The Mechanical Engineering Advisory Panel (MEAP) is the external ME Department advisory body. The MEAP consists of representatives from industry, research laboratories, alumni, and academia. It was formed in 1995, and meets twice a year in October and April. The MEAP provides advice and feedback to the department on undergraduate education issues. They review the objectives, outcomes, and overall assessment processes of the Department. Members of the MEAP are also active in the Senior Design Practicum, as speakers, judges, and consultants.
The department uses MEAP factors in its assessment process to measure student awareness of various engineering topics. Example MEAP factors are:
Brett Anderson
Denver, CO
Company: Accenture (retired)
Professional Activities: Managing Partner, Denver Office.
Education: BSME, CSU
Career Information: Chairman, CSU Corporate Relations and Foundations Board; Managing Partner, Accenture, Denver; Member of CSU Development Council Executive Committee; Responsibility for Accentures’s customer relationship management practice for the Western USA; Member of St. Anthony's Health Foundation Board; Executive Committee Member of St. Anthony's Health Care. |
 Richard Buck
Seattle, WA
Company: Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Education: BSME, CSU
|
Mel Crane
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Hewlett Packard
Professional Activities: Continuing Product Engineering
Education: BSME, CSU |
Jim Dietvorst
Littleton, CO
Company: Owner, Cottman Transmission & Plue's Transmission Parts
Education: BSME, Colorado State, MSME Carnegie Mellon University |
Katherine Obermeyer
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Eastman Kodak Company
Professional Activities: Kodak Colorado Division Logistics Supervisor
Education: BSME, CSU
Career Information: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer (including one patent), Process Engineer, Team Advisor, certified Six Sigma Blackbelt, KOS Manager (Lean leadership), and Director of the Centennial Section of ASME-International. Past President of SWE local chapter. President of Women’s Forum of Kodak Employees Kodak Colorado Division. |
 Jeffrey Gessaman
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Woodward Industrial Controls
Professional Activities: Adjunct Instructor, Colorado State University Mechanical Engineering Department. Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International): Centennial Section Programs Chair, 2007-08; Nominating Committee Voting Member, 2006; Chief Leadership Trainer – Region XII, 2002-04; Region XII Leadership Trainer, 1999-02; Leadership Development Intern for the Council on Member Affairs, 2000-01; Centennial Section Chair 1996-97, 99-00.
Education: BSME, MSME, Utah State
Career Information: Mechanical Development Engineer: Woodward (1999-Present) - Develop precision fuel metering and control devices for industrial turbines- Six Sigma Black Belt – Holds 2 patents and has 2 patents pending. Mechanical Systems Engineer: Woodward (1994-99) - Designed and oversaw the installation of the mechanical interface for digital controls upgrades on over 30 gas and steam turbines. |
Sandy Hoefs
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Siemens Power Generation
Professional Activities: Project Manager
Education: BSME, CSU |
Durl Jones
Fort Collins, CO
Company: GE Control Solutions, Loveland, CO
Professional Activities: Director of Control System Modification
Education: MSME CSU; BA Principia College
Career Information: Past Chair of ASME Hydro Power Technical Committee |
 Thomas Mancini
Albuquerque, NM
Company: Sandia National Laboratories
Education: BSME, PhD, CSU
|
 Frank Novachek
Denver, CO
Company: Xcel Energy
Professional Activities: Director, Corporate Planning
Education: BS Physics, CSU; MBA, CU Denver.
Career Information: 14 years experience in Nuclear Power Generation. Served as project manager for the first large scale nuclear plant de-commissioning. He has 11 years experience in utility corporate management and has served as project manager for two multi-billion dollar mergers, Public Service Co & Southwestern Public Service, and, New Century Energies & Northern States Power, which became Xcel. |
 Jon Pointer
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Woodward Governor Company
Professional Activities:
Sr. Staff Engineer
Education: BSME, MSME, CSU
Career Information: Product development since 1990 with expertise in electromagnetic devices and engineering analysis including finite element analysis. Holds three patents and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Colorado. |
Terry Precht
Loveland, CO
Company: Technology Driven Products, Inc.
Professional Activities: President/CEO
Education: BSAgE, MSAgE, U of Idaho
Career Information: Entrepreneur with 7 years experience starting and growing a company. Worked as an engineering manager developing consumer products (printers and computer peripherals) for 10 years. Was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Sciences for 8 years. |
 Suraj Rawal
Littleton, CO
Company: Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
Professional Activities: Senior Manager, Advanced Materials and Structures,
R &T.
Education: BS & MS, IIT, India; PhD Brown University.
Career Information: Write joint proposals to research sponsoring agencies such as NASA, Air Force, NSF etc.; Coordinating R&D project between Lockheed Martin and CSU. |
Ernst Ridinger
Boulder, CO
Company: ArdenTech, LLC
Professional Activities: Founder & Principal Manager Engineering Consulting Firm
Education: B.S. EDEE, University of Colorado
Career Information: Contracts with entreprenurial companies turning ideas into finished product. Provides all phases of research, development, and design engineering. Provides product branding and market definition.
Establishes domestic and international supply chain. Engages value engineering to ramp volumes with emphasis on assembled in USA.
|
 Rich Schoonover
Fort Collins, CO
Company: Solix Biofuels
Professional Activities: Chief Operating Officer
Education: BSME, MSME, CSU
Career Information: 95-97 Senior Research Engineer working on the development and implementation of emission reduction technologies on stationary natural gas engines. 97-07 Vice President/Owner of Enginuity, LLC. Lead the development and implementation of emissions reduction and performance improvement technologies for stationary natural gas engines. Joined Solix Biofuels in the fall of 2007 as Director of Engineering to lead the commercialization of algae based biofuels technology.
|
 John Spiers
Boulder, CO
Company: LeftHand Networks
Professional Activities: Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Education: BSME, CSU
Career Information: Entrepreneur with 24 years of experience in the Computer Storage Industry. LeftHand Networks is his 4th startup company. Was Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist in 2005 & 2006, and Received Boulder Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of Distinction Award in 2006. Experience architecting and developing software & hardware technology solutions. Holds 2 Patents. Has held positions in engineering development, IT and senior management. |
Victor Walker
Broomfield, CO
Company: SAN Array Engineering, SUN Microsystems
Professional Activities: Vice President
Education: BSME, CSU |
Walter Wong
Boulder, CO
Company: Spectra Logic
Professional Activities: Technologist
Education: Bachelor of Applied Science, U. of British Columbia.
Career Information: Has held positions in design engineering, operations, research and development. He serves on the board of advisors of three companies. He is a volunteer with CTEK, a Colorado community based business catalyst organization. He holds 23 patents. |