Alumni Awards Program

Mechanical Engineering

David Bierman (BSME ’12)

Antora Energy

A mechanical engineer and visionary entrepreneur whose technological innovations are unlocking inexpensive, reliable, zero-emissions energy solutions for industry.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Adria Brooks (MSEE ’17, PhDEE ’20)

Grid Strategies LLC

An electrical engineer whose leadership and dedication to advancing transmission planning, energy policy, and grid innovation will help create a more resilient and equitable energy future.

Materials Science & Engineering

Kevin Field (MSMSE ’12, PhDMSE ’12)

University of Michigan

A materials engineer who is shaping the future of nuclear energy through outstanding education and research innovation.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Colin Fitzgerald (BSCE ’11, MSCEE ’13)

Jacobs Solutions

An environmental engineer who is an innovator and leader in water resource recovery at one of the world’s largest engineering firms.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Cédric Kovacs-Johnson (BSCBE ’15)

Flume Health

A chemical engineer, innovator and entrepreneur whose inventions solve a wide range of challenges, from materials to health administration.

Mechanical Engineering

Amir Mirzendehdel (PhDME ’17)

University of Kansas

A mechanical engineer and educator who develops state-of-the art computational methods and tools that ultimately help companies more easily and quickly design and manufacture advanced products.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Erik Nygaard (BSNE ’09, MSNEEP ’11)

BWX Technologies Inc.

A nuclear engineer who leverages decades of experience to lead development of advanced nuclear reactor technology for military, commercial and space applications.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Nicole Rybeck Wolcott (BSIE ’09)

Kohler Co.

An industrial engineer whose outstanding leadership has made lasting contributions to talent development and university partnerships.

Biomedical Engineering

Sarah Sandock (BSBME ’12, MSBME ’13)

Dock Technologies

A biomedical engineer and entrepreneur whose company focuses on improving patient outcomes through technology that tracks biodegradable medical device placement.

Biomedical Engineering

Kristin Myers Peng (BSBME ’02)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

A biomedical engineer, executive and entrepreneur who is transforming healthcare outcomes through technology and innovation.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Kevin Nelson (BSCheE ’79)

Amcor PLC

A chemical engineer who is a technical leader in creating high-barrier flexible packaging structures.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Kevin Nordt (MSNEEP ’92)

Dairyland Power Cooperative

A nuclear engineer and electric utility executive who leverages unique insights and perspectives to champion advanced nuclear power to help drive economic development and meet future electricity needs.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Pankaj Patel (MSEE ’77)

Nile

An electrical engineer who is a leader in advancing network connectivity solutions and enterprise technology, fostering innovation and growth across the industry.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Jeff Roznowski (BSIE ’80)

Wisconsin Wireless Associate (retired)

An industrial engineer, telecommunications industry leader and public servant dedicated to elevating people and improving his community.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Berrin Tansel (MSCEE ’97, PhDCEE ’85)

Florida International University

An environmental engineer and educator whose work in water conservation, recycling, contamination and infrastructure has influenced areas ranging from national policy to clean water on Earth and in space.

Materials Science & Engineering

Cyprian Uzoh (BSMetE ’78)

Emeka Tech Inc.

A materials engineer, technology innovator, entrepreneur and humanitarian who leverages creativity to create products and programs that improve communities and inspire and uplift people.

Mechanical Engineering

Donald Wahlin (BSME ’60)

Stoughton Trailers (retired)

A mechanical engineer who has leveraged creativity, resilience and trust to build a manufacturing business that supports transportation of the nation’s goods.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Eric Anderson (BS applied math, engineering and physics ’09, MSIE ’11, PhDIE ’15)

Principal Engineer, Anderson Optimization by PVCase

An industrial and systems engineer and energy-industry entrepreneur who is helping leading global power companies adopt renewable energy and storage solutions.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Laura Balzano (PhDECE ’12, BSECE – Rice University ’01, MSECE – University of California, Los Angeles ’07)

Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan

An electrical and computer engineer recognized for advances in signal processing, machine learning and optimization, and for her holistic approach to teaching and mentoring excellence.

