Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Council Slate
The SWE-KC Nominating Committee presents the following slate of candidates for the ballot for SWE-KC Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Council.
As per our SWE-KC procedures, additional candidates may be nominated by petition, provided that:
- The member is eligible for the position;
- The member has given written consent to being placed on the ballot;
- A minimum of two percent or five of the voting members of the section, whichever is greater, have signed a petition or endorsed an email to place the candidate’s name on the ballot.
- The petition, together with the written consent, is submitted to the chair (Kaitlyn Mores at swe.kc.mail@gmail.com) of the nominating committee by May 7th or fifteen days after the slate is announced to the members of the section, whichever is later.
A ballot will be sent out to the membership via email mid-May. Members will have 21 days to vote.
PRESIDENT NOMINEE
Nishigandha Kelkar
Nishi Kelkar is an Aviation Program Manager at Garmin. She has over 5 years of industry experience in building flight deck avionics on a wide spectrum of aircraft from large jets to electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles. Nishi is passionate about ushering in a sustainable and purposeful future for the aviation industry. She works with her customer to design and develop flight deck avionics through the entire systems engineering lifecycle from conception to certification. She is responsible for managing the scope, schedule, risks, and dependencies in ensuring supplier support for major aircraft development milestones such as the first flight and entry into service are met in a timely manner. Nishi had graduated top of her class with a 4.0 GPA in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
She has been involved with SWE since her freshmen year at college spanning a volunteer tenure of 10 years and counting. She was the lead organizer for IGED during her undergraduate involvement. With the East-Central Iowa chapter, she served as the Marketing Chair for advertising initiatives through social media platforms and promoting the mission of SWE through corporate partnerships. With the Kansas City chapter, Nishi is serving as Membership Chair for FY23. She is driving the growth of new members by forming a university-to-industry pipeline for collegiate members in the Midwest area. She is introducing ways to engage, appreciate and gain feedback from current members so that they gain valuable experience being a part of the SWE-KC chapter. Nishi fancies being a polyglot, knowing 5 languages already, and picking up her 6th one currently. She also runs a not-for-profit to destigmatize mental health awareness for youth aged 18 to 23 through posts on social media and grass root level seminars at colleges.
She has been involved with SWE since her freshmen year at college spanning a volunteer tenure of 10 years and counting. She was the lead organizer for IGED during her undergraduate involvement. With the East-Central Iowa chapter, she served as the Marketing Chair for advertising initiatives through social media platforms and promoting the mission of SWE through corporate partnerships. With the Kansas City chapter, Nishi is serving as Membership Chair for FY23. She is driving the growth of new members by forming a university-to-industry pipeline for collegiate members in the Midwest area. She is introducing ways to engage, appreciate and gain feedback from current members so that they gain valuable experience being a part of the SWE-KC chapter. Nishi fancies being a polyglot, knowing 5 languages already, and picking up her 6th one currently. She also runs a not-for-profit to destigmatize mental health awareness for youth aged 18 to 23 through posts on social media and grass root level seminars at colleges.
VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEE
Sereena Balid
Seerena Balid is an Engineer in Training dedicated to developing a career in engineering management and leadership. Seerena has a degree in Mechanical Engineering with 9 months of experience in Supplier Quality Surveillance in the construction field at Kiewit Corporation. She is enthusiastic about serving in the SWE community and assisting with organization events. Seerena has had successful experiences serving as President and Treasurer of a student club and assisting with SWE educational events during university.
TREASURER NOMINEE
Ragan Gum
Ragan (they/she) is a Senior Software Engineer with Microsoft Corporation. Her work accelerates Microsoft's partners to drive big impact with cloud technologies. Prior to joining Microsoft, Ragan was a software leader at Oracle Cerner where she led teams and built software to help ensure safe blood transfusions, automate the flow of blood products around the world, and track body parts from scalpel to microscope.
Ragan is a lifetime member of the Society of Women Engineers. She joined while attending Purdue University in the early 2000s. Ragan served as SWE-KC Treasurer in FY17 and FY18, and as SWE-KC President in FY19. Ragan has led and had many roles within SWE-KC's Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) programs. She has also made large contributions to the SWE Finance Committee with her participation from 2018 through to the present.
Ragan loves a good spreadsheet and financial traceability. She's less excited about fundraising but does understand the importance. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing board games, and chasing her two dogs around the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City.
Ragan is a lifetime member of the Society of Women Engineers. She joined while attending Purdue University in the early 2000s. Ragan served as SWE-KC Treasurer in FY17 and FY18, and as SWE-KC President in FY19. Ragan has led and had many roles within SWE-KC's Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) programs. She has also made large contributions to the SWE Finance Committee with her participation from 2018 through to the present.
Ragan loves a good spreadsheet and financial traceability. She's less excited about fundraising but does understand the importance. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing board games, and chasing her two dogs around the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City.
SECRETARY NOMINEE
Teresa Vohsen
Teresa currently works as a Ballistics Engineer for Olin Winchester. Her job includes project engineering, testing setup and process management. Past roles for Teresa include, process engineering, supplier quality, and materials. Teresa studied Ceramic Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is pursuing a masters degree in Engineering Management.
In her free time, Teresa enjoys playing with her dogs, video games, and Dungeons and Dragons. She lives with her husband, Sam, in Lee's Summit. She is also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
In her free time, Teresa enjoys playing with her dogs, video games, and Dungeons and Dragons. She lives with her husband, Sam, in Lee's Summit. She is also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Advertisement
SWE News