Our people

Guided by a diverse board of leading engineers. Administered by nationally recognized leaders in education and experienced engineers. Supported by engineering students from the nation’s top colleges and universities.

Engineers

William A. Woodburn

Founder and Chairman of the Board, A Founding Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners

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 O. Einset

Operating Principal, Global Infrastructure Partners

Erik has over 25 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. Since 2008, he has been 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. 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 Caudle

Staff Engineer

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.

Gerald Dawes

Staff Engineer

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 Fortman

Staff Engineer

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.

Administration & Operations

Megan E. Barrett

Executive Director

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.
Dr. Bradley Peck

Midwest Regional Director

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 B. Chiplock

Lead Program Coordinator

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.
Monica San Martin

Lead Program Coordinator

Monica has dedicated most of her career to support Catholic education in underserved areas in New York City. Monica was part of the team that brought Engineering Tomorrow to the Archdiocese of New York. She earned a BA from Hunter College and received an IUPLR/UIC Mellon Fellowship. Monica is the proud parent of an Engineering Tomorrow student!
Jillian Williams

Program Coordinator

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.

Jenn Scott

Program Coordinator

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.
Jose Centeno

Head of Technology and Distribution Operations

Ann Viegut

Program Coordinator

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 Peck

Program Coordinator

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.
Elizabeth Kysely

Program Coordinator

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.

Interns

Hannah Mekaru

Duke University '26

Hannah is a sophomore at Duke University studying Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. On campus, Hannah is involved in the Theta Tau Engineering Chapter and the Biomedical Engineering Society with a significant interest in medical devices. She also conducts research on heart rate variability among the elderly and how it relates to neuroticism. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys catching every on-campus sporting event possible and exploring new study spaces, usually discovered on the rooftops of buildings. Hannah is incredibly excited to join the Engineering Tomorrow family and help more students discover the thrill of engineering!

Kate Schinaman

University of Notre Dame '25

Kate Schinaman is a rising senior studying Computer Science with a minor in Engineering Corporate Practice at the University of Notre Dame. On campus, Kate loves being involved in undergraduate research with the Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team, serving as the secretary for the Society of Women Engineers, and being a member of the Student Government Department of Campus Technology! Kate is passionate about Engineering Tomorrow's mission and is excited about every opportunity to contribute further to the organization's goal of making engineering more accessible!

Justin Whittington

Mississippi State University '25

Justin Whittington is a rising senior at Mississippi State University studying Chemical Engineering and Software Engineering. On campus, he is the Vice President of the Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society. Justin also works as an undergraduate research assistant for Mississippi State's HPC, where his group's focus lies in optoelectronic materials and biomass conversion for renewable energy. Outside of academics, Justin loves filling his time with a variety of sports, ranging anywhere from soccer to mixed martial arts. He is extremely excited to be working with Engineering Tomorrow and can't wait to maximize this opportunity to positively impact the next generation of engineers.

Mary Brusco

University of Notre Dame '26

Mary is a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame studying Computer Science. During the school year, she spends her time volunteering at the nearby high school teaching young high schoolers to code and is part of the Robotic Football Club where they build robots that play football against other schools. In her free time, Mary enjoys going to Notre Dame sporting events and hanging out with friends. Mary is so excited to become a member of the Engineering Tomorrow family, and is looking forward to her time this summer!

Bryce Krampert

University of Mississippi '25

Bryce is a rising senior at the University of Mississippi studying general engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing. On campus, she is involved in different organizations such as Greek life and the Society for Women Engineers. After graduation, Bryce plans to go to law school to pursue a career in patent law. Bryce has worked with Engineering Tomorrow for over two years as both a mentor and an intern and loves being able to share her love of engineering with middle school and high school students. She is so excited to develop new labs this summer!

Molly Trickett

University of Notre Dame '26

Molly Trickett is a rising Junior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Engineering Corporate Practice. In her free time, Molly is involved in GreenND, a sustainability club, the Society of Women Engineers, and the STEM division of the Student International Business Council. Molly is excited to join the Engineering Tomorrow Team to develop interactive labs and help students find a passion for engineering!

Mahi Patel

Duke University '26

Mahi is a rising junior at Duke University, where she is studying Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science. On campus, she is the general manager of a fine dining pop-up, dances Bhangra with Duke Dhamaka, and is president of Catalyst, Duke's pre-professional tech society. Mahi is a college mentor with Engineering Tomorrow and loves working with high school students. She is excited to work with the team at Engineering Tomorrow to develop interactive labs this summer!

Sean Uhran

University of Notre Dame '26

Sean is a rising junior studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. On campus, Sean is involved in ND Rocketry Team, a design team that competes in the NASA student launch initiative as part of the payload design team, and Navy ROTC, where he is training to become an officer in the US Navy following graduation. He developed a love for education through STEM outreach events with rocketry and is excited to join the Engineering Tomorrow team and help students find a passion for engineering!

