2013 Alumni Award Winners - Bios
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2013 recipients of its Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award and Young Alumnus/Alumna Achievement Award. The Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award recognizes professional accomplishments or unique contributions to society by alumni of the department. The Young Alumnus/Alumna Achievement Award recognizes a recent graduate who has achieved distinction in his or her field and reached a level of accomplishment significantly greater than that of other recent graduates. The honorees were recognized at the CEE at Illinois Alumni Dinner in Chicago on March 6.
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association annually presents awards to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of CEE alumni. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. To nominate, please fill out and submit the appropriate form on the CEEAA Award page.
The 2013 Distinguished Alumni are:
(BS 57, MS 58)
Professor of Industrial Engineering
University of Los Andes
Bogotá, Colombia
For innovative thinking and outstanding leadership in the development of the School of Engineering of the Universidad de los Andes, the SER Institute of Research, the Universidad de Ibague and the Institute for Regional Innovation, and for contributions to the quality of life in Colombia.
Eduardo Aldana-Valdés came to University of Illinois in 1955 as a transfer student from the University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, which was at that time a junior college.
After graduating from Illinois in 1958, Aldana-Valdés joined the University of Los Andes faculty. Later as Dean of the School of Engineering he was trusted with developing the full undergraduate engineering program. In this endeavor he received the assistance of outstanding colleagues from Colombia and abroad including the University of Illinois’ William Everitt, Nathan Newmark and Narbey Khachaturian, his former advisor. That undertaking set the foundation for one of the top-ranked schools of engineering in Latin America.
In 1971 Aldana-Valdés obtained his Ph.D. in Urban Systems from MIT. In addition to roles at Los Andes as professor and dean, Aldana-Valdés has also chaired both the University and its Board. He is former director of the Colombian Science Foundation and past Governor of Tolima, his home state. As a civic leader in Colombia, Aldana-Valdés serves on national level commissions on critical social issues and champions rural development throughout the country. Aldana-Valdés has received many distinctions from governmental and international organizations, including a Tinker Fellowship from the University of Texas.
(BS 88)
Deputy Commissioner
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
New York, N.Y.
For excellence in managing the Capital Construction Program of New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection and the cost effective delivery of New York City’s water and wastewater capital projects.
Kathryn Mallon serves as Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection where she manages the agency’s $14 billion capital construction program. The agency designs and constructs major infrastructure projects to ensure safe and reliable water and sewer operations for 9 million city and upstate customers. Projects in her portfolio include the 300 million-gallon-per-day (MGD) Croton Water Treatment Facility, 2 billion-gallon-per-day (BGD) Catskill Delaware Water Treatment (largest in the world), the 8.5 mile, 10-foot diameter Manhattan Tunnel, and the 700-MGD Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Secondary Treatment Expansion.
Prior to joining the city, Mallon spent nearly 20 years at a large international consulting firm where she specialized in the planning, design and construction of drinking water treatment facilities. Mallon is currently on temporary loan to the New York City Mayor’s office, managing an innovative pilot program to help victims of Hurricane Sandy get back into their flood-damaged homes. The $500 million program, delivered in partnership with FEMA, has helped restore safe heat, power, and hot water service to more than 10,000 homeowners in less than three months’ time, enabling ravaged communities to get back on their feet and begin the longer term recovery process.
(MS 85)
Vice President
Global Water Technology, CH2M HILL Inc.
Milwaukee, Wis.
For sound engineering practice and successful application of innovative technologies for improving public health in drinking water facilities across the United States and the world, and for sharing this knowledge in publications and presentations.
Growing up in rural northern Michigan, Tony Myers was interested in water and the environment. The University of Illinois embraced his diverse interests in biology, chemistry and engineering to form a solid education in environmental engineering that he has used throughout his career.
In joining CH2M HILL in 1984, Myers put his engineering skills to work improving water quality. To date, he has worked on more than100 projects around the world. Myers has applied innovative technologies to improve drinking water quality, has obtained two patents and has written more than 30 technical publications and presentations. He has spent his entire career at CH2M HILL and has served as Global Technology Leader for drinking water and Technology Director for drinking water, desalination and water reuse.
Myers has also received many awards throughout the course of his career, including the George Warren Fuller Award from the American Water Works Association. He is active in his community and has volunteered to mentor adolescents in Boy Scouts of America and participants in the National Engineers Week Future City Engineering Competition. Myers attributes his success to his education and the many excellent colleagues with whom he has had the pleasure of working.
(BS 1966)
Vice-President
Shell Oil Company
Abita Springs, La.
For pioneering contributions in deep-water drilling activities in the Gulf of Mexico; for senior leadership at a global energy corporation; and for outstanding leadership in community and civic organizations.
