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The month of February has been deemed Black History Month in the United States. The origin dates as far back as 1926 in the US when Negro History Week was established by Carter G. Woodson to celebrate the achievements of Black people as a race and dispel the myth that Black people did not positively contribute to the growth of the United States as a country. Since it’s inception, Black History Month has also been recognized in Canada (February), The United Kingdom (October) and Ireland (October). During Black History Month, we pause to remember and celebrate people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is a time to reflect on and appreciate the growth of nations when the human race embraces diversity of cultures and inclusion of all mankind. At Re.engineer, we celebrate Black History Month by highlighting everyday heroes in our communities from the past, present and future! During the month of February 2022 we "Honored Our Legacy and Empowered the Future" by celebrating historical black professionals in STEM and presenting flowers to those who are still practitioners within the discipline. Members of racial and ethnic minority groups are projected to become the majority of America’s population in the next thirty years. Today, however, they account for just twenty-eight percent of America’s STEM workers. We know that for America to remain competitive in a global economy, we need to do all we can to draw upon the nation’s diverse talent pool, which includes historically underrepresented groups in STEM. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are some of the fastest-growing fields, but it is underscored by racial disparities. Black scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians have changed the world significantly throughout history. From space exploration and scientific discoveries, to tech innovations and more, there are many Black heroes in STEM whose work has shaped our lives. In Re.engineer fashion, we asked our community of nearly 3k subscribers and followers to nominate worthy Black figures in STEM and it is with great pleasure, that we share this collaboration with the world. Please join us in congratulating them for their brilliance, courage, service, and innovative approaches to problem solving. We were truly honored to share their stories! You can read their background and contributions to the STEM disciplines below by clicking on their respective photos below.

CONTRIBUTING RE.ENGINEER Undisclosed CHALLENGE As a result of securing a significant amount of capital investment, a business group was challenged with identifying opportunities to offset the deprecation cost. The offset was critical because in a weakened economy, their services still required a high level of cost competitiveness in the market. SOLUTION The continuous improvement organization developed a value creation work process in where core teams across each function were established to strategically identify cost opportunities. The new work process included a digital dashboard that compiles historical cost data to trend potential opportunities for waste reduction. RESULT Within two years of implementing the new work process, the teams generated enough value creation to offset the capital depreciation for the next five years. The majority of the waste/cost reductions were related to raw material consumption, equipment rentals, project management efficiency, and labor. VALUE Millions of dollars of cost elimination

About Brandon Hunter We ended our road trip just about 50 miles northwest of Houston, TX, the birthplace of Re.engineer. At our final stop we met Brandon Hunter, a senior at Prairie View A&M University majoring in mechanical engineering. Brandon is originally from Atlanta, GA and says that when it was time to apply for college, he applied to only one university, the illustrious Prairie View A&M University, and as a graduating senior he does not regret that decision. We asked Brandon what attending an HBCU means to him personally. His reply was, “attending an HBCU means I can celebrate and continue the legacy of previous engineers and scholars that came before me. An HBCU allowed me to connect more to my history and culture, which helped me discover my self-identity. The supportive environment of my HBCU also means I can share my college experience with like-minded individuals with similar goals to increase black excellence.” We also asked him about his inspiration to pursue a degree in STEM. “I chose STEM because I am passionate about problem-solving and innovation. I believe there is always an opportunity for improvement. I pursued mechanical engineering because it is a way I can design and create solutions to life’s challenges. I also want to show the scholars that will come after me that pursuing a career in STEM is possible. My inspiration also comes from my ability to defy stereotypes and value my education,“ he said. Brandon is active on campus and in the community with activities such as ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and B.L.A.C.K (Brothers Leading and Cultivating Knowledge). He enjoys volunteering and spending time with family and friends. Brandon’s favorite quote is “Shoot for the moon even if you miss it, you will land amongst the stars.” Landing among the stars is exactly what Brandon has done. He has completed four internship terms within the petrochemical industry and has already received a full-time employment offer upon graduation. We are excited to have Brandon join the STEM professional community soon and know that he will be a standout amongst his peers!

