Meet Owen Jappen — Featured YP for March

Where are you from? Levittown, NY What company/institution do you work for? Evonik Corporation Where did you complete/are you completing your chemical engineering education? Stevens Institute of Technology How many years have you been a member of AIChE? Five Describe a recent challenge you managed, notable achievement, or obstacle you overcame at your job or in your work as an AIChE member? After moving down to North Carolina I reached out to AIChE to find the nearest local section to my new home. After attending meetings for the closest group (about an hour away in Raleigh) I connected with several other individuals who were interested in organizing programming closer to where we lived. Within a couple months I organized a kick-off event that was extremely well attended to develop a group and plan to reactive the Piedmont Triad Local Section. We're looking forward to some great events in 2014! What do you do to meet people in your field? Networking luncheons and dinners are a fantastic way to become acquainted with chemical engineers of all levels and in different sectors of industry. The keynote talks that accompany them are also invaluable in understanding technical, economic, and safety aspects of the field we work in. There are two types of ChemEs... those who_______ and those who ________. ...those whose simulations converge, and those whose simulations get "severe errors." What's the first thought you have when you wake up in the morning? On tiresome mornings I like to take inspiration from my alma mater's founder (Edwin A. Stevens), who was well accomplished in engineering, finance, and politics. Surely he was eager to face the day! If your college had offered a class on real-life skills for the aspiring ChE, what would you want them to teach? Process safety is a huge part of working in industry that can easily get left out of technical classes. I was able to take it as an elective and definitely recommend it to anyone with the opportunity! If you weren't a ChE what would you most want to be? Assuming anything were possible, I'd like to be an alchemist during the early Renaissance when there was so much development in the foundation of science! Do you have any advice for current or future young professionals reading ChEnected? The importance of instilling excitement for science and engineering in those younger than us should never be underrated. The need for professionals in our industry will only grow in the years to come and the success of our field depends on it. AIChE is a great vehicle through which to advance such a goal! You can contact Owen through his LinkedIn page.

Join us in CONGRATULATING Owen by commenting below!

Comments

Lucky's picture

Congrats Owen. I agree that converging is nice.

Beebe Time's picture

Congrats Owen! Looking forward to hearing more about the Piedmont Triad activities.