Following graduation from Illinois, Richard A. Pattarozzi joined Shell Oil Co. in their New Orleans offshore engineering organization. For more than 20 years, Pattarozzi served in a number of engineering, operation and administrative positions in Shell’s Midland, Houston, Traverse City, Bakersfield and New Orleans locations before being appointed General Manager of Shell’s Deepwater Exploration & Production Organization in 1991.
In 1996, Pattarozzi was named President and CEO of Shell’s Deepwater Production and Development Organization and was promoted in 1999 to Vice-President of Shell Oil Co. where his responsibilities expanded to include all activities in both the shallow and deepwaters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). He retired from Shell after more than 33 years of service in 2000.
During Pattarozzi’s nine-year tenure leading Shell’s Deepwater GOM activities, Shell was a recognized worldwide leader in the exploration, development and production of its properties there. In 1995, Shell was awarded the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement for the Auger TLP set in more than 2,800 feet of water and was recognized with the Outstanding Development Award at the Offshore Technology Conference in 1997 for the Mensa Subsea Development in more than 5,500 feet of water.
Pattarozzi currently serves on the Board of Directors of FMC Technologies Inc., Tidewater Inc., Stone Energy Corp., EDS Inc. and the World War II Museum in New Orleans. He is married to Janet Wagner, has two sons and three grandchildren and lives in the Abita Springs, La., area.
The 2013 Young Alumni are:
(BS 02, MS 03)
Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Co.
For accomplishments as an active duty officer in the U.S. Air Force completing civil engineering missions overseas; and for outstanding engineering achievements, leadership and enhancement of engineering education as an engineering educator and researcher.
Timothy E. Frank is an active duty officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has served throughout the world and in various capacities as a civil engineer since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2003. Frank currently teaches structural engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy to cadets who will be commissioned as Air Force officers upon graduation, and is passionate about working with students. His research interests include the blending of cultural and technical competencies, using learning contracts to encourage self-directed learning, and providing low-cost, sustainable water filtration and disinfection in developing countries.
Frank enjoys managing projects and working with diverse groups of people, especially those in other cultures. Among Frank’s favorite projects to manage were the construction of an unmanned aerial vehicle maintenance and hangar complex and the environmental restoration of 1,200 acres of land formerly used as a bombing range. These projects allowed him to employ innovative technologies and collaborate with multiple agencies. Other career highlights include skydiving, commanding a civil engineer squadron while deployed to Southwest Asia and taking Academy cadets to Ghana on a cultural immersion trip.
Off duty, Frank enjoys the outdoors, traveling and spending time with his wife, two daughters and dog.
(BS 04, MS 06)
Director of Technical Service and Product Development
American Concrete Pavement Association
Skokie, Ill.
For outstanding technical services to the concrete paving industry, leadership in applying new research findings and technologies especially through web-based communication interfaces, technology transfer activities, and demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities.
While a student at Illinois, Robert A. Rodden started a web development company that worked with the Center of Excellence for Airport Technology and the Illinois Center for Transportation. Following graduation, Rodden joined the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) as the Director of Technical Service and Product Development.
During his six-year career at ACPA, Rodden has served as project manager and head developer on 30+ web apps and six iPhone/iPad apps and managed the development of three ACPA desktop software products. He has authored 12 journal/conference papers, troubleshot design and construction issues around the world, aided in the modernization of local and state specifications, and delivered more than 100 presentations worldwide.
One of Rodden’s original concepts was recently selected as the winning submission by a panel of distinguished transportation entrepreneurs at the 2013 TRB Six-Minute Pitch, a national competition searching for the next innovative transportation business idea.
Rodden is a member of ACI 330 and 522, NCHRP 01-51 and 25-25/Task 82, TRB AFN40 and AFD50, ASCE, ISCP, and American Mensa. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Elizabeth, and volunteering as an Assistant Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scouts of America troop.
UIAA Constituent Leadership Award
This award is presented to alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and/or special efforts in the organization, management and support of a Constituent Alumni Association.
(BS 79, MS 80)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alfred Benesch & Company
Arlington Heights, Ill.
This award is given to John L. Carrato by the University of Illinois Alumni Association in appreciation for his efforts as President and member of the CEE Alumni Association Board.
Specializing in the design, inspection and evaluation of railroad bridges, John L. Carrato began his professional career at Alfred Benesch & Company more than 30 years ago. Carrato rose through the ranks as Structural Designer, Chicago Division Manager, and finally President and Chief Executive Officer, in which he now oversees operations of the entire firm. In this role, he leads strategic planning efforts, directs organizational planning and guides the implementation of long-term plans. Benesch has grown to 460+ professional staff in 19 offices throughout the country under Carrato’s leadership.
Carrato has generously applied his leadership talent and technical expertise as an active member in professional, service, and community organizations. ACEC-Illinois, the University of Illinois Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association, and the Building Code Review Board for the Village of Arlington Heights have all benefited from his steady direction and service.
He lives in Arlington Heights, Ill., with his wife Karen, and has two children, Tommy and Kate, who are both Illinois alumni.