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President's Note | October 2024

Dear ASEM Community,

As my term as President comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the journey we have shared over this past year. I have been inspired by our diverse community of practitioners, academics, and students committed to advancing the field of engineering management.

This year, we spent time focusing on better defining our product offerings and how we provide them to members and beyond, for technical leaders and engineering managers around the world. We have identified more specific ways for the Functional Directors to meet our members where their needs are, and much insight has been provided by the Industry Advisory Board.

I look forward to seeing many of you in just a few days in Virginia Beach. Attendees will be experiencing 128 in person presentations, 19 virtual presentations, 6 interactive workshops, 3 panels sessions, and 2 keynote speeches throughout the conference. Check out the program at https://event.asem2024.exordo.com/. I hope to connect with many of you at the Welcome Reception on Wednesday or Thursday at the Social Event. Lastly, if you are unable to join us in person, you can register to attend the Annual Business Meeting on Friday streaming on Zoom: http://awh.wildapricot.org/event-5878684

ASEM is more than an organization—it is a global family united by a shared purpose. Our strategic partnerships have broadened our horizons and amplified our voice as we strive to make engineering management an essential cornerstone in industries and institutions globally. I am grateful to the Board of Directors, volunteers, and members who contributed to our presence, from organizing exceptional events to initiating projects.

As we prepare for a new chapter, I am confident that ASEM will continue to grow under the leadership of our incoming President, Dr. Jena Shafai Asgarpoor, CPEM. I am excited for all that the future holds for ASEM. I hope we can all remain committed to our shared vision, to support each other, and to continue driving excellence in engineering management for years to come.

Best,

Au.


President's Note | September 2024

Dear ASEM Community,

For those in the academic community, I hope your Fall semester has kicked off smoothly. For those of us in the field, we’re getting a view of what the end of the year push will look like. I hope that you dip into the Engineering Management toolbox to navigate, and feel free to reach into the ASEM network via Social Media where you may need guidance from seasoned EM's.

We are re-launching the ASEM partnership opportunity for Certified Knowledge Providers to deliver training on the EMBoK and our SSGB with Minitab, enabling growth of additional CAEM®, CPEM®, and SSGB around the world. The Director of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Larry Mallak, PhD, CPEM, F.ASEM, will be leading the committee to qualify candidates interested in delivering training. Thank you for your service!

Over the summer months, the next ASEM Secretary was elected! Shawn Brougham, CPEM, will serve as the ASEM Secretary for the 2024-2025 year before becoming the President-Elect and President in the upcoming years. Thank you to the body of membership that participated in this annual duty.

Conference registrations really soared during the Early Bird registration segment and we are approaching 200 attendees. I want to send acknowledgement to the 2024 IAC Committee, Dr. Hao Zhang, Dr. Ean Ng, Dr. Gana Natarajan, Dr. Neal Lewis, Dr. T. Steven Cotter, and Ms. Angie Cornelius for diligently working within constraints and delivering an awesome experience year over year. The quality of our technical program continues to impress me, and I'm

I would also like to draw attention to the ASEM supporters and advertisers for contributing to make the annual conference in Virginia Beach successful. In the past, we have had academic institutions, private sector organizations, and individuals contributing. If you or your organization would like to be a supporter of ASEM while advertising your business or services, please contact Dr. Tres Bishop and Angie Cornelius to learn about the different options. There are many ways to bundle a package to provide visibility to your brand at our in person conference in November and beyond.

Lastly, please feel free to connect with me at president@asem.org, the Board of Directors listed at asem.org/leadership, or with the greater ASEM community on LinkedIn.

Sincerely,

Annmarie

President's Note | August 2024

Dear Members,

I love the Olympics and how we can come together around the world. I am inspired by the pursuit of excellence, working as a team and with coaches (mentors), and the achievement of gold. The Olympics for athletes is ASEM for engineering managers. A diverse group, each having mastered our own sports (think civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, systems, or the like) grouped together by a common interest in management of technology and people in our sport/discipline.

Let's celebrate some gold star moments...

Congratulations to the University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate student group for chartering at the university and with us, as well as joining the ASEM Academic Partnerships. I'd like to thank James Brino and David Paulus for helping foster the relationship. UMASS… we look forward to you being a part of our community!

After defining the role of the society's Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Woodrow Winchester III is passing the baton. Thank you for your service and the base you built! (I am now recruiting to fill this role in the ASEM Board of Directors, reach out if interested.)

I’d also like to acknowledge those that attended the recent Membership Meetups. Perhaps it felt like walking into the Olympic Village of engineering managers from around the world. I always like seeing the jump off conversations and projects that come from gathering together.

Some of the talking points during networking are outlined below. I'm happy to continue the conversation with you offline, just shoot me a message if you are compelled to discuss any of these with me.

