Member Owned Businesses
Member Awards
Susan L. Best PE - 1996 Fellow
Barbara Faust - 1994 Fellow
September Member Spotlight
Danielle Dunn
Profession/Job Title: Staff Engineer, Vaccine Technology & EngineeringEmployer: Merck & Co., Inc.
Work Description: Merck manufactures several vaccines, including ones for chicken pox, measles, hepatitis, and a new one for human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer. I provide technical support for the raw materials that are used to make these vaccines. If we find a problem with any of these materials, I help to investigate it and develop corrective actions. I also work with our raw material suppliers to evaluate any changes they make in their manufacturing processes.
College/University: Rice University in Houston, Texas
Years as a SWE member: 7
Tell us a little about yourself:
I grew up in the Houston area and, after graduating with my bachelor’s in chemical engineering, moved up here to Pennsylvania to work for Merck. (Interesting factoid – my small department, which consists mostly of engineers and a few scientists, has about 15 women and only 3 men!) I really like this area because there is so much to do with mountains, beaches, and several major cities all close by. Plus we don’t get fall colors like this in Houston. I recently bought my first townhome in Upper Gwynedd and am still getting settled in. Looking forward to another productive year with SWE!
October Member Spotlight
Marylí Colón
Profession/Job Title: Mechanical Engineer/ Layout EngineerEmployer: Intelligrated Material Handling Solutions and Services, NJ
Work Description: Intelligrated is a supplier of Integrated Material Handling Systems, Services, and Products. We help customers in the retail, grocery, manufacturing and pharmaceutical areas develop a solution for material handling. As part of the team I perform a variety of engineering tasks. My main responsibilities are to create equipment layouts, detail drawings schematics and equipment orders and inventory as applicable to the project.
College/University: Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
Years as a SWE member: 1
Tell us a little about yourself:
I come from Puerto Rico were I worked full time with HVAC systems while at the same time studied full time at night to complete my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Soon after graduation my fiancé (now husband) got a job with a major aerospace company. After this event we decided to get married and moved to Pennsylvania last summer. Being a person who likes challenges I saw this opportunity as a chance to grow personally and professionally. Living in Pennsylvania has being a wonderful experience that gave me the opportunity to meet new people, new cultures and new places.
November Member Spotlight
Angela Lordi
Profession/Job Title: Senior Principal EngineerEmployer: Honeywell
Work Description: I am a Senior Principal Engineer at the Process Solutions Division of Honeywell. I started with Honeywell 16 years ago as a hardware digital designer specializing in Field Programmable Gate Array and embedded processor based designs. For the past 5 years, I worked as a Team lead to design and develop Honeywell’s next Generation Controller Platform. In the last year, I have been working as part of the system engineer/architect team to access how emerging and new technologies and tools can be best applied to improve Honeywell’s process and product portfolio. I have received 2 patents related to distributed process controller design.
College/University: Cooper Union (New York City – Bachelor degree in EE)
Penn State University (Master Degree in Engineering)
Years as a SWE member: 1
Tell us a little about yourself:
I have a wonderful family- husband, daughter (9 years old), son (7 years old) and puppy (11 weeks old). Life is very rewarding and challenging; juggling busy work and family life is never boring. I feel that I have found a good work/family balance and happy with the career that I have chosen. As an electrical engineer, I feel that I can use my creative, analytical and leadership skills to implement and develop innovative process control systems used for oil refinery, chemical, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, etc… products. For fun, I enjoy vacationing with my family and working on home decorating and remodeling projects. (Yes, I watch a lot of HGTV!) As my kids get older, we (as a family) plan to be more involve with community services.
December Member Spotlight
Leanne Bihn
Profession/Job Title: Sales EngineerEmployer: Rockwell Automation
Work Description: Many engineers who work in plants are familiar with Rockwell Automation’s products. I work directly with our customers in a consultative role to link them up with specialists and help them find the right product or solution for their needs.
College/University: Iowa State University, 2005
Years as a SWE member: 4
Tell us a little about yourself:
I was transferred to the York, PA office about 9 months ago and this is my first experience living outside the Midwest. I was very skeptical at first (and scared!!), but it is turning out to be an excellent move both professionally and personally. I was very active in my college chapter of SWE and was involved professionally in the Milwaukee, WI chapter. In my spare time, I am involved in a young professionals group in Harrisburg, vice president of my condo association’s board, and I love to do home improvement projects and quilt. I am excited to be getting more involved with SWE again with some of the ideas we have for the York/Harrisburg area!!
January Member Spotlight
Cassandra Shoup
(Nickname: Cassie)
Profession/Job Title: Associate Chemical EngineerEmployer: MWH Global
Work Description: Environmental Consulting
College/University: Purdue University, 2006
Years as a SWE member: 6
Tell us a little about yourself:
I recently joined the Philadelphia SWE Section after moving to the area from Indiana where I grew up. My hobbies include hiking, gardening, riding motorcycles, and snowboarding (if it ever snows this year!). I love to travel and recently spent a month touring India, truly a fascinating place to be. One of my ongoing life goals is to become fluent in Spanish and a better Salsa dancer. I was a member of Purdue SWE and served the section as President, Membership Director, and Middle School Outreach Chair. I am excited to get involved in the Philadelphia section and looking forward to knowing more of the members! Hope to see you at the Region E Conference!
April Member Spotlight
Willa J. Hightower
Profession/Job Title: Manager in Finance, Special Project – Mission FIRSTEmployer: Exelon Corporation
Work Description: Appointed to the Mission: Finance Innovation through Responsible process and System Transformation team where our objective is to: Evaluate Finance’s capabilities and effectiveness in meeting business reporting and control requirements and transform processes and systems to achieve world-class performance levels in Finance.
College/University: Bachelor - Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), MBA – Finance from Georgia State University
Years as a SWE member: 2
Tell us a little about yourself:
Willa is an Industrial Engineering graduate of Georgia Tech and went on to pursue her MBA at Georgia Statue University with an emphasis in finance. Willa has been in the energy industry since 1996. She has been able to put her engineering and finance knowledge to good use in marketing to large commercial and industrial customers with Georgia Power, in generation project evaluation for Mirant and in developing long-range financial plans for Exelon Generation. She was recently appointed to the Mission FIRST team as the Generation Finance representative.
Willa’s grandmother once told her “to whom much is given, much is required.” Willa demonstrates her commitment to her community by being an active member of Bright Hope Baptist Church, as an active board member of the Legacy of Lover Foundation and Family Services of Chester County, in various leadership roles in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. along with a host of other activities. Willa J Hightower is the President of the Philadelphia Chapter of American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). In addition to all of the volunteer activities, Willa enjoys ballets, plays and Broadway musicals. Willa is expecting her first child in July.