Biomedical Engineering

Erwin Berthier (PhDBME ’11, Diplôme d’Ingénieur – ENSTA Paris ’04, MS – University of Canterbury ’07)

CTO, TASSO

A biomedical engineer and healthcare entrepreneur whose patient-centric blood-collection technologies are transforming the traditional approach.

Biomedical Engineering

Benjamin Casavant (PhDBME ’13, BS – University of California, Berkeley ’09)

CEO, TASSO

A biomedical engineer and healthcare entrepreneur whose patient-centric blood-collection technologies are transforming the traditional approach.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Christine Erspamer (BSChE ’07)

Chief of Growth, Product and Strategy, Optum Serve, UnitedHealth Group

A chemical engineer whose leadership has enabled her company to make healthcare delivery work better for everyone.

Mechanical Engineering

Jay Flores (BSME ’12)

Founder and CEO, Global STEM Ambassador

A mechanical engineer and passionate STEM ambassador who inspires young people to become tomorrow’s innovators and generate creative solutions to our planet’s complex problems.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Matt Houde (BSGLE ’16, BS geology and geophysics ’16, MSCEE – Stanford University ’18)

Co-founder and Chief of Staff, Quaise Energy

A civil and environmental engineer who is developing geothermal solutions that can help the world transition from carbon-based to carbon-free energy.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Eduardo Carbajosa (BSIE and mathematics ’91, MBA – New York University ’01)

CEO, Acme Smoked Fish Corporation

An industrial engineer and executive whose business acumen has enhanced his companies’ culture of innovation, driven growth, and expanded sustainability and climate-focused practices.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Aref Chowdhury (PhDEE ’01, BE electrical engineering and applied mathematics and statistics – Stony Brook University ’94)

Vice President of Strategy and Chief Technology Officer, Network Infrastructure, Nokia

An electrical and computer engineer and visionary leader who has driven the future of communications systems and championed commercial development of optical network technologies.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

John Church (BSChE ’88)

Chief Transformation and Enterprise Services Officer (retired), General Mills

A chemical engineer, food industry executive, servant leader and mentor who advanced his company’s global reach and impact while at the same time maintaining an inclusive, team-first culture.

Mechanical Engineering

Rodney Copes (BSME ’88, MSME – MIT ’93, MBA – MIT ’93)

Executive Chairman, Slate

A mechanical engineer and senior executive, anchored by strong values, who has built high-performing global teams that have delivered exceptional results in the motor vehicle industry.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Nate Jorgensen (BSCEE ’87, Tuck School of Business Executive Education Program – Dartmouth ’97)

Chief Executive Officer, Boise Cascade

A structural engineer, executive and leader in manufacturing and distributing sustainable wood-based construction products and materials.

Materials Science & Engineering

Flossie Lin (MSMS&E ’75, PhDMS&E ’82, BS Physics – Chun Yuan Science and Engineering Institute ’71, MS Physics – Georgia State University ’74)

President, Apex Property Group

A materials engineer and entrepreneur who has pioneered breakthrough thin film technologies and created opportunities to support people worldwide through education and counseling.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Ken Petersen (BSNE ’87, BS physics ’87, MSNE ’88)

President, KSP Consulting; Adjunct Professor, UW-Madison Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics

A nuclear engineer, executive and leader who has leveraged technical expertise and global understanding to manage all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle for the world’s second-largest nuclear utility.

Biomedical Engineering

Travelle Franklin-Ford Ellis (PhDBME/MD ’13, BSE bioengineering and psychology – University of Pittsburgh ’03)

Health equity director, Exact Sciences

Travelle is a biomedical engineer and physician scientist who is pioneering advances in equity and diversity in medical education and in the healthcare industry.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Brian Gettelfinger (PhDChE ’09, BSChE – University of Minnesota ’04)

Director of work process transformation and digital activation, Procter & Gamble

Brian is a chemical engineer who leverages data science and business intelligence in developing successful consumer products and transforming work processes.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Anthony Heddlesten (BSCEE ’07)

Civil and environmental engineering section chief, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Rock Island District Mayor, City of Riverdale, Iowa

Anthony is a civil and environmental engineer and community government leader whose impact on people and the natural world spans areas ranging from energy to emergency management.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Maria Palma (BSIE ’07, MBA – Harvard University ’13)