  • What does Engineering Management mean to you?
  • What are you most proud of in your engineering or management journey?
  • What do you need help with in your engineering or technical management path?
  • How can ASEM serve you best? How can you serve ASEM?
  • Was the session engaging? What would you like to see in the future?

Let's continue to have these conversations and more at the International Annual Conference in November. I'm looking forward to Making Waves with you in Virginia Beach. Early bird registration is available until 26 August 2024.

Sincerely,

Annmarie

President's Note | June 2024


Dear ASEM Members and Followers,

I hope this letter finds you well and thriving in your professional endeavors. As we have reached the halfway point of my term as President of the American Society for Engineering Management, I'd like to invite you to attend a Membership Gathering at the end of the month. Register so we can send you the Zoom link: asem.org/webinars

Per usual, I'd like to acknowledge some appointments, and thank these dedicated members for taking on a volunteer role:

      • Student Membership Director: David Paulus, PhD
      • IAB Industry Leadership Panel: Col Jimmy Harrington (Read Bio)

I am excited to share with you the significant progress and achievements. The Board of Directors and World Headquarters have been working on several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the value we provide to our members and strengthening our society's impact. Here are some of the highlights:

Professional Development Programs: We have expanded our range of professional development programs, offering more webinars, workshops, and certification courses tailored to the evolving needs of engineering managers. These events have facilitated knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the building of a stronger professional community. A project is well underway to produce an Engineering Project Management Body of Knowledge, and we look forward to the exciting content. Additionally, we are reviewing and re-invigorating the Certified Knowledge Provider program to vet qualified trainers for ASEM Certifications.

Research and Publications: Members and leadership of the society have supported and published numerous research papers and articles that address current challenges and trends in engineering management. The Engineering Management Journal continues to be a reputable source of knowledge and a platform for thought leadership in the field. The ASEM Blog continues to be a source of informal learnings from practicing engineering managers. We also have a few opportunities to participate in upcoming work by our membership (see links in eNews below).

Strategic Partnerships: We have been forging strategic partnerships with academic institutions, industry organizations, and other professional societies to broaden our reach and impact. These collaborations are opening up new opportunities for our members, including joint research projects, conference participation, and access to a wider range of resources. Our recent partnership with industry leaders in the Industry Advisory Board has enabled us to provide cutting-edge content and practical insights that you can apply directly in your careers. We are also thankful to the British University in Dubai, an ASEM-Certified program for their recognition of the ASEM at an upcoming Alumni event.

I want to express my gratitude to the Board of Directors, Fellows, Committee Members, and all of our volunteers, for your continued support and active participation in our society. It is through your dedication and involvement that we can advance our mission to promote engineering management as a discipline and support our members in their professional growth. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the field of engineering management and advancing our collective goals.

Please feel free to reach out with any suggestions, feedback, or questions. Your input is invaluable as we strive to serve you better. 

Sincerely,

Annmarie Uliano
ASEM President, 2023-24
President@asem.org

President's Note | April 2024


Dear ASEM Members and Followers,

With Spring underway, I wanted to send a note to celebrate the past quarter. I am happy to announce another round of appointments to the Board of Directors. I’m excited to see their future impact to the society in the areas they have volunteered.

Regional Directors

  • Alexandr M. Sokolov, PhD, CPEM, South West US Regional Director
  • Ying Thaviphoke, PhD, CPEM, North Central US Regional Director

Publications Director

  • Ona Egbue, PhD, CPEM, F.ASEM

Professional Membership Director

  • John Richards, PhD, PE

Additionally, we’ve had a changing of the guards in our Ad Hoc Directors.

Fellows Chair

  • COL Jim Schreiner, PhD, PMP, CPEM, F.ASEM

CEMAL President

  • Dave Wyrick, PhD, CPEM, F.ASEM

I’m very proud of the two successful workshops in February and March, championed by the Industrial Advisory Board chair and committee. We kicked it off with Build a Better Team: The Everest Climb, which simulated essentially a day in the life of an engineering manager. I attended the 2-part Seminar Series, AI and ML for Engineering Managers and the material and conversations were thought-provoking. Thanks to Yesim Sireli, Joe Wilck, and Larry Mallak for your passion and ingenuity, and for the Communications Team, Ali Kucukozyigit and Sanjana Tripathi, getting the word out.

The Board of Directors spent a day offline in late March, recentering on our metrics, and working through important initiatives for the Society and our members. Key topics included the CIP Code for Engineering Management, upcoming webinars and workshops, updates on our BoK and expansion, and revising the regional director’s role. We also moved the Tactical Plan to our website to provide more visibility to leadership and members. If any of these topics are of interest to you, please do not hesitate to reach out and let us know your ideas!