About Catera Guillory Before leaving Xavier, we had the chance to meet yet another amazing student in the College of Pharmacy, Catera Guillory. Catera is a third-year pharmacy student who lives by the mantra, “work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” This accomplished young lady is making noise on her campus. We asked Catera about her inspiration for pursuing an education in STEM. “Becoming a pharmacist has been a dream of mine for about 8 years now. Knowing that I’ll be able to serve my community with hopes of educating them on their health is dear to my heart, especially to ones in underserved areas. My goal is to help one person at a time and make sure that they know they are not alone in any illness/disease they may be suffering with. They will have a pharmacist that will cater to their needs at all times,“ said Catera. She also shared with us that her love for helping people coupled with her love for chemistry is one of the primary reasons she wants to be a pharmacist. “In the next 2 years, I’ll be graduating from pharmacy school and well on my way to serve my community the way that I have been dreaming of. I aim to open educational rallies and events to inform people how to better take care of their health because we only get one life, so we have to make it count.” In addition to her love for people and STEM, we also wanted to know what attending an HBCU means to Catera. Her response was, “Attending an HBCU means family to me. Knowing that I’ll have countless resources, love and support from faculty and staff means the world to me. I always have someone on my side rooting for me and supporting my needs when I fall short. The connections gained from this type of bond are endless. Receiving help to step foot in new doors with different internships, conferences, and jobs is always a wonderful experience from people who want to see you succeed. My HBCU is always there for me just as my immediate family is, and for that I’m grateful.” We are grateful to have someone with Catera’s passion and determination joining the pool of STEM professionals soon. We cannot wait to make some noise with her for all her successes!

About Saige Clark After leaving Florida, we headed west to Xavier University of Louisiana where we met Saige Clark. Saige is an aspiring pharmacist at Xavier’s College of Pharmacy who is also pursuing a dual degree in chemistry. Xavier is considered one of the top three producers in the country of African Americans with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Xavier University of Louisiana, 2021) and Saige intends to be counted in that number as well. Saige is originally from Lutcher, Louisiana and graduated with honors in the top ten academic ranking of her class from St. Charles Catholic High School in Laplace, LA. In high school, Saige was an avid player on the basketball team for 4 years as well as active in the school’s French and Math clubs. When asked what it meant to her to attend an HBCU to pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist, Saige replied, “It means a lot to attend an HBCU because the experience feels like I’m surrounded by family. After visiting my college of choice, I felt an instant connection. I will be the seventh Xavier graduate in my family.” We also asked Saige what her inspiration was for pursuing an education in STEM. Her answer was, “I have always been strong in science and math and made good grades. I decided to pursue an education in STEM because I want to be able to help people of color who face health disparities.” In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country, we are thrilled to have someone of Saige’s academic caliber with a passion for people gearing up to help us in this public health fight. We know that her impact will be felt far and wide as her personal mantra states, “I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams!” Reference: Xavier University of Louisiana. (2021). Expand Your Opportunities in Pharmacy: Our Mission. https://www.xula.edu/collegeofpharmacy

About Torin Robinson As we travelled south down I-95, we met another promising STEM talent, Torin Robinson. Torin is a computer engineering major at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Torin was born in Miami, FL and raised in Lake County. He is a young man dedicated to furthering his education by currently working as a crew member in the fast-food industry while being a full-time student in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (COE). FAMU-FSU COE is unique in that it is the only shared college of engineering in the nation (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2021). FAMU students are extremely lucky to partake in the HBCU experience while also comingling with other engineering students at Florida State University. When asked what does attending an HBCU mean to him, Torin’s response was, "being around black excellence, and a family-oriented environment." Family is something that is important to Torin and we are so glad he has found his tribe at FAMU. In addition to pursuing his own STEM passion, Torin is inspired by helping the next generation of African American students get involved in STEM. Re.engineer can certainly align with that inspiration, as it is one of our guiding principles as well! Torin lives by the mantra "when striving for perfection, you'll obtain excellence." We are joyfully cheering for Torin to cross the finish line as a STEM graduate and can't wait to see the positive impact he will make in the STEM community! Reference: Florida A&M University. (2021). FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Unique. Collaborative. Relevant. https://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?engineering.