General Partner, Kindred Capital VC

Maria is an industrial engineer who is a venture capitalist and champions opportunities for underrepresented and underprivileged groups within the business world.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Justin Reed (MSEE ’07, PhDEE ’14, BSEE – University of Washington ’05)

President and CTO, C-Motive Technologies Inc

Justin is an electrical engineer, innovator and executive who is driving the future of electric machines through sustainable, pioneering high-efficiency motor technologies.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Rachel Slaybaugh (MSNEEP ’08, PhDNEEP ’11, EAP ’11, BSNE – Pennsylvania State University ’06)

Partner, DCVC

Rachel is a nuclear engineer and champion for innovation across the nuclear energy sector who is leveraging a passion for enabling clean energy technology development to advocate for a just clean-energy transition.

Materials Science & Engineering

Michael Strand (BSMS&E ’15, MSMS&E – Stanford University ’18, PhDMS&E – Stanford University ’20)

Director of Engineering, Tynt Technologies, Inc.

Michael is a materials engineer and entrepreneur whose deep commitment to addressing climate change led him to develop and commercialize an innovative smart window technology.

Materials Science & Engineering

Ivers Anderson (MSMetE ’77, PhDMetE ’82, BSMetE – Michigan Technological University ’75)

Senior metallurgist, Ames National Laboratory, Iowa State University

Iver is an international authority and prolific technical innovator in powder metallurgy and metallic alloy design whose inventions are in use worldwide.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Sama Bibao y León (MSNEEP ’96, PhDNEEP ’99, BSME – Polytechnic University of Madrid ’92, MS energy technologies – Polytechnic University of Madrid ’92, MBA – Averett University ’04)

Director general, World Nuclear Association

Sama is a nuclear engineer and global leader who leverages understanding of energy, environmental policy, electricity markets and energy economics to position nuclear energy for success.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Julie Cameron (BSChE ’86)

CEO, Excel Scientific Inc.; CEO, Innovize

Julie is a chemical engineer and executive who built and managed myriad product categories with complex chemistries and developed new opportunities for those products across a global marketplace.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

John Gugel (BSCEE ’90, MSCEE ’92, MBA- Northwestern ’08)

President, Genomatica

John is a business executive in the global energy and chemicals industry who optimized construction of new plants and pioneered technology innovations that enable customers to convert natural resources into consumer products.

Mechanical Engineering

Eric Hansotia (BSME ’91, MSME ’91, MBA – University of Iowa ’98)

Chairman, President and CEO, AGCO Corporation

An innovative mechanical engineer, executive and successful change agent who is delivering industry-leading smart farming solutions to feed a growing global population.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Lei Lei (PhDIE ’89, CS ’89, MSECE – Dalian University of Technology ’83)

Professor, Rutgers Business School; Dean, Rutgers Business School

Lei is an industrial engineer who attained academic excellence and exhibited visionary leadership to successfully guide one of the top-ranked business schools in the nation.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Kevin Lepak (BSEE ’99, MSEE ’00, PhDEE ’03)

Corporate fellow, AMD EPYC CPU SOC and system architecture, Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Kevin is a visionary electrical engineer and exemplary technical leader who has positively impacted the trajectory of next-generation semiconductor chip design and processor development.

Biomedical Engineering

Kelly R. Stevens (BSBME ’02)

Associate Professor, Departments of Bioengineering and Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Riki Banerjee (BSEE ’00, MSEE University of Minnesota ’03, PhDEE University of Minnesota ’05)

Vice president, R&D, Synchron

Riki is an engineer and visionary leader who has developed and commercialized innovative healthcare technology solutions that improve patient lives.

Materials Science & Engineering

Jacob Brunsberg (BSMS&E ’09)

President and CEO, Sigma Additive Solutions

Jacob is a materials engineer who is a leader in advancing metal additive manufacturing technology, standards and quality and in providing mentorship and educational opportunities to youth in underserved communities.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Zak Koga (BSCEE ’08)

Co-founder, Karben4 Brewing

Zak is a civil engineer and entrepreneur who leveraged passion, business acumen and project management skills to found and grow a full-scale brewery in Madison.

