Page 14 - 2020 March E-issue

Announcing the Award Recipients

Join us Saturday, April 18, 2020 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Come congratulate two Finalists for 2019 Kate Gleason Young Engineer of the Year

2019 Kate Gleason How have you used your engineering skills for community and
Young Engineer of the Year professional leadership?
- Finalist I actively contribute to the Rochester Illuminating Engineering Society by helping to run the local organization
by utilizing my organizational, planning skills and illumination engineering knowledge. I also participate in the
Dr. Walter Cooper Academy Tutor program at School #10 in the City of Rochester helping students in many of
the STEM subjects.
What do you consider your greatest engineering achievement?
Working as a Civilian Engineer in the early stages of my career designing building electrical systems for the
United States Military. It was very inspirational knowing the buildings I helped design were being used to help
the activities of the United States Military.
Describe a key event or individual that had a profound effect on your
career.
My first Engineering job out of College was in Norfolk, Virginia where I learned many electrical engineering
design skills, where I ultimately spent the first 8 years of my career. The engineering mentors that I met and
guided me during this time had a profound affect on me and helped shape me into the Engineer I am today.
What advice would you give to our scholarship recipients, who will be in
Daniel J. Rusnack, PE attendance at the Gala?
Take every opportunity you can to learn from your Elders and Professors as you get ready to start your
Senior Project Engineer - working career. At the same time, enjoy every moment you can with your Friends and Family as you get
Electrical, Bergmann ready to start the rest of your life.
Articulate your vision for engineering in Rochester
Education: Rochester has a long history of talented engineers, entrepreneurial spirit and extensive infrastructure to
Pennsylvania State University, support the engineering industry. I foresee this having a resurgence with the use of new technologies and the
BS Architectural Engineering (2004) next generation entering the working field.

2019 Kate Gleason How have you used your engineering skills for community and
Young Engineer of the Year professional leadership?
- Finalist Clear communication is so important for scientific research. Even if you’re developing the coolest technology
in the world, for it to have an impact outside of your four walls, show people why they should care.

What do you consider your greatest engineering achievement?
Developing non-invasive laser vision correction from academic feasibility to a first-in-human clinical study.
Within 4 years of founding Clerio Vision, we performed a pivotal first-in-human clinical study, demonstrating
safety and efficacy of laser induced refractive index correction (LIRIC).

Describe a key event or individual that had a profound effect on your
career.
Graduate school lab meetings with PhD advisor, Geunyoung Yoon: “Anybody can build a system and collect
data. That’s not what makes you special. What makes you special is the questions you ask and the story you
tell with your data.”
What advice would you give to our scholarship recipients, who will be in
attendance at the Gala?
Leonard Zheleznyak, PhD Create conditions of play in the workplace. With luck, your lab will become a million-dollar sandbox. Then dig,
Vice President of Vision Science, tinker, read. Don’t shy away from the spotlight. Embrace vulnerability and being in a place of not knowing the
answer.
Clerio Vision, Inc.
Articulate your vision for engineering in Rochester
Education: Our local scientific community is extraordinary. My aim is to translate revolutionary research from that
The Institute of Optics, University community into safe and efficacious medical treatments to improve the most magnificent and relied upon of
of Rochester, BS Optics (2005), MS Optics the five senses, the sense of sight.
(2006), PhD Optics (2014)
14 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER MARCH 2020 cover article