Robert Holden - Chair

Wessler Engineering, Inc. is a multi-disciplined engineering firm headquartered in Indianapolis. Dr. Holden is the head of the Wastewater Group and a senior project manager for Wessler. Dr. Holden is experienced in project design and management, production oversight and on-site inspection of municipal and industrial projects. He has 24 years of experience with a focus on wastewater treatment, collection systems, combined sewer separation, and sewer rehabilitation. His industrial experience includes design and regulatory activities in several fields of engineering and a wide array of industries ranging in size from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He has participated in the planning, design, construction inspection and administration on wastewater projects ranging in size from 0.25 to 300 million gallons per day in capacity. Dr. Holden graduated from Purdue in Civil Engineering earning his BSCE in 1990, MSCE in 1992 and Ph.D. in 1999.

 

Steven Fehribach - Vice Chair

As the Owner and President of A&F Engineering Co., LLC for the past 29 years, Mr. Fehribach has managed his multi-disciplined civil engineering firm in the areas of civil site engineering, transportation operation and analysis, and roadway design engineering. Mr. Fehribach is able to use his more than 30 years of experience in traffic engineering, forensic engineering analysis, transportation planning, and highway design to provide valuable insight and maintain client relationships while also marketing the firm throughout the State of Indiana. As a second-generation Purdue University Alumni, Mr. Fehribach understands the important impact and influence that an engineering degree from Purdue can achieve. Mr. Fehribach's father started A&F in 1966, and since he has taken over the company, it has grown significantly including adding the civil site engineering department. Mr. Fehribach takes pride in working with communities in central Indiana and throughout the state to improve our roadway infrastructures and help communities grow through traffic analyses and work with private developers. The firm is prequalified with the Indiana Department of Transportation to provide seventeen (17) different engineering services, and Mr. Fehribach continues to look for ways to grow A&F Engineering in a way that will best serve the State. Mr. Fehribach and his wife, Lauri have four children. Lauri Fehribach graduated from Purdue University in 1985 with a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management, and their son Joseph Fehribach graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2015. Their daughter Megan Fehribach is a current civil engineering student at Purdue as well. Mr. Fehribach is also a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association and a longstanding member of the John Purdue Club.

 

Robert L. Bowen

Robert Bowen has distinguished himself in the construction industry as the founder and owner of Bowen Engineering Corp., a multi-market company specializing in water and wastewater treatment plants and energy utility construction. The company, based in the Indianapolis area, works in 15 states in the Midwest and Southeastern United States. Mr. Bowen was born in Bluffton, Ind., and raised in Indianapolis, where he currently resides. He attended Purdue, receiving his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1962. After several years as a project manager and stockholder at W.M. Lyles Construction Co. in California, he returned to Indiana in 1967 to start his own company. He is considered an authority on preplanning and leadership practices in construction. He is a founder and instructor of the Associated General Contractors Project Manager Institute. Bowen Engineering has received four AGC Build America Awards (the Oscar of the construction industry), including one for the $57 million Lafayette Wastewater Treatment Plant addition in 2004. Robert, along with his wife, Terry, established the Bowen Foundation 13 years ago to provide scholarships to minority students in Indianapolis to help them pursue an education past high school. About 300 students have received more than $750,000 in scholarships through this foundation. The Bowens, along with Purdue President Martin Jischke, founded Science Bound, a Purdue program initiated in 2002. The program mentors students from Indianapolis Public Schools starting in eighth grade through high school and encourages them to pursue careers in science and technical fields. Science Bound students receive an opportunity to earn a full-tuition scholarship to Purdue. The Bowens also provided financial support to Purdue for the Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen High-Scale Performance Civil Engineering Laboratory, an $11 million research facility that allows engineers to test structures such as bridges and buildings while focusing on making construction materials more durable, safer, and earthquake resistant. In 2005, the Bowens received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award by the Indiana chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for their generous financial support of education.