Mechanical Engineering

Saigopal Nelaturi (MSME ’10, PhDME ’11, BEME – Visvesvaraya Technological University, India ’03, MScME – University of Bath, United Kingdom ’04)

Director of software research, Carbon

Saigopal is a mechanical engineer whose leadership in research, digital design and technology solutions is shaping the future of modern manufacturing.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Michelle Ranavat (BSIE ’03, MS – engineering management, Tufts University ’04)

Founder and CEO, RANAVAT

Michelle is an industrial engineer and entrepreneur who combined her passion for engineering, ancient traditions and personal care to found a luxury beauty products company that also funds education initiatives in rural India.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Kevin Yttre (BSChE ’03, MBA – Harvard University ’08)

President, Grace Matthews

Kevin is a chemical engineer and business leader who has improved chemical industry production and operations and successfully managed national and international company mergers and acquisitions.

Mechanical Engineering

James Braun (MSME ’80, PhDME ’88, BS – University of Massachusetts ’76)

Herrick Professor of Engineering, Purdue University

James is a mechanical engineer, educator and practitioner whose operations and technology research has revolutionized high-performance buildings, particularly in HVAC&R systems.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Bruce Dale (BSEM ’79, MSEM ’80)

Chief engineer (retired), ExxonMobil

We are honoring Bruce as an engineer who championed game-changing technologies in the oil and gas industry and fostered innovation, creativity and excellence throughout his career.

Materials Science & Engineering

Marion Gilbert Wells (BSMetE ’81)

Founder and managing partner, Human Asset Management

Marion is a metallurgical engineer, entrepreneur and passionate mentor who has driven positive change in manufacturers’ corporate culture, customer relationships and sales, and championed a more diverse STEM talent pipeline.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

David Hemker (BSChE ’84, MSChE – Stanford University ’85, PhD – Stanford University ’89)

Senior vice president and chief technology officer (retired), Lam Research Corporation

David is a chemical engineer and technology leader whose numerous innovations have advanced semiconductor processing and thin-film applications.

Civil & Environmental Engineering

John Kissinger (MSCEE ’83, BSCE/SE – UW-Milwaukee ’79)

President and CEO, GRAEF

John as an executive who has advanced technology in structural engineering and fostered a work environment that has allowed countless engineers to develop and succeed.

Biomedical Engineering

Marie Lotto (BSBME ’02, MSBME ’03, MBA – MIT ’14)

Vice president for business development, Hologic

Marie is a product development and marketing strategies leader in women’s healthcare and the surgical sciences who serves as an example of how future engineers can navigate their careers.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

John Mulligan (BSECE ’88, MBA – University of Minnesota ’96)

COO, Target Corp

John is an exemplary corporate leader and expert in large-scale merchandising operations and finance and global supply chain planning and design.

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Ernest Nicolas (MBA ’02, MSMSE ’05, BSMSE – Kettering University ’99)

Chief supply chain officer, HP

Ernest is a manufacturing systems engineer and business leader who has established transformative approaches for agile and resilient supply chain management.

Mechanical Engineering

Kara Byrne (BSME ’04)

North America Commercial Leader, Turbomachinery and Process Solutions-Valves, Baker Hughes

Kara is a technical and strategic leader in energy, valves and turbomachinery whose passion for inspiring women to enter engineering has enabled her to mentor, develop and retain future women leaders in energy industry.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Paul Dauenhauer (BSChE ’04)

Lanny and Charlotte Schmidt Professor, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

Paul is a chemical engineer whose ingenious catalytic processes have revolutionized biomass use and led to three startup companies that put his inventions into practice.

Materials Science & Engineering

Daniel R. Grice (BSMSE ’09)

Senior Materials Engineer, Materials Evaluation and Engineering Inc.

Dan is a materials engineer who has significantly advanced the diagnosis and remediation of material failures, provided exemplary professional society leadership, and promoted careers in STEM.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Benjamin W. Longmier (Physics ’05, MSEP ’05, PhDEP ’07)

CTO and Co-founder, Swarm Technologies

Ben is a nuclear engineer whose expertise in aerospace engineering has enabled him to found three companies focused on high-altitude/low-earth-orbit communications to accelerate the Internet of Things.

