June 27, 2024 by SME Communications The SME Member Council, established in 2003, plays a vital role in leading engagement activities within SME's volunteer networks. Its main responsibilities include identifying and addressing the evolving needs of SME's membership, aligning with the organization's long-term strategic goals, enhancing local activities, and providing recommendations on membership recruitment, retention, and engagement. Meet the Candidates Meet Allison Ledford, PhDAllison is an assistant research professor in industrial and systems engineering at Auburn University. Her primary research is in digital engineering with the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS). She recently completed her Ph.D. at Auburn University, and her dissertation work in data element mapping and analysis is patent pending, with two additional patentable inventions in the works. During her undergraduate years, she was a founding member and first president of the SME chapter at Auburn University. She is very thankful to SME for introducing her younger self to the world of manufacturing and inspiring her to do the work she loves. She currently sits on the SME Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Group. Allison is passionate about introducing manufacturing to young and underrepresented communities. She recently served as an academic advisor to a team of middle school students who won honorable mention in the 2024 SME Digital Manufacturing Challenge for a device that enables communication between deaf and hearing individuals. Allison's position is based out of the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville, Alabama, where she works extensively in enabling digital engineering and digital manufacturing for the U.S. Army. SME Member Since 2024 Meet Matthew CleggMatthew, a community and user advocacy manager at Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS, leads three global user advocacy programs with over 500 members. Originally from Washington, he now resides in Ohio. Matthew graduated from Central Washington University with dual degrees in music performance and industrial engineering technology. His ten years of industry experience cover a wide range, including SOLIDWORKS certification, additive manufacturing, reverse engineering, foundry operations, machining, metal fabrication, construction and forestry equipment, and marine design. Aside from his role on the SME Member Council, Matthew co-chairs the SME Chapter Funding and Award working group and has previously served on the SME Emerging Professional working group. In 2021, Matthew was honored with the SME International Award of Merit. He served two terms as chair of SME Seattle Chapter 39, focusing on enhancing local college engineering programs, establishing the SME Seattle Memorial Endowed Scholarship, and expanding the Seattle senior chapter. He now serves as chapter advisor and enjoys mentoring new members. In his leisure time, Matthew plays trombone in local orchestras and jazz bands. Matthew remains dedicated to revitalizing, growing, and sustaining local SME chapters. SME Member Since 2014 Meet Dan BraleyDan is a Boeing Technical Fellow and the Boeing Global Services Additive Manufacturing Technical Focal. In this role, he supports the sustainment of all Boeing military, commercial, and derivative aircraft through the use of advanced manufacturing technologies. Dan has over 20 years of aerospace program and R&D experience in additive manufacturing, materials and processes, composites, electromagnetics, and manufacturing technology development. He is a SME Fellow, the chair-elect of the SME Member Council, and a recipient of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Federal Fellowship. Dan previously served as a Boeing Air Vehicle Technical Integrator, focusing on F/A-18 Flight Control Surfaces, wings, complex spares, and repairs. He also held positions with Northrop Grumman, L-3 Communications, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dan currently holds 75 US and international patents with many more pending. He is a past recipient of the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, the Boeing High Honors Invention Award, the Northrop Grumman Innovation Award, and the F-35 Lightning Rod Award. Dan earned BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University, an MS in Engineering Management from Drexel University, and is a Certified Additive Manufacturing Technician (CAM-T). SME Member Since 2015 Meet Amberlee Haselhuhn, PhDAmberlee is the senior director of technology – materials engineering at LIFT, the Detroit-based Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute. She leads work focused on driving national manufacturing strategy and material innovations in alignment with Department of Defense priorities. In this role, she identifies critical manufacturing infrastructure and investment needs that will enable U.S. manufacturers to thrive, particularly in the face of changing political climates and supply chain challenges. Her work focuses on the digital side of manufacturing, leading efforts to implement Industry 4.0 principles and coupling integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) toolsets to support informed engineering decisions in the physical space. Previously, Amberlee was a senior researcher at General Motors Global R&D Center, where she developed solutions to eliminate manufacturing constraints associated with welding and joining of new materials and dissimilar material combinations for body in white structures. Amberlee holds 10 U.S. patents and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed technical journal articles. She has bachelor’s degrees in both materials’ science and biomedical engineering and a Ph.D. in materials science & engineering from Michigan Technological University. SME Member Since 2020 Meet Susan KolinskiWith more than 25 years of technical sales experience in the global automotive and commercial vehicle industries, Susan works within the manufacturing sector, emphasizing connections with people and products using core values and fundamentals to ensure the best products for suitable applications. Her career progression involves learning, creativity, and inspiration to discern the value of a person, product, or technology, and then collaborating with others to apply it practically. Susan began her industry career as an applications engineer, advancing to a technical sales engineer role, and further focusing on new business development of manufacturing products and services for companies such as Schaeffler, Stoneridge, and Agrati before assuming her current position. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Material Science & Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. SME Member Since 2022. Meet Tara Thomasson Tara is a Technical Fellow at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and a current representative on the SME Member Council. She is a subject matter expert in advanced materials and processing, thermoplastic additive manufacturing, and manufacturing technology and strategy. Thomasson's dedication to promoting manufacturing extends to her adjunct professorship at Texas Christian University in the College of Science & Engineering, where she teaches Manufacturing and mentors aspiring engineers. In her role as an SME Members Council Representative, Thomasson serves as the Technical Community Committee liaison, focusing on strengthening SME outreach to early career members through initiatives such as Career Forums and mentorship. Over the past seven years, she has also contributed as an AeroDef Conference advisor and a scholarship reviewer for SME. SME Member Since 2018. Meet Krishna VuppalaKrishna was born in India and in 2008, education brought him to the USA. He obtained his MBA from the University of Northern Iowa in 2016, master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2011 and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 2008. Krishna is a lead manufacturing engineer at John Deere Foundry where he oversees new product introduction programs, capital equipment acquisition, project management, strategic sourcing, continuous improvement, production planning and control, OSHA and EPA regulations, quality control and customer relationship management. Vuppala was previously the co-chair of the SME Chapter Enhancement Committee, past chair of SME Waterloo (IA) Chapter 186 and is the bulletin/advertising volunteer lead for Chapter 186. As a recipient of a full ride scholarship, Krishna understands the value of support in establishing a strong educational and professional career. SME Member Since 2017. Meet Zachary BibikZachary is an additive manufacturing mechanical engineer focused on mass optimization at United Launch Alliance. Previously, he worked in manufacturing research and development at Vestas. His industry experience revolves around additive manufacturing and automation integration. Zachary’s primary goal remains using manufacturing to enhance human life. He envisions a future with diverse energy resources, equitable human rights, and abundant economic opportunities driven by technological advancements in manufacturing. He has volunteered for the past nine years on the SME Member Council, the Chapter Enhancement Committee, the Emerging Professionals Task Group, and served as Chair of SME Chapter 354 in Colorado. He is an advocate for continuous improvement in membership benefits to foster SME's growth. SME Member Since 2015 The selection process for SME International Director and Member Council Representative involves review by the SME Joint Nominating Committee annually in the spring. Selected candidates proceed to election, with ballots sent to voting members by August 1st and results announced by mid-September. Elected officials serve two-year terms starting from January 1st following the election.
