Launch of Engineering Education Foundation of America

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2023
Engineering Education Foundation of America

Launch of Engineering Education Foundation of America
The Foundation Works to Advance the Engineering Profession through charitable investments in Workforce Development and Education. 

Minnetonka, Minnesota – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC Minnesota) established the Engineering Education Foundation of America (Foundation) with the pioneering direction of six consulting engineering industry leaders to continue and accelerate ACEC Minnesota’s charitable and educational activities.

 The newly-founded Foundation is proud to share its vision to advance engineering profession through charitable investments in workforce development and education. The Foundation is driven to broaden awareness and support STEM education at the kindergarten through high school levels, aid post-secondary engineering programs, fosters engineering industry engagement and awareness, and provide continuing education opportunities for practicing engineers.

 According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently over 2,000,000 engineers employed in the United States and this number is expected to grow by 150,000 each year through 2030. Engineering Education Foundation of America is a charitable foundation that would raise funds from individuals, corporations, federal, and state governments to directly help combat this projected gap in the workforce.

 “All of us at the Department of Education value the partnership we have with ACEC Minnesota and the Foundation to identify ways we can advance STEM Education and ultimately build the workplace and workforce of tomorrow,” said Willie Jett, Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Education.

 The Foundation is led by a nationally-recognized group of industry professionals, including Sirish Samba, PE, Past Chair/President of ACEC Minnesota and an Ernest & Young 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Heartland Finalist; Jon Horn, PE, Senior Vice President and Principal Emeritus of an ENR Top 10 Design Firm; Jason Meyer, JD, PE, D.WRE, CRM, Attorney and a shareholder of Stanley Consultants; Jeff Gebhard, PE, President of ACEC Minnesota; Jon Curry, MPA, Executive Director of ACEC Minnesota and engineering industry advocate; and Justan Rice, M.ED, CEO of ACEC Arizona and engineering industry champion. As the Board of Directors for the Foundation, this group is experienced in participating in STEM programming, fostering engineering education at all levels, and developing industry-recognized standards.

 “I am very proud of our country and our engineers who helped send man to the moon, laid out cross-country interstate highway system, and touch every aspect of our daily life such as food, water, and shelter,” said Sirish Samba, PE, President & CEO of Sambatek. “It is important that we invest in the advancement of engineering as a profession. It is something I am very passionate about and it’s a great honor to be part of the launch of a foundation that’s dedicated for this great cause.”

 The Foundation works with ACEC Minnesota and, together, offers an annual scholarship program for engineering students from Minnesota and the surrounding area. The tradition established by ACEC Minnesota, awarded $30,000 in scholarships in 2023, and now with their partnership with the Foundation, anticipates doubling their giving efforts in 2024 while establishing a robust endowment to sustain the engineering scholarship well into the future.

 “Volunteers are the lifeblood of any foundation, I can report that to date, more than 75 employees from consulting engineering firms across Minnesota have volunteered to help lead our key initiatives,” said Jon Curry, MPA, Executive Director of ACEC Minnesota. “As an industry, we are all stronger together; through this Foundation, I firmly believe that the engineering industry will band together to educate and inspire a new generation of engineers.”

 The Foundation is sustained through individual and corporate sponsors. A special thank you to our founding sponsors: Bolton & Menk, Sambatek, Alliant Engineering, Braun Intertec Corporation, and ACEC Minnesota; together, they have pledged $175,000 to support the foundation.  

 For more information, please visit https://engineeringfoundation.org/.

 Contact:
Jon Curry, Chief Executive Officer
Engineering Education Foundation of America
10201 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 240
Minnetonka, MN 55305
jcurry@acecmn.org