Lee College of Engineering Energy Leaders Recognized
The Charlotte Business Journal and E4 Carolinas recognized one Lee College of Engineering alumna and one faculty member as energy leaders in the Charlotte region at the eighth annual Energy Inc. Summit and Leadership Awards.
Mechanical Engineering alumna Hannah Arrington (’07) was recognized as an Emerging Energy Leader. Systems Engineering Assistant Professor Dr. Tao Hong was recognized as an Outstanding Energy Educator.
Hannah Arrington
Arrington is a project manager for energy engineering company AREVA in Charlotte. Early in her career, she was selected to be a part of the inaugural class of a rotational program that sends selected employees to work for a year in three different business units of the company. During this time, Arrington gained valuable nuclear site experience while assisting with steam generator replacements, working on the design of nuclear fuel assemblies, and a third-generation nuclear plant design.
Dr. Tao Hong
Dr. Hong’s major areas of expertise are in energy forecasting and optimization. He has applied various statistical and optimization techniques to the development of algorithms and tools for utility applications of analytics such as energy forecasting, power system planning, renewable integration, reliability planning and risk management. He is the director of BigDEAL (Big Data Energy Analytics Laboratory), graduate program director of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, and an associate of Energy Production and Infrastructure Center at UNC Charlotte. He is the founding chair of IEEE Working Group on Energy Forecasting.
The Energy Inc. Summit and Leadership Awards included panel discussions with energy executives and several other speakers who covered important industry trends. The conference, which drew a crowd of about 200 to the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel/Meridien Charlotte Hotel, examined the new energy future unfolding by industry leaders who are shaping that change
The Energy Leadership awards included:
Lifetime Achievement Award: David Wright, president of Wright Directions and former chairman of the S.C. Public Service Commission
Innovator Leader: Steve Thomas, Domtar Corp.
Industry Leaders: Rick Miller, HDR Engineering; April Montgomery, REAP; Scott Tew, Ingersoll Rand
Advocate Leaders: Katharine Kollins, Southeastern Wind Coalition; Charlotte Mitchell, Law Offices of Charlotte Mitchell
Education Leaders: Tao Hong, UNC Charlotte; Bridget Jones, Cabarrus County Schools; Linda Schmalbeck, North Carolina of Science and Mathematics
Emerging Leaders: Hannah Arrington, Areva; Adam Bridgers, Fisher & Phillips