Corporate Collaboration Council
The Corporate Collaboration Council, founded in 2004, helps M.E.M. students as they pursue their degree and as they plan their career paths.
- Council members give M.E.M. students an industry perspective.
- The Council helps find academically challenging projects and internships for M.E.M. students as well as offering mentoring as students prepare for their first placement after graduation.
- The Council works with M.E.M. faculty and staff to improve program recruitment, admissions, and structure.
R. John Fletcher (Chair)
CEO, Fletcher Spaght, Inc.
John Fletcher founded Fletcher Spaght, a 22 year old strategy consulting firm focused on new ventures in technology and life sciences. He is also a Managing Partner of Fletcher Spaght Ventures, a venture capital fund. Prior to launching FSI in 1983, Mr. Fletcher was a Senior Manager at The Boston Consulting Group, managing global client relationships with healthcare and high technology companies. Mr. Fletcher was a Ph.D. candidate and instructor of International Business at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his career at Wharton, he was a Captain and jet pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Fletcher holds an M.A. in Finance from the Wharton School, an M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University and a B.A. from George Washington University.
Brett Buatti
Vice President of Supply Chain, Campbell Soup
Brett Buatti is a graduate of Dartmouth College, receiving his A.B. in Engineering Sciences modified with Economics in 1992, followed by a B.E. and M.E. in 1994. He started his career as a management trainee at General Mills, then moved to Dole Food Co. for 3 years, first as an analyst, and ultimately as a plant manager of a small apple packing plant. Before returning to General Mills, he spent a year doing operations consulting work. At General Mills, Mr. Buatti worked in multiple plants, locations and business units, ultimately working as the Plant Manager for an 800 employee soup and meals facility in Southern New Jersey. Mr. Buatti currently works at Campbell Soup company as a Vice President of Supply Chain. Mr. Buatti serves as the key link between the Beverage and Sauces business unit, Supply Chain functions, World Headquarters and field plant locations.
Don Castle
Vice President Information Technology, Johnson & Johnson Group of Consumer Companies
Don Castle is Vice President of Information Technology for Johnson & Johnson's Consumer Companies. He joined J&J in 2000 as Vice President, Information Management and Chief Information Officer for Ethicon, Inc. In 2003 Don became the Chief Information Officer for the J&J's Medical Device Companies. Before joining Johnson & Johnson, Don spent eighteen years with Nabisco where he was most recently Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Nabisco International. Don's career at Nabisco spanned senior level positions in Finance, Marketing, and Sales Technology. Don received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Don and his family reside in Readington, N.J.
Chris Dorros
Vice President of Corporate Development, Global Flow Technologies, Inc.
Chris Dorros joined Global Flow Technologies in 2006 after receiving his MBA at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Global Flow Technologies is a privately-held manufacturer and marketer of valves for the production, transportation, processing, and conversion of crude oils, natural gas, and industrial chemicals. Chris leads the growth strategy of the company, primarily through acquisitions.
Previously, Chris led the design and development of the suspension system for the 2005 Ford Mustang as a product engineer with the Ford Motor Co. from 1998 to 2004. Chris earned a M.E.M. and B.E. from Thayer School of Engineering in 1998 and an A.B. in Engineering Sciences and Asian Studies from Dartmouth College in 1997. He was also part of the founding team of Dartmouth Formula Racing.
Chris and his wife, Carolyn Wolff Dorros D'97, live in Houston, Texas.
Jessica Duda
Convergence Project Director, Third Rock Ventures
Jessica Duda joined Third Rock Ventures in 2008. She is responsible for overall project management of the convergence effort, which includes investigating the space and driving the firm and efforts towards creation of new medical device companies in this area. Prior, she was initially involved with corporate development, and later, product operations, at Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc., a company developing neural stimulation, sensing and processing technology designed to improve the lives of those with severe paralysis resulting from spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders and other conditions of the nervous system. From 2001-2004 she was an associate at Polaris Venture Partners, a venture capital firm located in Boston, MA where she focused on investments in life sciences. Prior, she was an associate at The Parthenon Group where she developed strategic business plans for companies in a variety of industries. She was also a research analyst for DePuy Orthopaedics, a Johnson & Johnson Company. Ms. Duda earned an M.E.M. and an M.S. in 1999 and a B.E. in 1997 from Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. She graduated cum laude with an A.B. in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College in 1996.
