2025 Outstanding Engineering Alumni
Paul M. Condeelis
Mechanical Engineering, B.S. 1996
Group Director, GM Technical and Quality
Walmart
Paul M. Condeelis is the group director of GM Technical and Quality at Walmart, where he leads a team of technical professionals dedicated to ensuring the quality and innovation of Private Brand products across categories like Home, Hardlines, Entertainment, Toys, and Seasonal. His team manages every stage of product lifecycle management—from early design and benchmarking to rigorous testing and inspections—while collaborating with partners across Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, Walmart International, and third-party laboratories.
Prior to joining Walmart, Condeelis held leadership roles at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and Romeo RIM, Inc. He began his career with various engineering positions at Whirlpool Corporation and Lionel Trains. He earned his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Penn State in 1996 and his MBA from Baker College in 2005. A dedicated Penn State alumnus, Condeelis is a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association, joined the Industry Advisory Board for the Learning Factory in 2024, and sponsored a Walmart Capstone Project—the company’s first. He holds multiple patents across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Condeelis published a book titled Bound for Greatness, and has been honored with several innovation and leadership awards, including Walmart’s Private Brand Associate of the Year in 2019.
Jonathan U. Dougherty
Architectural Engineering, B.A.E. 1999, Ph.D. 2006
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Providence Engineering
Jonathan U. Dougherty is vice president of strategic initiatives at Providence Engineering, where he leads workforce development, marketing, learning and development, and the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Program committee. A native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, he earned his bachelor of architectural engineering in 1999 and doctorate in Architectural Engineering in 2006 from Penn State. Before joining Providence, Dougherty spent 17 years developing and directing the Corporate Knowledge Center for a major regional contractor in the Washington, D.C. area, where he spearheaded education initiatives for over 400 employees and significantly expanded the company’s internship and hiring programs.
Dougherty has taught at Virginia Tech and Penn State and is widely recognized for his commitment to student success and professional development in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. He currently serves as president of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society and holds numerous other volunteer leadership roles, including past president of the Penn State Alumni Society of Architectural Engineers and board member of the Fox Graduate School Alumni Society. His impact has earned him multiple accolades, including Penn State’s Volunteer of the Year and recognition in Engineering News-Record’s 2013 Top 20 Under 40. Beloved by fellow Penn Staters, Dougherty is also “The Button Man,” known for donning a coat covered in 1,000 football bank buttons during Homecoming and university events—a spirited tradition featured by media outlets and the College of Engineering alike.
Donald R. Furmanski Jr.
Electrical Engineering, B.S. 1987
Vice President, Sales and Business Development
AMETEK, Inc., Aerospace & Defense Division
Donald R. Furmanski Jr. is vice president of sales and business development for AMETEK, Inc.’s Aerospace & Defense Division, where he leads a global team delivering advanced technology solutions across civil and military aerospace, ground vehicle, naval, and space platforms. Blending deep technical expertise with strategic business leadership, Furmanski continues to play a hands-on role in developing solutions for power generation and distribution, data acquisition, sensing, high-power computing, and thermal management. His work also spans mergers and acquisitions, supporting strategic growth through target identification and technical/commercial due diligence.
A 1987 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering, Furmanski began his career designing aircraft cockpit instrumentation and advanced through engineering roles focused on reliability, product improvement, and power distribution systems. He has served as a P&L and engineering leader, bridging technical, business, and financial objectives. A lifelong supporter of Penn State, Furmanski has endowed both the Furmanski Family Open Doors Scholarship and the Furmanski Family Undergraduate Research Fund in Electrical Engineering. He also serves on the Penn State Abington Chancellor’s Advisory Board, the Penn State Electrical Engineering Industrial and Professional Advisory Council, and the Penn State Parents Philanthropy Committee. An IEEE member since 1985 and a dedicated community volunteer, Furmanski was honored with AMETEK’s 2021 Innovation Award for a novel thermal management product that generated over $100 million in sales and significantly reduced CO₂ emissions.
Francine M. Grant
Industrial Engineering, B.S. 1987
Head of Product Innovation Strategy, Global Sponsorships, Retired
Visa
Francine M. Grant, retired head of product innovation strategy, global sponsorships at Visa, spent more than 13 years shaping the future of payment experiences at some of the world’s largest events. From the FIFA World Cup to the Olympics and Super Bowl, Grant led the development and implementation of cutting-edge innovation showcases that elevated Visa’s brand presence on the global stage. Her career at Visa included leadership roles across product, innovation, and marketing, all grounded in a commitment to delivering meaningful consumer experiences through emerging technology.
