Purpose & Vision
Advance the engineering profession through charitable investments in workforce development and education.
Sirish Samba, PE
Board Chair and President
Sirish Samba is the Board Chair and President of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). He is one of the founding members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Additionally, Sirish provided leadership for the consulting engineering industry as a Past President and National Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC Minnesota). Sirish is a registered Professional Engineer in Minnesota.
Sirish is the Chair, CEO, and President of Sambatek, where he has become the Firm's primary shareholder. Sirish has provided transformative leadership for Sambatek, where he fostered substantial growth. In 2014, Sambatek received the Hot Firm Award from the Zweig Group, an influential A/E/C advisory group.
Sirish was selected as a finalist in the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year ® 2021 Heartland Award, which is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. Additionally, he was named in "The (Real) Power 50" by Minnesota Business Magazine.
Sirish serves on the Board of Directors of the United Hospital Foundation. Furthermore, he is a member of the Founding Board of Directors of the Douglas Differt Difference Makers Endowed Scholarship. He also volunteers as a student mentor at Risen Christ Catholic School.
Sirish holds a Bachelor of Science of Civil Engineering from R.V.R. & J.C. College of Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University. Additionally, he has completed executive education at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jon Carlson, PG, CHMM
Vice Chair
Jon Carlson is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). He is a business leader, Professional Geologist, and nonprofit leader.
Jon previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Braun Intertec, a national engineering consulting and materials testing firm headquartered in Minnesota. As CEO, Jon provided leadership and direction to the Braun Intertec strategic leadership team, which is responsible for strategic business planning and overall business leadership of the firm. Jon has over 35 years of experience in the consulting engineering industry.
Jon was selected as the regional winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2015. Additionally, he was selected for a Forty under Forty Award by City Business.
Jon is a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of Minnesota Brownfields, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The purpose of Minnesota Brownfields is to promote the efficient cleanup and reuse of contaminated land as a means of generating economic growth, strengthening communities and enabling sustainable land use and development.
Jon has provided strategic leadership as an Advisory Board Member for the Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota. The Technological Leadership Institute is an interdisciplinary center at the University of Minnesota that provides three technology-intensive graduate degree programs. Furthermore, Jon has supported initiatives at the University of Minnesota to hire and retain talented professors in the College of Science and Engineering.
Jon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology and in geophysics from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he also holds a Master of Science in Management of Technology from the University of Minnesota. Jon is a registered Professional Geologist and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.
Jon Horn, PE
Treasurer
Jon Horn is the Treasurer of the Engineering Education Foundation of America and one of the founding members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Jon retired in 2021 as a Senior Vice President and Principal of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., an ENR Top 10 Design Firm. He spent his entire career in the consulting engineering industry, the last 19 years with Kimley-Horn, where he was part of the start-up of a large multi-disciplinary office in the Twin Cities. Jon‘s practice primarily focused on serving public clients on a wide variety of projects and he also had a role supporting Kimley-Horn’s growth across the Midwest.
Jon holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he serves on the Advisory Boards of the College of Engineering and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He and his family have also established an endowed scholarship at NDSU to invest in future generations of engineering leaders.
Jason Meyer, JD, PE, D.WRE, CFM
Secretary
Jason Meyer is the Corporate Secretary of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). He is one of the founding members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Jason is licensed as a Professional Engineer in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Additionally, he is an Attorney and admitted to practice law by the Minnesota Supreme Court, Illinois Supreme Court, and The Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Jason serves on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC Minnesota). Additionally, he has chaired ACEC Minnesota’s Legislative Committee, where he was influential in shaping Federal and State infrastructure policy.
Jason is a shareholder of Stanley Consultants, an ENR top 150 Design Firm, and has over 20 years of experience in the engineering and construction industries. Jason is responsible for business development of the Firm’s Water Resources Center of Excellence. He is also a Diplomate of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, where he serves on the Academy's Admissions Committee.
Jason has served as a Capstone Advisor for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University and the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He is also the Past President of the St. Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School's Home and School (HandS) Board.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in Management from Northwestern University, where he studied at both the McCormick School of Engineering and the Kellogg School of Management, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
John Rathke, PE, SE, FACEC
Director
John Rathke is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). He is a National leader of the consulting engineering industry.
John provides National leadership for the consulting engineering industry as the Chair Elect (2024-2025) and Chair (2025-2026) of the American Council of Engineering Companies, which is the National business and policy advocate based in Washington, D.C. He formerly led the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin as Board Chair. John was named to the College of Fellows of the American Council of Engineering Companies, which is one of the industry’s highest honors.
John is a Vice President and Principal of Mead & Hunt, a national engineering consulting a firm headquartered in Wisconsin. John leads Mead and Hunt’s Midwest Transportation Business Unit. John has over 35 years of industry experience.
John holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Structural Engineer, and a Fellow of the American Council of Engineering Companies.
Senator Ann Johnson Stewart, PE
Director
Senator Ann Johnson Stewart is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). She is a former Minnesota Senator, professional engineer, business owner, and a teacher at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Senator Johnson Stewart is a former member of the Minnesota Senate, first elected in 2021. She represented Minnesota’s Senate District 44, which covers the communities of Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Woodland. Senator Johnson Stewart served on the Minnesota Senate’s Capital Investment Committee and was the DFL vice-lead on the Senate’s Transportation Committee. Her legislative priorities were transportation and infrastructure.
Senator Johnson Stewart is the Founder of PE Services, Ltd., a Minnesota based engineering consulting and materials testing firm. Ann has over 30 years of experience in civil engineering design and construction. She is a Professional Engineering in Minnesota. Under her leadership, the firm has undergone substantial growth.
Senator Johnson Stewart is an educator at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Ann directed the Construction Management Degree Program at the University of Minnesota from 2000 until 2015, leading the program through its first accreditation. She also teaches AutoCAD, Civil 3D, surveying, and highway design in the College of Science and Engineering.
Senator Johnson Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Kate Marcotte
Director
Kate is COO/CFO for American Engineering Testing, Inc (AET), headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. AET is a 100% employee-owned, multi-disciplined engineering firm serving clients nationwide and around the world from 21 offices in the Midwest. Kate holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls and is a licensed certified public accountant (inactive).
Kate started with AET in 2020, after spending nearly 10 years in COO/CFO/Controller roles with companies in the AEC industry. In addition to being responsible for the operations of AET, Kate is a member of the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership team.
AET is a highly active member of ACEC and Kate is a graduate of ACEC’s Senior Executive Institute, Class 27. Kate also serves as an external board member for DKS Associates, a transportation planning and engineering firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
Kate is passionate about building teams and leaders that will continue to propel the industry forward.
Mark Anderson, PE
Director
Mark Anderson, PE, brings more than 30 years of engineering expertise to the Engineering Education Foundation of America’s Board of Directors. With a distinguished career at KLJ Engineering (KLJ), where he currently serves as Senior Vice President of Public Works and Transportation, Mark oversees all operations and processes for KLJ’s public works and transportation division, ensuring seamless project delivery that consistently meets client needs.
Known for his mentorship and dedication to teaching the next generation of engineers, Mark regularly advises professionals on the significance of delivering exceptional customer experiences as a cornerstone of career success. His leadership, expertise, and compassion have earned him widespread recognition within the industry.
Mark’s involvement in various professional organizations further strengthens his role as a leader in the field. He is an active member of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the North Dakota Association of County Engineers (NDACE), and the National Association of County Engineers (NACE). Additionally, he serves on the KLJ Board of Directors and the North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program (NDLTAP) Advisory Board.
Mark’s commitment to advancing the engineering profession is reflected in his active involvement in workforce development and education, where he supports initiatives aligned with the mission of the Engineering Education Foundation of America.
Mark earned a degree from North Dakota State University in civil engineering. As a dedicated life-long learner, he has completed a variety of educational courses related to the industry including, most recently, the ACEC Senior Executive Institute, further enhancing his executive leadership skills.
Melvin Williams, F.SAME, FACEC,
Director
Melvin Williams is a Vice President with Terracon Consultant, Inc. and a NSBE member. He has a 25-plus year history of working to improve the engineering industry and his community through involvement with various organizations, which has led to leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels. He is often called upon to mentor students along with presenting on leadership skills and the essential nature of the engineering profession.
Brett morse, PE
Ex Officio Director and ACEC Minnesota President
Brett Morse is an Ex Officio Member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation as the President of ACEC Minnesota. In this role, he facilitates collaboration between the Foundation and ACEC Minnesota.
As President of ACEC Minnesota, Brett chairs the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Jonathan Curry, MPA
Ex Officio Director and ACEC Minnesota CEO
Jon Curry is the CEO of ACEC of MN and the Former Chief Executive Officer of the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation). He is the visionary of the Foundation and one of the founding members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Jon is an influential industry leader in both Minnesota and Nationally. Jon is the CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC Minnesota), which is the leading business advocacy group of the consulting engineering industry in Minnesota. As the chief executive of ACEC Minnesota, Jon leads a diverse Board of Directors consisting of influential CEOs and business executives in the consulting engineering industry.
Jon leads Federal and State political advocacy for ACEC Minnesota by building relationships at all levels of government; Congress, the White House, State Governors, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT and state environmental agencies. Jon is the treasurer of the Campaign Fund of ACEC Minnesota. He is also a member of the ACEC Research Institute's Insights Group.
Jon has extensive experience in non-profit management as he was the Managing Director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association before joining ACEC Minnesota.
Jon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Luther College and a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University.
