Joan Coleman describes herself as a life-long learner, a trait she learned from her parents. Raised in Erlanger, Kentucky, in a large family that had a strong work ethic and interest in calculus and physics, Coleman, whose family name is Adkisson, followed two of her brothers into the engineering profession. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky, Coleman earned a master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College.
With over 40 years of experience in engineering transportation design and development, Don Kelly is an outstanding public servant to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1965 and stayed to complete his master’s degree in 1967.
In her 35-year career at Procter & Gamble, Lisa Ernst has served as engineer, director of research and development, and vice president of research and development for oral care, hair care, personal health care and pet care. This year, she is retiring as the senior vice president of Research and Development for Oral Care and the consumer health sector leader of Research and Development.
With over 25 years of experience in electrical systems, Uday Deshpande has built an impressive career. He has worked on various products including blender and stand mixers, electric power steering actuators, brushless motor technology, electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and arresting gear for aircraft carriers.
Gregg Coleman wanted to be the first in his family to have a degree in engineering. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1985, making his parents and two brothers proud.
Jesus Caban met University of Kentucky professor Brent Seales in his home of Puerto Rico, and soon after, was interning for him in Lexington, Kentucky. Caban quickly taught himself English and enrolled in UK’s master’s program with Seales as his faculty advisor. He graduated with his master’s degree in computer science from UK in 2005.
Damon Barber is a global natural resources finance and operations executive with over 30 years of experience. Since 2014, Barber has been the senior managing director of Liberty Metals & Mining. He has led and directed all aspects of investing and managing a portfolio of over $1 billion of global private equity investments in the mining sector.
For over 30 years, Rob Beeler has provided strategic and technical leadership for software development organizations. A technological executive and entrepreneur, Beeler is currently chief technology officer and co-founder of Trava Security, a startup in the cybersecurity and cyber insurance space.
Xiangming “Jack” Cheng began his career as a researcher but quickly transitioned to an entrepreneur and visionary leader who empowers his employees to push the status quo and drives his company to become a global leader in metal manufacturing and distribution. A first-generation Chinese immigrant who has never forgotten his roots, Cheng is committed to giving back to his community and inspiring the next generation of leaders and achievers.
Howard F. Moore has been involved in petroleum processing and synthetic oils research for Marathon Petroleum Company (MPC) since 1974, when he represented the University of Kentucky in a National Science Foundation-funded partnership between UK and Ashland Oil to develop a coal pyrolysis unit.
