On September 26, members of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MnSPE) gathered at Taft in Minneapolis for our annual Fall Kickoff Celebration. This event was an opportunity for all to connect, join MnSPE, renew their pledge to the Order of the Engineer, and meet the MnSPE officers and board members.
Event Highlights
The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Kodi Verhalen, PE, Esq., who shared her connection to MnSPE and NSPE and set the stage for the evening’s activities. Following Kodi’s introduction, 2024-25 MnSPE President Jennifer Lowry, PE, took the mic. With a rich history of involvement in MnSPE, Minnesota MATHCOUNTS, and numerous STEM outreach programs, Jennifer shared her vision for the upcoming year and emphasized the importance of member participation in various committees.
MnSPE Committees
Jennifer highlighted the vital role of MnSPE committees in shaping the organization’s activities:
- Young Members Committee aims to engage and support early-career engineers.
- Membership Development Committee focuses on growing and retaining our membership base.
- Professional Development Committee offers opportunities for continuous learning and career growth.
- Legislative Committee advocates for policies that benefit our profession.
- Minnesota MATHCOUNTS Committee supports math competitions for middle school students.
- MnSPE Foundation provides scholarships and funding for educational initiatives.
- Plus, our nine chapters across the state ensure local engagement and community building.
Special Guest – Brian Malm, PE
We were honored to welcome Brian Malm, PE, the 2024-2025 NSPE President and former MnSPE President (2017-2018). Brian shared his vision for the national society, discussed the relationship between MnSPE and NSPE, and acknowledged the contributions of past NSPE presidents from Minnesota. He then administered the oath of office to the MnSPE 2024-2025 Board of Directors.
Board Oath
Brian underscored the responsibilities that come with being an MnSPE officer or board member. He tolds us that those responsibilities include making strategic decisions, balancing budgets, and upholding the strategic vision for the organization. He thanked outgoing President David Fautsch, PE, for his leadership and contributions, particularly in revitalizing MnSPE post-pandemic and reinstating the MnSPE Awards Program.
The newly sworn-in officers and directors are:
- President: Jennifer Lowry, PE, Roseville City Engineer & Assistant Public Works Director
- Past President: David Fautsch, PE, Director – Oil & Gas / Nuclear – North America, IDOM
- Vice President/President-Elect: Sarah Lloyd, PE, Principal Engineer, Bolton & Menk
- Secretary/Treasurer: Matt Michel, PE
- Directors:
- Lisa Breuer, PE, Senior Engineering Project Manager, S E H
- Brittany Jaramillo, PE, Senior Project Manager, Kimley-Horn & Associates
- Nirmal Jain, PE, Principal Engineer, University of Minnesota (retired)
- Sheila Krohse, PE, Principal Engineer, Bolton & Menk
- John Lasswell, PE, Principal Engineer with Westrock
- Darin Mielke, PE, Assistant Public Works Director, Deputy County Engineer, Carver County
- Rachel Scheu, PE, Graduate Engineer, WSB
- Daniel Peterson, PE, Toro (retired)
After the formal proceedings, members headed to Noa in the IDS Tower for a casual happy hour. It was a delightful opportunity to celebrate the start of a new year for MnSPE.
The Fall Kickoff Celebration was filled with inspiration, connection, and a shared commitment to advancing the engineering profession. We look forward to an exciting year under the leadership of President Jennifer Lowry and the dedicated MnSPE Board of Directors.
Stay tuned for more updates and events, and thank you for being a part of MnSPE!
MnSPE Board Members 2024-2025 take oath of office.
MnSPE fall kickoff social.