Before joining Visa, Grant brought her expertise to a range of organizations, including Lucasfilm, Andersen Consulting, and various Bay Area startups. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Penn State and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. A recognized innovator, she is the co-inventor of U.S. Patent No. 11,423,428, which details a system for tracking wellness activity using a fitness device. Based in San Francisco, Grant continues to be passionate about innovation, mentorship, and the intersection of technology and human experience.
George K. Jacob
Biomedical Engineering, M.S. 1983
Group Vice President, CRM Applications
Oracle America
George K. Jacob is group vice president of CRM applications at Oracle America, where he oversees the development of Siebel Customer Relationship Management (CRM) enterprise software. With a career spanning several decades in software engineering and leadership, Jacob has played a central role in creating industry-specific CRM solutions for telecommunications, financial services, public sector, automotive, consumer goods, life sciences, and hospitality sectors. Prior to his time at Oracle, he held executive and technical leadership roles at Siebel Systems, Precedence Inc. (a subsidiary of Mentor Graphics), and Franz Inc., where his work ranged from CRM development to mixed-mode simulation and parallel-processing systems.
Jacob holds a bachelor of technology in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He earned a master of science in biomedical engineering from Penn State and a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. His early research included work on high-resolution body-surface EKG simulations and parallelized circuit simulation techniques.
Kirk T. Kern
Electrical Engineering, B.S. 1988
Computer Engineering, M.S. 1991
Director and Field CTO
NetApp
Kirk T. Kern is senior director and field CTO at NetApp, where he leads a global team of chief technology officers within the chief commercial officer organization. In this role, he develops enterprise data management strategies, solution architectures, and co-development initiatives to solve complex customer challenges across cloud modernization and digital transformation efforts. With a career that began in software development and performance analysis, Kern has held roles across the tech and defense industries, including technical director of engineering for NetApp’s HPC solution stack and NAND flash portfolio, and architecting HPC systems and data infrastructure for U.S. government missions.
A two-time graduate of Penn State, Kern earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering in 1988 and a master of science in computer engineering in 1991. His career has spanned technical leadership positions at IBM, Lockheed Martin, Silicon Graphics, the Naval Research Laboratory, and Penn State’s Applied Research Lab, contributing to advancements in supercomputing, network modernization, and neural network signal processing. An Open Group TOGAF Certified Architect and longtime IEEE member, Kern has received multiple industry accolades, including NetApp’s Presidents Club (2022, 2023), the Insight Technical Innovators Award, and honors for systems design and high-speed networking at Supercomputing conferences.
Cheryl L. Moon
Civil Engineering, B.S. 1987
Chief Engineer
The Lindy Group
Cheryl L. Moon, PE, is chief engineer at The Lindy Group, where she provides strategic engineering leadership and technical direction for one of Pennsylvania’s largest contractors. With a strong focus on mentoring the next generation of engineers, she bridges the gap between contractor and owner perspectives while fostering collaborative relationships across the construction industry, academia, and public agencies. Prior to joining The Lindy Group, Moon served as executive deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), overseeing all departmental operations and supporting more than 11,000 employees. She also held key leadership roles within PennDOT, including District Executive for District 11 and Assistant District Executive for Design, where she led multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects that transformed Western Pennsylvania’s transportation landscape.
A 1987 graduate of Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Moon has spent her career advancing the field through technical excellence, public service, and industry engagement. She is a licensed professional engineer and active leader in the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, currently serving as its president. Her accolades include the 2023 Highway Construction Person of the Year Award and the 2015 Engineer of the Year Award. Moon has also chaired the Penn State Civil Engineering Industry and Professional Advisory Council and currently serves on the Penn State Beaver Campus Advisory Board. Her passion for impactful infrastructure and dedication to student engagement have made her a respected and influential voice in Pennsylvania’s engineering community.
Divakar Ramakrishnan
Chemical Engineering, Ph.D. 1997
Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, and Head of Research and Development
Convatec
Divakar Ramakrishnan is executive vice president, chief technology officer, and head of research & development at Convatec, a global medical products and technologies company dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic health conditions. Since joining Convatec in 2020, Ramakrishnan has led the development of the company’s most robust innovation pipeline in nearly five decades, overseeing eight major product launches in just three years. His leadership drives advances across Convatec’s core areas of advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care.