We also hosted a Student Chapter Summit, with attendees from 14 different universities. It was a great time connecting over ASEM trivia and hearing from the students what types of activities their members are interested in, the Case Competition –of course– being a highly desirable. We hope to host this event at least annually to help advertise the happenings at WHQ, share best practices and connections amongst chapter leadership, and encourage lifelong ASEM engagement with our certifications, professional development, and student-to-professional membership packages.

We are currently seeking a new Student Membership Director. Review the role description in the eNews below and reach out to me with your Resume or CV if you are interested in the position.

Annmarie Uliano

ASEM President, 2023-24

President@asem.org

President's Note | January 2024

Dear ASEM Members,

It is my privilege to update you on recent developments and key appointments that will shape the future of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM).

In line with my commitment to proactively drive the ASEM mission, I am delighted to announce appointments to both the Regional Directors and Publications Team. These individuals bring fresh perspectives to their roles, aligning with our society's goals.

Regional Directors

    1. James Brino, CAEM, Northeast US Regional Director
    2. Sage Kittelman, PhD, Northwest US Regional Director

Their leadership at the regional level will strengthen our community, fostering collaboration and engagement among members. By expanding our reach, we are better positioned to address the dynamic needs of our diverse membership in different regions around the world.

Associate Editor, EMBoK

Gary Nierengarten, EdD, CPEM

His commitment to advancing the field of Engineering Management and tenure in both industry and academia aligns with ASEM's dedication to scholarly impact and knowledge dissemination. Gary and Dr. Hiral Shah, Editor, are seeking authors and reviewers for the 6th Edition of The Guide to the Engineering Management Body of Knowledge (EMBoK). If you are interested in participating in this initiative, please complete the form by February 15, 2024

ASEM has planned an exciting array of initiatives and events in the coming year. Stay tuned for announcements regarding webinars, workshops, and membership forums that will enrich your experience as a member. These will provide valuable opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Speaking of professional development, the ASEM's Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM) was recently featured on the TechGuide career page for Engineering Managers.

Your involvement is pivotal to the success of our society. Whether it's attending events, presenting research at the annual conference, or volunteering for a committee such as contributing to the EMBoK, your participation contributes to the vibrancy of ASEM. Together, let’s chart a course for the future of Engineering Management that reflects the spirit of innovation and excellence that defines ASEM.

Annmarie Uliano

ASEM President, 2023-24

President@asem.org

President's Note | November 2023

Dear ASEM Community:

I am honored to assume the role of your President, and I want to express my gratitude for the trust and confidence you've placed upon me to lead our Society. The 2023 International Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, has left me with a profound sense of connection with so many of you, both in person and through our engaging virtual sessions.

My journey with ASEM began during my time as an MSEM student at Northeastern University in Boston, where I co-founded a student chapter alongside my peers from the Economic Decision Making class. As I graduated, my commitment to ASEM remained, and thanks to the guidance of Paul Kauffman, our former Executive Director, I was able to quickly get involved further with the society, particularly in social media management. My involvement in the Communications committee opened doors, ultimately leading to the opportunity to become the Director of Communications. During my tenure in this capacity, we achieved notable milestones, including a 15% growth in social media followers, an enhanced website design for Google analytics, improvements to the membership funnel and experience, and the consistent publication of Practice Periodical articles for practicing Engineering Managers.

I would like to take a moment to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Yesim Sireli, our immediate past President, for her outstanding contributions to the Society. I have long admired her unwavering dedication, from her early work as International Director to her recent endeavors in establishing the Industrial Advisory Board, both of which have been instrumental in forging valuable partnerships within our key markets. I am eager to put into action the recommendations from the 2023 Tactical plan.

As we embark on this new chapter together, I am excited about the journey that lies ahead as we collectively advance the field of engineering management. ASEM holds a bold vision of being the preeminent global organization for engineering management and representing the top thought leadership in the field. Our unwavering commitment to providing state-of-the-art products and services for engineering managers is aimed at advancing both the theory and practice of our discipline.

I eagerly look forward to the year ahead and the opportunity to collaborate with you. I am genuinely open to hearing your ideas and suggestions to further enhance our society for the greater good. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at President@asem.org.

Thank you for your dedication, and together, we will continue to shape the future of engineering management.

Annmarie Uliano
ASEM President, 2023-24

President's Note | October 2023

Dear ASEM Community:

The Denver Conference is almost here! Registrants may see the schedule by clicking on “at a glance” on the conference link and take in as many of the sessions, workshops, panels, and events as you like. I hope you attend or livestream the reception on Wednesday, the opening of the conference as well as our social event (in-person only) on Thursday, and particularly the Awards Banquet on Friday when we hand out awards to the deserving members of our community. We also plan to provide glimpses of the conference on our social media as it is underway, so check us out on LinkedIn and other platforms.

