News & Events

March Member of the Month: Sandra Park

by Dallas SWE on in Membership Appreciation

Congratulations to Sandra Park, Dallas SWE’s March Member of the Month!

Sandra Park is a passionate advocate for women in STEM, a seasoned engineer, and a dedicated financial coach. She grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area and attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a degree in Electrical Engineering.

With a career spanning over two decades in the aerospace and defense industry, Sandra has worked at Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Raytheon Technologies, KBR, and now SAIC. Currently, she serves as a Systems Engineering Chief at SAIC, leading a software program for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), which supports our nation’s facility clearances.

Sandra has worked on a variety of programs in different roles spanning systems, integration, test, and software engineering. Notably, she contributed to the F-35 fighter jet program, the Advanced Airborne System for the P-8 aircraft, and the Fleet Ballistic Missile program. Through her work on these critical defense systems, she has played a key role in advancing capabilities that support national security.

Throughout her career, Sandra has taken on technical leadership roles, contributing to major defense programs while also recruiting and mentoring the next generation of engineers. As an active member of her company’s National Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), she supports initiatives that empower and elevate women in engineering.

Sandra has spoken at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) National Conference and SWE Dallas, sharing insights on empowering women to take charge of their finances. She believes that financial confidence is key to career mobility and security, and she regularly shares insights on money management, career growth, and self-advocacy. She regularly shares these insights on LinkedIn and YouTube to inspire and empower women to take control of their careers and finances.

Beyond speaking, Sandra is a financial coach, equipping women with the tools they need to achieve financial independence and take control of their careers. She is also the host of Engineer Her Path, a podcast dedicated to empowering women in STEM to navigate their careers and finances with confidence. Through the podcast, she engages in meaningful conversations about personal finance, career advancement, and life in STEM.

Sandra is also a proud mother to an 18-year-old son and future engineer, who inspires her daily to continue breaking barriers and paving the way for the next generation in STEM.

Professional Development Day Registration Open

by Dallas SWE on in Special Events

The Professional Development Committee is excited to provide more details for our upcoming Professional Development Day on April 12, 2025!

The theme for this year is Mastering Workplace Dynamics – and we have tailored a wonderful line-up of speakers and topics that speak to this.

Registration is open now and included in the registration fee are professional headshots and lunch.

SWE-Dallas Professional Development Day 2025
Mastering Workplace Dynamics
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Richardson IQ HQ ,1302 E. Collins Blvd, Richardson, TX 75081
Price: SWE Members: $15; Non-SWE Members $35

Agenda
10:00 AM – 10:05 AM – Welcome
10:05 AM – 10:20 AM – Professional Headshots & Networking(2 Truths & Lie)
10:20 AM – 11:20 AM – Listen & Learn – “Talk Isn’t Cheap! What Does Your Language Choice Cost You?”
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM – Lunch
12:20 PM – 1:00 PM – Panel – Stepping Into Influence: Driving Change Without the Title!
1:00 PM – 1:20 PM – Networking (Bingo)
1:20 PM – 1:30 PM – Break/Raffle
1:30 PM – 2:20 PM – Listen & Learn – “If Not Me, Then Who? Owning Middle Management.”
2:20 PM – 2:30 PM – Wrap Up and Thank You!!!

Please register so that we can have a headcount for headshots, lunch, and receive dietary restrictions. If you need to cancel – please email vp.pd@dallaswe.org.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Register for Dallas SWE’s Professional Development Day

Dallas SWE Call for Nominations for FY26 Leadership

by Dallas SWE on in Announcements

It’s that time of year again! Nominations for FY26 Dallas SWE Leadership are now open! 

Do you know someone whose expertise and values should be represented on the leadership team? Would you personally like to participate in a leadership role? SWE is a great place to showcase your leadership skills, give back to your community, and build a network of engineering professionals and friends. Dallas SWE is currently seeking nominations for officers to serve for FY26, beginning July 1, 2025. There are 7 positions available and self-nominations are highly encouraged! By our section procedures, elected officers must be voting members of Dallas SWE in good standing with the Society. 

This spring, Dallas SWE voting members will participate in an election for the following offices:

  • President Elect 
  • Treasurer (2 years)
  • Vice President of Professional Development
  • Vice President of Membership
  • Vice President of Outreach
  • Secretary
  • Investment Committee (3-year term, 1 open positions)

Formal responsibilities can be found in our section procedures. You can also view practical descriptions and estimated time commitments of our assigned activities here. Please e-mail any questions to FY25 Nomination Committee Chair, Amanda Alsbrook at aalsbrook55@gmail.com. You can also email Amanda if you are interested in serving on the FY25 Nomination Committee. 

Please submit nominations to aalsbrook55@gmail.com by Monday, March 31, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

January PD Event Recap

by Dallas SWE on in Professional Development

Five Dallas SWE members had the opportunity to visit Simpson Strong-Tie’s facility in McKinney on Wednesday, January 29th, where Silvia Dyer, P.E. gave an informative presentation about the company’s impact on the construction industry. Simpson Strong-Tie is a leading manufacturer of construction joists used nationwide in residential and commercial buildings, as well as outdoor structures.

Following the presentation, the group toured the facility, gaining insight into the advanced manufacturing processes that were split between fabrication and automation. The tour showcased high-speed machines cutting sheet metal with incredible precision, contributing to the production of nearly 1,000 SKUs. The facility’s ability to repair its own mills in-house was particularly noteworthy, demonstrating its efficiency and technical expertise.

Attendees also saw how dedicated crews, supported by robotic automation, seamlessly manufacture and package parts to meet industry demands. The combination of cutting-edge technology and skilled craftsmanship made this tour a fascinating experience.

Dallas SWE extends a big thank you to Silvia Dyer and the Simpson Strong-Tie team for hosting a wonderful visit!

Holiday Party Hosted by City of Dallas Recap

by Dallas SWE on in Special Events

Dallas SWE members attended the 29th Annual Dallas Women Engineers Holiday Event hosted by LJA and Sophia Harvey from the City of Dallas. Women from all over DFW networked and connected over appetizer and drinks. The night concluded with the annual white elephant gift exchange.

February Professional Development Event

by Dallas SWE on in Professional Development

Celebrate National Engineers Week with Dallas SWE as we present SHINE: Maintaining Creativity while Battling Burnout!

Picture this: finally signing off from work after a long day in the office, lab, field, or wherever you do your job. The moment holds a sense relief, but simultaneously the stress is still there. Am I ready for that big presentation tomorrow? What am I going to do for dinner tonight? Do I have time to see my friends and family this weekend? Engineering is one of the most demanding professions out there, and it can take a large time commitment to be successful. While strict deadlines, large budgets, and high visibility projects lead to meaningful careers, they can also take away our energy, creativity, and time for self-care. In this session, participants will learn the SHINE method, which is a set of guidelines that helps find joy in little things in life and overcome technical burnout while maintaining creativity and innovation.

Date: Thursday, February 20th
Time: 6:30-8pm
Location: la Madeleine, 3072 Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75205

About the Speaker

Sammy Zellner is a Process Engineer at Texas Instruments (TI) in Dallas, TX with a BS and MS in Materials Science. During the first year of her career at TI, she immediately learned the 24/7 nature of manufacturing and critical process control required in a wafer fabrication factory. Quickly approaching burnout after such a short time industry, Sammy learned key strategies to manage the demanding nature of her position. Now 5 years into her career, Sammy has learned how to balance her schedule with a full-time job, active SWE involvement, and supporting her family, while still making time for herself and staying creative and innovative, in and out of work.

Register for February Professional Development Event
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