Mechanical Engineering

Bjorn Krogh Borgen (BSME ’62)

Chairman, Borgen Investment Group

Bjorn is a leading financial manager and entrepreneur whose success has enabled him to support educational, athletic and cultural causes that have benefited people across the United States and in his home country of Norway.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

David Ira Epstein (BSECE ’76, MSECE ’78)

Executive Director, Susilo Institute for Ethics in a Global Economy, Boston University; Venture Advisor, Investor and Management Consultant, Epstein Advisors

David is an exemplary entrepreneur and executive in cleantech, semiconductors and healthcare who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social responsibility and ethics in engineering and business.

Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Moo Hwan Kim (PhDNE ’86)

President, Pohang University of Science and Technology

Moo Hwan is a nuclear engineer and academic leader who has made innovations that significantly improve fundamental understanding of two-phase flow and heat transfer as applied to nuclear energy systems.

Chemical & Biological Engineering

Brian E. Leudtke (BSChE ’85)

Vice President, Asia Pacific Region, Global Corporate Communications and Clinical Education, Hollister Inc.

Brian is a chemical engineer and executive who has improved life for patients with chronic conditions by supporting innovative technology development, effective partnerships with healthcare providers, and sustained community engagement.

Biomedical Engineering

Stephanie M. Whitehorse (BSMSE ’96)

Director of Intellectual Property, Physical Sciences, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Stephanie is an engineer and patent agent who has applied her expertise to evaluating, patenting and commercializing more than 1,500 UW-Madison inventions, which have generated more than $100 million of royalty income and formed the basis of 45 startup companies.

Subbu Rama (MSECE ’05)

Founder, Accio Ventures

Subbu is a visionary and entrepreneurial leader in technology innovation, including pioneering virtualization of hardware accelerated devices.

Karien J. Rodríguez (PhDBME ’10)

Research technical strategist-life sciences, global research & engineering, Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Karien is a biomedical engineer who is shaping the personal care industry through her creative and innovative research.

James Tamplin (BSIE ’06, MSIE ’07)

Founder Partner, Founder Collective

James is a systems engineer and entrepreneur who has fundamentally transformed and greatly simplified mobile and web applications development.

Michael F. Conway (BSChE ’78)

Retired president, Shell Trading, Royal Dutch Shell

Michael is a chemical engineer who rose to the top of the international oil trading business while serving as an exemplar for management practices that reflect his values of integrity and civic responsibility.

Steven R. Erbstoesser (BSMineE ’74, MSMineE ’75)

Owner, Global Operations and Management Advisors LLC; (retired), ExxonMobil

Steven is an engineer, scientist and executive who, through caring and vision, has transformed organizations and led global teams to achieve world-class safety, operational and business performance in oil and gas operations.

Mechanical Engineering

Peter Holsten (BSME ’72)

President and managing broker, Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation

Peter is a mechanical engineer and humanitarian who is devoted to the principle that everyone deserves affordable, quality housing and who strives to build and maintain healthy communities.

Todd Kelsey (BSEE ’87, MSEE ’89)

President and CEO, Plexus Corp.

Todd is an exemplary leader of a Wisconsin‐based global company who demonstrates commitment to creating new technologies and products that build a better world.

Laurie Lindborg Parsons (MSCEE ’87)

Water Resources Division Director, Ramboll US

Laurie is a respected civil and environmental engineer, leader and advocate for clean water who has been a role model for women in STEM.

Jeffrey J. Rotsch (BSIE ’72)

(retired) President, Worldwide Sales, General Mills

Jeffrey is an industrial engineer and visionary leader who drove global business success in the consumer foods industry.

Oscar Marcelo Suárez (MSMetE ’93, PhDMetE ’00)

Professor and Coordinator of the Materials Science and Engineering program, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez

Oscar is a metallurgical engineer who has led innovations in university education, promoted STEM, and advanced research on composite materials and nanotechnology.

Amy Warner (BSEM ’91)

Vice President and General Manager of IT Digital Business Solutions and Corporate Director of Accessibility, Intel Corp.