John Harris
Manager, IBM Systems & Technology Group
Since receiving his A.B. in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College, John Harris has spent the entirety of his 25-year professional career with IBM, primarily in the semiconductor business. He has been in management for over 20 years and has held a variety of senior management positions. Currently, he manages Worldwide Test Engineering for IBM's Systems and Technology Group, a 250-person division responsible for development and worldwide manufacturing Test and Reliability Stress engineering for all semiconductor products manufactured by IBM, for IBM Systems group, as well as a variety of OEM customers including Cisco, Qualcomm, Apple, Sony, Ericsson and Microsoft. When he is not having fun at work, Mr. Harris is an avid sailor, cyclist, and skier.
Robert Hauck
VP Global Engineering, GE Healthcare Surgery
Bob grew up in Western Pennsylvania and attended Villanova University outside Philadelphia where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation he worked in Florida for a small engineering consulting firm before joining the U.S. Volunteer Service Peace Corps. His Peace Corps assignment was in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where for 6 months he taught Secondary School Math and Science and for the next 2 years he was assigned to the international aid organization C.A.R.E. building roads. On his return to the US he completed a Dual Focus Masters of Science degree in Bio-Medical/Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Bob continued his engineering career with the Ford Motor Company in Product Engineering at Dearborn Michigan before joining GE's Medical Systems Business. He has worked for GE now for over 28 years and has had numerous global assignments in the U.S and Europe in Design Engineering, Product Development and Engineering & Service Management. He has held positions of diverse responsibility across GE Healthcare Globally, including Product and Service Productivity, Service Engineer Training, Design and Testing Technology, Technology Quality & Documentation and Safety & Regulatory Engineering. He has held Global Modality Engineering Manager positions in Diagnostic X-Ray, Radiation Therapy and most recently in the Surgery business.
In his present position within the GE Healthcare Surgery Team he has global responsibility for all GE Healthcare Surgery Product Technology and Development. He leads a global team of 350 engineers. His direct staff is currently located in four countries on three continents.
He has three children, Michael, who is a software WEB Development Manager for the printing company Quadgraphics (think TIME magazine), Kate, who works as a training and development leader for the Red Cross in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Amy who works in the Finance Team of Robert's Roofing (think Shea Stadium) in Milwaukee.
Bob lives with his wife Janet in both Salt Lake City, Utah and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
William E. Jacobson
President, Triumph Aerospace Systems – Newport News
Bill grew up in Melrose, MA, then graduated from Dartmouth College with an A.B. in Engineering Sciences in 1971 and from Thayer School with a B.E. in Metallurgy in 1972. After graduation, Bill went to work for General Electric for fourteen years, beginning on the two year Manufacturing Management Program, then progressing through a number of management positions in manufacturing and aftermarket services in the aircraft engines business. Bill then spent the next eight years with Textron Lycoming Turbine Engines, first starting up the Commercial Engine Overhaul business, and finally as VP of the Turbine Services Group. In 1994 Textron sold Lycoming to AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) where Bill spent the next six years, first managing product overhaul services in Europe, and finally as VP of Commercial Overhaul for all aerospace products. In 2000, Bill moved to New Zealand as CEO of Ansett Australia & Air New Zealand Engineering Services, Ltd which provided engineering and maintenance services to both Ansett and Air New Zealand Airlines as well as third party work for a number of other international airlines. In 2001, Bill became Senior VP of Airline Operations, responsible for all airline operations and technical functions. After returning to the USA, Bill became engaged as President & CEO of Allied Aerospace Industries, a private equity owned company providing engineering services, prototype development and low rate production for major aerospace OEMs, NASA and the US Government. After rebuilding Allied Aerospace Industries, the company was sold to the Triumph Group and is now called Triumph Aerospace Systems – Newport News. Bill has remained with the company as President.
