Eduardo Sandi
Process Engineer
DuSAND
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
Develop skills for how to solve problems and troubleshooting techniques.
Sandip G. Pandya
Engineer
CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
Engineering of retrofitting projects is like going back to school and peeling back the surface of the same old knowledge to expose the slate to the newness of exploration. Pumps are common equipment. I enjoy sharing my insight and enhancing my writing skills in publications, such as Pumps & Systems. When my work is shared in digital printing or hard copy, the value multiplies and remains for review forever. Seeing such insight getting shared while improving myself was the moment, I believe, when I realized my selection of engineering as a career path was the right one.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
Keep applying the engineering knowledge gained at school with the exposure of experience dealing with the same subject in the practical field.
Jimmy Morrison
Principal Engineer - Pumps & Auxiliaries
SOUTHERN COMPANY
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten on the job?
Approach the job with a service mindset. Helping others succeed has to be your central focus. All of the other perks are nice, but what should drive you is how you can serve others.
Can you share a story about you or your team working to solve a difficult problem?
A new pump was purchased with a formed suction inlet installed on the bottom of the suction bell. The flow model study showed the FSI had to be oriented in a certain direction or it wouldn’t be effective. A new stainless steel sole plate was also installed. The new pump is still running smoothly after many years with no need for rebuilds over six months or need for a spare.
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
During my co-op rotations. A power plant is an engineer’s wonderland. There are so many amazing machines to learn about and to work on. Along with so much to learn about each of those machines and the interesting details it takes to repair and operate them, it is also a very stable career path. And it pays well enough to provide a good life for my family.
Wesley Gulik
Industry Marketing Manager
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AUTOMATION
Can you share a story about you or your team working to solve a difficult problem?
Our team was tasked with helping a municipal water facility conquer its ongoing pump clogging issues in its lift station. The issue caused the need for weekly maintenance visits, which became costly and time-consuming. After an investigation to identify the root cause of the clogging, we discovered that the issue was due to a combination of factors, including material buildup and inefficient technologies. We collaborated closely with the municipality to implement an advanced pumping solution, with built-in anti-clogging functionality that not only resolved the clogging but also optimized the entire production process. This experience taught us the importance of teamwork, innovation and persistence in overcoming obstacles.
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
One defining moment for me was during the recent hurricanes in my home state of Florida. The devastation left many communities without clean water, and we had to rely on bottled water for all our basic needs—cooking, drinking and showering. As I work alongside my colleagues to provide solutions for clean water access, I realize the profound impact our work has on people’s lives. This experience reinforced my commitment to my career in water management, knowing that our efforts can make a real difference in times of crisis.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
The best advice I received from a mentor was to never take our natural resources, such as water and power, for granted. This advice hit home during the hurricanes when we lost power and water for 1-2 weeks. Living without these essential resources made me appreciate their value. It also motivated me to work harder in my role to ensure that we are better prepared for such emergencies in the future. This guidance has shaped my approach to my work and my dedication to protecting and managing our natural resources responsibly.
Chris Stockton
Manager of Product Management and Technology - North America, Large Motor and Generator Division
ABB
Can you share a story about you or your team working to solve a difficult problem?
Our team was recently faced with a challenging situation when a customer experienced repeated breakdowns due to the demanding nature of their application. The standard motor they were using simply couldn’t withstand the operational stress, leading to frequent failures and costly downtime. To address this, our engineering team conducted a thorough evaluation of the application’s requirements and environmental conditions.
After identifying the root causes of the failures, we collaborated closely to design and engineer a custom motor tailored specifically to the customer’s needs. The result was a highly durable solution that not only resolved the breakdown issues but also improved overall performance and reliability. The customer was extremely satisfied, and the experience reinforced our commitment to problem-solving through innovation and teamwork.
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
One year into my engineering career, I was assigned a complex problem outside my area of expertise. By immersing myself in the subject and approaching it with a fresh perspective, I developed a solution that others had overlooked. That experience reinforced my passion for solving challenging problems and confirming that engineering was the right path for me.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
The best advice I’ve received from a mentor is to always rely on the fundamentals of engineering and never be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem basic. A strong command of core principles, combined with a willingness to seek clarity, is key to solving complex problems effectively.
Edward Butts
Chief Engineer
4B ENGINEERING & CONSULTING, LLC
Can you share a story about you or your team working to solve a difficult problem?
One of my more unusual problems concerned a deep well vertical turbine pump in an agricultural (irrigation) application in 1977. We had a problem with severe inlet pre-rotation occurring in the pump installation. The geometry of the well casing combined with the well’s perforation spacing and relatively low submergence created a condition where the pump was approximately 20% low in capacity and 35% low in head, but was also vibrating the unit and overloading the motor. The pumping water level would vary up to 13 feet during this condition. We determined the anomaly was due to an inlet condition where water entering the well generated a rotation in the circular well casing as the water approached the suction. The pump had to reverse this rotation into the pump at the first stage, causing a braking action on the pump, hence the overload and loss of performance. We removed the pump and installed a specially made 30-feet long inlet tailpipe with a series of straightening vanes in the pipe. This resulted in straightening the incoming flow before encountering the pump inlet and totally solved the problem.
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
I was born into this business, so I pretty much knew my entire life.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
Two distinct pieces of advice for engineering: 1) “All forces must balance” and 2) For business ethics, “treat others as you wish to be treated.”
Charles Palmer
CEO
CHARLES PALMER CONSTRUCTING
Can you share a story about you or your team working to solve a difficult problem?
[We were] asked to establish a hydraulics department in the sugar industry. This resulted in a huge win with a successful team. [We] changed all 12 gear pumps to piston pumps, made our own SS reservoirs, provided flooded suction, changed all hoses to crimp on fittings and more.
Can you describe a moment you knew you’d chosen the right career path?
My career as an instrument engineer has always been my hobby, and as such, I am very blessed to have been so very successful in all 35 major projects I managed. Most of them were my own design, built in-house with my own staff, installed and commissioned by myself and my staff. [They were] very much appreciated by executive management.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from a mentor on the job?
Never give up.