Amy is an IT leader whose professional adaptability and commitment to empowering those of all abilities make her an example for future engineers.

Amanda Engler (BSChE ’05, MSChE ’07, PhDChE ’11)

Experimental Scientist, 3M

We are honoring Amanda for the outstanding technical and creative contributions she has made in synthesizing novel polymeric materials for antimicrobial applications and delivering bioactive compounds.

Chris Klündt (BSBME ’05, BSCS ’05)

Co-Founder and CEO StudyBlue/Flash Tools Chegg Inc.

We are honoring Chris as a visionary entrepreneur who capitalized on the intersection of trends and technology to found a company now used by millions of students to learn collaboratively.

Navrina Singh (BSEngr ’01, MSECE ’03, MBA ’13)

Product and Technology Leader

We are honoring Navrina as an exemplary technological innovator who has built innovative software and silicon products, promoted a strong startup ecosystem, and is an inspiring and passionate leader in STEM education, particularly for women and underrepresented minorities.

Nancy Spelsberg (BSIE ’99, MBA ’06)

President, BCP Transportation

We are honoring Nancy as an inspiring industrial engineer and entrepreneur who is driving success in the trucking industry through continuous improvement and systems thinking.

Mechanical Engineering

Dan Adamany (BSME ’97)

Founder and CEO, AHEAD LLC

We are honoring Dan as an entrepreneur whose focus on strategy, solutions and technical expertise in enterprise information technology has enabled his company’s success.

Cynthia Bachmann (BSEE ’83)

Vice President of Engineering and Product Development, Kitchen and Bath Americas, Kohler Co.

We are honoring Cynthia as a respected industry leader whose optimism and positivity are infectious and inspiring.

Annie Caputo (BSNE ’96)

Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

We are honoring Annie as a leader whose policy work and dedication make a difference nationally and inspire young engineers.

Rodney Hassett (BSCE ’62)

Vice President, Treasurer and Director (retired) Strand Associates Inc.

We are honoring Rod as a respected civil engineer, visionary leader and mentor who is a passionate advocate for diversity in engineering.

Mark Hoffmeyer (BSMetE ’83, MSMetE ’85, PhDMetE ’90)

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM Systems

We are honoring Mark for his expertise and leadership in physical metallurgy, which have led to significant innovations in microelectronic devices in areas that include materials design, assembly, packaging and manufacturing.

Sunny H.K. Lo (BSChE ’77, MSChE ’78)

Chairman, Café de Coral Holdings Ltd.

We are honoring Sunny as an entrepreneur who has helped change business models and China and proudly serves as an ambassador for UW-Madison in Asia.

Duane Radtke (BSMineE ’71)

President and CEO, Valiant Exploration LLC

We are honoring Duane as a respected mining engineer and corporate leader who has been an innovator in the oil and gas industry throughout his career.

Thomas Werner (BSIE ’82, BSEE ’86, MBA ’95)

Chairman and CEO, SunPower Corp.

We are honoring Tom for innovations in solar technology that have transformed the global energy industry.

Justin Beck (BSCMPE ’09, BSCS ’09)

CEO, PerBlue

We are honoring Justin for his leadership in nurturing the Wisconsin entrepreneurial ecosystem, the state's economic development, and as an exemplary demonstrator of collaborative engineering success.

Mechanical Engineering

Gilbert Haddad (MSME ’09)

Director, Point72 Asset Management; Staff Advisor, SparkCognition

We are honoring Gilbert for his work in applying data science and analytics in ways that have increased his companies' productivity and profitability.

Andrew Hanson (BSCMPE ’09, BSCS ’09)

Chief Technology Officer, PerBlue

We are honoring Andrew for his leadership in nurturing the Wisconsin entrepreneurial ecosystem, the state's economic development, and as an exemplary demonstrator of collaborative engineering success.

Gregory Hudalla (MSBME ’06, PhDBME ’10)

Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor and Pruitt Family Term, Fellow, University of Florida

We are honoring Greg for his excellence in biomedical engineering research and education.

Rahul Shinde (MSMSE ’01, PhDIE ’05)

Executive Director, DIL

We are honoring Rahul as inspiring industrial dngineer and pragmatic leader who has successfully demonstrated how systems thinking and technology can transform business, upgrade customer experience and help improve lives within communities.

