National Engineers Week 2009 Banquet

This year's guest speaker was Mr. Malcolm G. McLaren, P.E., President & CEO of the McLaren Engineering Group to discuss entertainment engineering. From amusement parks to casinos to theater and concerts, he presented how engineering makes artistic design become reality. He covered the process of converting an artistic designer's vision into a real working piece of structure or machinery with using programs such as Nastran 4D, Inventor, 3D Studio max and other structural and mechanical programs.

Projects shown included: KA, Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas Wynn's Macau Casino, Kinetic Atrium, Nighttime Spectacular, EPCOT Tyrannosaurus Rex in Toys-R-Us, Times Square, Sentosa Cranes, Singapore Tina Turner 24/7 Tour, 'NSync Tours Elton John Tour, Twister, Universal Studios Rolling Stones- Bridges to Babylon, Voodoo Lounge and Bigger Bang Tours
 

Student Speakers: Dutchess Community College Engineering Club

The Dutchess Community College Engineer Club’s entry, Large Pumpkin Collider, won the 11^th annual Dutchess Community College Punkin’ Chunkin’ competition held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds on October 19, 2008.  The goal of the competition is to inspire physics, engineering, and technology students to design, build, and compete a mechanical device that hurls pumpkins at a target.  In three attempts, the team’s entry, Large Pumpkin Collider, scored two direct hits on its target.  Other schools participating were UlsterCommunity College, NewburghFreeAcademy, RoyC.KetchamHigh School, ArlingtonHigh School, MarlboroHigh School and BrewsterHigh School. 

Team Members:  Dan Cocciardi, Mark Cohen, Brandon Jewett, Steven Fraleigh, Craig Buechele, Pat McMorris, and JeremyHughes.  Punkin’ Chunkin’ is coordinated by DCC’s Assistant Professor and Engineering Program Chair, Mark Courtney.

Principal Sponsors 

Entergy Corporation: An integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations.  Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States.

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation: A regulated utility delivering gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory extending from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City north to the Capital District at Albany.  Central Hudson serves parts of Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.

Tectonic Engineering and Surveying Consultants, P.C. : A full spectrum of professional engineering and services. Established in 1986 Tectonic has grown to a multi-disciplined engineering firm with a staff of over 250, and offices located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Tectonic has been an ENR top 500 design firm since 2001.

American Society of Civil Engineers: (Mid-Hudson Branch)

Sponsors

Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA): An international consulting firm providing professional services in the fields of engineering, planning and economics. The firm is active in bridge inspections for NYSDOT and provides bridge, highway and intersection design, traffic analysis and signalizations studies, street-scaping, and parking garage structure inspections and rehabilitation services.

GeoDesign, Inc A consulting firm providing professional geotechnical, geostructural and geoenvironmental engineering services with offices in Connecticut, New York & Vermont.

The Chazen Companies The Chazen Companies have been providing professional services in the Northeast since 1947. This multi-disciplinary company of over 150 professionals with technical expertise in engineering, surveying, environmental, planning, and landscape architecture has five offices throughout New York and Connecticut.

Technical Society Sponsors

• American Society for Quality (Mid-Hudson Section)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (Mid-Hudson Section)
• New York Water Environment Association(Lower Hudson Chapter)
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (Mid-Hudson Chapter #74)
• Society of Women Engineers (Mid-Hudson Section)
• Society of American Military Engineers

Photos of the event:

Poster Contest Winners