Due to high demand, two of our workshops at the Conference offer free pre-registration to interested conference registrants, so that everyone can reserve a seat. Please use this link to pre-register for the “Data Science and Analytics for Engineering Managers” workshop by Dr. Joe Wilck (October 25th, 2:15 PM - 4:30 PM MDT), and this link for the “Build a Resilient Team (BaRT) Experience” by Dr. Larry Mallak and Jonathan Rees (October 26th, 10:30-11:30 AM MDT).

I am excited to announce that we recently named new ASEM Directors. Our new Professional Development & Continuing Education Director is Dr. Larry Mallak who has been one of ASEM’s prominent leaders for many years. We are delighted to have him in this new position to which he will undoubtedly bring significant expertise. In addition, our World Headquarters named a new Special Projects Director, Dr. Terry Collins. Dr. Collins served as a Regional Director in the past, and we are happy to have him back on ASEM leadership.

As we highly appreciate the dedication and guidance of our loyal members, we are also proud to cultivate new leaders such as Mr. Sumit Chawla and Mr. Ernesto Primera. Mr. Chawla joined the ASEM Board of Directors as our new Southwest Regional Director and Mr. Primera as an Associate International Director to work with our International Director, Dr. Alex Gorod. Welcome aboard, Sumit and Ernesto! We recognize that all our new members and leaders bring in fresh perspectives, energy and synergy to this community.

Speaking of energy and synergy, we have accomplished a lot this past year together, haven’t we? We strategically appointed new leaders to join our ranks; created member spotlight interviews; reached out to a wider audience through new communications strategies; held online open forums to gather feedback from various stakeholders. We used that feedback to adjust our services and to begin building a path towards a bright future. We started a new Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program; established various new international sections and student chapters; certified and recertified several academic programs. We added a practitioner and industry track to our annual conference; partnered with other international parties to organize joint events; generated up-to-date workshops and webinars; and ended up with a record number of interest in our annual conference and extraordinary support from various partners and sponsors. We even created our first ever Industry Advisory Board (IAB)!

On that note, we are continuously accepting new private and public sector decision-makers worldwide to join our Industry Leadership Panel. The IAB Policy can be found here for more information. If you are interested in becoming a part of this dynamic Board or if you would like to nominate someone, as always, please continue to reach out to me.

At the end of the Awards Banquet in Denver, I will be handing over the Presidency to the very capable hands of our current President-Elect, Ms. Annmarie Uliano. Please let me end this note by thanking our community for allowing me to lead this esteemed organization during the past year. I am grateful for the stimulating teamwork and support I received from our leadership, members, and non-members alike. It has been an honor and a privilege.

Yesim Sireli, Ph.D., CPEM, F-ASEM


President's Note | September 2023


Dear ASEM Community:

I am delighted to announce that two new members have recently joined our Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Dr. Cyril Mark Taylor, CPEM, CISSP, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the United States Special Operations Command is now the 8th member of the IAB’s industry representative group. And, Dr. Alvaro Rodriguez Prieto, CPEM, the Asset Integrity & Performance Management Advisor to SGS. and an Associate Professor at UNED, Spain, is our newest addition to the IAB Steering Committee. 

Welcome aboard Mark and Alvaro! As always, if you would like to join the IAB or to nominate someone who is a high-mid level decision-maker in a private, non-profit, or government organization in or out of the United States, please do not hesitate to contact me at President@asem.org.

As we grow the IAB, our International Annual Conference has been widening its reach as well. That growth brings more of our community members together and the need arises to register for different events prior to the conference. One such event is the Industry Tour of US Mint. Since space is limited and filling up fast, I hope you consider registering for the tour soon.

Lastly, It is with great sadness I inform you that ASEM’s former International Director and EU Section President, Willy Van Overschée, has passed away. Willy had served the Society for many years and made significant contributions to the development of the EU Section; other international sections, to the EMBoK, and to ASEM’s tactical planning efforts. As we say farewell to a friend, we are grateful for the valuable knowledge and vast experience he generously shared with us.
 
Best wishes to all…


President's Note | August 2023


Dear ASEM Community:

As the time approaches for the Annual Conference in Denver, the early bird registration deadline is near. Please consider registering before August 15th to take advantage of the lower fees.

Many thanks to our supporters and advertisers for helping ASEM to make this conference a success. We currently have academic and private sector organizations as well as individuals signing up. If you or your organization would like to be a supporter/advertiser, please contact Dr. Tres Bishop and Angie Cornelius to learn about the different options you can choose.

Our Industry Advisory Board (IAB) continues to grow! We are pleased to announce that Anthony "Tony" Klaumann, PE, Associate Vice President - NE/IA Freight Rail Track Section Manager at HDR, has accepted our invitation to become the seventh member of the IAB. Welcome, Tony! If you would like to join this Board or to nominate someone who is a high-mid level decision-maker in a private, non-profit, or government organization in or out of the United States, please do not hesitate to contact me at President@asem.org.

