Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni

Allison Beard Luzier, IE 1996, is senior vice president and relationship underwriting team leader for the North Florida region of the Commercial Real Estate Bank of the Bank of America. Under her direction, Luzier's team underwrote $1 billion in loans in fiscal year 2006, and is slated to close $1.2 billion this year. Luzier is an enthusiastic advocate for the arts and downtown redevelopment in Tampa, Florida.

Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni

Ralph D. Malone, IE 1988, is president and chief executive officer of Electrical, Manufacturing and Assembly Operation for Triana Industries, Inc. (TII), a manufacturer of wire harnesses and cable assemblies, primarily servicing the automotive industry. In addition to his work at Triana, Malone serves as chief executive officer of Pendulum, a joint venture with Lear Corporation in Missouri. He is also owner and manager of several production and manufacturing businesses in Kentucky, Alabama, and North Carolina. Malone also had a professional career as a defensive end and special teams player in the NFL from 1986-1989, playing for Cleveland, Los Angles, and Miami.

John McKenney, IE 1990, is president and chief operating officer of McKenney's Inc., one the largest mechanical contractors in the Southeast with offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. A native of Atlanta, McKenney began his career with McKenney's as a co-op education student. Upon graduation, he joined the Trane Company in Charlotte as a sales engineer. He returned to McKenney's in 1997 and has held positions as project manager, senior project manager, vice president of Atlanta Construction, and now as president and chief operating officer. McKenney's is a third-generation Georgia Tech business, founded by McKenney's grandfather, John McKenney, BS Mgt 1932.

MG (ret) Conrad W. Ponder Jr., IE 1969, retired from the U.S. Army as Chief Integration Officer, CIO/G6 after thirty-seven years of active and reserve duty. Upon retirement from active service, he joined Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, Virginia as a senior associate. His professional career in telecom and project management includes work with Union Camp Corporation, Thomas & Betts Corporation, and BellSouth. He holds a Professional Engineering license in the state of Georgia.

Krista Schuler Tillman, MS IE 1980, is a strategic consultant who has served twenty-eight years in the telecom industry at BellSouth where she developed her expertise in business strategy, operations management, public policy strategy, and new market assessment. In addition to her impressive career in telecom, Tillman is extensively involved in community board work, serving organizations in and around Charlotte, North Carolina.