2023 Conv Professional Development

2023 TBP Convention Professional Development Presenters

Presenters are listed below with title of their session, session summary, and short bio. The professional development schedule can be found here.


*Katy Colbry, Ph.D. (MI Alpha '99)* — Judy and Ron Pasadyn Professional Development Session: Engineering Futures: How to Leverage Professional Development Opportunities for your Chapter Learn about Engineering Futures (EF), the professional development program of Tau Beta Pi, and opportunities to bring communications, teamwork, and leadership training to your campus or alumni chapter. Whether you're looking for in-person or virtual training, EF has programs that can be customized for your audience and goals — including a certificate program for members interested in adding a professional development credential to their resume. Dr. Colbry, is assistant dean for engineering graduate student services at Michigan State University and serves as co-PI for two NSF-funded workforce development programs. She volunteers as Director of Engineering Futures, which provides communications, teamwork and leadership training.
*Katy Colbry, Ph.D. (MI Alpha '99)* — Leading the Change: Equity and Inclusion (Engineering Futures Session) (sponsored by Nicholas M. Donofrio) Diversity, in many dimensions, offers both challenges and opportunities to any relationship. Learning to identify, reflect upon, learn from, and engage with diverse perspectives is essential to fostering effective relationships and vibrant intellectual environments. "Leading the Change" explores challenges and solutions for creating more inclusive communities in STEM.


David Cowan Jr. (NJ Gamma '01) & George Youssef (NJ Gamma '01) — Climbing the Corporate Ladder & Navigating Your Career Path with Friends (sponsored by Jason Ditman) This session will help you understand what it takes to get promoted and generate ideas about how to manage your career. George started working at General Electric in 2002, and has held five different roles within GE Power. He began as a global field engineer installing new power plants and maintaining existing ones while serving in more than 10 countries and 20 U.S. states. He then moved to managing field engineers' resources globally, followed by a one-year assignment to Dubai, UAE, to build a training center. He is a TBP Executive Councilor/Treasurer. David will discuss how decisions such as starting his own business early on helped in professional development and weathering the last recession. Together we will discuss how leadership and networking starting in Tau Beta Pi can help with professional development and career growth. Consider how professional organizations can help you get a job, build your network, and bring work into your company and climb the corporate ladder. Discuss how social media can be used to network and how social media does not replace a personal network that all successful professionals have and maintain.


*Teresa Hutton (WI Beta '91)* — John Schmuhl Professional Development Session: Maximize Your Career Potential with Working Genius Get ready to level up your game with Patrick Lencioni's 6 types of Working Genius model. This mind-blowing session will help you discover how to find your dream job that keeps you pumped and excited. And guess what? You'll also learn why it's crucial to have a team with diverse Working Geniuses to bring out the best in everyone and get things done like a boss! Whether you're a student, new grad, or a seasoned pro, this session will leave you feeling inspired. So, buckle up and get ready to unleash your Working Genius! Teresa became a Certified Professional Resume Writer in 2021 and was awarded 2nd place in the PARWCC Elite Circle resume writing contest in the Recent College Graduate category in 2022. She currently works at Johnson Controls and publishes a weekly blog for engineers looking to explore their full potential at Q2Leader.com.


Lauren Logan, Ph.D. (OH Delta '10) — The Academic Career Path (sponsored by Jason Ditman) Attendees will learn what is involved in pursuing an academic career path (e.g., tenure-track professor), and how to be successful in your academic career. Advice for every step of the process (undergraduate education up through applying to and interviewing for faculty jobs) will be covered, with special emphasis on how to ensure your time, resources, and effort set you up for success in academia. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and working professionals pursuing a faculty position are the target audience, but anyone is welcome to attend! Dr. Logan is an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Ohio Northern University.


Michael Peterson (IA Alpha '89) — Leadership Life Lessons: How to Motivate, Teach, Coach, and Influence Both Yourself and Others This session will be an opportunity to learn about new approaches to leadership and how to take your leadership skills to the next level at work and in your life in general. Mike will be covering a variety of leadership approaches and situations, drawing from his recent article in The Bent (Summer 2021), as well as from the Positive Leadership course he currently teaches at Oakland University in Rochester, MI. He'll also pull from his experience as an engineering manager at General Motors for 30 years, as well as his work with youth in grades K-5 as part of the Challenge Island outreach program. (Kids can teach us more about leadership than you might think!) Please come join us for this interactive session, and give yourself an opportunity to reflect on your leadership experiences in your life's journey so far, as well as challenge yourself to take concrete steps to improve even further in the future.


Chris Potts (CA Upsilon '16) — New Engineering Solutions for Tomorrow Come learn about NEST (New Engineering Solutions for Tomorrow), TBP's new project competition program! This is an exciting new program where students submit solutions that address a general topic chosen by the Convention body each year. Student solutions or Engineered Gadgets for Good (EGGs) are presented at the following Convention to persuade alumni and industry sponsors that their ideas are the best investment to solve the NEST challenge. A panel of judges select the most economic, innovative and practical EGG(s) to be awarded an investment. At this session you will get an overview of the program, information on how you and your chapter can participate, and details on what to expect at this year's Convention where we will select our first topic! Chris co-developed the NEST program with George Miyata and currently works as a project engineer with Kratos Defense and Security Solutions.He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from California State University, Sacramento, where he served as CA Upsilon Chapter president, corresponding secretary, and later as an advisor. Chris was a TBP District 15 Director from 2019-22 and has assisted the Association with Convention media as well.


