Bill is a Founding Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners—a private equity fund focused on energy and transportation asset investing and ownership. Prior to the formation of GIP in 2006, Bill spent 23 years at GE, where he most recently served as President and CEO of GE Infrastructure.

Before leading GE Infrastructure, he was President and CEO of GE Specialty Materials. In that role, he oversaw key acquisitions including those that led to the GE entry and expansion in the water technology business. Prior to joining GE, he held engineering and marketing positions at Union Carbide and was an engagement manager at McKinsey & Co. focusing on energy and transport industries.

Bill holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Engineering from Northwestern University and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, respectively. Bill is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Erik has over 30 years of experience in various engineering and leadership roles, including 17 years at GE in R&D, product development, process improvement, technical sales, and business management. After GE, he spent 16 years as a member of the operations team at Global Infrastructure Partners, working on business improvement in a variety of infrastructure businesses in the energy and transportation sectors. He has been a director at Engineering Tomorrow since 2014. Erik is the author of 6 patents and numerous technical publications, and holds Chemical Engineering degrees from Cornell University (BS) and the University of Minnesota (PhD).

Joanna is an avid traveler with a rich background in engineering and education. She spent the first half of her career as a mechanical engineer at Bechtel, a global construction company, where she designed and oversaw the construction and startup of power projects across the United States and internationally. Joanna earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. 

In 2002, Joanna transitioned to teaching, where she passionately instructed students in various physics courses and an exploratory engineering elective. She also held leadership roles as the Chair of the Upper School Science Department and STEM Program Coordinator at a private all-girls K-12 school near Washington, DC.

Mr. Gerald “Gerry” Dawes is the former Director of the Business Ethics and Compliance Department (BEC) at Con Edison Company of New York. In this position, he was responsible for promoting ethics standards and guiding compliance with applicable laws throughout the company. He has over 35 years of broad energy industry experience particularly in the areas of engineering, construction, natural gas, and electric operations. Gerry has held various other positions of leadership at Con Edison, in departments such as Construction, Gas Operations, Corporate Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S), Distribution Engineering, Customer Service, Energy Management, and Electric Operations. He also served as an Assistant to the Chairman of the company. In addition, he has served as an “Executive on loan” with the American Gas Association (AGA) in Washington, DC, where he worked on a wide range of federal and regional natural gas related initiatives. Gerry is an active member of the New York chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE – NYMAC) where he previously served as President and is a current member of the Executive Board. He is a founder of an AABE collegiate chapter at New York University (NYU) where he has served as a guest lecturer and mentors many students and colleagues. Gerry is also a former Board member of the Ethics and Compliance Association (ECA) and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering (formerly Polytechnic School of Engineering (NYU-Poly)) and is the former President of the School’s Alumni Association. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, New York and has participated in various professional development programs offered by the Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI), the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), General Electric (GE), Power Technologies Incorporated (PTI), and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Betsy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. While still in college, Betsy began her career with NASA at Langley Research Center gaining almost 2 years of experience focusing on integration, design, and testing of aircraft and their control systems, such as the F-18 and blended-wing body (BWB). 

Upon graduation, Betsy began working with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) as a Guidance, Navigation and Control System (GNC) Instructor for the International Space Station (ISS). In this role, Betsy trained numerous astronauts and flight controllers in the Part-Task Trainer (PTT) and Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) simulators. 

As Betsy’s career advanced, she worked as a Boeing Systems Engineer testing the US flight software for the GNC System and became a console operator in the Mission Evaluation Room for flights 1R, 1P, 2A.2b, 3A, and 4A, 5A (Shift Lead for 5A). Throughout her career at JSC, Ms. Fortman traveled overseas helping to train astronauts and cosmonauts on the various systems of ISS and the Russian Soyuz Vehicles. She also served as Deputy of Training Operations (DTOR) in Star City, Russia. 

Upon returning to the States, Ms. Fortman’s career shifted from current spaceflight operations to future spacecraft design analysis. Betsy worked as Chief Engineer of the Astronaut Office Exploration Branch tracking major design changes while assessing habitability and operability for Commercial Crew and Orion. Following her tenure at NASA, Ms. Fortman served as a consultant working with Sophic Synergistics to help integrate the human systems for Axiom Space Station.

Pat earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a student-athlete in Track & Field/Cross Country and Rugby. He also served as Project Manager for the university’s Concrete Canoe Team for two years, leading engineering efforts and team coordination resulting in qualification to Nationals.