About Chance McGee On our first stop in the nation’s capital, we met Chance McGee, a sophomore at Howard University majoring in biology (pre-dental). Chance is a native of New Orleans, LA who graduated magna cum laude from Jesuit High School of New Orleans. During his senior year, Chance received offers from several notable universities including Louisiana State University (LSU) before making his final decision to attend Howard. When asked why he ultimately chose to attend an HBCU, Chance responded, "Personally, I feel as though attending an HBCU is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Furthermore, an HBCU is a place where young black individuals can be in a place without feeling marginalized, discriminated against, or negatively profiled based on the color of their skin. An HBCU is a place where you meet so many great people who look like you and have similar goals and aspirations for themselves.“ Howard University is considered a leader in STEM fields as the top ranked producer of African-American undergraduates who later earn science and engineering doctoral degrees (Howard University, 2021). However, we wanted to know what inspired Chance to pursue a STEM education at Howard. "My inspiration for pursuing an education in STEM is my mother. In college, she received a dual degree in mathematics and physics. Therefore, since a young age, I was always surrounded by subjects that have to do with mathematics and science. Also, I have always performed better in mathematics and science over any other subjects." Chance is pursuing his career goals with passion and lives by the mantra, "you’ll never be happy if you constantly worry about what others think of you.” At Re.engineer we think the future of STEM professionals is bright with Chance as one if it's rising stars! We are excited about his educational journey and his future as a STEM professional. Reference: Howard University. (2021). About Howard. https://www2.howard.edu/about/about-howard.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have existed in our country for over 150 years. At one point in history, HBCUs were the only route available to higher education for African Americans. Though many roadblocks have been removed since the inception of HBCUs, the unique experience and quality of education they offer is still relevant and important in helping the next generation of STEM professionals "see possible" beyond perceived boundaries. As most colleges reopen for face to face instruction, we decided to take a virtual road trip across the country to discover who’s who among aspiring STEM professionals attending HBCUs. Each student we met has an inspiring story of hard work and determination worth sharing and celebrating with our readers. During the month of September, we will be extending our platform to several HBCU students pursuing degrees within the STEM disciplines. These students from around the nation, represent some of the finest examples of HBCU culture. They are the next generation of community leaders as they pursue their volunteer and faith-based engagements with the same excellence and diligence as they seek academic knowledge in the classroom. We congratulate them for their determination, pride, and scholarship, and we are truly honored to share their stories. Our featured students were asked, "What does attending an HBCU mean to you?" and "What is your inspiration for pursing an education in STEM?" You can read their responses and their bio's below by clicking on the respective photos.

Contributing Re.engineer Partner: Pinnacle, www.pinnaclereliability.com Challenge: A U.S. Lubricant Manufacturing and Packaging facility blends and packages various engine oils, process oils, and industrial lubricants to be distributed worldwide. In order to meet output goals, the facility identified the need to optimize its Preventive Maintenance (PM) program and identify reliability gaps preventing it from achieving desired output. Solution: To address these challenges, Pinnacle facilitated a comprehensive risk-based reliability improvement process, using Reliability- Centered Maintenance (RCM) as the core-driver. RCM, with its emphasis on functionality and effect of failure, provided the foundation to build a proactive maintenance program that would ensure the equipment’s reliability and availability were able to meet performance objectives. RCM’s systematic approach also allowed a broader vision of opportunities to be evaluated, beyond what would typically be addressed by RCM. For this reliability-based improvement process, Operations and Maintenance processes, practices, and historical performance were comprehensively assessed. The objective was to develop an optimum maintenance and monitoring program for the operation of both of the packaging lines, and to additionally identify recommendations for improving process reliability gaps not directly related to maintenance. The scope of work included all significant mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation equipment on the lines, from the introduction of bulk lubricants and packaging materials, to the palletizing and warehousing of packaged retail product. Pinnacle’s facilitation of this analysis included significant input from the client’s operations, maintenance, and engineering personnel to execute the following steps: Results: As a result of Pinnacle’s facilitation of the RCM-based reliability improvement project, the client received a complete and thoroughly documented proactive maintenance plan, as well as a list of recommendations to address gaps in performance and reliability. Each of the recommendations were verified by the client to be applicable and cost-effective—each recommended task addresses only the dominant failure modes identified for each piece of equipment and each task focuses on preventing the significant effects of equipment failure, mitigating or reducing the impact of the equipment failure, extending the mean time between failures, or identifying hidden failures. Overall, the client received the following business benefits: Reduced planned and unplanned downtime Better utilization of assets Optimized maintenance program, driven by risk Identification of “bad actors” Long-term cost savings through the reduction of planned downtime Maximized uptime Increased availability and speed of line Higher production rate Increased profitability based on reduction of third-party bottling and production Pinnacle conducted a follow-up assessment of the improvement recommendations against the pre-project performance level of the lines. Due to essentially sold-out market conditions, it was estimated that the client will potentially realize an approximate 20 percent improvement in capacity utilization, resulting in a greater than 12 Million USD annual increase in profitability through corresponding reduction in more costly third-party packaging demands. This utilization will result from decreases in both planned and unplanned downtime. In addition, planned maintenance costs will be significantly reduced due to the optimization of proactive activities resultant from the RCM analysis. Although a significant step-change improvement will be realized in the first six to nine months, the expected time period required to fully achieve the potential ROI is expected to be 18-24 months. Impact: $12 Million USD annual increase in profitability