As ASEM continues its expansion worldwide as well, we have recently welcomed a new ASEM Section in Ecuador! Congratulations and many thanks to our members in that country for their hard work and enthusiasm to make it happen. Also, special thanks to our International Director, Alex Gorod, for his leadership.

If you would like to start a section in your part of the world, please get in touch with Dr. Gorod. If you are interested in starting a student chapter, please contact our Student Membership Director, Ona Egbue who has been helping international student chapters to develop such as the Pakistan Student Chapter we welcomed last month.

Last but certainly not least, we are happy to announce that our new Secretary has been elected! Ganapathy S. “Gana” Natarajan, Ph.D., CPEM, ASEM Fellow, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Platteville, will serve as the ASEM Secretary for the 2023-2024 year before becoming the President-Elect and President in the following years. Congratulations, Gana!

Looking forward to meeting everyone who will attend the conference either in-person or virtually in Denver. And, many thanks to our entire community for their support.

President's Note | July 2023


Dear ASEM Community:

I hope you are having a great summer!

If you have submitted a paper, presentation, or a workshop, tutorial or panel proposal to the Denver Conference, you have probably received a submission notification by now. We continue to be very excited about the amount of interest in attendance and the variety of quality work sent our way. Thank you!

Don’t forget to book your roomand register as soon as possible. While you register, I hope you consider reserving a space for this year’s Social Event at the Denver Center for Performing Arts! This is a ticketed event ($20 per person) and space is limited. If you intend on participating this event, please make sure it is added to your registration.

As ASEM continues to grow worldwide, we have recently welcomed a new Student Chapter in Pakistan! Congratulations and many thanks to our members in that country for establishing ASEM’s first international Student Chapter!

If you are interested in creating new Student Chapters or ASEM Sections in your part of the world, please do not hesitate to contact our International Director, Alex Gorod and/or our Student Membership Director, Ona Egbue.

As part of our volunteerism program, we are searching for dynamic, social media-savvy individuals to help with our communications activities. If you are interested in joining the communications team as a volunteer, please feel free to contact our Communications Director, Ali Kucukozyigit, and/or President-Elect, Annmarie Uliano.

Please visit our leadership page for the contact information you may need to reach out to us.

And, finally, it is time for the ASEM Award Nominations! Each year, the Society gives out a variety of awards to deserving members, students, authors, and chapters. The nominations are accepted through July 30th. Please visit https://asem.org/Society-Awards to review the award descriptions plus criteria and consider using the form there to submit a nomination (or two, or three…).

Enjoy your summer!


President's Note | June 2023

Dear ASEM Community:

As you may recall, our Executive Director, Dr. Gene Dixon is stepping down this month. We are grateful for his outstanding service and dedication to the Society, especially during the pandemic times and beyond. We are also happy to know that he will continue to offer his leadership and in-depth knowledge for the advancement of the Society through various significant projects. On behalf of the ASEM community, thank you, Gene!

On that note, please allow me to introduce ASEM’s new Executive Director, Dr. Suzanna ‘Suzie’ Long! Dr. Long is currently the Dean of Engineering at the University of Idaho and has been an irreplaceable member of ASEM for many years. She has served at several Board of Directors positions including the role of ASEM President during the 2018-2019 term. With many thanks for your committed service and leadership, welcome home, Suzie!

Speaking of leadership, our Industry Advisory Board (IAB) continues to grow. Our newest member is Dr. Hannelie Nel, the Regional Quality, Risk and HSE Manager for UAE, Oman, North Africa and Iraq at Worley. We welcome Dr. Nel to the Board and look forward to her and all our IAB members’ instrumental guidance and support to achieve ASEM’s mission and vision together.

If you are interested in joining the IAB or if you would like to nominate someone, as always, I will be happy to discuss. Please do not hesitate to contact me at President@asem.org. In the meantime, please check out the new IAB webpage at https://asem.org/IAB to learn more about our current members.

Changing gears, if you recall, I have been hosting online open forums for different ASEM stakeholders this year such as industry and academic professionals. These sessions are open to everyone, member or not, regardless of what stakeholder group they are in, free of charge. Another forum will be held on June 9th, 12-1:30 U.S. Eastern Time, particularly for international participants. As usual, attendees who are non-members will be offered 10% off on new membership fees. Pre-registration is necessary to receive the zoom link prior to the event. For registration and more information about the forum, please visit this page. This is likely to be my last open forum, and I am looking forward to connecting with you at this event.

Since we are on the subject of events, let us talk about one of our favorite ones: the International Annual Conference! We are very excited about what awaits all of us in Denver. We received an extraordinary number of papers, so we expect a significant attendance boost. We are also eager to facilitate our new and popular industry track, workshops, panels, social event and tours. It is going to be a terrific gathering! Don’t forget to book your roomand register as soon as possible.

