Leadership Team Bios
Meet our FY24 Officers
President:
Nelie Kouamou
Biography:
Nelie is a Software Engineer. She’s part of The Boeing Research and Technology, and moved to the Lowcountry in 2017. She has earned her Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from National Polytechnic Institute of Cameroon and her Master in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. She has been a member of SWE since 2015. During her grad school days, she was SWE Graduate Student Membership Coordinator and VP Special Events for INFORMS (Institute of Operations Research and the Management Sciences) . She previously served as Vice-president of the chapter, and is in her second year as President for the Lowcountry Society of women engineers. She is also currently serving as the SWE and NSBE Boeing focal leader for The South Carolina site. She will be part of the Department of Computer Science Industry Advisory Board of Charleston Southern University for the 2023-2026 term. Nelie enjoys volunteering in other associations such as NSBE or Women in Aviation, and helping with the Boeing Dreamlearners STEM program. Nelie is passionate about promoting gender equality in STEM, supporting and empowering fellow women in engineering. In her spare time, she enjoys Travel, movies, hanging out with friends, photography, or trying new food.
Nelie Kouamou
Biography:
Nelie is a Software Engineer. She’s part of The Boeing Research and Technology, and moved to the Lowcountry in 2017. She has earned her Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from National Polytechnic Institute of Cameroon and her Master in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. She has been a member of SWE since 2015. During her grad school days, she was SWE Graduate Student Membership Coordinator and VP Special Events for INFORMS (Institute of Operations Research and the Management Sciences) . She previously served as Vice-president of the chapter, and is in her second year as President for the Lowcountry Society of women engineers. She is also currently serving as the SWE and NSBE Boeing focal leader for The South Carolina site. She will be part of the Department of Computer Science Industry Advisory Board of Charleston Southern University for the 2023-2026 term. Nelie enjoys volunteering in other associations such as NSBE or Women in Aviation, and helping with the Boeing Dreamlearners STEM program. Nelie is passionate about promoting gender equality in STEM, supporting and empowering fellow women in engineering. In her spare time, she enjoys Travel, movies, hanging out with friends, photography, or trying new food.
Treasurer:
Jennifer Meador
Biography:
Jennifer is a Research Engineer with the Ingevity Corporation, focusing on manufacturing tooling and additive manufacturing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 2001 and her Master of Science of Paper Science and Engineering from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology in 2003. She began her career in Charleston with the MeadWestvaco Paper Mill where she concentrated on process engineering and technical sales. After focusing several years on her family as a military spouse and mother, Jennifer and her family returned to the Lowcountry to establish a permanent home. This is her first year as the Chair of the Charleston Engineers Joint Council, and her second year as the treasurer of the Society of Women Engineers, Lowcountry Chapter. She supports the Charleston Southern University College of Engineering as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board and serves on ECPI’s Electronics Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Advisory Board. Outside of professional organizations, volunteering is a passion of hers. Jennifer has been a Board Member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina for the past two years as well as a parent volunteer in her daughters’ girl scout troop for the past nine years. She continually volunteers with the Cane Bay High School Band Boosters, her church’s Building Renovation Committee and the Cane Bay Middle School Band Boosters as treasurer. In her spare time, she enjoys being creative, playing the oboe in the community band and spending time with her family.
Jennifer Meador
Biography:
Jennifer is a Research Engineer with the Ingevity Corporation, focusing on manufacturing tooling and additive manufacturing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 2001 and her Master of Science of Paper Science and Engineering from the Institute of Paper Science and Technology in 2003. She began her career in Charleston with the MeadWestvaco Paper Mill where she concentrated on process engineering and technical sales. After focusing several years on her family as a military spouse and mother, Jennifer and her family returned to the Lowcountry to establish a permanent home. This is her first year as the Chair of the Charleston Engineers Joint Council, and her second year as the treasurer of the Society of Women Engineers, Lowcountry Chapter. She supports the Charleston Southern University College of Engineering as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board and serves on ECPI’s Electronics Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Advisory Board. Outside of professional organizations, volunteering is a passion of hers. Jennifer has been a Board Member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina for the past two years as well as a parent volunteer in her daughters’ girl scout troop for the past nine years. She continually volunteers with the Cane Bay High School Band Boosters, her church’s Building Renovation Committee and the Cane Bay Middle School Band Boosters as treasurer. In her spare time, she enjoys being creative, playing the oboe in the community band and spending time with her family.
