2010 Shining Star Winners

Veera M. Boddu *Central Illinois Section*	Dr. Veera Boddu has been instrumental in reviving the Central Illinois Local section. After finding out that the section has been inactive for years, he took the initiative to put together an executive board and volunteers to serve the section. Through his efforts, the section now hosts regular dinner meetings, technical seminars, and even publishes a section newsletter. Veera joined AIChE as a student member while pursuing his graduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been actively participating in AIChE meetings, chaired technical sessions related to energetic materials and micro-fluidic devices, and presented his research results. For Veera attending these meetings is an opportunity to learn new research developments, catch up with old friends and meet new people.
Lawrence R. Latta Central Ohio Section	I have been a member of AIChE since graduating from college ('76), but did not get involved with my local section until returning to Ohio from an out of state assignment ('82). I got involved with my local section for the networking opportunities, the camaraderie with my peers and the monthly technical presentations and plant/facility tours (i.e. Battelle Memorial Institute). It also allows me to stay connected with ChemE students at Ohio University and the Ohio State University (my alma mater).
Dan Lambert Central Savannah River Section	Dan Lambert is a member of the Central Savannah River (CSR) Section and Nuclear Engineering Division (NED). Dan has been chair of both CSR and NED, serves as director CSR, is a member of the Career and Education Operating Council and Webinar Committee, and was elected an AIChE Fellow in 2009. Dan is a Fellow Engineer working in the processing of high level radioactive waste at the Savannah River National Laboratory. Dan was nominated for his leadership in programming the 2009 Leadership Development Conference (LDC). The nomination, written by John Steimke, reads "The most important feature of the Leadership Development Conference is the program. Dan spent many hours planning the program and recruiting quality speakers for LDC 2009. Dan personally contacted many individuals and encouraged them to attend LDC, including at division meeting and technical sessions. Dan was one the most successful chairs of the section. Meetings were well attended and he recruited a number of young engineers." Dan is a nationally recognized authority in the areas of nuclear chemical processing, catalytic hydrogen generation and antifoam technology. He is highly regarded by his peers and customers across the DOE complex for his expertise in both chemical process engineering and development of the antifoam technology used within the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). Dan has mentored and trained a significant number of colleagues who went on to develop careers within the nuclear chemical engineering community both at SRS and within industry.
Azita Ahmadzadeh Chicago Section	When I started my graduate study at IIT, I felt the need to be involved with my professional organization, especially after attending annual meetings to present my research work. I became an active member in Chicago section to build up my professional network. I realized this is the best place to help local undergraduate and graduate chemical engineers to get a better feel for what AIChE can offer with the tools and options available to them. The Midwest Regional Conference is an excellent educational conference for the local students and industry professionals; I got more involved with fundraising for the symposium and the high school program to improve the quality of the conference. I took on the newsletter editor task because I felt that informing members about upcoming local events and AIChE national news is a big part of a successful local section. During the past two years we managed to send out newsletters in a very timely manner, which helped increase attendance at our monthly meetings.
Timothy Nolen *East Tennessee Section*	Reasons for why I have been involved in the East Tennessee local section for 20 years: Chemical engineering is the enduring basis for the value I bring to my company, and I need to spend time nurturing my place in the profession. AIChE is the most important organization supporting and promoting chemical engineering and therefore is the most worthwhile for me on which to spend my time and resources on. I see the enormous benefits of the profession to my community, industry, and country. Getting to know other chemical engineers and working with them in our AIChE local section never stops being enjoyable. These are the people whose support I need the most and who I have the most in common with. I feel great about trying to add something to the chemical engineering profession. I’m grateful for all that AIChE has accomplished over the last 100 years and in giving me an opportunity to work as a chemical engineer.
Joe Mallon Kansas City Section	I am involved in AIChE quite simply because it makes me a better chemical engineer. Being a part of a community of chemical engineers, who share their considerable talents and working knowledge, allows me to continually learn and grow. It is an honor for me to be part of a community of people who use their gifts to improve the lives of those we encounter. They have tasked themselves to design systems that will responsibly use the precious resources of this planet, producing products that are a necessity to our daily lives.
James Miller *Pittsburgh Section*	I’ve been a member of AIChE since 1977, but have only recently become student chapter advisor at Carnegie Mellon and a member of the Pittsburgh section’s leadership team. Participation in local AIChE activities has given me a unique opportunity to give back to my profession and to mentor future engineers. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting a lot of terrific folks who I’ve worked with on a number of regional programs, including our annual Students’ Night and Awards Banquet, and the “Future of Energy” symposium series that we sponsor with ACS-Pittsburgh. All of the work I’ve done in the local section has been in partnership with one—or more—of the many other volunteers who work tirelessly for AIChE-Pittsburgh. So in a very real way, this award is theirs, too
Alessandra Carreon *Puget Sound Section*	Membership in AIChE allows me to contribute to the chemical engineering profession by actively shaping it with my colleagues and fellow chemical engineers. At a time in which the chemical engineering discipline is constantly changing and rapidly embracing many new and exciting engineering problems, it’s important to stay involved in the chemical engineering profession. In order to help define the profession, I must first be well-versed in it. AIChE provides me access to a community of engineers and experts in topics of great importance and interest through conferences, meetings, technical presentations and casual networking. Through AIChE I have met and continue to meet professionals that can connect me to a number of people and networks that I might otherwise not receive exposure to within the confines of my office or city alone. Fundamentally, AIChE allows me to stay involved in an organization that actively seeks and requests member input for better events, better organization and better value in membership. I always feel like I have a say in the development of new programs or activities and that my voice is heard within the organization. This is an essential characteristic as chemical engineering begins to take form as an important role in a changing society—and AIChE is at the forefront of these changes.
Carol Schmidt *South Texas Section*	I got involved with AIChE because I wanted to give back to my community in a way that was more specific to my talents. I have been a part of AIChE since my days at the University of Houston and after a brief adjustment to professional life, I reclaimed active volunteering status with STS-AIChE Young Professionals. I feel that what I do with AIChE not only helps solidify the Chemical Engineering community, but keeps me abreast of what's going on outside of my professional niche.