie Evans is the Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives in the College of Engineering and Science, Academic Director of Mathematics & Statistics and Online Programs, the Entergy LP&L/NOPSI #3 & #4 Professor of Mathematics, the Director of the Integrated STEM Education Research Center, and the Director of the Office for Women in Science and Engineering and Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Evans also serves as the Chair of the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program Proposal Review Committee. She earned her B.S. in Mathematics from Morehead State University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics at Virginia Tech. After a postdoctoral position in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University, she joined Louisiana Tech in 2005. Her current research focuses on STEM education and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Dr. Evans has been awarded over $5M as PI or Co-PI on federal, state, and local grants. Additionally, Dr. Evans is presently a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Pilot Program Ad-Hoc Committee for the Gulf Scholars Program.

GCSP Leader Networking

Join Amy Trowbridge to connect with other faculty, staff, administrators in the GCSP network to discuss and share best practices, challenges, collaborations, etc.

Amy Trowbridge is a Senior Lecturer in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU) and is the Director of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenge Scholars Program (GCSP) at ASU. Amy also helps new schools to develop GCSPs as part of the NAE GCSP Proposal review committee. She is also actively involved in the ASU Kern project and Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), focused on students’ development of entrepreneurial mindset. Amy received the 2019 KEEN Rising Star award from KEEN for her efforts in encouraging students in developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Amy has contributed to the development of an interdisciplinary grand challenges focused course and introduction to engineering course in both in-person and MOOC formats. She is interested in curricular and co-curricular experiences that broaden students’ perspectives and enhance student learning, and the use of digital portfolios for students to showcase and reflect on their experiences. Amy earned her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from ASU, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Engineering Education Systems and Design.

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