Leadership Team Bios
Meet our FY21 Officers
President
Phoebe Bickford
Biography:
Phoebe has been involved with SWE since her first semester at Clemson University. She was highly involved in the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) program at Clemson and served as the President of the SWE section while pursuing her Mechanical Engineering degrees. In Charleston, Phoebe served as the FY18 Vice President of the Lowcountry SWE section and FY19, FY20 President. In 2018, she co-founded the Women in Industry Day event as the inaugural director of our premier event.
Since graduating with her Masters in Mechanical Engineering, Phoebe has worked at Robert Bosch, LLC in North Charleston developing future vehicle braking systems. In her spare time, she runs half marathons, studies German, and operates her engagement and lifestyle photography business.
Phoebe Bickford
Biography:
Phoebe has been involved with SWE since her first semester at Clemson University. She was highly involved in the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) program at Clemson and served as the President of the SWE section while pursuing her Mechanical Engineering degrees. In Charleston, Phoebe served as the FY18 Vice President of the Lowcountry SWE section and FY19, FY20 President. In 2018, she co-founded the Women in Industry Day event as the inaugural director of our premier event.
Since graduating with her Masters in Mechanical Engineering, Phoebe has worked at Robert Bosch, LLC in North Charleston developing future vehicle braking systems. In her spare time, she runs half marathons, studies German, and operates her engagement and lifestyle photography business.
Vice President:
Nelie Kouamou
Biography:
Nelie is a Production Analytics Engineer with Boeing, moved here in the Lowcountry, 3 years ago. She has been part of SWE since 2015. During her years at Texas A&M College Station, when she was doing my master in Industrial and Systems Engineering, she served as SWE Graduate Student Membership Coordinator. She always enjoy volunteering in associations such as IISE, NSBE or Women in Aviation. In her spare time, she enjoys Travel, movies, hanging out with friends, photography, or trying new food.
Nelie Kouamou
Biography:
Nelie is a Production Analytics Engineer with Boeing, moved here in the Lowcountry, 3 years ago. She has been part of SWE since 2015. During her years at Texas A&M College Station, when she was doing my master in Industrial and Systems Engineering, she served as SWE Graduate Student Membership Coordinator. She always enjoy volunteering in associations such as IISE, NSBE or Women in Aviation. In her spare time, she enjoys Travel, movies, hanging out with friends, photography, or trying new food.
Treasurer
Erin Bayles
Biography:
Erin Bayles is a Lead Structures Design Engineer for the 787 Program at Boeing South Carolina. She is a native “city” girl, born & raised in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to designing HVAC & plumbing systems in the Architectural Engineering industry & holding multiple titles including Production Supervisor, Industrial Engineer & Product Design Engineer in the Automotive Manufacturing industry, Erin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
Early on in her career, Erin was asked by a friend of a friend to tutor mathematics (her favorite subject by the way) to youth from her childhood neighborhood. She did not know at that time that accepting the challenge would plant a seed in her that continues to grow today. Erin’s passion to mentor, volunteer for local non-profits & give back to the community is evident as she currently resides on the K-12 STEM Council and is a resource group’s Community Involvement Chair at her current place of employment.
Outside of work, Erin enjoys talking to students in afterschool programs encouraging them to get involved with STEM based programs. And for the last 3 years, she has mentored students through hands-on STEM projects as a NSBE Pro at Goodwin Elementary in North Charleston. As an active member of SWE, Erin has carried on her love for math by holding the leadership role of Treasurer since 2017 for the local section, SWE Lowcountry. In addition, Erin recently accepted the leadership role of FY20 Treasurer for CEJC.