Moving onto a couple of other topics, like many other organizations, ASEM is not immune to the effects of inflation, unfortunately. As we announced before, there will be a slight increase in our membership dues (scroll down) to take effect on July 1, 2023. Therefore, we would like to remind you that if you desire to take advantage of the current rates before the due increase, you may want to apply for new membership or extend your current membership through the end of June.

Last but not least, have you reviewed our Job Announcements page lately? The number and variety of the ads have been on the rise there. I hope both the employers and the prospective employees in industry and academia consider utilizing this service more and more, in line with the growing trend we are on.

Until we meet again, I hope the month of June is the start of a great summer for all of you.


President's Note | May 2023


Dear ASEM Community:

The International Annual Conference preparation is going full steam ahead!  The draft paper submission deadline is May 30th, and more information on that and other deadlines are provided here. We expect higher in-person participation, so it is time to book your room at the conference venue and register for the conference. We are looking forward to meeting you in Denver.

We have a new two-part online seminar series titled “Strategic Data Science for Engineering Managers” by Dr. Joe Wilck. It is coming up on May 11th (part 1) and 18th(part 2), 1-2:30 pm U.S. Eastern Time. For more information and pre-registration, please visit our event page.

Our Industry Advisory Board (IAB) is growing. If you are or a contact of yours is interested in joining this Board, please feel free to email me at President@asem.org. I will be happy to provide more information and discuss the details.

We are also still accepting volunteers to join our experimental online domain groups. These groups aim to provide interactive networking, idea-exchange, and mentorship opportunities to the group members (even if you are not yet an ASEM member). If you would like to be a volunteer, please fill out this form and let’s get you started!

We are seeking volunteers for our webinar committee as well. This committee coordinates the effort of organizing and offering ASEM-supported webinars. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please email Ona Egbue, ASEM Student Membership Director at StudentMembership@asem.org and Cesar Poveda, ASEM Professional Development & Continuing Education Director at ProfessionalDevelopment@asem.org. For more information on the volunteers’ roles, please visit eNews.

There will be another online forum that I will be hosting. It is particularly directed to international participants this time, but, as always, open to everyone. Please stay tuned for the date to be announced in the near future.

It is great to experience the togetherness and growth of our community. Thank you for your continuing support in ASEM’s mission to advance the discipline and facilitate professional development and networking among engineering managers worldwide.


President's Note | April 2023


Dear ASEM Community:

Great news! We have received a record number of abstracts to the upcoming International Annual Conference! As usual and perhaps even more so this time, the conference will be a special opportunity for engineering managers to network in a lively, welcoming environment. This also means that it is time to book your room at the conference venue, and sooner the better. Many thanks for your support. We are looking forward to meeting everyone in Denver in October 2023.

As ASEM speeds up its continuing education activities, we will offer our first online workshop titled “Build a Better Team: The Everest Climb” on April 14th, 2023, 11 am – 1:30 pm U.S. Eastern Time. Please see the short video from the instructors, Dr. Larry Mallak and Mr. Jonathan Rees, and review the registration page for more information.

This workshop is in partnership with Western Michigan University and has been offered to many corporate attendees over the past ten years. It engages participants in one of five specific team roles as they do a simulated climb of Mount Everest. The teams encounter challenges during the climb. That’s all we can say here – the rest is revealed during the experience. Past participants have described it as one of the best team experiences they have ever had. ASEM is hosting it at an introductory, one-time price, so I hope you consider taking advantage of it by registering soon to save a spot.

Even though there will be a slight increase in our membership dues to take effect on July 1, 2023, ASEM continues to be committed to offering some of its up-to-date, informative continuing education events free of charge. There is a new online webinar coming up by Dr. Joe Wilck, on April 27th, 2023, 12 – 1 pm U.S. Eastern Time. This webinar will provide an overview of ChatGPT and how to effectively use it for professional purposes. The session will include tips and tricks so that you know what it is good for and what it is not. If you are interested in this popular topic, please register here (no charge, open to everyone).

Dr. Wilck will also facilitate a two-part workshop on Data Science and Analytics for Engineering Managers on May 11th and 18th. The details will be announced soon, so please stay tuned.

As part of our ongoing industry outreach, new members continue to join our Industry Advisory Board (IAB). We extend a warm welcome to our latest IAB member, Dr. David Murfett, the Global Systems Engineering Manager at REDARC Electronics Pty Ltd, Australia. We thank Dr. Murfett for coming aboard and all our IAB members for their invaluable encouragement, guidance and contributions.

If you are or a contact of yours is interested in joining the IAB, please feel free to email me at President@asem.org. I will be happy to provide more information and discuss the details.

Finally, we are still accepting volunteers to join our experimental online domain groups. These groups aim to provide interactive networking, idea-exchange, and mentorship opportunities to the group members (even if you are not yet an ASEM member). If you would like to be a volunteer, please fill out this form and let’s get you started!