 

Christopher B. Burke

The Burke Group of Companies have a total staff of 400 with 8 offices in Indiana and Illinois. Dr. Burke is active in professional societies including leadership positions in ASCE and the Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois. He has received awards from Purdue including the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1998. He has served on the Advisory Board since 1992 and Chair of the group in 1997-1999.

 

Willis R. Conner

American Structurepoint, Inc., a multi-discipline engineering and architecture consulting firm headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. The firm currently has a staff of over 250 with 5 offices in Indiana and Ohio. Founded in 1966, American Structurepoint specializes in transportation planning and design, environmental and civil engineering, architecture, structural engineering, surveying, forensics, information technology consulting and construction inspection services. Rick graduated from Purdue University, is a past President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana and is active in other service groups in his community. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Indiana and 25 other states. Rick is married to Penny Kaylor Conner (Purdue '76). They have two children, Greg (Purdue '05) and Amy (Wittenberg '06).

 

James Cure

Jim's hometown is Martinsville, IN, where he graduated from high school in 1965; he entered Purdue that fall in Industrial Design. In 1968 he joined the Navy, serving four years in the Naval Security Group as a Communication Technician (CTO2). After his discharge in February 1972, Jim returned to Purdue to pursue a Civil Engineering degree in Construction Management. During Jim's senior year, he served as the President of the ASCE student chapter. Post-Purdue, Jim worked for BMW Constructors in Indianapolis for four years, and in 1979 he was hired by Hoffman Construction in Portland, Oregon, as a Contract Manager. In 1982 Jim joined Fullman Company where he became a Vice President of the Advanced Technology Division specializing in high purity piping systems for the semiconductor industry. In 2000, Jim joined Advanced Technology Group as President, where he remained until his retirement, July 1st, 2007. Jim remains active on various boards and chaired a Veteran's Day golf tournament, Get Wet for Vet. (Think November in Oregon!) Jim has been married to Carol since 1973. They have three children, BJ (BSCE Purdue 1998), Katy and Libby, and four wonderful grandchildren. Jim is active in their church and enjoys golfing, singing with The Glory Singers, travel and hiking, among other things. Jim comes from a long line of Purdue people-his dad and all four siblings are proud alumni.

 

Jan Everett

M. Janet Everett is a Vice President with URS Corporation Southern and the Business Line Leader for Surface Transportation in Florida. In this capacity, she is responsible for business development and project management for roadway, bridge, transit and design/build projects. She has spent her entire career working for private consulting firms specializing in multi-disciplinary assignments involving area-wide transportation studies, corridor studies, project development/NEPA studies, arterial and controlled access facility design, and interchange justification reports, with the last 25 years at URS Corporation. Ms. Everett is a Registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona and Washington. Major project accomplishments during her career include serving as Project Manager for FDOT District 5 General Engineering Consultant contracts since 1999; an EIS for reconstruction of 43 miles of I-4 through the Orlando metropolitan area; managed lanes projects in Hillsborough County and the Orlando metropolitan area; and the development, evaluation and implementation of SunRail, the commuter rail system currently under construction in the Orlando metropolitan area.

 

Kevin Fitzpatrick

Kevin Fitzpatrick is Benesch's President and Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the strategic vision that guides the 75-year-old planning, engineering and professional services firm. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Benesch employs more than 900 people in 40 offices across the U.S. He oversees the implementation of Benesch's strategic plan and works with the executive management team to evaluate strategies and pursue initiatives aimed at achieving the company's growth goals. Kevin has played an instrumental role in Benesch's growth in recent years. M&A activity has been a key factor to the company's success. Prior to being named President and CEO in 2020, Kevin held several positions within Benesch. The most recent of which was Great Lakes Regional Manager where he was responsible for overseeing the operations and business development functions for the firm's Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Railroad Divisions. Kevin is currently Chairman of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, Planning and Design Division; a member of Purdue University's Civil Engineering Advisory Council; and a member of ACEC's Design Professionals Coalition.