Go far off the beaten path where there is no rulebook and blaze your own trail. - David Jones Nowadays, smartphones are ubiquitous. In fact, mobile data traffic across the globe is projected to have increased nearly sevenfold from 2017 to 2022. We all expect that information can be transferred, services organized, and problems solved on the go. But, do you expect your mobile device to address the challenge of providing clean energy to developing countries? Or even to access an Energy Management System via a virtual power plant? Well let me introduce you to David Jones, founder and CEO of Lite Injen Labs, the parent company of Lumena Energy one of the largest software development firms in the Midwest. David is a brilliant entrepreneur and solar energy subject matter expert. With the successful launch of Lumena Energy at the Google Headquarters in 2019, his vision has led Lumena Energy to becoming the largest minority owned renewable energy company in the Midwest. He is not only enabling cleantech to some of the most remote areas of the world, David is doing it in style. His virtual power plant is managed completely from an app and whether your city's entire power grid fails, you will have access to reliable power. Lumena Energy's cloud-based network combines decentralized energy resources into a single aggregated sources, which increases your reliability. Renewable energy, cutting edge technology, enhanced customer experience, and all at your fingertips...Re.volutionary! David Jones is a technologist, inventor and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of Lite Injen Labs and Lumena Energy. David holds a BFA from The Juilliard School, and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is currently leading the firm to the expansion of the world's first black owned virtual power plant network which aims to power 1 billion households globally. Q: From studying music composition at The Juilliard School to producing a clean energy technology enabler, what inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship in technology and software development? David: Believe it or not, technology has always been my passion. In my family I've always been the de facto Wi-Fi wizard, eradicator of viruses and amateur coder, this extended to both family members and schoolmates. Growing up in a middle class Black household, actually turning those skills into a monetizable career was a pipedream at best. There's power in representation, and during the 90's --and unfortunately even now in the 2000's, there hasn't been a whole lot of noteworthy Blacks in Tech for enterprising youth to look up to. I got into the entrepreneurial side of tech out of necessity. 6 years ago, I was an airline pilot and had a great idea for an aggregator app that would display realtime pricing for products and services globally. However, I didn't have $40,000 to build a working MVP and no one would give me a dime. So, on overnights and during downtime I taught myself a coding language called Ruby. After a few months of trial and error, I had a working prototype and that started me down the path toward becoming a tech founder. Two years later, after traveling the world I began to see an unmistakable common thread. Typically in black and brown countries, energy grids held together with duct tape and bubblegum all exhibited the same socioeconomic problems. High crime rates, lower educational standards, and subpar living standards. I taught myself electrical engineering and went on to receive my NABCEP Associate certification to bring resolve to some of these global issues. It was also paramount that my team and I serve as role models for future generations, this issue is far too grand to tackle alone. Q: Tell us more about Lumena Energy. What is a virtual power plant? David: Lumena Energy is a cleantech firm, our core focus is an IAAS based Energy Management System (EMS). We aim for our EMS to serve as a backbone for municipalities seeking to create smart grids. The simplest way to describe a virtual power plant is by thinking of an energy grid as a tree. The roots are power plants from which the energy originates, the trunk is the infrastructure, the branches are the power lines, the leaves are individual homes and buildings. Stored energy is collected in the trunk that can be used when demand is too high or blackouts occur, and the entire system is regulated by Cloud architecture. These transactions are all managed through the Cloud. Q: What has been the most difficult challenge you’ve had to overcome as an entrepreneur in the STEM industry? David: STEM in itself is a deeply nuanced, highly specific set of concentrations; naturally with bleeding edge technology such as Cleantech, IoT, Machine Learning etc. there's a steep learning curve for anyone not directly involved, that poses a big challenge when engaging with the public. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how much institutional racism has bottlenecked our progress, it's truly a vexing scenario, despite the modern marvels of African American contribution. Every associated practice of STEM is what it is in part due to Black brilliance, and yet we are still stifled and scoffed at. Q: We believe that our personal expressions should translate into how we operate as business and community leaders. We call it “Bringing Your Whole Self” into any situation. How do you ensure that you are authentic to yourself and your work? David: I've always been the black sheep of my family ergo, individuality and uncompromising authenticity come with the territory. However, people can see through a phony quickly, especially when you're at the tip of the spear. So if the goal you are pursuing is anything beside fervent enthusiasm to solve a problem, you're selling yourself and your team short. Q: What advice would you give to other young professionals or entrepreneurs looking to take their career or education to the next level? David: Make short term, mid term and long term goals and stick to them. Invest in your education. Protect your reputation at all costs. Command your worth. Be relentless in your pursuit of excellence. Address niche problems, go far off the beaten path where there is no rulebook and blaze your own trail. Q: At Re.engineer, we believe in challenging the status quo. How you are applying your background in the arts to solving technology challenges around the world. David: Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge base on current events, industry standards and emerging tech keeps me oriented with market needs, this gives me a firm grasp on which to begin iterating on concepts. Sprinkle in a little creativity and ingenuity and a viable idea is born. Q: What keeps you up at night? David: I'm not big on sleeping, especially at night. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy feat, there is always something that needs to be done. I worry about competitors and enemies of progress, but conversely there is a high level of eustress associated with being kept awake. I'm in a constant state of creation and iteration, majority of my most impactful ideas happen when the world is silent and I am free to get lost in my imagination. ********** Contact Lumena Energy: lumenaenergy.com Lite Injen Labs: liteinjenlabs.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-n-jones