Secretary & GS/K-12 Outreach Chair
Kate Hand
Biography:
.Kate is a Stress Analysis Engineer for the B-52 CERP at Boeing. She moved to the Lowcountry in 2019 and fell in love with Charleston. She completed a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland, College Park. She has been with Boeing for the last 6 years, where she completed a two year rotational program for early career engineers. She has been a member of SWE since her time at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where she first attended a SWE social event. She previously worked as the Boeing South Carolina STEM Council FIRST Robotics Chair and is currently the REACH Communications Lead. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting, stand up paddling boarding and exploring the outdoors with her family.
Kate Hand
Biography:
.Kate is a Stress Analysis Engineer for the B-52 CERP at Boeing. She moved to the Lowcountry in 2019 and fell in love with Charleston. She completed a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering at University of Maryland, College Park. She has been with Boeing for the last 6 years, where she completed a two year rotational program for early career engineers. She has been a member of SWE since her time at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where she first attended a SWE social event. She previously worked as the Boeing South Carolina STEM Council FIRST Robotics Chair and is currently the REACH Communications Lead. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting, stand up paddling boarding and exploring the outdoors with her family.
Social Events Chair:
Erica Sampson
Biography:
Erica joined Boeing as a Materials & Process Engineer at Boeing Research and Technology in December 2021. Prior to that she worked at GE Research in Niskayuna, NY as a Materials Scientist for 7.5 years. Erica graduated from Clemson with a B.S. (2010) and from Carnegie Mellon with a M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2014) in Material Science. Erica has previous been elected as the Social Chair for SWE Lowcountry (2022-2023), Social Chair for the Carnegie Mellon Graduate Assembly, Vice President and President of the GE Newcomers Club, ASM Eastern NY Symposium Chair, and GE Whitney Club Department representative. Her duties included planning, organizing, and running social events for groups between 20-1000+ people, managing event budgets, coordinating event volunteers, entertainment and food/beverage, and chairing committee meetings. Erica is passionate about SWE and building a strong and inclusive community through networking and social opportunities.
Erica Sampson
Biography:
Erica joined Boeing as a Materials & Process Engineer at Boeing Research and Technology in December 2021. Prior to that she worked at GE Research in Niskayuna, NY as a Materials Scientist for 7.5 years. Erica graduated from Clemson with a B.S. (2010) and from Carnegie Mellon with a M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2014) in Material Science. Erica has previous been elected as the Social Chair for SWE Lowcountry (2022-2023), Social Chair for the Carnegie Mellon Graduate Assembly, Vice President and President of the GE Newcomers Club, ASM Eastern NY Symposium Chair, and GE Whitney Club Department representative. Her duties included planning, organizing, and running social events for groups between 20-1000+ people, managing event budgets, coordinating event volunteers, entertainment and food/beverage, and chairing committee meetings. Erica is passionate about SWE and building a strong and inclusive community through networking and social opportunities.
Communications Chair:
Veronique Parker-Malek Biography: Veronique (Ronnie) has been a member of SWE since 2009. She held the Secretary Officer position for her college SWE section during her senior year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where she graduated with her B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 2013. Since graduation, Ronnie has been working for the Boeing Company as an Avionics & Flight Controls Field Engineer on the C17 program and completed her Master of Engineering degree through Mississippi State University in 2019. She held the Secretary Officer position for the Lowcountry SWE section from 2014 - 2021 and the VP position since 2022. Ronnie has also been the Sponsorship and Scholarship chair for past Women in Industry Day conferences. In her free time, Ronnie likes to play tennis, read, and spend time with family - especially her wild toddler! |
Collegiate Outreach Chair:
Monique Warren
Biography:
Monique received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University. She began her aerospace career with Northrop Grumman in Milledgeville, Georgia and currently works as a Quality Engineer at Boeing. She has been a member of Lowcountry SWE since 2012 and has previously served as the Lowcountry SWE Social Chair. Monique is currently serving as the Section Representative and represents Lowcountry SWE on the Charleston Engineering Joint Council (CEJC) and other professional engineering associations. Outside of work Monique enjoys running, cycling and spending time at the beach.