 

Erin Flanigan

Erin Flanigan, P.E., PMP is a Principal with Applied Research Associates (ARA) in the Washington, D.C. region. In this role, she supports clients nationwide in the advancement of transportation systems management and operations, safety, emerging technologies, and infrastructure projects. Ms. Flanigan leads and manages research, analysis, and emerging technology projects, with the last 18 years specifically concentrating on key federal transportation programs for the Federal Highway Administration, National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Ms. Flanigan is a registered professional engineer and certified project management professional. She earned a Bachelor's of Civil Engineering from Purdue University and a Master's of Science from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2017, she was honored with a Purdue Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award.

 

Clayton Force

Clayton Force, P.E., serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Force Construction Co., Inc., a self-performing general contracting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in Columbus, IN. His exposure to construction started at an early age and continued with his work as a summer laborer for the family-run firm through high school and college. He earned both his civil engineering degrees from Purdue University, having graduated with his BS in 2002 and his MS in 2003. After college, he moved to Chicago where he worked in the construction and civil engineering industry and met his wife, Angela, a fellow 2002 Purdue graduate. Clayton and Angela moved to Columbus in 2011 and have three children, Julianne, Dawson, and Malcolm. Active in a variety of civic and industry associations, Clayton serves on the board of the Associated General Contractors of Indiana, Horizon Bank Advisory Board, IUPUC Advisory Board, and is chairman of the Columbus City Utilities Service Board.

 

Claudia Gunsch

Claudia Gunsch is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University. She began her academic career at Purdue University where she earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1998. She then matriculated to Clemson University where she earned her M.S. in 2000 and immediately entered the doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin. After obtaining her PhD, she joined the Duke Faculty in August 2004. Dr. Gunsch's research bridges environmental engineering and molecular biotechnology. Current research projects focus on investigating the impacts of emerging contaminants on biological treatment processes, developing genetic bioaugmentation technologies for improving the bioremediation efficacy of recalcitrant contaminants, studying microbial evolution following exposure to anthropogenic contaminants and developing innovative water treatment technologies for industrial and developing world applications. She is the recipient of the 2009 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award. She is a member of the Editorial Board for Industrial Biotechnology and also serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Biodegradation.

 

Jarvis Jointer

Jarvis Jointer, PE, is the founder of JQOL, an engineering firm offering site & civil, structural, multimodal, and transportation engineering along with construction administration, survey, and sustainability services. An Indianapolis native and Purdue alumnus, Jarvis spent his career in various engineering and business development roles before starting JQOL - Quality of Life, in 2019. Jarvis is a member of several professional associations including the Purdue University Admissions Advisory Committee, Community Action of Greater Indianapolis (CAGI) Executive Board, Indiana Water Environmental Association (IWEA) Young Professionals Committee Chair, and the Carmel Local Improvement Bond Bank Board Vice Chair. Jarvis enjoys spending time with his twins and their new dog, watching Purdue sports, and discovering new ways to "Improve Quality of Life through Engineering."

 

Vasiliki (Vicky) Keramida

Dr. Keramida has over 25 years experience in investigations and remediation technologies, water and waste management, and sustainable development, and holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Purdue University. She is the author of chapters on waste treatment processes and landfill remediation in two technical textbooks and has published and presented over 200 technical papers and lectures. She holds a patent on the treatment of hazardous wastes and has received many awards for technical excellence and business leadership. Dr. Keramida is a nationally recognized expert on the management of contaminated properties, Brownfield processes, water pollution, and environmental management. She has served as an expert witness in many cases involving complex investigation/remediation issues; water quality, permits and fish kills; and toxicology and the impacts of chemicals on human health. She is a member of the KERAMIDA Senior Experts Group.

