INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

October 11, 2005

Hosted by SDSU

Chaired by Dolores Ventura-Infrastructure Engineering Corporation

  1. Welcome

The October 11, 2005 MESA Alliance Industry Advisory Meeting was called to order at 1:10pm

  1. Introductions
Members Present
NameCompanyPhoneEmail

Alvarez, RafaelCity College-MESA (619)

Bakhiet, RagaSouthwestern College MESA(858)

Cairns, MarielC Valdo Corporation(858)

Camerino, EdgarRick Engineering Company(619)

Celise, NatashaSDSU MESA Engr Program(619)

Chambers, PamelaNorthrop Grumman(858)

Garcia, TheresaSDSU MESA Engr Program(619)

Hice, SaraNAVY HR Center(619)

Hooker, DeeCALTRANS(619)

Mack, TarrenceHamilton Sundstrand(858) 627-6719

Marquis, MeredithKyocera America Inc.(858)

Perrett, MarkSan Diego County DPW(858)

Robinson, ToriSONY(858)

Schlotte,

Stebbins, DavidCaltrans(619)

Ventura, DoloresIEC(858)

Walker, JohnKleinfelder, Inc.(858)

Members Excused
NameCompanyPhoneEmail

Chavez, ThelmaSDSU Maximizing Science Potential(619)

Diaz, RomanSHPE San Diego Professionals(858)484-1803

Espinosa, RobertNAVAIR(619)

Philpott, AlanSPAWAR(858)

Johnson, LaShondaQUALCOMM, Inc.(858) 651-3723

Landau, CindyRick Engineering Company(619)

Scholl, ConnieCity of San Diego(619) 533-3122

Umphres, PeggMWH(619)

  1. Review of Minutes (August 15, 2005)

A motion to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2005 meeting was made, seconded, and the minutes were approved.

  1. Program Updates
  2. SDSU MEP (all information was presented by Theresa M. Garcia)

Joint Professional Development Conference scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 2005 from 5 pm to 8 pm at the College of Engineering Student Lounge. Proceeds after cost will be shared evenly between NSBE, PASE and SHPE student organizations. This event does take place of the Technology Career Fair that MEP previously co-hosted with Career Services. The Jt Professional Development Committee will discuss the possibility of adding SWE to the committee next year.

The following companies have registered for the conference: Booz Allen Hamilton, CALTRANS, Cardinal Health, CIA, Infrastructure Engineering Corporation, Kleinfelder, Kyocera America, L-3 Communications, NAVAIR, Northrop Grumman, PBS&J, Project Design Consultants, Raytheon, and Rick Engineering Company.

It is official: The Hispanic Business Magazine has named “San DiegoStateUniversity’s College of Engineering’s Graduate Program#4 in the nation for Hispanic students”.

  1. City College MESA (all information was presented by Rafael Alvarez)

Current enrollment is 125 students. Details numbers can be provided at the next meeting. Program is busy and students are transferring which is good (because that’s the goal but also bad because we continuously lose leadership. Students are now signing up now to participate in upcoming programs and activities. A flyer designed to help students find their way through campus services was shared with the board.

  1. Southwestern College MESA (Introduction given by Theresa Garcia and Program details presented by Raga Bakhiet). Theresa Garcia introduced, RagaBakhiet, the new MESA Director at SouthwesternCollege replacing Alex Juden. Raga reported that Southwestern College MESA program now has a new center with lots of students utilizing it. Since she is a newcomer she is riding the shirt tails of the alliance and learning the ropes. Southwestern’s most recent activity was the annual Walk on Water event where teams from Southwestern College joined those from City College and some high schools to compete in creating devices out of card board and other materials that would allow each team to walk on water.
  1. Student Organization Representative–(Representative could not attend).

Rafael Alvarez shared some upcoming activities for several of the student organizations such as Bowling Night and Early Outreach efforts in which they encourage their members to work in schools and the community. The Student Organization Report was disbursed during the meeting.

  1. Joint MESAAlliance Events
  2. Walk on Water: was held at SouthwesternCollege on October 1, 2005. This is an annual event spearheaded by former Southwestern College MESA Director Alex Juden. With Alex no longer available to coordinate the students really stepped up to make sure this event continued. Rafael shared photos of the event which included teams from SouthwesternCollege, San DiegoCityCollege and a couple local San Diego high schools.
  3. Shadow Day: is scheduled for Thursday, November 17, 2005. Industry should have received pdf registration packets by email. The deadline to register for participation is October 14, 2005. We are always willing to work individually with each company. Extra packets were handed out during the meeting and Theresa offered to resend the file to anyone that did not receive it or would like to forward it to someone in their organization. Theresa reviewed the Shadow Day process and asked those industry reps who have participated in the past to share their experiences.

Per Edgar Camerino, Rick Engineering, has hosted up to 12 students at one time and have included several different departments. The industry reps perform a skit that makes fun of their executives and alumni are always invited to speak and share their experiences.

Per Tarrence Mack, Hamilton Sundstrand, participated last year with 20 students and provided breakfast, site tour, jet/airbus controls demonstrations, lunch, division into their respective disciplines and then finally review and evals.