Following graduation, Pat joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Lesotho, a mountainous region in southern Africa. There, he and his team were responsible for designing and constructing pedestrian bridges across rivers that were otherwise impassable for months at a time, providing critical access for local communities.

Upon returning to the U.S., Pat worked on a range of civil engineering projects—from hydraulic analysis for wastewater treatment facilities to designing highway on-ramp vertical curves. After several years in the industry, he discovered a passion for education and transitioned into teaching and coaching at the high school level.

Since 2003, Pat has taught physics, engineering, and computer science at St. Patrick High School and Benet Academy. Beyond the classroom, he has coached track and field, Science Olympiad, and robotics teams, combining his technical expertise with a deep commitment to student development.

Maria is a chemical engineer passionate about innovation, education, and empowering the next generation of engineers. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with a minor in Business, from the University of Notre Dame in 2022.

Maria began her career at AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, where she was selected for the Operations Development Program—a three-year rotational program designed to develop future engineering leaders. During this time, she gained experience across manufacturing and supply chain functions, including packaging operations, biologics production, and brand management. Upon completing the program, Maria applied her engineering problem solving skills to Global Supply Planning, where she supported strategic decision-making and cross-functional coordination on a global scale.

In addition to her professional work, Maria is deeply committed to mentorship and education. She has mentored student workers through AbbVie’s corporate work-study program with local high schools and previously served as a college mentor with Engineering Tomorrow. She is passionate about making engineering engaging and accessible, and inspiring students—especially young women—to pursue careers in STEM.

Megan has over 20 years combined experience in the fields of education and nonprofit management. Prior to joining Engineering Tomorrow in 2016, Megan was Chief of Staff to the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, the 3rd largest Catholic school system in the country. In addition to administration and management roles, Megan also has experience teaching in Catholic and public inner-city schools in New York City and Newark, NJ. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Arts in Education from Seton Hall University through the EPICS Program, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame.

Betsy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. While still in college, Betsy began her career with NASA at Langley Research Center gaining almost 2 years of experience focusing on integration, design, and testing of aircraft and their control systems, such as the F-18 and blended-wing body (BWB). 

Upon graduation, Betsy began working with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) as a Guidance, Navigation and Control System (GNC) Instructor for the International Space Station (ISS). In this role, Betsy trained numerous astronauts and flight controllers in the Part-Task Trainer (PTT) and Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) simulators. 

As Betsy’s career advanced, she worked as a Boeing Systems Engineer testing the US flight software for the GNC System and became a console operator in the Mission Evaluation Room for flights 1R, 1P, 2A.2b, 3A, and 4A, 5A (Shift Lead for 5A). Throughout her career at JSC, Ms. Fortman traveled overseas helping to train astronauts and cosmonauts on the various systems of ISS and the Russian Soyuz Vehicles. She also served as Deputy of Training Operations (DTOR) in Star City, Russia. 

Upon returning to the States, Ms. Fortman’s career shifted from current spaceflight operations to future spacecraft design analysis. Betsy worked as Chief Engineer of the Astronaut Office Exploration Branch tracking major design changes while assessing habitability and operability for Commercial Crew and Orion. Following her tenure at NASA, Ms. Fortman served as a consultant working with Sophic Synergistics to help integrate the human systems for Axiom Space Station.

Sean brings over 20 years of experience in the fields of education and nonprofit leadership to Engineering Tomorrow. He started his career as a junior high school science teacher before moving into educational leadership and development. Sean has launched and grown local and national development offices and has led teams at the elementary school, high school, and university levels. He takes great joy in connecting individual, corporate, and foundation partners with opportunities to fulfill their philanthropic goals. Sean earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Planning from Loyola University Chicago, and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Peck's career prior to accepting the position of Midwest Regional Director at Engineering Tomorrow was marked by over 31 years of dedicated service in public education. For 25 of those years, he worked as a school administrator. His significant experience in education demonstrates his commitment to serving students, staff, parents, and the community. One of the key highlights of Dr. Peck's career was his role as the principal of East High School, where he placed a strong emphasis on facilitating lab-based application learning experiences for students. Dr. Peck holds a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Communication Arts, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Constance has spent the tenure of her career teaching in public schools with underserved populations in Virginia and Washington, D.C. For the past decade, her focus was in STEM education and developing and leading the VA STAR program in computer rebuilding and refurbishment for those in need in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Constance started her career on Capitol Hill assisting in the writing of legislation with the Higher Education Colloquium for Science Facilities focusing on funding and advancement for university science facilities. Constance holds a MEd from the University of Maryland University College and a BA in American Studies from Mary Baldwin College.

