2016-2017 Events
View all of Western Michigan SWE's events our online calendar! Or subscribe to our feed with Outlook, iCal, etc.
SWE Talk at Rockford Brewing Company
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Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017
Time: 5:30-7:30PM Cost: Food and Drinks paid individually |
Come chat about current SWE topics, including the upcoming dissolution of regions and how our section can prepare for it, possible meeting or outreach ideas for the next year, or just stop by enjoy some good company.
Dinner and drinks to be paid by the individual. No RSVP necessary, just show up!
Location:
Rockford Brewing Company
12 E Bridge St NE
Rockford, MI 49341
Dinner and drinks to be paid by the individual. No RSVP necessary, just show up!
Location:
Rockford Brewing Company
12 E Bridge St NE
Rockford, MI 49341
Gerald R. Ford Airport Tour - New Terminal Construction
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Date: Friday, May 12th, 2017
Time: 1:30-2:30PM Cost: Free! |
The airport has had many construction projects over the last several years. They are gracious enough to provide another tour to our group. We will tour the active construction site of the new terminal re-design.
We will meet in the Golden Eagle Room sharply at 1:30PM to begin the tour; plan to arrive at the airport no later than 1:20 to ensure you have time to get to the meeting room. Take the stairs to the right of Starbucks, go straight at the top of the stairs until you see two open doors on your right. Bring your short-term parking pass with you and the airport will validate your parking.
Important: Please bring hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses and closed toe shoes. This is an active job site that we will be touring; you will not be allowed to enter the job site if you do not have proper PPE. Steel toe boots are recommended. If you need to borrow a hard hat, safety vest, or safety glasses, please include that in your RSVP and we will provide them.
Location:
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
5500 44th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI
We will meet in the Golden Eagle Room sharply at 1:30PM to begin the tour; plan to arrive at the airport no later than 1:20 to ensure you have time to get to the meeting room. Take the stairs to the right of Starbucks, go straight at the top of the stairs until you see two open doors on your right. Bring your short-term parking pass with you and the airport will validate your parking.
Important: Please bring hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses and closed toe shoes. This is an active job site that we will be touring; you will not be allowed to enter the job site if you do not have proper PPE. Steel toe boots are recommended. If you need to borrow a hard hat, safety vest, or safety glasses, please include that in your RSVP and we will provide them.
Location:
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
5500 44th Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids March for Science
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Date: April 22, 2017 Time: 10:30am-12:00pm Location: The courtyard at 401 Fulton St W, GVSU's downtown Pew Campus |
We will be getting a group together for the March For Science in Grand Rapids on April 22nd (Earth Day) from 10:30-12pm at the courtyard at 401 Fulton St W, GVSU's downtown Pew Campus. If you are interested in attending, please email RSVP so we can meet up at the march. Here is a link to the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1603978992963930. We hope to see you there!
You make a significant career change… How does it affect your significant other?
Joint meeting with South Central Michigan (SCMI) SWE
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Date: April 20th
Time: 5:30-7:30PM Location: Four Roses Cafe in Plainwell, MI. Dinner: Heavy apps and soft drinks will be provided Cost: Free for registered SWE members (please bring your SWE member number);, $5 for non-members. |
Hear from women, in varying fields of industry, talk about a recent time when they make a significant change in their career that resulted in a big change for their spouse's career. How do you make changes that are successful for everyone involved? How do you make a decision on whose career takes precedence at that point in time? What negotiation tactics did you use at work to better ease the change on the personal front? What would these women never do again? Come and get perspective as you lean towards that next career change, whether it be a promotion, a new job that requires more travel, a physical location move of your home. This is also a great way to network with women from multiple sections of SWE.
SWE Talk at Rockford Brewing Company
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Date: April 11th
Time: 5pm Location: Rockford Brewing Company, 12 E Bridge St NE, Rockford, MI 49341 Cost: Food and Beverages paid individually |
We will talk about what we learned at the Region H Conference and discuss SWE's current plans to dissolve regions and what that means for our section. We will also discuss the Region H slate of officers (http://regionh.swe.org/professional-nominations.html), our plans for SWE in the coming year, and anything else pertaining to SWE and/or our section. We hope to see you there!