Kristen Morrow Johnson
Platform Planning Supervisor, Ford Motor Company
Kristen Morrow Johnson is a Platform Planning Supervisor at Ford Motor Company in Cologne, Germany. Kristen moved from engineering to a business role at Ford so that she could work part-time after the birth of her first son, Owen. Kristen joined Ford back in 1994 as part of their Ford College Graduate training program. After two years of rotational assignments she joined the Body Sheetmetal design group. That work lead to a position with the advanced B-car team in Dearborn which moved to England for product design and Germany for production in 2002. Since returning from her first international assignment she has worked in a Volvo lead Quality/Dimensional Control group for the Ford Freestyle/Five Hundred, and in Technology and Feature planning in both Product Development and the Ford Research Laboratories.
At Thayer School, Kristen was involved in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and the Women in Science Project (WISP). She ran events at the college and enjoyed making visits to local area schools to talk about engineering. Kristen graduated from Dartmouth in 1992 and the Thayer School M.E.M. Program in 1994. Her husband, Brad, is also a D'92, Thayer M.S. graduate. They have a two sons, four-year-old Owen and two-year-old Gus. Most of their free time is focused on keeping the boys happy and out of trouble!
Andrew Lackner
Assistant Vice President, Venture Capital Group, GE Energy Financial Services
Andrew Lackner is a member of the venture capital group at GE Energy Financial Services, investing in emerging energy and water-related technology companies. With over $19 billion in assets, GE Energy Financial Services invests more than $5 billion annually in two of the world's most capital-intensive industries, energy and water. As a member of the venture capital team, Mr. Lackner evaluates prospective equity investments in companies developing game-changing technologies and services throughout the energy and water value chain, from natural resources to clean technology. The venture capital team is one of the most active investors in the energy technology markets, with presence in San Francisco, Munich, Boston and Stamford, CT.
Prior to joining GE Energy Financial Services, Mr. Lackner was an associate at Columbia Capital, a venture capital firm in Washington, DC, specializing in the communications, media, and information technology industries. He also served as an associate consultant at Fletcher Spaght, a strategy consulting and venture capital firm in Boston, a product manager for MicroStrategy, a business intelligence software company in Washington, DC, and as a process engineer for MacLean-Fogg.
Mr. Lackner received an A.B. in Engineering Sciences in 1997, a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering in 1998, and an M.E.M. in 1999 from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College.
Duncan MacLean
Vice President and General Manager, MacLean Vehicle Systems
After graduating from Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College in 1995, Duncan MacLean worked as a manufacturing engineer and project supervisor for Reliable Power Products. He then worked in Germany as a project leader and design engineer for Neumayer, where he ensured that the projects and designs were properly priced and manufactured. Three years ago, he created a German company for MacLean-Fogg, taking over from a former joint venture partner. This start-up proved very profitable. Mr. MacLean is currently managing the entire suspension division of MacLean Vehicle Systems, including the German company and a similar start-up facility in the US.
Satin Mirchandani
President and CEO, MessageOne
Satin Mirchandani serves as MessageOne's President and CEO, a position he has held since 2002. He is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the company.
Mirchandani is a General Partner at Impact Venture Partners, whose Austin office he cofounded in 2000. Prior to Impact, Mirchandani was Vice President and General Manager at Trilogy/pcOrder where he was responsible for leading pcOrder's IPO process (NASDAQ: PCOR) in 1999 and launching the company's reseller business and channel. Previously, Mirchandani spent several years in McKinsey & Company's technology practice, where he focused primarily on product/market strategy and M&A. He also worked as an analyst at AEA Investors, a New York-based private equity investor. He began his career as a Software Design Engineer at Microsoft Corporation, working on Microsoft Mail.