Erin Bayles
Biography:
Erin Bayles is a Lead Structures Design Engineer for the 787 Program at Boeing South Carolina. She is a native “city” girl, born & raised in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to designing HVAC & plumbing systems in the Architectural Engineering industry & holding multiple titles including Production Supervisor, Industrial Engineer & Product Design Engineer in the Automotive Manufacturing industry, Erin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
Early on in her career, Erin was asked by a friend of a friend to tutor mathematics (her favorite subject by the way) to youth from her childhood neighborhood. She did not know at that time that accepting the challenge would plant a seed in her that continues to grow today. Erin’s passion to mentor, volunteer for local non-profits & give back to the community is evident as she currently resides on the K-12 STEM Council and is a resource group’s Community Involvement Chair at her current place of employment.
Outside of work, Erin enjoys talking to students in afterschool programs encouraging them to get involved with STEM based programs. And for the last 3 years, she has mentored students through hands-on STEM projects as a NSBE Pro at Goodwin Elementary in North Charleston. As an active member of SWE, Erin has carried on her love for math by holding the leadership role of Treasurer since 2017 for the local section, SWE Lowcountry. In addition, Erin recently accepted the leadership role of FY20 Treasurer for CEJC.
Secretary
Veronique Parker
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 from 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 recently completed her Master of Engineering degree through Mississippi State University. She has held the Secretary Officer position for the Lowcountry SWE section since 2014 and has attended 4 of the Annual SWE Conferences since 2012. In her free time, Ronnie likes to play tennis, read, and be with family, friends, & doggies.
Veronique Parker
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 from 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 recently completed her Master of Engineering degree through Mississippi State University. She has held the Secretary Officer position for the Lowcountry SWE section since 2014 and has attended 4 of the Annual SWE Conferences since 2012. In her free time, Ronnie likes to play tennis, read, and be with family, friends, & doggies.
Women In Industry Day (WIID) Event Director
Mary Richeson
Biography:
Mary received her Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. She is currently in a Black Belt position focusing on lean design and optimizing processes at Cummins in Ladson, South Carolina. In 2015, she transitioned from Minneapolis to the Charleston area to work as a Product Engineer in the Turbocharger Technologies business unit. Mary spent the first 4 years of her career as a Rotational Development Engineer and Product Engineer working on modular generator components in Minneapolis.
Mary has held the Professional Development chair for the past 2 and half years. In this role, she has coordinated events such as Toastmasters open house, book club events, plant tours, and branding events. She has been a member of SWE since 2011 and has attended 5 of the past 6 SWE National Conferences. In her free time, Mary enjoys practicing languages, running, and starting her nutritional website.
Mary Richeson
Biography:
Mary received her Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. She is currently in a Black Belt position focusing on lean design and optimizing processes at Cummins in Ladson, South Carolina. In 2015, she transitioned from Minneapolis to the Charleston area to work as a Product Engineer in the Turbocharger Technologies business unit. Mary spent the first 4 years of her career as a Rotational Development Engineer and Product Engineer working on modular generator components in Minneapolis.
Mary has held the Professional Development chair for the past 2 and half years. In this role, she has coordinated events such as Toastmasters open house, book club events, plant tours, and branding events. She has been a member of SWE since 2011 and has attended 5 of the past 6 SWE National Conferences. In her free time, Mary enjoys practicing languages, running, and starting her nutritional website.
Social Events Chair
Taylor Lenhart
Biography:
Taylor studied Industrial Engineering at Virginia Tech and graduated in 2014. Her Past work experience includes internships at Volvo Truck and Brenco part of Amsted Rail. Taylor has currently been working as a Manufacturing Engineer at Cummins Turbo Technologies for the past 5 years. She enjoys being outdoors and active. Taylor runs, plays soccer, paddleboards,relaxes in her hammock and exploring new places. Fun fact: she has a goal to visit all 50 states.
Taylor Lenhart
Biography:
Taylor studied Industrial Engineering at Virginia Tech and graduated in 2014. Her Past work experience includes internships at Volvo Truck and Brenco part of Amsted Rail. Taylor has currently been working as a Manufacturing Engineer at Cummins Turbo Technologies for the past 5 years. She enjoys being outdoors and active. Taylor runs, plays soccer, paddleboards,relaxes in her hammock and exploring new places. Fun fact: she has a goal to visit all 50 states.