Sally J. Steadman, Ph.D. (WY Alpha '69) — Graduate Fellowships Sally is Tau Beta Pi Director of Fellowships and adjunct professor at the University of South Alabama. Learn about graduate fellowships and how to get them. Get tips on completing applications from Dr. Steadman who has experience reviewing applications for NSF, NDSEG, TBP, and more. National Fellowships can open doors to graduate programs. Learn what reviewers look for in an application and how to improve your chances of being awarded a graduate fellowship. Bring your questions!


Dennis Truax, Ph.D. P.E. (MS Alpha '79) — John Schmuhl Professional Development Session: Do I Need a P.E. License to be a Professional Engineer? While the legal definition in the states and jurisdictions of the U.S. limit the use of the word "engineer" to those who hold a license, being a professional requires an ethical understanding of the impact one has on others, and the responsibility that comes with it. Many graduates of engineering programs move to positions which do not require licensure to do the work requested, but this does not absolve the engineering graduate from these obligations. This session will discuss the value of professional licensure and certification even if not required by an employer. It will provide a review of the foundation for ethical conduct and how it is important for all who practice engineering, regardless of the workplace, to recognize the impact on others they might have. Lastly, it will overview the activities that a person should consider taking to ensure that their ethical compass is not co-opted by the workplace. Dr. Truax worked 41 years at Mississippi State University serving as school director, department head, research center director, endowed professor, and faculty member. He authored or co-authored two books or book chapters, over 120 refereed journal articles, and over 60 research reports and has made over 550 technical and professional presentations throughout the world. Dr. Truax holds professional certifications as an environmental engineer and a water resources engineer and has been principal of three consulting firms and an environmental equipment manufacturing and application company. He recently completed his term as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) having previously served that Society nationally as a member of the Board of Direction, President-elect, Past-President, Treasurer and by working on countless leadership positions, committees, and task forces at the national and local level.
Dennis Truax, Ph.D. P.E. (MS Alpha '79) — Where Has the Time Gone? Finding the time to balance work and life can be challenging as one transitions from college life to the workplace. Time management is a skill set essential to success in the work environment and at home. Recognizing that the successes of the work place may not bring the satisfaction expected presents a potential conflict in setting future priorities. Recognizing that one cannot "make" time, only "spend" it, this session will provide a framework for developing time management strategies to invest time and effort to maximize impact and benefit, while also aligning quality of life with workplace demands. The goal is to help participants succeed at work while enjoying the one life they have.


Chris Stemple (AZ Alpha '10) — Entering the Workforce: A How-to-Guide on Navigating Life After School (sponsored by Jason Ditman) You've spent four years (or longer), working through engineering class after class, and now the end is in sight — graduation. But you're realizing that there are a whole new set of challenges ahead of you that no class ever prepared you for — getting a job. Are you concerned about how your resume looks? Have you reviewed job applications and come away unsure about what the job really is? Been kept awake at night wondering what kind of questions will come up in your interview? Not sure if you should be looking at grad school before you pursue that first job? This session will cover everything you need to be hiring-ready, including resume tips, how to navigate career fairs, making sure you're applying for the right job for you, and how to nail the interview. But even after a job offer — there's more — negotiating the offer, understanding compensation and benefits packages, knowing what skills to take with you, and surviving your first days/weeks/months on the job. We'll talk through it all so you can enter the engineering industry with confidence. Chris is a practicing engineer working in aerospace & defense with a background in electrical and biomedical engineering, engineering management, and business administration. He has 13 years industry experience, half of which has been in people management and leadership positions. Chris has always been a recruiter/campus manager while working in the engineering industry and facilitates company infoessions, resume reviews, technical seminars, career fairs and formal interviews for new college grads and professionals. He serves as a District 13 Director and AZ A Chapter Chief Advisor. Chris is passionate about developing future engineers and giving them the opportunity to learn the skills that aren't always taught in a formal classroom setting.


Menna M. Youssef, Ph.D. (VA Gamma '04) — Understanding Intellectual Property and Exploring Career Opportunities This session delves into the personal journey of the speaker, highlighting their educational and professional trajectory that led them to a career in intellectual property (IP). Beginning with a historical overview and establishment of the foundation of IP, the session will include an interactive dialogue to delve into the integration of IP in our daily lives and current state of IP. Participants will gain an understanding of the patent process and potential career paths in Intellectual Property realm. Menna became a TBP Executive Councillor in January 2017 and served as President in 2022. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University, where she earned a bachelor of science magna cum laude and an M.S., both in electrical engineering. She then attended the University of Dayton, completing her Ph.D. in 2011, focusing her research on pattern recognition and computer vision applications for human activity recognition. Menna was a graduate student research program fellow and Virginia Space Grant Consortium fellow at NASA Langley researching electromagnetic propagation in aircraft fuselages and interned for NATO working on passive radar scenario testing. As an instructor at Old Dominion, she developed a strong interest in STEM and education reform that led her to work on developing initiatives in rural communities in the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2014, Menna joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner in the image analysis workgroup. She is currently a supervisory patent examiner in the circuits workgroup.