People
FY21 (July 2020 - June 2021) Executive Board
President: Sam Billetdeaux
VP of Professional Development: Michele Dodez
Vice President 2 - Collegiates - Lindy Couwenhoven
VP of Outreach: Heidi Balestrieri
Secretary 2 - Society Liaison: Andie Falasco
Recording Secretary: Kyela Specht
Treasurer: Adrianne Light
President: Sam Billetdeaux
VP of Professional Development: Michele Dodez
Vice President 2 - Collegiates - Lindy Couwenhoven
VP of Outreach: Heidi Balestrieri
Secretary 2 - Society Liaison: Andie Falasco
Recording Secretary: Kyela Specht
Treasurer: Adrianne Light
Section President: Sam Billetdeaux
Sam Billetdeaux studied electrical engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers in college and has continued her support for the past 9 years. Sam has not only been an active member but has also held a variety of positions throughout the years, including MSOE’s SWE Section President, MSOE SWE Counselor, and this is her second year as SWE Wisconsin President.
This year Sam is looking forward to seeing SWE Wisconsin’s creativity shine through the current challenges and turn them into opportunities! She is excited to interact with more of the section with the focus on virtual events and is looking forward to SWE Wisconsin becoming more inclusive as the section offers a variety of opportunities for members.
Sam is currently a Principal Engineer for the Battery Systems at Milwaukee Tool. Her favorite dessert is Crème Brule and enjoys crocheting and being apart of FIRST Robotics.
Sam Billetdeaux studied electrical engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers in college and has continued her support for the past 9 years. Sam has not only been an active member but has also held a variety of positions throughout the years, including MSOE’s SWE Section President, MSOE SWE Counselor, and this is her second year as SWE Wisconsin President.
This year Sam is looking forward to seeing SWE Wisconsin’s creativity shine through the current challenges and turn them into opportunities! She is excited to interact with more of the section with the focus on virtual events and is looking forward to SWE Wisconsin becoming more inclusive as the section offers a variety of opportunities for members.
Sam is currently a Principal Engineer for the Battery Systems at Milwaukee Tool. Her favorite dessert is Crème Brule and enjoys crocheting and being apart of FIRST Robotics.
VP of Professional Development: Michele Dodez
Michele Dodez studied biomedical engineering for both her bachelor and master’s degree at Marquette University. She has been involved in the Society of Woman Engineers for the past 15 years. Michele has held a variety of positions in both her professional and collegiate sections over the years including, Newsletter Editor, UW-Stevens Point Counsellor, Student Council Representative and Fundraising Chair.
This year Michele is looking forward to seeing how the SWE Wisconsin section navigates through the changing world because of COVID-19.
Michele is currently a Validation Engineer at Pfizer Inc. and she enjoys completing plastic canvas projects as well as hunting and fishing.
Michele Dodez studied biomedical engineering for both her bachelor and master’s degree at Marquette University. She has been involved in the Society of Woman Engineers for the past 15 years. Michele has held a variety of positions in both her professional and collegiate sections over the years including, Newsletter Editor, UW-Stevens Point Counsellor, Student Council Representative and Fundraising Chair.
This year Michele is looking forward to seeing how the SWE Wisconsin section navigates through the changing world because of COVID-19.
Michele is currently a Validation Engineer at Pfizer Inc. and she enjoys completing plastic canvas projects as well as hunting and fishing.
Section Vice President: Lindy Couwenhoven
Lindy Couwenhoven studied biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers as a freshman in college and continued her involvement since. As a collegiate member, she supported a lot of outreach and leadership development programs for my section. As a professional member, Lindy keeps in touch with our collegiate sections to ensure they are getting the resources and support they need to be successful.
This year Lindy is looking forward to using video conferencing and virtual events to improve the connections between our members throughout the state and within the collegiate sections.
Lindy is currently a Product Engineering Manager at American Orthodontics. Her favourite dessert is ice cream and enjoys walking along Lake Michigan – even better if she can do both simultaneously!
Lindy Couwenhoven studied biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers as a freshman in college and continued her involvement since. As a collegiate member, she supported a lot of outreach and leadership development programs for my section. As a professional member, Lindy keeps in touch with our collegiate sections to ensure they are getting the resources and support they need to be successful.