Vongwadhiny Chan

Penn State University '25

Dhiny is a rising senior at Penn State University majoring in Chemical Engineering. Her campus involvements include working in research labs, the Thai Student Association, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Her interests in engineering are renewable and clean water technology to promote global sustainability. She is extremely excited to join the Engineering Tomorrow internship program this summer to help students across the country explore and navigate engineering as a career path!

Lani Riemenschneider

University of Notre Dame '24

Lani is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame studying computer science. Around campus, she is involved with Computer Science for Good, and the Society of Women Engineers, and was on the board for her dorm leadership. She has been involved with Engineering Tomorrow since January 2024 and cannot wait to take more of a role in helping Engineering Tomorrow as it continues to grow!

Board of Directors

William A. Woodburn

Founder and Chairman of the Board, A Founding Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners

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.

Telva M. McGruder

Executive Director, Global Body Manufacturing Engineering, General Motors

As the Executive Director of Global Body Manufacturing Engineering, Telva leads the next phase of transformation toward an increasingly automated and digital manufacturing approach for body and paint systems at General Motors. The team embraces technology focused on predictive analytics to run safely, sustainably, and efficiently while ensuring operational excellence, and launch quality for the global portfolio. Previously, Telva was Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer where she championed the progress toward a high performing, inclusive culture while shepherding global impact in diversity. Telva earned BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.
Alexandra Coleman

Head of Centrica Business Solutions North America

Alex has over a decade of technical, financial services, and management experience. Prior to her current role leading the North American division of Centrica Business Solutions, a global energy solutions company, she worked in the renewable energy and capital divisions of General Electric. She started her career as an engineer at Kiewit Infrastructure Group. Alex holds an MBA from Babson College and a bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University.
Erik O. Einset

Operating Principal, Global Infrastructure Partners

Erik has over 25 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. Since 2008, he has been 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. 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).
Kristine T. Budill

Director, Engineering, Architecture & Design Program and Director, Leadership Institute in Finance

Kristine has twelve years of teaching experience in the areas of engineering, computer science, math, and finance. Prior to her role as an educator, Kristine spent over ten years working at a private equity fund that invested university endowment funds and contributions from high-net-worth individuals in medical device companies. 

She also served as the Director of Business Development at Haemonetics Corp., where she was responsible for analyzing, negotiating, and managing corporate investments in new technologies. Her early career included a variety of technical roles at ITT Fluid Technology Corp. and GE Aircraft Engines. She is a board member of Engineering Tomorrow and the Yale Science & Engineering Association whose missions align with her passion for inspiring the next generation to pursue engineering careers. Kristine holds a NYS Teacher Certification from Manhattanville College, a master’s in Management Science from MIT Sloan School of Management, a master’s in Electrical Engineering from MIT and a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Yale University.

Cliff Spiro

Director, TTIP Consulting

Cliff Spiro is an innovative research scientist, research director, coach and consultant, active on public and private Boards of Directors. Cliff’s career has spanned a breadth of technologies ranging from chemistry, plastics, ceramics, diamonds, rubber, lamps and lighting, biotechnology, energy and fuels, water and paper science, aerospace and semiconductors.

Cliff earned a BS degree in chemistry with honors from Stanford University and a PhD degree in chemistry from Caltech. Cliff joined General Electric in 1980 where he held a series of progressively responsible research and management positions.

In 2001 Spiro was named Vice President of R&D, of Nalco/Suez, and then in 2003 as Vice President of R&D and CTO of Cabot Microelectronics. In 2011, Cliff left Cabot to begin coaching innovation and innovation leaders, as well as creating his own medical device startup, Planatome®. Cliff currently consults for the innovation practices at TTIP global and McKinsey.

Cliff has served on 6 corporate and 3 academic boards, on the Naperville United Way board, and was elected to the Niskayuna NY board of Fire Commissioners.

Cliff has written three books on innovation. He holds 24 US Patents and has authored over 150 scientific articles and scientific conference presentations. In 2017, he was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering.

Jayanthi Iyengar

EVP, Chief Technology & Strategic Sourcing Officer

Jay has over 30 years of experience in the automotive, aerospace and advanced water technology fields. After starting her career in product development for Delphi/General Motors in 1988, Jay joined Chrysler in 1997 as a Powertrain Systems Engineer. In 2005, she was named Senior Manager and Chief Engineer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) Hybrid Development Center. From 2009-2012, Jay served as Global Director, Electrified Powertrains for FCA.

In 2012, she joined Eaton Aerospace as Group VP Engineering and Technology, and from 2015-2019 she was the Senior VP, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer of Xylem Inc. Jay earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mysore University, Karnataka, India, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University.

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