It is always great to connect with current and prospective members on virtual or in-person events. For now, I hope to ‘meet’ you on Mount Everest on April 14th!

President's Note | March 2023

Dear ASEM Community:

First, let me announce that the abstract deadline for our 2023 International Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, has been extended to March 13th! Remember that, alongside our traditional call for technical / research papers, we added a Practitioner’s and Industry track this year. So, we hope to welcome all technical / research and industry friends in Denver! Please check out the updated call for papers for both tracks here: https://asem.org/IAC-CFP.

You may want to send an abstract not only for a full paper, but also for abstract only (presentation), a panel, workshop or tutorial. We are also looking for Track Chairs, so please let me know if you would like to be one (President@asem.org).

Second, our open forums have generated a lot of energy and great ideas! We hosted many attendees from industry and academia, and from all over the world! Thank you for participating in these events and engaging with the larger ASEM community. More forums will be added in the future.

As a direct result of your feedback as well as our Industry Advisory Board’s (IAB), new online workshops are coming up! The first one will take place on April 14th, 11 am – 1:30 pm, U.S. Eastern Time. This workshop will be instructed by our Northeast and North-Central Regional Director, Dr. Larry Mallak and his colleague from the United Kingdom, Jonathan Rees. It is titled “Build a Better Team: The Harvard Everest Climb,” and will be offered in collaboration with Western Michigan University. More information will be provided shortly so please stay tuned!

Another workshop, tentatively titled as “Strategic Data Science for Engineering Managers,” will be taught by our Treasurer, Dr. Joe Wilck. We are hoping for a May 2023 date for this event, so please be on the look-out for that as well.

Many thanks to Dr. Larry Mallak, Mr. Jonathan Rees, Western Michigan University, and Dr. Joe Wilck, for all of their hard work and dedication to bring these professional training opportunities to fruition.

Third, again, as a direct result of forum attendees’ and the IAB’s feedback, we are starting to experiment with online domain groups! Our goals are to provide networking opportunities to ASEM members with an interest in various group topics, to exchange ideas, find solutions to any problems put forward by group members, and even create mentorship relationships.

The first domain group takes its title from one of our EMBoK domains: “Leadership and Organizational Management.” I am looking forward to moderating this group and will be happy to include more volunteers in this team (please email me at President@asem.org, if you would like to join).

Another online group will work on “Information Technology / Artificial Intelligence (IT / AI).” Many thanks to ASEM’s Professional Membership Director, COL Jim Schreiner, for moderating this group (if you would like to join, please email him at Membership@asem.org).

Last but certainly not least, congratulations to Rice University for becoming ASEM's newest Certified Program (MEML; Masters in Engineering Management and Leadership)! To find out more about ASEM's Graduate Program Certification, visit https://asem.org/Graduate-Program-Cert.

Let’s fire up the abstract submission link at https://asem2023.exordo.com by March 13th!

President's Note | February 2023

Dear ASEM Community,

Hard to believe but it is time to make plans for the 2023 International Annual Conference already! The conference will take place between October 25th and 28th in the Mile High City, Denver, Colorado where we will be “Climbing Higher with Engineering Management!” The deadline for an abstract is March 6th!

One new addition to the conference this year is our new Practitioner and Industry Track! Along with the outstanding research-focused work we call for, the new track provides an opportunity for authors to highlight key insights and new application challenges that arise from real world implementations of engineering management practice and theory. Please visit our Call for Papers for more information at https://www.asem.org/IAC-CFP where, beside paper submissions, we also encourage you to propose panels and workshops.

In-person presentation will take place on Thursday (October 26th) and Friday (October 27th), and virtual presentation on Saturday (October 28th). For more information about the conference, please visit https://asem.org/Conference. The dates for submissions can be found at https://www.asem.org/IAC_Dates and the submission instructions at https://www.asem.org/IAC-Author-Instructions.

An online Member Town Hall is coming up on February 24th to answer any questions about the conference, moderated by our Executive Director, Dr. Gene Dixon: https://www.asem.org/event-5129153. Many thanks to our hosts at the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as ASEM’s Conference Planning Committee for working hard to organize an exciting event for all participants, in-person and virtual.

Speaking of events, as you may recall, we have been organizing online open forums to provide updates on new ASEM services and at the same time, to hear from our community to serve them better. These services include a new mentorship program, upcoming workshops, webinars, networking opportunities and many others. Registration to these forums is free and forum participants who are not members will receive an offer of 10% off on membership fees.

Two new forums are comping up in February, one for industry professionals / leaders on Friday, February 10th, 12 – 1:30 pm ET (to receive the Zoom link, pre-register at https://asem.org/event-5150263), followed by the one for academic professionals on Friday, February 17th, 12 – 1:30 pm ET (to receive the Zoom link, pre-register at https://asem.org/event-5150275).