 

William M. Lyles IV

Will is from Fresno, California and is currently a Senior Vice President of Lyles Diversified, Inc. (LDI). LDI was founded by Will's grandparents. The majority of his career has been spent with the Lyles Construction Group, which he currently oversees for LDI. The Group performs infrastructure construction throughout California and occasionally Northern Nevada. The group is one of the leading water and environmental contractors in the state. Their work is obtained through the competitive bid process and negotiated design-build. Will also has responsibility for investments in limited partnerships; publicly traded stocks and shareholder services. Will has a more limited, but expanding involvement with agriculture operations, as well as rental and development partnerships. Will's community service includes, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno County and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board at California State University, Fresno (CSUF). He is a past Chair of both organizations. He also serves as the President of CSUF's Advisory Board. Within YPO/WPO, he has served as Chapter Chair of the YPO San Joaquin Valley Chapter; Network Chair of the Construction Network and WPO Event Chair for the Pacific Region. Currently, he is acting as Forum Chair for the Family Business Network. Will graduated from Purdue University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Civil Engineering and a second BS in Economics. He enjoys playing tennis and actively participates in the Fresno USTA Tennis Leagues.

 

Doreen Mitchell

Doreen Mitchell serves as Vice President, PMO at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, FL where she oversees various projects within the company's Parks and Resorts sectors. 2010 included Doreen's most recent promotion to VP of Experience Development in the project management office where she works on an interdisciplinary project designed to enhance the overall guest experience. Over the course of Doreen's 25 year career at Disney, she has been recognized for her efforts by receiving prestigious accolades such as the Walt Disney World Partners in Excellence award for Lifetime Achievement recognizing business leadership, guest focus, and cast excellence; as well as, the opportunity to participate in Purdue University's 2011 Old Masters program. Doreen's extensive career at Walt Disney Co. began with the company's in-house construction company, Buena Vista Construction, where she rose to the position of Executive Director. She developed diversified leadership experience by transitioning to leading the company's $50 million yearly manufacturing organization and leading 500 cast members in the process. By transferring to the Resort Facility Asset Management Team, Doreen continued to expand her level of experience through the strategic planning and implementation of renovation enhancement projects at Disney's 18 resorts in support of 26,000 individual rooms.

 

Josh Nixon

Joshua A. Nixon has practiced in the civil engineering consulting industry for over 20 years. He is currently in Kimley-Horn's West Lafayette office leading a variety of site development and utility design projects for a diverse group of clients, including Purdue University. He received a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 2001, and obtained Professional Engineering licensure in 2006. Joshua has served as the President of the A.A. Potter Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE), as ISPE Secretary and Vice-President, and was honored as the 2010 ISPE Young Engineer of the Year. He has served as a volunteer for the MATHCOUNTS Regional and State competitions at Purdue University. Mr. Nixon and his family currently reside in Lafayette, IN.

 

Steven P. Osborn, PE, SE, FSMPS, CPSM

Steve is president and CEO of CE Solutions, a firm in Carmel, Indiana that provides structural engineering for a range of building types. Steve founded the company in 1998 on principles of solid relationships, mutual respect, integrity and ethical practice after two decades as a structural engineer at large, multi-disciplined firms. He is a registered professional engineer in numerous states and is active in many local and national design and construction industry organizations, such as the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society for Marketing Professional Services, where he has held a variety of leadership positions. Steve is also a Fellow and a Certified Professional Services Marketer with SMPS. In 2012, Steve was named ASCE Indiana Section Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year and SMPS Indiana Member to Remember. Since its inception in 1986, Steve has played an integral role in the annual Indiana Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar at Purdue University by serving as an advisory committee member. A past co-chair of the event, he has regularly planned and moderated technical and leadership tracks for the program. He is also a past chair of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Branch of the Structural Engineering Institute and the Indiana Qualification Based Selection Coalition.

 

Ersal Ozdemir

Ersal Ozdemir is the CEO of Keystone Group. Keystone is a commercial construction, real estate development, and investment firm that was established in 1997. Mr. Ozdemir graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He is also a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Class XXVIII. Mr. Ozdemir speaks to various groups about diversity and has been interviewed for different international issues over the years. Some of his hobbies are traveling, spending time with family and friends, playing soccer and table tennis. Mr. Ozdemir enjoys the arts and attends, as well as supports the local art community.

