April is National Volunteer Month, and Tau Beta Pi has been highlighting some of our 1,000+ volunteers throughout the month of April on our social media. Read further to learn about some of those valued volunteers! We’ve also created a special electronic publication to recognize all of the Association’s volunteers. Click here to check it out! #TBPVolunteerWeek
Russell L. Werneth – Maryland Alpha ’64
Longtime District Director Russell L. Werneth, MD B ‘64, is currently a District 4 Director. Russ was one of the original District Directors when the program started its pilot phase in 1976, and later left the position for a few years to be Vice President on the Executive Council and Director of District Programs. He enjoys working with and encouraging students and has led 42 District 4 Spring Conferences and attended 47 Annual Conventions. He is most proud of his efforts to identify and initiate many outstanding and deserving Eminent Engineers.
Russ has worked for many years as an Aerospace Engineer for the Hubble Space Telescope Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. His engineering and management responsibilities have included space-walker astronaut training, astronaut flight tool development, and educational and public outreach for Hubble and Astrophysics.
Yue Cathy Chang – Pennsylvania Gamma ’00
Yue Cathy Chang, PA G ’00, has been an Engineering Futures Facilitator for 20 years. Cathy is a trusted business executive recognized for sales, business development, and product marketing in blue-chip enterprises (IBM, Symantec) as well as startups, across finserv and hightech. Cathy holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, M.B.A. and Engineering M.S. degrees from MIT, two patents for her early work in microprocessor logic design, and is publishing a book on How to Lead in Data Science. Now, as an AVP and Client Partner at her job at Cognizant, Cathy is responsible for growth, delivering digital solutions and partnering with clients in their transformation journey.
Cathy enjoys spending quality time with her family in Sunnyvale, California. During shelter-in-place, she dusted off the zither she had not played in years and enjoys designing and performing musical, poetry, and martial arts pieces with her husband and six-year-old son Skyler.
Josuan Hilerio Sanchez – Puerto Rico Alpha ’07
Josuan Hilerio Sanchez, PR A ’07, is currently the Chief Advisor of the Puerto Rico Alpha Chapter, a District 5 Director, and a member of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force! Josuan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus in 2007. He then worked as a mechanical engineer in the Thermal and Fluids Group at ASRC Aerospace. After obtaining a master’s degree from his undergraduate alma mater in 2013, he landed a job at Infotech Aerospace Services, which is now Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico (PWPR). There, Josuan recently celebrated his 5th anniversary and is currently a Repair Development Engineer, working on developing repair procedures for military jet engines.
Josuan is active in his community as a volunteer Communications Lead within the PRIDE at PWPR ERG (Employee Resource Group). He judges science fairs, tutors, and up until a few years ago, was a STEM Mentor at the Boys & Girls Club of Isabela.
Stacey L. Forkner – Wisconsin Alpha ’96
Stacey L. Forkner, WI A ’96, is the Director of Tau Beta Pi’s District Program. She joined Tau Beta Pi as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin where she received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. She also holds an MBA from Marquette University. As a Science & Technology Manager for the global consumer goods manufacturer, S.C. Johnson in Racine, WI, Stacey leads a team focused on achieving technical breakthroughs for the company’s toughest product development issues. In this role, Stacey also leads several future-looking technology and sustainable packaging initiatives. She has been with SC Johnson for over twenty years and has a wide range of global experience and leadership in product development, product commercialization, and program management. Stacey holds six patents for innovations across multiple business categories.
Stacey has served Tau Beta Pi in other volunteer roles as a former member of the Laureate, Distinguished Alumnus, and McDonald Mentor Award Selection Committees and was a District 8 Director. She is the vice-president of her local school board and also volunteers as a Troop Leader and Merit Badge Counselor for Scouts BSA. In her free time, Stacey is an avid hiker and geocacher.
LeVern W. Faidley – Iowa Alpha ’67
LeVern W. Faidley, IA A ’67, is the Chief Advisor of IA A, serves a number of TBP committees, and financially supports several TBP programs. LeVern received a B.S. from Iowa State University in 1967, and an M.S. in 1969 and Ph.D. in 1974 from Michigan State University, all in agricultural engineering. From 1974-2004, LeVern worked in a number of positions at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. These include Agricultural Engineer, Energy Program Officer, Senior Energy Officer, Senior Program and Budget Officer, Acting Chief of Program and Budget Service, and Senior Officer of Research and Technology Development.
LeVern served as Advisor to the IA A Chapter from 2005-2011 before becoming Chief Advisor in 2011. His past TBP committee and board membership experience includes the Advisor Recruitment and Development Committee, Fellowship Board, Tau Beta Pi Student Assistance Program, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, and the Outstanding Advisor Member Award Subcommittee. As a contributor at the Alpha Club level, he supports the Chapter Endowment Initiative, Petitioners Support Club, Scholarship Program, and Student Assistance Program. He was named TBP’s 2017 Outstanding Advisor.
Lauren J. Swett, P.E. – Maine Alpha ’04
Lauren J. Swett, ME A ’04, is a District 1 Director. She received B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Maine where she joined the Maine Alpha Chapter. As a collegiate member, Lauren worked with other Tau Bates on community service projects, which were her “favorite kinds of ‘extracurricular’ activities.” She has been a District 1 Director for 13 years. Lauren is a Technical Manager at Woodard & Curran where she’s worked as a civil engineer for almost 15 years. As a Professional Engineer, she works on a wide variety of site development, utility, and stormwater projects. She is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and spends her weekends exploring new corners of the Maine wilderness.
Lauren says, “Helping new student leaders is very rewarding. I’ve learned so much from others myself so I enjoy having the opportunity to give back. Tau Beta Pi has also given me some long lasting friendships with people across the country who I never would have met if it wasn’t for TBP!”
Ronald M. Hickling – California Epsilon ’80
Ronald M. Hickling, CA E ’80, is Tau Beta Pi’s Permanent Convention Chair and has served in the role 28 times since the late 1980s. Ron was also Parliamentarian to the Convention before that. He has been an Assistant Director and Director of District 15, which then included all of California and Nevada (1980-92), an Engineering Futures Facilitator (from its inception through 1999) and Director of Engineering Futures (1995-99). He was also an Advisor to the California Epsilon Chapter.
Ron began his career at Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California, as Hughes Masters Fellow. He then joined GaAs semiconductor startup GigaBit Logic where he developed GaAs mixed signal chips. In 1992 he founded startup TechnoConcepts, Inc., a company engaged in the development of software defined radio chips and systems, serving first as President, then as Chief Technology Officer after raising venture capital.
He is currently a Senior Systems Engineer at Interconnect Systems in Camarillo, California, a subsidiary of Molex, LLC, where he is involved in the development of hardware for instrumentation and RF bandwidth ADCs and DACs coupled with FPGA processing. He and his family live in Newbury Park, California.
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