I will be moderating these forums where the participants will have an opportunity to learn about the very latest developments in ASEM, and then have an interactive discussion around five key questions to move this organization forward as it provides the greatest benefit to its members. The forums will also be attended by one of our workshop instructors and Regional Directors, Dr. Larry Mallak, as well as ASEM Communications Director, Patrick Sweet, and Professional Membership Director, COL Jim Schreiner, Ph.D. They will provide first-hand insight about the contents of our upcoming workshops, new online networking tools, and the ASEM mentorship program. During these sessions, I will make an announcement to establish a team of volunteers as well, so please do not miss these events if you would like to get more closely involved in ASEM.

In summary, we strongly encourage you to consider attending these forums and choose the one that is most appropriate for you (industry or academia). Worldwide participation is most welcome!

Moving on to another important topic, it saddens me to announce that our Executive Director, Dr. Gene Dixon, is stepping down from his position. He has been serving the Society in this role for the last three years, and successfully guided this organization through the unprecedented times of the pandemic. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Dixon for his invaluable leadership.

As a result, ASEM is searching for a new Executive Director (for the ad, please visit https://asem.org/Position-Announcements/ . If you are interested in applying for this voluntary leadership position, please submit an application package consisting of a complete resume/CV, a cover letter detailing your interests, including a statement of your objectives and goals if selected, and a recommendation from two members of the society, to me at President@asem.org, by March 31st, 2023, with “Executive Director Application” in the message subject line.

Last but not least, let us welcome Thomas J. Day, Ph.D., to ASEM’s Industry Advisory Board (IAB)! Dr. Day is the Program Management Branch Chief at the NOAA’s National Weather Service and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Please note that we are still accepting new industry leaders to the IAB. If you are interested in joining this Board or if you would like to nominate someone, please do not hesitate to contact me at President@asem.org.

I hope to see you online throughout the year and meet you in Denver on October 25th!

President's Note | November 2022

I am deeply honored and privileged to serve as ASEM’s 2022-2023 President. In this role, my goals are to make sure our great organization continues to meet and exceed its stakeholders’ needs, and to maintain ASEM’s position as a bridge between academia and industry. In this context, together with our Board of Directors and members, I aim to work on ASEM’s industry outreach, value proposition and promotional activities. Towards these goals, we have recently formed an Industry Advisory Board (IAD). With many thanks for their enthusiastic involvement, the founding industry members of this Board are (in no particular order) Mike Holman, Vice President, Production Operations at Coleman Aerospace and a recent ASEM Fellow; Shawn Brougham, Vice President of Engineering in Altec; and Tres Bishop, Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs for DaVita Labs and the instructor of ASEM’s Six Sigma Green Belt Certification training. We will be adding other prominent companies to the team in the future.

The IAD is supported by a group of ASEM Officers and members, including (in no particular order) Paul Kauffmann, ASEM’s Special Projects Director; Jim Schneider, Professional Membership Director; Patrick Sweet, Communications Director; Patricia Anzalone, Professional Society Outreach Director; Richard Grandrino, ASEM member, and myself.

We will also be hosting online open forums soon to have conversations with various stakeholders. Their inputs will provide important data for us to act upon as we carry ASEM’s successful path into the future. We have already collected feedback from the IAD and several members, and as a direct result of their inputs, we are working on creating domain groups, workshops, webinars and more to benefit our members.

Another new addition to ASEM’s social media content will be various spotlight series with different themes. Through these, we are determined to celebrate the contributions of our members to ASEM and the engineering management profession.

ASEM is speeding up its partnerships with other organizations as well. Most recently, we co-organized the International Engineering and Technology Management Summit in Istanbul, together with Istanbul Technical University and Bahcesehir University (https://etms.itu.edu.tr/2022/). Our Officers, Greg Sedrick, ASEM’s Past President; Willy van Overschee, International Director; Alex Gorod and Leonie Kay Hallo, Co-Presidents of ASEM’s Southeast Asia & Pacific Section and myself were invited to deliver keynotes, organize panels and international sessions for this event.

Even though the ASEM community is growing on a global scale, this organization is a family in spirit. We are determined to maintain that spirit while providing great networking and professional development opportunities to our members. Please attend the online forums to voice your opinions; join us at other events such as the 2023 International Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, participate in joint events that we co- organize, workshops, webinars, certification programs, domain groups when available, and many more…

I will be happy to connect with anyone who wants to join this exceptional community and desires to be more involved. If you have any ideas to assist ASEM to fulfill its aforementioned goals, or if you are a representative of an organization that wants to become a member of our Industry Advisory Board, or if you would like to partner with us in another capacity, please email me at President@asem.org.

The theme of last month’s conference in Tampa was “Engineering Managers as Champions of Change.” Let’s get the ball rolling and change together to reach new heights!



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Dr. Bill Daughton

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