Individual Performance Presentations

Individual Performance Track

Advancing Individual Performance is constructed to help engineers from entry to senior levels improve their productivity, career goals, and communication skills.


Overview:

Continuing Education Units Awarded: 0.4

Cost: Free

Number of Educational Sessions: 4

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How to Network and Build National and International Relations

Peter C. Harrod, PE

Senior Vice President

Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (RJA)

Mr. Harrod joined Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (RJA), Boston, in 1998 and is a Senior Vice President. Throughout his career he has acted as an advisor to design teams and building owners on compliance with local and international fire safety codes and standards. His experience includes development of fire protection design strategies using code and performance based approaches as well as other special studies related to specific code compliance issues. Mr. Harrod’s area of focus includes the identification, development, and oversight of maintenance for RJA’s Fortune 500 and Higher Education clients.


How to Supplement Project Proposals with Improved Economics

Steve Kihm, CFA

Research Director

Energy Center of Wisconsin

Mr. Kihm is Research Director at the Energy Center of Wisconsin, which is an independent energy research organization located in Madison. He is responsible for analysis of financial, economic, and statistical issues that arise in that organization’s research projects. Prior to joining the Energy Center, he worked as a financial analyst at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and for MSB Energy Associates. Mr. Kihm has filed expert testimony before regulators in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In 2003, the National Regulatory Research Institute awarded Mr. Kihm’s paper on utility risk assessment First Prize in its annual call for papers. He has published numerous financial articles in periodicals including The Electricity Journal and Public Utilities Fortnightly. Mr. Kihm earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Master of Science in Quantitative Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Highest Honor from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.


Managing Your Future

Erin McConahey, PE

Principal in Mechanical Engineering

Arup

During her 16 years with Arup, Los Angeles, Ms. McConahey has worked internationally and now leads multidisciplinary design teams on a wide variety of project types. She attended the University of California at Berkeley where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering. She is a Professional Engineer in California and Colorado, a LEED Accredited Professional, and an ASHRAE accredited High Performance Building Design Professional. Ms. McConahey sits on the GSA’s National Register of Peer Professionals, was named one of 2008’s “40 under 40” by Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine, is on the editorial board of Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine, and is on the authoring committee for the 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small and Medium Office Buildings (collaboratively sponsored by ASHRAE/IES/ AIA/USGBC).


Managing Manufacturer Relationships with Integrity

John Suzukida, PE

Owner

Lanex Consulting

Mr. Suzukida was previously Trane’s Senior VP of Global Marketing & Strategy prior to founding Shoreview, Minn.-based Lanex Consulting, LLC in 2002, which focuses on energy efficiency, product-to-solutions transitions and organizational strategy. Clients include Daikin Industries, Portland Energy Conservation, Inc., McQuay, American Air Filter, The West Coast Zero Net Energy Coordinating Council, California Commissioning Collaborative Advisory Council, Danfoss, the National Conference on Building Commissioning, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. He has authored numerous articles for industry publications.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Illinois and served as president of its Mechanical Engineering Alumni Board. Mr. Suzukida is a licensed PE in the State of Wisconsin and is on the Board of Directors for Steffes, Corp. and the Board of Advisors for EnergyPrint, Inc.

Mr. Suzukida is a member of the Career Smart team of columnists for Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine.


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