SHPE - Winter 2008 - (Page 20) MEET THE PRESIDENTS REGION IV Western Pennsylvania David D. León David D. León takes over the reigns of the relatively new SHPE-WPA. Eighteen years ago, he discovered SHPE through corporate diversity efforts and was attracted by the opportunities for networking and exchanging stories and wisdom with other Hispanic engineers. About four years ago, León recognized the need for a chapter in Western Pennsylvania Leon ensures that SHPE-WPA provides since the Philadelphia chapter, to which he practical career belonged, was too far away to be effective. assistance to Thanks to León, SHPE-WPA has its own local engineering quarterly newsletter. Plans are in the works for students. professional recruitment and corporate sponsorship brochures. By participating in National Engineers Week at the Carnegie Science Center, as well as providing seminars on interviewing and résumé writing to the student chapter, Leon is making sure SHPE-WPA plays a part in molding the engineers of tomorrow. León believes that the chance to do something for others is the most satisfying aspect of his involvement with SHPE. He explained, “Through SHPE, I have developed many contacts and several friendships, not only among the membership, but also within my own company, as we have worked together to increase Hispanic representation at all levels.” David D. León is a section head with the Alcoa Technical Center, part of Alcoa Inc. The University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, graduate has been a professional member since 1989. REGION V Oklahoma Martin E. Castro Looking for an opportunity to contribute to the Hispanic community in Oklahoma, Martin E. Castro joined SHPE two years ago. “It looked to be a very solid organization and gave me the opportunity to increase my people networking,” he recalled. He held the position of chapter secretary and, before taking over as president, helped launch an effort to get nonprofit status. Castro’s priority is This will allow sponsoring organizations to to advertise SHPE in Oklahoma and contribute donations; and, collected funds will generate more be used to support local high school and involvement in the student chapter programs. Hispanic community. Castro is excited at the prospect of strengthening the STEM pipeline through chapter activities. In 2008, it will work as a team to recruit new members. In addition, the chapter plans to advertise SHPE to the community, placing brochures at libraries, universities and other organizations. It also intends to host a professional development seminar in an effort to contact more professional members. It also plans to sponsor different events to involve the Hispanic community. According to Castro, the most satisfying thing about his involvement with the Society is knowing that the chapter is helping young Hispanics pursue science and engineering degrees. Martin Castro is a signal engineer and Latin America account manager with Railroad Signal International. He joined SHPE in 2005 to broaden his professional network. REGION V Mid Tennessee Diorka Ortega REGION V Houston, Texas Rubi Medina As a student at the University of Central Florida, Diorka Ortega was initially attracted to the Society because of the people, professionalism and opportunities it offered. She went on to serve as student chapter president, and she credits SHPE for helping her obtain a summer internship with Xerox after graduation. “That summer internship turned into a career and led Ortega promotes to meeting the man I married and still share a how SHPE helped her develop the soft life with,” Ortega said. skills to step out of Now at the helm of SHPE-MT, a chapter her comfort zone. she helped to start, Ortega is focusing on a key SHPE initiative: strengthening the STEM pipeline. “We are going into the community and starting to develop relationships with elementary schools to get us in the door to help educate the future leaders of tomorrow about science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” she explained. Along the way, Ortega hopes that SHPE can do for the future engineers what it did for her. “SHPE has enabled me to seek opportunities, meet new people and venture into new challenges,” she said. “SHPE has enabled me to develop the soft skills to step out of the comfort zone and make a difference in someone’s life, thus impacting my professional and personal goals.” Diorka Ortega is a field operations manager with Xerox Corporation. She has been a member of SHPE since 1995 during her student days at UCF. Rubi Medina was recruited into SHPE in sixth grade, when members from the professional chapter visited her class and introduced the students to engineering. “I don’t know if I’d be where I am without this great organization,” she said. “It really does impact lives.” It certainly made a difference in hers. Medina joined SHPE while a mechanical engineering For Medina, SHPE rekindles excitement student at the University of Texas at Austin and about the engineerfound personal relationships to be her favorite ing profession. part of her involvement. “I love getting to know why people are so interested in SHPE or engineering,” she said. “It helps rekindle my own excitement about the group and my profession. When I volunteer with students, I hope that I’m triggering their mind in the same way that was done to me.” This year has been phenomenal for SHPE-Houston. A sponsorship request resulted in it awarding two $1,000 scholarships. Medina is also working with a local attorney who is helping the chapter achieve non-profit status. In addition, SHPE-Houston conducts mock interviews with SHPE-UH and SHPE-Rice students. “I love our mission of promoting engineering to Hispanics,” Medina said. “We grow up not even thinking that technical/ professional careers are for us, and then SHPE comes along and opens our eyes to reality.” Rubi Medina is a contract coordinator with the North America Division of John Crane. She has been a SHPE member for more than 10 years. 20 SHPE R Winter 2008
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