FY16 Meet the BOD

Meet the BOD

Laura

Laura Hershberger

FY16 BOD Position
President
Engineering Background/Degree
Georgia Institute of Technology
BS & MS, Aerospace Engineering
Company
Quartus Engineering Incorporated
Brief Job Description
I’m an engineer supporting a wide variety of customer projects involving static, dynamic, nonlinear, aeroelastic and thermal analyses utilizing both finite element and classical methods primarily in the aerospace and mechanical industries.

What inspired you to become an engineer?
Legos and airplanes! As a kid I loved to build. As I grew older I discovered I also loved math and science (ok, mostly just physics. I hated chemistry and always found biology boring…) and was good at both subjects. Once I figured out Engineering was a thing (sometime around late elementary school) and, specifically, Aerospace Engineering was a thing (sometime around middle school) I decided that’s what I wanted to be: an Aerospace Engineer! I was always more interested in building airplanes opposed to flying them, so being an Aerospace Engineer was really the only logical choice.

What are your favorite hobbies?
Anything physical! I love to workout at the gym and I try to run every day. I’m an avid climber, rocks and mountains alike, and I’ve been fortunate to climb on some of the best California has to offer. I am a huge fan of martial arts – I have a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and am currently studying Krav Maga.

What piece of advice would you give to early engineers?
If you ever want to be really good at something, find the person (or persons) who is good at that thing and LEARN from them. Whether it’s directly (a mentor, for example) or indirectly (reading something either about that person or by that person, for example) learn all you can. Never stop learning. And realize too, someday, you might be that person for someone else.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
What would you do?This is a tough one because I have so many answers! Travel to all the US state parks and do as much climbing and hiking as possible. Visit the Himalayas and climb some decently tall peak with a view of Everest and visit Everest base camp. Visit Italy, England/Scotland/Whales and Ireland and explore everything (by foot, as much as possible).

Harmonie Edelson

FY16 BOD Position
Vice President
Engineering Background/Degree
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Company
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Brief Job Description
I am in the Operations Rotation Program within a division of Thermo Fisher called Life Sciences Solutions, which was formerly Life Technologies. It’s a two year program based out of our Carlsbad location. I am currently in my third rotation with our Program Management Organization. My first two rotations were in Global Planning & Distribution Operational Excellence.

What inspired you to become an engineer?
I knew that I was interested in both Mathematics & Business, but had no idea how those two things could come together until I learned about Industrial & Systems Engineering from my high school tennis coach. I was also really lazy with homework in high school (I’d rather be playing tennis or hanging out with friends). A close friend told me he didn’t think I could make it through an engineering program, so I decided to prove him wrong. :)

What are your favorite hobbies?
I enjoy tennis, running, cycling, shopping, trying new food & spending time with my dog, Emma.

Would you rather build a moon-base or deep-sea-base?
Definitely a moon-base. Water makes me feel a little claustrophobic…

If you had all the time in the world to learn a new skill, what would you learn?
I would spend my time wrapping my head around advanced physics. It’s all so interesting, yet very complicated and time-consuming!

Judy Hsia

FY16 BOD Position
Secretary
Engineering Background/Degree
BS, Biomedical Engineering
Company
Ludwig Cancer Research
Brief Job Description
I am a Research Associate in my institute’s Small Molecule Discovery Program. My group designs small molecule inhibitors for potential cancer targets, and I develop methods to test them biochemically. I am also am responsible for programming and maintaining our robotic liquid handlers.

What inspired you to become an engineer?
Seeing all the amazing achievements of bioengineering my professors presented in class during my first year of college

What are your favorite hobbies?
Drawing, running, hiking, and gaming.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
What would you do? Antarctica to see wild Emperor Penguins (Only if it’s environmentally friendly!)

Would you rather build a moon-base or deep-sea-base?
Moon-Base. It's in space after all!

Denise Tung

FY16 BOD Position
Treasurer
Engineering Background/Degree
BS EE / MS EE / Systems Engr
Company
ViaSat
Brief Job Description
Support multidisciplinary teams (digital hardware, mechanical, and software) in development and deployment of communication products and perform requirements definition and allocation, analysis and simulation of communication systems and implementations, investigation and documentation of trade studies, analysis in support of troubleshooting developed product.

What inspired you to become an engineer?
I met someone from SWE-SD at age of 14 who inspired me that a woman in engineering is a viable career path.

What are your favorite hobbies?
Running, Cooking, Photography.

What piece of advice would you give to early engineers?
Don’t be shy and always ask questions. Make friends and network.

Giovanna Brenay

FY16 BOD Position
Section Rep
Engineering Background/Degree
Electrical Engineer
Company
San Diego Gas & Electric
Brief Job Description
I work in the distribution engineering department in the equipment standards section. I am a project manager for two distribution equipment pieces. I work with manufacturing companies to modify equipment to fit the San Diego electric grid.

What inspired you to become an engineer?
I was never into math in high school, but in college I took a class with a female professor who really tried to get the class excited about it. I ended up being shocked by getting an A and decided to take the next level course with her again. She told me that I really had the mind to be a math teacher or engineer.

What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to be active. I am usually a gym rat during the week and hiking, biking or swimming on the weekends.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I want to go to Australia! It is definitely on my bucket list to go to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkel the amazing coral.

Kari Moreno

FY16 BOD Position
Section Rep
Engineering Background/Degree
Chemistry
Company
General Atomics

What are your favorite hobbies?
Golf, knitting and reading

What piece of advice would you give to early engineers?
Work your hardest while your young and can afford the team. Establishing your career while you are young will allow you freedom as you get older

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
What would you do? Berlin, attending Octoberfest.

If you had all the time in the world to learn a new skill, what would you learn?
Computer programming

Natalie Vanderspiegel

FY16 BOD Position
Section Rep, Alternate
Engineering Background/Degree
BS, Ceramic Engineering. MS, Ceramic Engineering. MS, Engineering Management.
Company
Solar Turbines
Brief Job Description
I am a Materials Manager, which means I am responsible for the flow of material into our manufacturing facility, through the shop, and out to our customers. In addition, I have management responsibility for our warehouse and a Material Planner. My department makes the hot section of the gas turbine – injectors, combustor, and airfoils (where the action happens).

What inspired you to become an engineer?
The joy of tinkering and learning how things worked

What are your favorite hobbies?
Anything that I can do with my dog, Lincoln … mostly the beach!

Would you rather build a moon-base or deep-sea-base?
Deep-sea-base

If you had all the time in the world to learn a new skill, what would you learn?
Perform brain surgery