 

Mark Perniconi

Mark Perniconi is the Interim Executive Director of the Charles Pankow Foundation, a position he has held since June of 2012. After receiving an MSCE degree in 1976, Mark began his career with the W.M. Lyles Company in Central California serving as a project manager for 7 years before returning to Purdue in 1983. After receiving an MBA from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue in 1984, Mark went to work for the Pankow Companies in southern California and held the position of Vice President responsible for the commercial real estate activities of the company. In 1998, Mark accepted the position of Vice President of Development for the C.E. John Company in Vancouver, Washington and spent the next 10 years involved in small and large retail development projects in the Pacific Northwest and northern California. As Interim Executive Director of the Charles Pankow Foundation, Mark has transitioned the Foundation from principally a funder of research in the AEC Industry to a more proactive catalyst role in driving key industry research initiatives. Mark has been a resident of Vancouver, Washington for the last 14 years.

 

Kelly Powers Baria

Kelly Powers Baria is Vice President of Powers & Sons Construction. Experienced in strategic planning, general contracting, construction management, litigation consulting, and commercial and residential real estate, Kelly excels at building client relationships and leveraging new business opportunities. In her leadership role, Kelly is responsible for cultivating existing client relationships, identifying new markets and partnership opportunities, contract negotiation, talent development, and overseeing internal and external marketing strategies. Kelly also shares key management responsibilities for Powers & Sons' operations in Chicago, Northeast Illinois, and Northwest Indiana. She was instrumental in establishing Powers & Sons as a principal firm in the Lakeside Alliance, a five-firm joint venture managing construction of the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Kelly is a managing partner of the Lakeside Alliance's Executive Leadership team. She also co-leads their Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) work group. Kelly is the principal representing Powers & Sons as a founding member of the Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC), a nine-firm joint venture delivering the new $1.7 billion Bally's Chicago. Kelly is passionate about youth education and fostering opportunities for those underrepresented in the construction industry. She dedicates her time as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Architecture Center. She serves on the Black Creativity Advisory Committee for the Museum of Science & Industry and is a Class of 2021 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Kelly was one of 65 professionals recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as a 2021 Notable Woman in Construction. She was also recognized by Crain's on their 2021 Notable Black Leaders & Executives list. Kelly is a member of the Economic Club and the Commercial Club in Chicago. She graduated with distinction from Purdue University's School of Civil Engineering in 1998.

 

Jim Rowings

Jim Rowings is Vice President of Peter Kiewit Sons', Inc. After graduation in 1975, Jim began his career working for ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia as a construction engineer on projects ranging in scope from 60 million to 2.3 billion dollars. Jim completed his MSCE, then on his PhD modeling energy use in construction. After completing his PhD in 1982, Jim accepted a faculty position at the University of Kansas. In 1986, Jim moved to Iowa State University as the Professor-in-Charge of Construction Engineering. During his academic career, Jim taught every fundamental construction engineering course and many graduate level courses related to Construction Engineering and Management. He also authored and co-authored numerous papers and books. On a national level, Jim served in leadership positions as President of AACE, International (Cost Engineers), Chairman of the Engineering Management Group in ASCE, and Chairman of the DBIA Education and Research Foundation. He is a fellow in ASCE and AACE. After 15 years at Iowa State University, Jim joined Peter Kiewit Sons', Inc. in 2001 as Vice President for Organization Development. He was named Chief Learning Officer and Vice President - Kiewit University in 2007. Jim is responsible for the education, training and development programs of Kiewit's 20,000 employees.

 

Michael Stewart

Michael has over 28 years of international and US construction experience, working in various industries, including LNG, Oil Gas and Chemicals, Infrastructure, Nuclear and Fossil Power, US Department of Energy (DOE), and Mining & Metals. Michael started with Bechtel as a Co-op Student from Purdue University.

 

Konstantina (Nadia) Gkritza

 

Rao S. Govindaraju

 

Robert B. Jacko

 

Na (Luna) Lu