Benefits of SWE Membership
Panel Discussion with Calvin College SWE
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Wednesday, March 29th, 6-7:30 PM
Calvin College Campus, location TBD Event will include a pizza dinner Cost: free for collegiate, $10 for professional |
SWE Scholarships, Networking/Landing a Job, Leadership Opportunities, Webinars, Support, and more! SWE has much to offer its members, from freshman college students through seasoned engineers. Learn about how SWE membership can benefit you at wherever stage you are at in your engineering career, and how to get the most out of your membership! Panelists include:
Lynn Surdock, former President and charter member of West Michigan SWE, former MAL President, and former collegiate member
Amy Rokos, current President of West Michigan SWE and former collegiate section President
Pamela Seibert, current Vice President of West Michigan SWE and former collegiate section board member
Lynn Surdock, former President and charter member of West Michigan SWE, former MAL President, and former collegiate member
Amy Rokos, current President of West Michigan SWE and former collegiate section President
Pamela Seibert, current Vice President of West Michigan SWE and former collegiate section board member
Region H Conference
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
The SWE Region H Conference is right next door in Ann Arbor this year, so if you've not attended a conference before, this is a great chance to take the plunge! They are even giving tours of the Big House, for you Michigan fans out there!
March 10-12, 2017
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
March 10-12, 2017
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Lunch Speaker: Faith Chu, SWE LCC
Using SWE Leadership to Advance Your Career
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Thursday February 23, 2017 11:30-1:00pm Sandwiches served for lunch Cost: $10 for professionals, FREE for collegiate members |
February may be the shortest month of the year, but SWE is bringing you two meetings this month! For our second meeting of the month, will hear Faith Chu of the SWE Leadership Coaching Committee present “Using SWE Leadership to Advance Your Career” via a LIVE virtual feed! This will be a lunch meeting from 1:30-1pm, with sandwiches provided for lunch. The cost is $10 for professional member and free for collegiate members.
Bio – Faith Chu
Faith Chu has been involved with SWE since 2000 when she joined as a collegiate at Wayne State University. She has served on the local level as part of the SWE-Detroit Executive Committee in various roles since 2005. On the Society level Faith has participated on the Awards Committee, and has been a Leadership Coach since 2010. She currently serves as the Region H Lt. Governor. She obtained her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI. Her engineering career has spanned various industries including Chrysler, Department of Defense US Army TACOM, and currently is employed by Schaeffler Group where she is a Global Project Manager for Engine Components. Faith lives outside Detroit, MI and enjoys watching Tigers baseball games, sewing, and spending time with her husband and 3 month old daughter.
Presentation Summary:
How to use SWE in all areas of your life! Learn how SWE can complement your professional career, opportunities to volunteer within SWE, and roles that may give you skills and experience you are not getting in your day to day job.
Location:
Progressive AE
1811 4 Mile Rd NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Bio – Faith Chu
Faith Chu has been involved with SWE since 2000 when she joined as a collegiate at Wayne State University. She has served on the local level as part of the SWE-Detroit Executive Committee in various roles since 2005. On the Society level Faith has participated on the Awards Committee, and has been a Leadership Coach since 2010. She currently serves as the Region H Lt. Governor. She obtained her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI. Her engineering career has spanned various industries including Chrysler, Department of Defense US Army TACOM, and currently is employed by Schaeffler Group where she is a Global Project Manager for Engine Components. Faith lives outside Detroit, MI and enjoys watching Tigers baseball games, sewing, and spending time with her husband and 3 month old daughter.
Presentation Summary:
How to use SWE in all areas of your life! Learn how SWE can complement your professional career, opportunities to volunteer within SWE, and roles that may give you skills and experience you are not getting in your day to day job.
Location:
Progressive AE
1811 4 Mile Rd NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Griffins Hockey Game Social
It's that time again for the annual West Michigan SWE Griffins Hockey Game Social! We will be meeting at The Woods at 5pm for dinner and walking over to the arena for the game at 7pm.
Also a big thank you to Cummins for sponsoring the tickets!
Location:
Also a big thank you to Cummins for sponsoring the tickets!
Location:
Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
Dinner: 5pm @ The Woods
Game: 7pm @ Van Andel Arena
Tickets are first-come-first-serve to active professional or collegiate SWE members.