A successful person finds the right place for himself. But a successful leader finds the right place for others. - John C. Maxwell I have found that the most effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of emotional Intelligence. It's not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but mainly as "threshold capabilities"; they are the entry level requirements for leadership positions. In this #hack produced by Erica Walton-Douglas, she provides 8 essential tips on effective leadership. All of her perspectives align to the aforementioned philosophy that emotional intelligence is the key to understanding people, developing talent, and reaching a successful destination. Hack Author: Erica Walton-Douglas Erica is Vice President of Strategic Operations for McKesson, providing leadership to distribution operations in Olive Branch, MS and Aurora, CO. Prior to McKesson, Erica was Director of Distribution Operations for Trane Technologies, leading global distribution of residential and commercial HVAC parts and supplies. Throughout her career, she has worked for government agencies including the United States Department of Army and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the Washington DC metro area. She also spent over 10 years with Johnson & Johnson in global recruiting and logistics and former sterile compounding industry leader PharMEDium Services. Connect with Erica on LinkedIn or learn more about her. DOWNLOAD THE STORY TELLING HACK (PDF) OR Keep scrolling to read the #technical #storytelling #hack.

No matter what job you have in life, your success will be determined 5% by your academic credentials, 15% by your professional experiences, and 80% by your communication skills. - Stephen Wang Over the last twenty years in manufacturing, I have gained many valuable skills that have enabled me to become a well-rounded professional and leader. However, if I had to name one skill-set that has provided me influence and has propelled my career, it would be Technical Storytelling. No matter what discipline, experience level, or background you may have, everyone loves reading a great story. Opposed to creative writing, technical storytelling (or writing) is the skill of communicating information in a highly specialized field, including, but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It's the art of communicating in a way that presents technical information so that the reader can use that information for an intended purpose. Effectively communicating complex, technical stories to those without expertise in a given specialty is challenging; but it can be done. I have personally written hundreds of technical documents from procedures, white papers, failure analysis reports, and strategy documents, and in all cases, I have followed many of the steps outlined by Erin Gutsche in this #hack. With a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Calgary, and a minor in petroleum engineering, Erin has 10+ years of working with technical material. She is "certified gold" when it comes to technical storytelling and we are honored to have her share a simple guide to help you effectively tell stories and reach your audience. Fun Fact: In her first year of studies, Erin took an English course and enjoyed it so much that she almost switched her major. Hack Author: Erin Gutsche, P.Eng., CMRP Erin Gutsche is the founder and president of Words with Purpose Inc. She is a professional mechanical engineer in the province of Alberta, Canada, a Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) with the Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP), a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and a member of Editors Canada. Connect with Erin on LinkedIn or learn more about her work. DOWNLOAD THE STORY TELLING HACK (PDF) OR Keep scrolling to read the #technical #storytelling #hack.