SHPE - Winter 2008 - (Page 33) sor), expanded on the role mentors play in helping individuals embrace change and achieve personal success. He also encouraged students to study the needs of the organization to find and deliver innovative solutions. “Dare to lead by setting bold targets that are meaningful to the organization,” Dees said, “and set out to meet and exceed them.” Complimentary advice on leadership was offered by Barb Samardzich, vice president of Powertrain Product Development with Ford (luncheon cosponsor). “All engineers will be leaders at some point,” she said. “Five qualities are mandatory for all leaders at any level: integrity, vision, passion, humility and inspiration.” These qualities, she added, would get a team through doubtful times to deliver results. Motivational speaker Victor Gonzales addressed banquet attendees on the need to remain optimistic. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if you’re not optimistic and if you don’t believe the future can change, you won’t be successful,” he said. “Optimism is what will help you finish the race, graduate, rise to the top and make money.” (Photo Thanks to SHPE VP Manuel Hernández’s ‘hound dog howl,’ Victor Gonzalez illustrated that whining doesn’t change matters, action does.) ¸ In addition to honoring all its corporate partners, the Society also recognized General Motors as Company of the Year for its outstanding support of SHPE and its programs. It was also announced that Kimberly-Clark was named Employer of the Year in SHPE’s annual membership survey. (Photo K-C’s Edwin Garcia received the award from SHPE’s Gomez.) This year’s conference offered a staggering array of more than 100 workshop choices which included topics that ranged from industry information sessions and innovations on the technological vanguard to career, personal and professional development. One favorite was Procter & Gamble’s “Mentoring: Inspiring Growth in You,” where a blindfolded student relied on a string of mentors to guide him through obstacles in achieving success (Photo ). During a special seminar on nanotechnology, students explored the newest innovations and implications associated with the emerging field and how they could be exploited to advance science. (Photo Students assemble nano structures to better understand their functions.) Hand-on activ- 33
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