This year Lindy is looking forward to using video conferencing and virtual events to improve the connections between our members throughout the state and within the collegiate sections.
Lindy is currently a Product Engineering Manager at American Orthodontics. Her favourite dessert is ice cream and enjoys walking along Lake Michigan – even better if she can do both simultaneously!
VP of Outreach: Heidi Balestrieri
Heidi Balestrieri studied mechanical engineering at North Dakota State University. She has been involved with the Society of Woman Engineers for 23 years. Heidi has not only been an active member but has also held a variety of positions throughout the years, including Outreach Officer, HOI SWE President, Section Representative, and Membership Officer.
This year Heidi is looking forward to learning new ways to introduce engineering to young girls both through new activities and through virtual events.
Heidi is currently an Engineering Operations Manager and her favorite dessert is Kopp’s frozen custard. She enjoys exploring different parks throughout the area.
Heidi Balestrieri studied mechanical engineering at North Dakota State University. She has been involved with the Society of Woman Engineers for 23 years. Heidi has not only been an active member but has also held a variety of positions throughout the years, including Outreach Officer, HOI SWE President, Section Representative, and Membership Officer.
This year Heidi is looking forward to learning new ways to introduce engineering to young girls both through new activities and through virtual events.
Heidi is currently an Engineering Operations Manager and her favorite dessert is Kopp’s frozen custard. She enjoys exploring different parks throughout the area.
Secretary 2 - Society Liason: Andie Falasco
Andie Falasco studied mechanical engineering at Michigan Tech University and then continued her education receiving her master’s in engineering management from Milwaukee School of Engineering. She has been involved in the Society of Woman Engineers since beginning college in 2008. Andie has held a variety of positions in the Wisconsin chapter including the VP of Collegiates, President, and Executive VP.
This year Andie is looking forward to getting more into the Society Liaison role and discovering virtual opportunities for the section.
Andie is currently an Industrial Engineer at Oshkosh Defense and her favorite dessert is ice cream. She enjoys anything visual arts and is currently working on a scrapbook right now.
Recording Secretary: Kyela Specht
Kyela Specht studied civil engineering at Bradley University. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers in college and has continued her involvement since. Kyela has not only been an active member, but has also held a variety of positions including, SWE Secretary at Bradley and Google Coordinator for the Wisconsin Section.
This year Kyela is looking forward to working with the executive board and the SWE Wisconsin members to keep communication open through all channels.
Kyela is currently a Municipal Civil Engineer at Strand Associates, Inc. Her favourite dessert is chocolate peanut butter ice cream and enjoys reading and hiking.
Kyela Specht studied civil engineering at Bradley University. She became involved with the Society of Woman Engineers in college and has continued her involvement since. Kyela has not only been an active member, but has also held a variety of positions including, SWE Secretary at Bradley and Google Coordinator for the Wisconsin Section.
This year Kyela is looking forward to working with the executive board and the SWE Wisconsin members to keep communication open through all channels.
Kyela is currently a Municipal Civil Engineer at Strand Associates, Inc. Her favourite dessert is chocolate peanut butter ice cream and enjoys reading and hiking.
Section Treasurer: Adrianne Light
Adrianne Light studied mechanical engineering and astrophysics/astronomy from Florida Institute of Technology. She has been involved in the Society of Woman Engineers for the past 6 years. Adrianne has held a variety of positions including Secretary and Treasurer as well as VP, Membership Engagement, and Executive Engagement for her companies SWE Section.
This year Adrianne is looking forward to seeing how the SWE Wisconsin section navigates through the variety of events organized with Covid-19.
Adrianne is currently a project manager and her favorite dessert is anything chocolate. She enjoys running and reading in her free time.
Adrianne Light studied mechanical engineering and astrophysics/astronomy from Florida Institute of Technology. She has been involved in the Society of Woman Engineers for the past 6 years. Adrianne has held a variety of positions including Secretary and Treasurer as well as VP, Membership Engagement, and Executive Engagement for her companies SWE Section.
This year Adrianne is looking forward to seeing how the SWE Wisconsin section navigates through the variety of events organized with Covid-19.
Adrianne is currently a project manager and her favorite dessert is anything chocolate. She enjoys running and reading in her free time.
Organization Chart
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