Forrest Woolworth (BSCMPE ’09, BSCS ’09)

Chief Operating Officer, PerBlue

We are honoring Forrest for his leadership in nurturing the Wisconsin entrepreneurial ecosystem, the state's economic development, and as an exemplary demonstrator of collaborative engineering success.

Wendy Harris (BSECE ’90, MBA ’99)

COO and GM, Commercial Operations, GE Healthcare

We are honoring Wendy for her industry leadership in healthcare technologies, workforce diversification, and women’s health issues.

Robert J. Heideman (BSMetE ’88, PhDMatE ’15)

Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, A.O. Smith Corp.

We are honoring Bob for advancing manufacturing technology through research, product engineering, technology management and corporate leadership.

Mechanical Engineering

Arthur Janes (BSME ’67, BBA ’67)

CEO, PDS Technology

We are honoring Art as an accomplished entrepreneur and corporate leader who successfully founded and grew an engineering and technical staffing company.

W. Kent Lorenz (BSEM ’84)

Chairman and CEO (retired), Acieta LLC

We are honoring Kent for his dedication as a leader whose efforts to advance industrial robotic automation have led to new and improved manufacturing processes.

William S. Monfre (BSChE ’85)

Engineering and Manufacturing Management, Proctor & Gamble; President/Owner, Quality Insulators Inc. and Abestos Removal Inc.

We are honoring Bill as an engineer and entrepreneur whose expertise and creativity have enabled him to become a leader in his professional career.

Brian Mullins (BSCEE ’77, JD ’80)

Partner, Axley Brynelson LLP

We are honoring him posthumously for the instrumental role he played, both as a civil engineer and as an attorney, in developing construction law in Wisconsin.

Nidhi Aggarwal (MSEE ’06, PhDCompSci ’08)

Founder, Qwiklabs

We honored her for exemplary leadership and engineering innovation in the cloud computing and learning sectors, and for vigorous support of diversity in engineering education and practice.

Mechanical Engineering

Christopher Meyer (BSME ’08, MSME ’10)

Director, Sector 67 Inc.

We honored him for leadership in achieving a unique vision of education, entrepreneurship and community development through Sector 67, which has enabled more than 100 companies and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas and dreams into reality.

Ross Radel (BSNE ’03, MSNEEP ’04, PhDNEEP ’07)

President, Phoenix Nuclear Labs

We honored him for corporate leadership that has led Phoenix Nuclear Labs to become an internationally recognized manufacturer of neutron sources for medical diagnostics and detecting clandestine materials.

Sharon Farrens (MSNE ’83, MSMatSci ’85, PhDMatSci ’89)

Director of Process Integration, Quora Technology Inc.

We are honoring her for pioneering significant innovations in wafer bonding and advanced packaging technologies that are critical processing steps in semiconductor device manufacturing.

Alain Peyrot (MSCEE ’66, PhDCEE ’68)

Retired President, Power Line Systems

We honored him for exemplary achievements as a structural engineer, faculty member, entrepreneur, philanthropist and UW-Madison alumnus.

Daniel Piette (BSMineE ’80)

Board Member, Petroleum GeoServices

We honored him for career-long leadership in mining engineering and big data, which has helped introduce new technologies to the energy industry.

Mechanical Engineering

Christine Schyvinck (BSME ’89)

CEO, Shure

We are honoring her for her leadership in microphones and the audio electronics industry, which has led to exceptional results in product quality and corporate profitability.

Stephen Spiegelberg (BSChE ’88)

President and Co-founder, Cambridge Polymer Group

We honored him for foundational developments in polymeric materials design, testing and processing methods that have greatly impacted the biomedical, chemical and food industries.

Adam Steltzner (PhDEM ’99)

Engineering Fellow, CalTech/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Chief Engineer, Mars 2020 Project

We honored him for pioneering accomplishments that have yielded new ways to explore and expand the knowledge of our universe.

Denita Willoughby (BSIE ’88)

Vice President, Sempra Energy

We honored her for her inspiring track record in sales, supply chain management and government affairs and for her passion for developing leaders and improving education among youth.