With more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, Ramakrishnan has held senior roles at leading companies including Eli Lilly and Moderna Therapeutics. At Eli Lilly, he served as vice president for drug delivery, devices, and digital health, as well as chief digital officer, where he championed innovation at the intersection of technology and patient care. His global experience also includes leadership in manufacturing, quality, and supply chain. A proud Penn State alumnus, Ramakrishnan earned his doctorate in chemical engineering from Penn State and served six years on the Chemical Engineering Industrial and Professional Advisory Council. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Anna University in India.
John W. Shaw
Engineering Science, B.S. 1989
Of Counsel
Shaw Keller LLP
John W. Shaw is Of Counsel at Shaw Keller LLP, where he leads trial teams in high-stakes patent and commercial litigation before U.S. district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and Delaware state courts. His litigation experience spans a wide range of industries and technologies, from medical devices and herbicides to e-commerce and semiconductor disputes. Shaw's career also includes significant pro bono work, such as defending voting rights, securing prison reform for victims of sexual violence, and advocating for military veterans in disability appeals. His contributions to public service earned him the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award from the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
Shaw began his legal career as a clerk for U.S. District Judge Murray M. Schwartz and went on to serve as a partner and federal courts practice group chair at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor before co-founding Shaw Keller LLP in 2011. He holds a bachelor of science in engineering science with high honors and distinction from Penn State, where he was a University Scholar and received the Fenlon Thesis Award and Mercury Seven Astronaut Scholarship. He earned his JD magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh. Admitted to multiple state and federal courts, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Shaw has also served in leadership roles within the Federal Bar Association. He continues to give back to Penn State through past service on the Industrial and Professional Advisory Council and by supporting the Shaw/Curtiss Family Scholarship in the College of Engineering.
Vithal Shirodkar
Computer Science and Engineering, B.S. 1997, M.S. 2000
Vice President/General Manager
Google
Vithal Shirodkar is vice president and general manager at Google, where he leads Google Distributed Cloud (GDC), bringing cutting-edge Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models and other Google AI capabilities to customer data centers and edge environments. His work sits at the intersection of advanced cloud infrastructure and transformative AI, delivering powerful, secure, and scalable solutions to enterprise customers around the world. Prior to joining Google, Shirodkar held senior leadership roles at Oracle, where he was part of the Executive Leadership team overseeing Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and at Amazon Web Services, where he led engineering teams responsible for AWS’s foundational network infrastructure.
Shirodkar began his career at Cisco Systems, where he played key roles in the development of network, storage, and security products. He earned a master of science in computer science and engineering from Penn State and a bachelor of engineering in computer science from Bangalore University. Deeply committed to advancing academic-industry collaboration, he served as a member of the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC) from 2017 to 2024, including two years as chair. During his time at Cisco, he championed research proposals and grants from Penn State faculty, helping foster innovation and support for academic research initiatives.
James Woodburn
Aerospace Engineering, B.S. 1986
Fellow and Chief Orbital Scientist
Ansys Government Initiatives
James Woodburn is a fellow and the chief orbital scientist at Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI), where he leads the development and refinement of critical algorithms that support orbit determination, reentry prediction, and space mission analysis. His work powers AGI’s flagship tools such as ODTK and STK, used worldwide for space mission planning and operations. With over three decades of experience in the aerospace industry, Woodburn is a recognized expert in astrodynamics and has presented to global audiences, contributed to peer-reviewed mission reviews, and holds three U.S. patents. His career began at GE as an Edison Engineer, gaining experience in spacecraft operations, astrodynamics research, and software development.
Woodburn earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State, where he was a Schreyer Scholar, and holds a master of science and doctorate in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. A senior member of AIAA and a former contributor to its Astrodynamics Committee on Standards, he also served on the AAS Technical Committee. Woodburn is an Ansys Fellow—an honor reserved for the company’s top technical experts—and has been inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni at UT Austin. He remains closely connected to Penn State as a McCormick Honorary Alumni Lecturer and a multi-term member of the Department of Aerospace Engineering Industrial and Professional Advisory Council, including one term as chair.