Dinner: 5pm @ The Woods
Game: 7pm @ Van Andel Arena
Tickets are first-come-first-serve to active professional or collegiate SWE members.
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Dinner:
The Woods 77 Grandville Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
Game:
Van Andel Arena 130 W Fulton St Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
Holiday Party and The Melting Pot
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Thursday, January 5, 2017, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Cheese & Chocolate Fondue provided Cost: $10/person |
Join Us For a Fun Social and Networking Event!
Join the Western Michigan Secion of the Society of Women Engineers as we kick off 2017 at The Melting Pot with a holiday social. Network with your peers and mentors, meet some new faces, and enjoy some cheese and chocolate fondue! Please RSVP by Thursday, December 22nd so we can reserve tables as needed. We hope to see you there!
We encourage you to bring a friend, your spouse or significant other, or a coworker.
From the Melting Pot...
Check out our Happy Hour Specials! "Melt" away your day with select $5 cocktails, $4 glasses of wine and $3 beers. Please drink responsibly.
Location:
The Melting Pot
2090 Celebration Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI
Join the Western Michigan Secion of the Society of Women Engineers as we kick off 2017 at The Melting Pot with a holiday social. Network with your peers and mentors, meet some new faces, and enjoy some cheese and chocolate fondue! Please RSVP by Thursday, December 22nd so we can reserve tables as needed. We hope to see you there!
We encourage you to bring a friend, your spouse or significant other, or a coworker.
From the Melting Pot...
Check out our Happy Hour Specials! "Melt" away your day with select $5 cocktails, $4 glasses of wine and $3 beers. Please drink responsibly.
Location:
The Melting Pot
2090 Celebration Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI
Joint Meeting: GVSU Panel Discussion
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Thursday, November 17, 2016
Time: 6 - 7:30 pm (note the time change!) Dinner: Pasta, Salad, and Breadsticks Cost: $10 for professionals, FREE for students |
Our November Meeting will be a joint meeting with the GVSU SWE Section. We will have a dinner of Vitale's lasagna, penne alfredo, salad and breadsticks as we break off into small groups for networking and discussion. The cost of dinner is $10 for professional members and FREE for collegiate members. Following dinner, there will be an "Ask Me Anything"-style panel discussion. This event is a great opportunity for our professional members to serve as mentors to college students and for college students to pick the brains of the professional members. We hope that you will be able to join us!
Our Panelists Include:
Kate Cicchino
Kate earned her bachelor's degree from Kettering University in Mechanical Engineering. She is currently a Project Manager at BEUMER Corporation, the Treasurer of the Western Michigan SWE Section, and a mother of a 3-year-old daughter.
Kathy Joseph
Kathy earned her bachelor's engineering degree from Michigan State University and has over 20 years experience in manufacturing as well as product development within the medical device industry. She's a mother of four and is the current SWE Section Rep for Western Michigan.
Michelle Lindale
Michelle works at the GVSU Padnos College as the Director of Partnership Development and Communication. Michelle is a Grand Valley graduate with extensive product design experience in several professional realms including aerospace, crane and hoist, fuel systems, and contract furniture. Michelle's unique background includes experience in Design and Communications, where she has served in both teaching and leadership roles. Having lived in Austria for four years, Michelle has become adept in multicultural leadership and developing international relationships.
Jenny Partlan
Jenny is a SWE Detroit member who works in substation construction at Consumers Energy. She is an Electrical Engineer with over 10 years experience in multiple fields and industries, concentrating in controls, system and testing engineering. She has also worked with vehicle testing and component testing.
Pamela Seibert
Pamela is Michigan Tech alum, with a degree in Civil Engineering. She has formerly worked at Kiewit Construction in Denver as the utility engineer for a new cancer hospital, AECOM as a civil site designer, and currently works for Erhardt Construction inspecting quality, maintaining schedule, and budgeting for project sites. She is the current SWE Vice President for Western Michigan.
Location:
GVSU Kennedy Hall of Engineering, Room 330
301 W Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Our Panelists Include:
Kate Cicchino
Kate earned her bachelor's degree from Kettering University in Mechanical Engineering. She is currently a Project Manager at BEUMER Corporation, the Treasurer of the Western Michigan SWE Section, and a mother of a 3-year-old daughter.