Prior to joining Engineering Tomorrow, Jillian served as a middle and high school classroom teacher, academic mentor, reading resource specialist and administrative intern in her 14 years of experience in the education field. Her primary focus areas were curriculum development, differentiated instruction and team leadership. Jillian holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in English from Morgan State University and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Alex has dedicated his teaching career to promoting student growth and achievement across all age groups. He began at the elementary level, where he designed and implemented STEM lab lessons for underserved students at a Title I school. His path then led him to the high school level, where he frequently tailored the science curriculum to real-world applications. Beyond the classroom, Alex's passion for STEM education extends further — he has served as a sponsor for a nationally recognized science honor society and has worked closely with Advanced Placement testing. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Texas Tech University.

Helen began her career as an engineering apprentice at Gatwick Airport, a grounding that provided her with strong problem-solving skills and a mindset for continuous improvement. Progressing to Engineering Maintenance Manager, Helen built a solid technical foundation that has set her up for success across a varied career spanning engineering, organisational development, executive coaching, and youth work.

The common thread in Helen’s career has been her drive to help individuals and teams realise their potential. Drawing on her engineering roots, she is passionate about fostering inclusive environments, believing that diversity is essential for innovation and collaboration. Today, Helen uses her expertise to support growth, connection, and positive change in operational settings, leadership development, and working with young people.

Jenn has dedicated the majority of her career to teaching and serving students of all ages in the classroom. Her teaching career began in Ft. Hood, Texas as an elementary Language Arts/Social Studies teacher on the local Army base and then moved to one of the largest school districts in the state to teach students English as a second language. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston.

Ann is an experienced teacher with 35 years of teaching math, science, and geography. In the classroom, her instructional approach centered around hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Throughout her career, Ann’s leadership within professional organizations indicated her commitment to continual professional growth, the advancement of education, and the importance of forming connections with her peers. Ann has been a National Board Certified teacher since 2002 demonstrating her ongoing commitment to maintaining high professional standards in education. Ann's teaching excellence has been recognized through awards such as the Kohl Foundation Fellowship and National Geographics Grosvenor Fellowship. Ann holds both her Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees in Education from the University of Wisconsin.

Lisa's extensive background in education spans over 30 years and covers a variety of teaching levels, including middle school, high school, and technical college. She specialized in business and technology applications and also served as the middle school athletic director for 10 years. Throughout her teaching career, Lisa focused on collaborating with business professionals in the community to provide practical learning opportunities for her students. Lisa holds a Master of Educational Administration, Leadership, and Curriculum from Marion University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Liz's extensive background spans both the public and private sectors, underscoring her unwavering dedication to advancing education and crafting authentic learning experiences for students. Her tenure of more than twenty years in the field has encompassed diverse educational roles, including teaching, administrative responsibilities, and the development of programs. Within her STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) classroom, Liz's resolute commitment to a pragmatic, hands-on approach mirrors her passion for delivering students tangible, real-world educational encounters. This approach effectively enhances the accessibility and engagement of intricate subjects. Furthermore, her adeptness in fostering and sustaining partnerships with businesses and community organizations adds substantial value. These collaborations serve to enrich students' educational journeys by affording them the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts and explore potential career pathways. Liz's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin STOUT and a Master of Educational Administration, Leadership, and Curriculum from Cardinal Stritch University.

Cavan is a rising Sophomore at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville’s (UTK) Tickle College of Engineering, studying Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Mathematics. He is a middle blocker on UTK’s Men's Club Volleyball A Team. He has participated in the Theme Park Engineering Group, and he is very eager to explore different programs at UTK.

Sophia is a rising Sophomore at the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College pursuing degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. She contributes to the academic community as a Teaching Assistant for Calculus I & II in the Saint Mary’s College Mathematics Department. Sophia is also a part of Baja SAE at Notre Dame, a student off-road vehicle design team, where she serves as Alumni Outreach Administrator, and the Society of Women Engineers, where she is Treasurer. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing club volleyball and volunteers weekly with Special Olympics Notre Dame.

Jisun is a rising Senior at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, studying Mechanical Engineering. He is part of the Robotic Design Team where he is a lead for the Locomotion sub-team. Outside of school, Jisun follows his passion in education, by teaching an afterschool STEM program as well as engaging in work with his former high school where he creates and maintains various ecological systems.