Mirchandani received an A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, in Computer Science and Economics from Dartmouth College, and an MBA with Honors from the Harvard Business School.
Augustus Moore
Optical Technologies Program Manager, Logos Technologies, Inc.
Gus was a member of the Dartmouth class of 1999 and completed his B.E. and M.E.M. at Thayer School in 2001. He joined Lockheed Martin's Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory in Palo Alto, California after graduation, where he developed mechanisms and optics for NASA space telescopes, eventually moving to the Washington, DC area to manage projects for the Hubble Servicing Mission. He is currently an Optical Technologies Program Manager at Logos Technologies, Inc, based in Arlington, VA.
While at Thayer School, Gus was a founding member of the DARTSAT student aerospace engineering project and interned at both Cessna Aircraft and Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Sue Roberts
Director of Product Testing & Engineering, Reebok International
Sue Roberts is currently the Director of Product Testing & Engineering at Reebok International in Massachusetts. She oversees global product testing for all Reebok footwear and manages the Human Performance Engineering Lab, a biomechanics research and testing facility. In 1995, Sue joined Reebok after completing the M.E.M. degree and deciding to enter a non-traditional engineering field that fit her athletic interests and background. She has held various research, product development and advanced technology development roles at Reebok and New Balance. One of those positions was leading a product development team at a manufacturing facility while residing in ShenZhen, China.
Sue participated in the Dual Degree program between Colby College and Dartmouth, spending her junior year and a 5th year at Thayer School. She earned a B.A. in Physics from Colby College in 1992, her B.E. from Thayer School in 1993 followed by the M.E.M. in 1994. During her time at Dartmouth, Sue was involved with the Women's Basketball team, acting as a graduate assistant coach while working on her B.E. and M.E.M. degrees. Sue is married and lives in the Boston area.
Samantha Truex
Senior Director, Corporate Development, Biogen Idec
Samantha is currently head of M&A for Biogen Idec, a mid-cap biotech company with biologic drugs for multiple sclerosis, non-hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Prior to joining Biogen Idec in 2006, Sam spent eight years with Genzyme in a variety of corporate and business development roles. Sam was most recently Director of Business Development for Genzyme Genetics, where she led multiple acquisition, collaboration and licensing transactions. Prior to Genzyme, Sam was in Business Development at Chiron, where she worked on the sale of the diagnostics business to Bayer, and in management consulting at Health Advances. Sam earned a A.B. in Biology in 1992 from Dartmouth, a B.E. in 1993 from Thayer and an MBA in 1995 from Tuck.
Philip John Venables
Operations, Technology & Finance, Goldman Sachs
Philip is the firm's chief information risk officer. He leads the Information Security, Technology Risk/Compliance and Business Continuity Programs. Additionally, he is part of the Core Infrastructure Management Team. Philip joined Goldman Sachs as a vice president in 2000. He transferred to New York in 2001 and became a managing director in 2003.
Prior to joining the firm, Philip was chief information security officer at Deutsche Bank. He also functioned as the global head of Technology Risk Management for Standard Chartered Bank and served in various technology and network management positions at Barclays Bank.
Philip serves as a board member of the SIA Information Security Committee and the International Board of Referees of the journal Computers and Security. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the London School of Economics Computer Security Research Center. In addition, Philip is an associate editor for the Information Security Bulletin.
Philip earned an MSc in Formal Methods and Cryptography from The Queen's College at Oxford University in 1990 and a BSc in Computer Science from York University in the United Kingdom in 1989. Additionally Philip was awarded the designation of Chartered Engineer in 1995 and Chartered Scientist in 2002. In 2005, he was elected a fellow of the British Computer Society. He lives in Jersey City with his wife, Julie, and son, Vic.