  1. Task Teams

A.Training Academies: Caltrans and Hamilton Sundstrand are scheduled for the Fall semester with Sony and a Science corporation scheduled for the Spring of 2006. Per Theresa Garcia, Shadow Day gives the students a taste and the training academiesare another step up the ladder giving students more exposure to industry. The MESAAlliance would like to offer students four training academies per year and are currently taking requests for next year. Theresa shared the logo created for the t-shirts for the Fall semester which includes hosting companies (CALTRANS and Hamilton Sundstrand) and will also be placed on portfolios which were produced with funds from Dean Abina’s CACT program at San DiegoCityCollege. Also, Rafael shared the training academies concept and agendas at the recent MESA Statewide Director’s meeting and they were impressed by industry involvement and were encouraged attempt the same things at their campuses.

  1. Caltrans training academy, coordinated by Dave Stebbins, took place on September 30, 2005. 15 students, 4 observers including faculty attended. Students participated in Hands-on activity with Micro Station part of CAD. Students who attended will complete an evaluation and will receive certificates for their participation signed by California District 11 Director.
  2. Hamilton Sundstand training academy, coordinated by Tarrence Mack will be held on November 4, 2005. Students are currently signing up to attend. Tarrence gave a quick review of the day’s agenda which will include review of all departments i.e. Communications, Manufacturing, Quality, FAA, Market Feedback etc. Students will get to experience a little of each department, customer input and possibly the gas turbine training course may be included in the agenda as it is popular at Shadow Day. Tarrence Mack requested a file of the logo so that he can share with department supervisors and also mentioned that faculty attendance will show supervisors college buy in or support.

B.MESAdvantage: This is an internship program for students who have completed MESA components. Question to board: “how do we go about securing internship positions for these students through the IAB or industry partners?” Several reps mentioned that they could not set aside positions specifically for MESA students. Yet they did provide the following suggestions to help students secure internships within their organizations: Students working on senior projects, using TAs to identify potential students, provide a fair only for students looking for summer internships, send Resume CD with only MESAdvantage students. One company mentioned that after higheringseveral students they found out later at MESA event or similar that many of those students are MESA students. Please make sure student identify themselves as MESA on resumes or during interviews etc. Companies really want local students because it has been found that local students stay on longer because of their commitment to family and community.

Next Steps: Before the next IAB meeting a task team will be formed (and will conference call) to look at the MESA Presentation and develop process or suggestions. Then the team will report to the board on items such as Career Fair, CD Release, Interview Deadlines, Hire Deadlines etc. The following members have volunteered for the Task Team: Tarrence Mack-Hamilton Sundstrand, Dee Hooker-Caltrans, Meredith Marquis-Kyocera America, and John Walker-Kleinfelder.

  1. Other Topics
  2. IAB Goals ~ to identifying the needs of MESA and board members. Understanding where we came from, where we are and where we are going. Theresa Garcia asked: “Do members like where we are going, is it worth your time and are we meeting your needs?” The consensus from the board was yes. The floor was then open for discussion and one board member asked for an example of the MESA pipeline and success story.

“Maria Victoria Charles, started at San DiegoCityCollege and was one of the first MESA members on their campus. She participated in the SDSUMEPBridge for Engineering Transfer Students program and transferred to SDSU and studied Mechanical Engineering. While attending SDSU she worked as an intern for Hamilton Sundstrand and graduated with her BS in Mechanical Engineering. She is an older student, single mother, currently working on her Master’s degree and working full-time for Hamilton Sundstrand. She has donated scholarship funds to both San DiegoCityCollege and San Diego State University MESA students.”

Other SDSU MEP Alumni on the board and present at today’s meeting include IAB Chair, Dolores Ventura of Infrastructure Engineering Corporation and Tarrence Mack of Hamilton Sundstrand.

Tarrence Mack mentioned that a letter received from the SDSU College of Engineering Dean and shared with department supervisors/executives helped to secure money for MEP.

Theresa mentioned that the MEP website is currently being updated so that alumni can get/share information.

It was suggested to provide a newsletter to share with students and share with executives. Students can create, update, and become owners of newsletter/website where they can post their resumes and other info for industry to access.

Also identify students graduating and ready for hire. Pam Chambers shared that she hired 4 students and didn’t realize they were MESA students until she saw them at the SDSU –MEP End-of-Year Reception. She suggested a list of graduating students should be shared with IAB.

Theresa thanked everyone for these ideas and discussion. They will be discussed further, processed and any outcomes will be shared with the board.

  1. Summer Survey/IAB Member Form ~Summer Survey response was poor; only two returned. IAB Member Form should be completed here at the meeting and will be sent to the board via email for completion for those who could not be here today. This helps us update your contact information but also gives us an idea of your needs.
  1. Aztec Game (KGB Sky Show) on September 24, 2005 (SDSU vs. San Jose). Special thanks Tori Robinson and Sony for sponsoring the Aztec Football game for the IAB. Thank you to those who attended; we had a good turn out and everyone seemed to have a good time. Theresa mentioned that next time she will request special area for the IAB (she wasn’t aware that could be done but knows now that it can be).
  1. Life After Middle School (LAMS)~ Early Outreach Program: Theresa Garcia shared information about this program headed by a civil engineering student who is a member of the SDSU student chapter of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers). The LAMS mission is to give students in schools with minimal resources the opportunity to imagine themselves in a bright, productive, and challenging future. Flyers were distributed for this program. For more information please visit: or email Emir Williams at
  1. Buildingagenda for next meeting:
  2. Goals Summary
  3. Task Teams
  4. December Graduates
  1. Adjournment at 2:44 pm.

Next Meeting

Tuesday, December 13,2005, 1:00pm @ Infrastructure Engineering Corporation

Scripps Poway Parkway

Visit us at:

SD MESAAlliance -

SDSU MESA Engineering Program –

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