AMPP News

Monica Hernandez | CEO and Founder of Infinity Growth Corporation

Involvement with AMPP: I am an AMPP member, one of the few female certified IMPACT PLUS NAVIGATORs, and currently I volunteer with the Materials Sustainability Standard Committee (SP21466).

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? To be honest, when I was a child, I pictured myself as a policewoman!  Then, when I finished school, I was a bit lost, and I applied for Medical School - everyone in my family has something to do with health (except me), so I guess it was the field I was more familiar with, thank God I got rejected. Then, after careful thought, I knew I was good with numbers, and I am a problem solver by heart, so figured that was the right move. And it has been.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? I cannot pinpoint one. I have been doing this for 21 years. There are just too many. To me, we come to this earth to learn and grow. That's why my company is called Infinity Growth. Perhaps, that has been the one thing that has given me the most learning experiences - moving out of the corporate world into my own gig.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Allow no one to choose whether you can or can't. That decision belongs only to you. If you think (even for a second) you want to go into engineering, follow your heart and work for it. Find a group of supporters and the most important thing: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST (like in the airplane the oxygen mask has to go on YOU first).

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? It has allowed me to network and connect with amazing people that I have a special respect, admiration, and love for.

Laura Cardenas | Lead Materials Engineer, P.Eng. (AB, BC) at WSP in Canada

Involvement with AMPP: Board Director, AMPP Global Center

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? To be honest, I didn’t choose a career in engineering – I think it chose me. I grew up surrounded by STEM professionals and I always embraced the idea that an engineer is “who I am”. Seeing both women and men in my family have successful careers in engineering made it accessible to me. There was a sense of familiarity. One of the biggest reasons women don’t choose engineering is that they simply don’t know what engineering is, what engineers do and how it can benefit them.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? Engineering is more than just math and chemistry, there is such a breadth of opportunities. In my career I am able to apply my curiosity, creativity and love for learning, all while having a hand in shaping the world around me, solving important problems, helping others and contributing to society in a meaningful way.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Believe, with confidence, that you have the skills and knowledge to do engineering work.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? My involvement with AMPP has given me a sense of belonging. I feel like I belong in the community of engineers and corrosion professionals. It allowed me to connect with my peers and other women in the sector and build meaningful professional and personal relationships that are mutually supportive and filled with encouragement.

Neda Norooziasl | Ph.D. Candidate at Ohio University

Involvement with AMPP: AMPP OU Student Chapter Vice Chair, Participant in the AMPP MLDP 2023

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? I have always enjoyed exploring the underlying principles of science and understanding how things work, and I was excited to use that knowledge to solve new challenges in the world. Engineering has given me the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity while making a positive impact in the world.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? The sense of fulfillment when I solve a complex problem or create something new. I have utilized my problem-solving skills, which I developed as an engineer, throughout my Ph.D. studies to overcome numerous technical and intellectual obstacles so far.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? I would say, first and foremost, believe in your ideas, skills, and abilities. Focus on developing new skills, as human knowledge is expanding rapidly nowadays, and continuous learning is the key to keeping your skills up to date. Additionally, seek out role models and mentors. Personally, I have greatly benefited from the guidance and mentorship of a highly accomplished female professional. She inspired and motivated me by providing support and advice throughout my engineering journey.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? I had the opportunity to meet many successful professionals, including my mentor, during AMPP conferences. Additionally, I was privileged to build a strong network with experts and seniors in the corrosion field by serving as a student chapter leader and participating in the AMPP MLDP.

Michelle Lau | Managing Director at Mach3 Engineering

Involvement with AMPP: AMPP Board Director, 2022-2024

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? When I was a kid, I loved to tinker with things. Taking them apart and refixing them is a trait which stayed with me as I grew up.  To me, ending up as an engineer was a natural progression as I love the challenges from solving simple right up to complicated things. This fuels my passion in making a little difference in the world we live in.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? Being able to solve challenging corrosion issues and contribute towards safeguarding important national assets, both locally and across the globe, has been an immensely rewarding facet of my career. The pride I feel in making tangible and impactful technical contributions is hard to describe with words. Along this challenging yet remarkable journey, I have ventured to destinations that were once mere distant dreams, as my professional pursuits have taken me to places I never imagined would even be on my bucket list, not forgetting being paid to travel.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Have fun, enjoy the job and rise to the challenge. With a resilient, passionate, and positive outlook, you’ll beat all odds and be rewarded with a bright future that you will carve out. Be different, stand up and challenge the norm.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? I made many friends who became my peers, and they are always there when I need them. Some of them have been my fuel of inspiration; some are always available to be my strongest advocates and cheerleaders, some have been my sounding board while others have been my mentors.

Thu Tran Addis, Ph.D. | Corrosion & Materials Engineer at BP

Involvement with AMPP:
2023: Vice Chair of Student Poster Session
2023-2026: Member of EMERG program committee
2021-2023 Member of Education program committee
Other roles from 2014-2021: Chairing technical symposium, student poster judge, paper reviewer.

