Cleary Zimmermann’s Women in Engineering group showcased their teaching skills this past weekend by hosting a demonstration at UT Girl Day!
Women in STEM at The University of Texas at Austin hosted more than 9,000 children from cities across the state and beyond at the 23rd annual STEM Girl Day at UT Austin on Saturday, February 24th.
Our engineers hosted an engaging activity called ‘Connect and Chill,’ where students created a simple circuit, connected to a fan to chill the air. The attendees had a great opportunity to *chill out* and explore the basics of electrical and mechanical engineering.
Check out what each of our engineers have to say about their experience:
I found it incredibly encouraging to see how excited these young girls were to learn, understand, and actively participate in our activity. What made me smile too was when the parents would get into it as well, it’s very comforting to know these girls have people in their lives to support and encourage them to follow their interests. – Avery Pietrowiak, EIT, Mechanical Engineer
Priscilla Nkosi, Electrical Engineer, Amber Gass, PE, Senior Electrical Engineer | PM, and Maesan Carley, PE, Mechanical Engineer
We had the opportunity to customize the presentation for each group. It’s a real test of your own knowledge to simplify concepts for younger participants and then transition back to a more advanced level. Regardless of the age group, I was impressed by the kiddos’ enthusiasm, their eagerness to learn and explore, and their depth of knowledge. – Brookell Nobles, EIT, Mechanical Engineer
It was exciting to see the “faces of wonder” when their electrical and mechanical engineer activities were successful! – Amber Gass, PE, Senior Electrical Engineer | Project Manager
Women in Engineers group providing guidance to the students and parents regarding the activity
Empowering younger girls by showcasing an activity that relates to what we do and witnessing their joy in recreating it, is both fulfilling and inspiring. – Jocelyn Moreno, Electrical Engineer
Growing up in Austin, I visited UT Girl Day myself 20 years ago in my early school years. I have very vivid memories of being encouraged to be curious and ask question. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to pay it forward to the next generation. – Maesan Carley, PE, Mechanical Engineer
Students and their parents were wowed by our engineers’ demonstration.
One student even expressed that it was “the best STEM activity I have EVER done!” A parent also came up to one of the engineers explaining, “I expect we will be replicating this activity at home in the next few weeks.”
At UT Girl Day, attendees didn’t just gain insights into mechanical and electrical engineering—they left filled with determination and inspiration, thanks to the enthusiasm of our engineers! We look forward to seeing them thrive as the next wave of AustinMEP engineers!
Wade Cleary, PE is the managing principal at Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, and is no stranger to leadership. Over the course of his career, Wade has served as a model for the engineering staff and has developed as a leader within the field.
Danny Zimmermann, a founding principal of Cleary Zimmermann, has more than twenty years' experience in the HVAC design and construction industry. He is a dynamic and driven leader with a passion for service both personally and professionally.
Trey McDougall, PE is well-versed in both industrial mechanical systems and has played an integral part in a wide variety of project types. He has a holistic understanding of each of his projects, thereby providing comprehensive solutions.
Matthew Smith, PE
Senior Principal | Chief Design Engineer
Matthew Smith, PE is unique in the design industry in that he holds dual designations in both mechanical and electrical disciplines by the TBPE. This combination of experience affords him the ability to provide a holistic view of projects.
Thomas Watson, PE
Principal | Building MEP
Thomas Watson, PE leads the Building MEP division and is a tremendous asset to any team due to his thorough understanding and skilled practice of both major aspects of mechanical design: HVAC and plumbing.
Aaron Lovelock, PE, leads the Building MEP team in Austin. His proactive approach to communication and his ability to stay flexible in the face of challenges allow him to deliver complex projects to his clients on time and within budget.
Zac Stevenson, PE, is a skilled communicator who can easily convey the purpose and process of complex mechanical systems, allowing him to work seamlessly with owners, architects, and other consultants.
Trent Oliver, PE, is a favorite among clients for his attention to detail and his ability to closely coordinate with team members during all phases of a project’s life cycle. He is experienced in the design of mechanical systems across various market sectors including K-12, higher education, healthcare, municipal, federal, corporate, and more.
As Principal of Operations, Aaron leads firmwide operations and manages the firm's operational capacity and project workflow. He also supports our Construction Administration department and our Austin office's team.
David serves as Cleary Zimmermann's Principal of Healthcare Practice. He seeks to understand how medical spaces will be used on a room-by-room basis, and meets with end users to ensure his designs serve their needs and exceed their expectations.
Brian has 35 years of experience in building systems commissioning, MEP QA/QC, controls testing, test and balance. He is a Director on the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) Board of Directors, where he also holds membership and several certifications.
Jonathan Garcia, PE leads the firm's K-12 education efforts and is a highly experienced eletrical engineer. He prioritizes communication with clients and the entire project team in order to ensure smooth and timely project delivery.
Anthony Medina is an experienced and dynamic relationship builder with a proven ability to cultivate relationships, secure commitments, build rapport and gain trust with a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives.
As Principal of Marketing with 9 years of experience, Joyce Watson is responsible for firmwide marketing strategy, planning and oversight, brand control, and database management. She consistently seeks new ways to set Cleary Zimmermann apart.
Miles Nommensen serves as Director of Building MEP and leads Cleary Zimmermann's Houston office. He has over 20 years of experience designing mechanical and plumbing systems and is well-versed in electrical design.
Daniel Hernandez is the Director of K-12 projects at Cleary Zimmermann, with a strong record of delivering quality results across sectors such as municipal, federal, corporate, and healthcare. His commitment to improving educational environments through innovative design makes him a key asset to the team.
Tyler Gary, PE, also known as TJ, serves as Director of Electrical at Cleary Zimmermann. He is directly involved in designing electrical systems for clients in various sectors such as municipal, higher education, healthcare, K-12, federal, corporate, and more.
Jaime Katz brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the construction and development industry. Jaime's extensive background as a tradesman has provided him with a deep understanding of electrical systems, which he has effectively integrated into his work as an IT/Security specialist.
Don is a hands-on construction and development professional with 20 years of expertise. He is well versed in contract negotiations, impending design problems, quality control, building code and regulations, site management through owner occupancy.
Melanie Castillo, Accounting Manager, serves as Cleary Zimmermann’s primary financial contact and is responsible for accounts receivable and payable, financial reporting, insurance, and all other money-related matters.
Norma Mendez serves as Talent and Culture Manager, managing firmwide recruitment and retention. Everything she does is in support of our team and her goal is to make everyone’s day easier and remind them of how much we value them.
Chrystal is the heartbeat of our firm. She is the vital link between the CEO and CFO and everyday operations. She helps implement Cleary Zimmermann’s strategic initiatives and serves as a right hand to Wade and Danny.
Angela Navarro serves as Marketing Manager for all of Cleary Zimmermann Engineers’ office locations. With five years of marketing experience, Angela effectively communicates with clients and sub-consultants, oversees the production of marketing materials, and produces high-quality results for both external and internal clients. She is well-versed in the production of digital and physical media and helps lead the firm’s marketing team.