Kathy Joseph
Kathy earned her bachelor's engineering degree from Michigan State University and has over 20 years experience in manufacturing as well as product development within the medical device industry. She's a mother of four and is the current SWE Section Rep for Western Michigan.
Michelle Lindale
Michelle works at the GVSU Padnos College as the Director of Partnership Development and Communication. Michelle is a Grand Valley graduate with extensive product design experience in several professional realms including aerospace, crane and hoist, fuel systems, and contract furniture. Michelle's unique background includes experience in Design and Communications, where she has served in both teaching and leadership roles. Having lived in Austria for four years, Michelle has become adept in multicultural leadership and developing international relationships.
Jenny Partlan
Jenny is a SWE Detroit member who works in substation construction at Consumers Energy. She is an Electrical Engineer with over 10 years experience in multiple fields and industries, concentrating in controls, system and testing engineering. She has also worked with vehicle testing and component testing.
Pamela Seibert
Pamela is Michigan Tech alum, with a degree in Civil Engineering. She has formerly worked at Kiewit Construction in Denver as the utility engineer for a new cancer hospital, AECOM as a civil site designer, and currently works for Erhardt Construction inspecting quality, maintaining schedule, and budgeting for project sites. She is the current SWE Vice President for Western Michigan.
Location:
GVSU Kennedy Hall of Engineering, Room 330
301 W Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
UPS Sorting Facility Tour
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Thursday, October 13, 2016 @ 6pm
Who: Anyone who wants to attend! |
Meeting Information
Our October meeting will be a tour of UPS! We will see how their sorters operate to get packages from point A to point B as quickly as possible. I also want to extend a special invitation to our collegiate members to encourage you to attend this interesting tour!
Meet at the guard shack to be escorted into the building. Please be sure to be at the guard shack no later than 6pm so the tour can begin on time. We will be walking over open grates, so please wear pants in addition to shoes that will not get caught in the grates.
Location:
UPS Customer Center
5757 Clyde Park Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49509
Volunteer Opportunity: All-Girls FIRST Robotics Competition
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Saturday, October 1st, 2016
Time: Whenever you can make it! |
SWE is helping to sponsor an all-girls FIRST Robotics competition on Saturday, October 1st at Wyoming High School. We are looking for volunteers to help staff the event, judge entries for a scholarship and spread the word about the event, especially to any elementary to middle school-aged girls.
Location:
Wyoming High School
1350 Prairie Pkwy SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
Recap: This event was a hit with the members that participated. It was awesome to see all the robots and all the girls who participated! We were even able to get a shout-out for SWENext, and hope some of the girls will take advantage of it.
Location:
Wyoming High School
1350 Prairie Pkwy SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
Recap: This event was a hit with the members that participated. It was awesome to see all the robots and all the girls who participated! We were even able to get a shout-out for SWENext, and hope some of the girls will take advantage of it.
Whitecaps Game Social (Sponsored by Cummins)
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Thursday, September 1, 2016
7pm: Game Time! Cost: Tickets are FREE (Sponsored by Cummins); on your own for consessions. Who: Active/Non-active Professional/Collegiate SWE members and their families |
Meeting Information
We'll be kicking things off with a Whitecaps game social on Thursday, September 1st at 7pm. Cummins has graciously provided lawn seats for SWE members/collegiates/friends and their families. Promotions include $2 beers and hot dogs (not provided by SWE). Bring your blankets, and we hope you will be able to join us!
Location:
5/3 Ballpark
4500 West River Dr NE
Comstock Park, 49321
Recap: We had 25 members and guests attend the event. It was a beautiful day for baseball and everyone enjoyed taking in the game. Thanks to all who attended, especially the new members!
We'll be kicking things off with a Whitecaps game social on Thursday, September 1st at 7pm. Cummins has graciously provided lawn seats for SWE members/collegiates/friends and their families. Promotions include $2 beers and hot dogs (not provided by SWE). Bring your blankets, and we hope you will be able to join us!
Location:
5/3 Ballpark
4500 West River Dr NE
Comstock Park, 49321
Recap: We had 25 members and guests attend the event. It was a beautiful day for baseball and everyone enjoyed taking in the game. Thanks to all who attended, especially the new members!
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