Monique Warren
Biography:
Monique received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University. She began her aerospace career with Northrop Grumman in Milledgeville, Georgia and currently works as a Quality Engineer at Boeing. She has been a member of Lowcountry SWE since 2012 and has previously served as the Lowcountry SWE Social Chair. Monique is currently serving as the Section Representative and represents Lowcountry SWE on the Charleston Engineering Joint Council (CEJC) and other professional engineering associations. Outside of work Monique enjoys running, cycling and spending time at the beach.
Professional Development Chair:
Delaney Taylor
Biography:
Delaney is a Electrical Manufacturing Engineer with Boeing in Charleston, SC. Previously before that, Delaney graduated from Clemson University with a bachelors in industrial engineering. She has been a member of SWE since 2023. While her time with the society has been presently new, her optimism and enthusiasm to thrive with the other members beams brightly. She hopes to immerse others in the professional world such that they may grow within their careers. During her free time, you can catch Delaney exploring the outdoors or learning a new trade skill.
Delaney Taylor
Biography:
Delaney is a Electrical Manufacturing Engineer with Boeing in Charleston, SC. Previously before that, Delaney graduated from Clemson University with a bachelors in industrial engineering. She has been a member of SWE since 2023. While her time with the society has been presently new, her optimism and enthusiasm to thrive with the other members beams brightly. She hopes to immerse others in the professional world such that they may grow within their careers. During her free time, you can catch Delaney exploring the outdoors or learning a new trade skill.
SWE Rep:
Lauren Swann
Biography:
Lauren Swann is a Boeing Customer Support Service Engineer with 10+ years in aerospace and propulsion structures. She has been a member of SWE since 2008. She received her Mechanical Engineer degree at San Diego State University. She began her engineering career at Solar Turbines followed by NIWC in San Diego. When she is not engineering solutions for airlines, she volunteers as a violinist and violist in the Summerville Orchestra and helps shaping the Lowcountry engineering culture and community through employee engagement organizations.
Lauren Swann
Biography:
Lauren Swann is a Boeing Customer Support Service Engineer with 10+ years in aerospace and propulsion structures. She has been a member of SWE since 2008. She received her Mechanical Engineer degree at San Diego State University. She began her engineering career at Solar Turbines followed by NIWC in San Diego. When she is not engineering solutions for airlines, she volunteers as a violinist and violist in the Summerville Orchestra and helps shaping the Lowcountry engineering culture and community through employee engagement organizations.
WIID 2024 Director Chair:
Krista Grooms
Biography:
Krista Grooms has been named WIID Director for our 2024 event, Breaking Barriers: Leading Change.
Ms. Grooms has been on the WIID board since the 2022 event and was a panel member at the first WIID conference in 2019. Krista currently works for the Naval Information Warfare Center – Atlantic where she has been for over 10 years. She currently manages multiple programs within the Electronic Security
field supporting customer locations all over the globe. She graduated from the College of Charleston in 2014 with a BS in Computer Science and since has worked in the field trying to promote women in the
tech field and security industry.
Krista Grooms
Biography:
Krista Grooms has been named WIID Director for our 2024 event, Breaking Barriers: Leading Change.
Ms. Grooms has been on the WIID board since the 2022 event and was a panel member at the first WIID conference in 2019. Krista currently works for the Naval Information Warfare Center – Atlantic where she has been for over 10 years. She currently manages multiple programs within the Electronic Security
field supporting customer locations all over the globe. She graduated from the College of Charleston in 2014 with a BS in Computer Science and since has worked in the field trying to promote women in the
tech field and security industry.
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