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? Growing up, I’ve always been interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). It was not until I arrived in the US that I began to learn about corrosion and later on started my career at bp in the engineering sector. Looking back, two people greatly inspired me in the early days. The first one is my dad. The second one is my former advisor when I studied at Ohio University - Professor Srdjan Nesic. Both of them, in their own ways, have modeled and instilled in me a passion for learning and a relentless pursuit of excellence. That’s what made me pursue a career in engineering.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? As a corrosion engineer supporting one of the biggest assets in the Gulf of Mexico, I’ve made significant safety and operational improvements in the integrity management area. But what has been the most rewarding part is the incredible people that I work with, the friendships that I built and my work in the diversity, equity and inclusion space as well as my involvement with AMPP over the years. People and service have been what I found the most meaningful and fulfilling in my career.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? A few things that I’ve learned along the way and want to share:

• Seek mentors: connect with experienced professionals who can guide and inspire you. Their insights and support can be invaluable.
• Stay curious and commit yourself to lifelong learning. Embrace challenges - don’t be afraid to take on additional assignments/ projects that are outside of your comfort zone.
• The most important thing is to believe in yourself and don’t let any stereotypes or biases discourage you.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? My involvement with AMPP has helped me enhance my leadership skills and increase my confidence to take on more responsibilities. The network of professionals, engineers, scientists…that I was able to connect, learn from and collaborate with is invaluable. It also helped me expand my knowledge and stay relevant. In short, being involved with AMPP made me become a better engineer and leader.

Mary Macedo | Process Safety and Mechanical Integrity Lead at Ascensus Specialties LLC.

Involvement with AMPP: My involvement with AMPP has included student outreach, attending local chapter events and working with a team to plan an upcoming leadership forum.

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? I was most inspired to study engineering by attending the Eisenman Materials Camp, hosted by ASM International. During college, co-op work opportunities provided a great exposure to the engineering career field.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? Generating repair plans for pressure vessels during plant turnarounds. I've enjoyed working at manufacturing facilities where I get to crawl through equipment during outages and support daily operations.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Go for it! Engineering has a broad field of work. In this profession you will always be learning and developing new skill sets.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? I first attended an AMPP (formerly NACE) conference my freshman year of college. The conferences showed me the massive need for materials and corrosion knowledge across many industries. I have used several AMPP resources and networks to address technical needs in my career.

Cortney Chalifoux, PhD, PE | Program Manager, Associate at Pond and Company

Involvement with AMPP:
Certifications:
AMPP Protective Coatings Specialist, AMPP Certified Coatings Inspector
Memberships and Committees:
AMPP Membership Program Committee Chair
AMPP Georgia Chapter Member at Large
Formerly NACE Atlanta Section Treasurer, Chair, and Trustee
AMPP Eastern Conference 2023 Committee Member
Member of QP-5 Standards Committee
Member of the PCS Job Task Analysis (JTA) Panel for exam development
Member of various AMPP Communities and Committees

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? I've always enjoyed problem solving and that’s how I approached my engineering career path. When I discovered that chemistry and physics weren't my passions, I decided to explore materials science engineering instead. It was during this time that I realized my fascination with understanding the causes of metal and corrosion failures. This led me to pursue a research project focused on investigating cracks in aluminum on LCS ships. Building on that experience, I then pursued a profession where I analyze coatings and corrosion failures and assist owners in preventing failures from happening again. In summary, I wasn’t necessarily inspired, rather I was determined to explore different paths until I found the one that aligned with my interests during each phase of my life.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? The most rewarding aspect of my career so far has been the opportunity to continuously evolve, acquire knowledge, and support others on their journeys. Through meaningful interactions with diverse individuals, I've been able to expand my horizons and gain valuable insights from various perspectives and experiences. Sharing my expertise, offering guidance, and helping others overcome obstacles have all contributed to a truly gratifying experience.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Do not be afraid to fail. Detours, sidesteps, regressions, and defeat are integral parts of our development journey. And if you don’t encounter minor obstacles on a regular basis, you won’t build the resiliency necessary when the major failures arise. Also, don’t take things personally. It’s usually not about you.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? My involvement in AMPP has opened doors to unique opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to me otherwise. Collaborating with AMPP members is essential for the successful execution of my job. It’s the people you surround yourself with, the people you support, and the people that advocate for you when you are not in the room that make you successful. I genuinely appreciate the organization and the remarkable professionals I have the privilege to work with on a daily basis.

Stephanie Corey | Manager, Planning and Process Consulting at Xcel Energy

Involvement with AMPP: AMPP Certification Program Committee Chair

What (or who) inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? My dad, Steve Biagiotti, is an engineer. Growing up watching him travel, take on challenges and learn new things is what drove my interest in math and science. Throughout high school I was involved in multiple STEM activities where my passion for problem solving continued to grow. With my dad, along with other family and family friend influences I decided to apply to the Colorado School of Mines where I earned my Bachelors in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career so far? The new experiences. I have been fortunate in my career that I have been given the opportunities to travel for conferences, for extended projects and for development opportunities. Through these experiences I have grown a vast network of individuals in the mining and oil and gas industries which have continued to open up doors for career opportunities and connection. When I graduated, I moved to a city where I didn’t know anyone which I believe was a huge growth opportunity for me as an individual. I was challenged to build relationships, work on my career and try new activities.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in engineering? Be resilient. Each generation of women engineers will experience their own challenges and from the stories of the women who have come before me, they have been able to overcome every obstacle that they have encountered. People may not always believe in you or trust you but continue to prove your worth and you will see the benefits because of it.

How has your involvement with AMPP influenced your professional journey in engineering? I started my involvement with AMPP through Legacy NACE as a scholarship recipient. I joined the Rocky Mountain NACE Section a few years after I graduated college as I started work in a cathodic protection role. A few years after joining that section I was able to start volunteering my time as the treasurer and then moved my way to vice chair and chair of the section. This opportunity allowed me to build upon my leadership skills and gave me insights to how the organization as a whole functioned. Since then, I have been approached by AMPP staff to volunteer on Technical Committees, Program Committees and host events during the Annual Conference. I have received certifications from AMPP that have allowed me to hold various positions in my company that I would not have had the ability to hold. My involvement with AMPP has allowed me to grow in multiple parts of my personal and professional careers. Being exposed to the wide diversity within AMPP’s membership is something I will never take for granted. The relationships and skills I have learned as being part of AMPP are extremely valuable.