Communications Chair
Jessica Peterson Biography: Jessica Petersen has worked at Cummins for 2.5 years. Currently she works as a Corporate HSE Analyst. She started out in the highly sought after manufacturing rotational program. Her rotations have included Health and Safety, Marine Process Manager, Six Sigma, and Manufacturing Engineering. She received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech. She is always positive, reliable, and a hard worker. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, horseback riding and traveling. |
Professional Development Chair
Megan Tomasso
Biography:
Megan is a Structural Engineer working for Boeing Propulsion South Carolina in lovely Charleston, SC. She originally hails from the City of Brotherly Love and is a proud Drexel University graduate. She holds 2-MS degrees from Drexel; one in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal + Fluid Sciences) and one Interior Architecture + Design (she also has BS in Mechanical Engineering with a discipline: Aerospace Engineering). Megan has had an interesting career thus far - which has spanned several disciplines and hasn't followed a traditional STEM track - but is thankful for all of the opportunities she sought to continually be learning.
Megan Tomasso
Biography:
Megan is a Structural Engineer working for Boeing Propulsion South Carolina in lovely Charleston, SC. She originally hails from the City of Brotherly Love and is a proud Drexel University graduate. She holds 2-MS degrees from Drexel; one in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal + Fluid Sciences) and one Interior Architecture + Design (she also has BS in Mechanical Engineering with a discipline: Aerospace Engineering). Megan has had an interesting career thus far - which has spanned several disciplines and hasn't followed a traditional STEM track - but is thankful for all of the opportunities she sought to continually be learning.
K-12/Girl Scout Outreach Chair:
Jennifer Meader
Biography:
Jennifer 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, SC 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 is currently working for the Ingevity Corporation as a Research Engineer in Performance Materials. This is her first year as an officer with SWE Lowcountry as the Girl Scout Outreach chair and the K-12 Outreach chair. She enjoys volunteering, being creative, and running in her spare time.
Jennifer Meader
Biography:
Jennifer 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, SC 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 is currently working for the Ingevity Corporation as a Research Engineer in Performance Materials. This is her first year as an officer with SWE Lowcountry as the Girl Scout Outreach chair and the K-12 Outreach chair. She enjoys volunteering, being creative, and running in her spare time.
Collegiate Outreach Chair:
Grace Wachowski:
Biography: Grace graduated from Clemson University with her bachelor’s degree in Biosystems Engineering in 2017. As an undergraduate Grace served as a leader in Clemson University Student Government, Kappa Delta Sorority, and as a Panhellenic Counselor. Since graduation she has worked for SeamonWhiteside as a civil engineer in land development. Grace has specialized in infrastructure and roadway design as well as residential and commercial development projects. This is Grace’s second year as a member of SWE. She enjoys running, boating, and playing volleyball in her spare time.
Grace Wachowski:
Biography: Grace graduated from Clemson University with her bachelor’s degree in Biosystems Engineering in 2017. As an undergraduate Grace served as a leader in Clemson University Student Government, Kappa Delta Sorority, and as a Panhellenic Counselor. Since graduation she has worked for SeamonWhiteside as a civil engineer in land development. Grace has specialized in infrastructure and roadway design as well as residential and commercial development projects. This is Grace’s second year as a member of SWE. She enjoys running, boating, and playing volleyball in her spare time.
Section Rep
Monique Warren
Biography:
Monique received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University. She began her aerospace career as a Quality Engineer at Northrop Grumman in Milledgeville, Georgia. Currently working as a Quality Engineer at Boeing South Carolina, she continues to work with cross-functional teams on corrective action implementation and process improvements. 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) which hosts the annual Engineers Week Banquet, awards the Engineer of the Year and the Technical Project Team of the Year, awards at least two scholarships each year and provides sponsorships to Lowcountry STEM programs and teams. Monique is excited about the future of SWE and serving this section during Fiscal Year 20-21!
Visit our “Contact Us” page for links to contact each officer! We welcome volunteers for open positions or for any committee!
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