May is Military Appreciation Month: Honor Veterans, Servicemembers, and Spouses
As we celebrate Military Appreciation Month during May, the SAME Foundation would like to help in honoring veterans, servicemembers, and spouses.
The SAME Foundation encourages you to make a generous donation “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” a servicemember. All throughout the month, donate $500 or more to the SAME Foundation to honor a servicemember in your life. These donations will be listed in the September-October issue of The Military Engineer and on the SAME Foundation webpage.
In addition to showing your appreciation for our nation’s heroes, your generosity will help the Foundation to expand important programs like SAME’s Leader Development Program, AI/AN STEM Pathways Program, and STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps.
Help Foster Engineering Leadership for the Nation
2024 Fundraising Campaign: This is YOUR Foundation!
Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, and contributors who have generously given so much to help meet this year’s fundraising goal of $500,000 raised for the SAME Foundation! Together, through the first quarter of 2024, we have received a total of $333,807 in donations/pledges, or 67 percent of our goal.
The highlight of the first quarter of this year’s campaign was the Silent Auction, run by the Academy of Fellows in support of the SAME Foundation. This online auction featured a number of exciting adventures and opportunities, such as hiking in the Rockies, beach houses with golf access, mentoring sessions, and swim lessons from an Olympian. It raised over $37,000, culminating during SAME Capital Week in March. Also during the first quarter, the SAME Foundation was selected for a $100,000 grant from NCEES, continuing its strong support from other institutions in recent months.
Make your most generous contribution and help us meet our goal to expand signature programs like the Leader Development Program, STEM Pathways Program, and STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps and Camps Mentoring Program.
2024 SAME Region Contributors
| CALIFORNIA REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Orange County Post | $15,000 |
| Col. John Henderson, F.SAME | $5,000 |
| HDR Inc. | $5,000 |
| Sacramento Post | $5,000 |
| CAROLINAS REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Apogee Consulting Group | $10,000 |
| EUROPE REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Rear Adm. Mark Handley, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.) | $5,000 |
| WSP Federal Programs | $5,000 |
| GULF COAST REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Manish Mardia | $100,000 |
| HEARTLAND REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Rear Adm. Michael Johnson, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.) | $5,000 |
| Tulsa Post | $5,000 |
| LAKES REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Blinderman Construction | $5,000 |
| FGM Architects | $5,000 |
| Richard Group | $5,000 |
| MISSOURI RIVER REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| CMS Corporation | $5,000 |
| DLR Group | $5,000 |
| Olsson | $5,000 |
| Scott Field Post | $5,000 |
| Greater Kansas City Post | $4,000 |
| Omaha Post | $3,000 |
| Tepa Companies | $2,500 |
| MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Col. C. Patrick Hogeboom IV, F.SAME, USA (Ret.) | $5,094 |
| Maj. Gen. Eugene Lupia, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USAF (Ret.) | $5,000 |
| Murphy Tuomey, F.SAME | $5,000 |
| Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.) | $2,500 |
| Col. Bill Haight, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.) | $1,000 |
| NORTH ATLANTIC REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Ansys | $15,000 |
| OHIO VALLEY REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| CMS Corporation | $5,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Matrix Design Group | $5,000 |
| SOUTHEAST REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville Post | $5,000 |
| Jane Penny, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.) | $5,000 |
| Pond & Co. | $5,000 |
| SOUTHWEST REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Mario Burgos | $10,000 |
| Jack Wayte Construction | $5,000 |
| Phoenix Post | $5,000 |
| TENNESSEE/KENTUCKY REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Pond & Co. | $5,000 |
| Kentuckiana Post | $3,000 |
| TEXAS REGION | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Houston-Galveston Post | $5,000 |
2024 Donor Spotlights
John Michael Beezley, P.E., LEED AP, President and Founder, Apogee Consulting Group, P.A.
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
We are a long-time supporter of SAME, and by supporting the SAME Foundation and its mission we can be a part of a relevant and effective effort.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
While all the programs the Foundation supports are important and relevant, we believe that the Leader Development Program is crucial to our country’s future. Strong and vital leadership is especially needed for our country and its institutions.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
The Leader Development program resonates the most with our organization. Apogee understands the critical importance of strong leadership in any organization. Developing leaders for today and the future is important to our company, our military, and our country. Apogee supports many initiatives that focus on personal and professional development. It is important that we conduct employee training that includes health and well-being, financial growth, professional development, and communications. We have created a volunteer company advisory committee so that new ideas can freely flow to our leadership to consider improvements, further develop leadership, and promote positive changes.
Col. Bob Ruch, F.SAME, USA (Ret.), Executive Vice President, Federal Programs, Pond & Co.
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Pond believes in all the reasons the Foundation was established. Without strong STEM support and leadership development, this industry, and the nation, will not be successful in the future. SAME is critical to the Pond team as it provides a way for us to partner with government clients and also serves as a place where we make critical business relationships stronger.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Pond has taken advantage of the SAME Leadership Development Program in the past, and we feel it is important to support the Foundation’s efforts in this area. Having an outside organization run a program that is populated with the best emerging leaders in the industry is very beneficial. It provides a diverse experience for our participants, and they come back to us ready to serve and grow with the company. We feel that industry members who benefit from these programs should step up and support these programs.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
The Foundation’s compelling purpose is “Fostering Engineering Leadership for the Nation.” Our nation and our industry are depending on the type of support the Foundation provides to keep our place as #1 in the world.
Jane Penny, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), Senior Consultant with Hill International and Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc.
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Of the organizations I donate to, the SAME Foundation is in the top three! I was the SAME National President when we stood up the Foundation, and to me, it is the best nonprofit to support STEM, develop leadership skills (our LDP is best in class), and honor the greatest military engineers of our lifetime.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Our Engineering & Construction Camps. I have visited several of the camps, and they are all fantastic. My daughter Claudia was a camp mentor at the Marine Corps camp for several summers. She would come home and tell me stories of how impactful the week was and how she worked with high school kids who became successful members of a team made up of kids they had never met before after just one week living on a Marine Corps base. These kids arrive as “individual superstars” back at their schools but learn the importance and comradery of working as a team, as well as getting exposed to the military mission and engineering and construction activities.
The biggest benefit to Claudia was her mentor at the camp, Joe Angell. Joe has run the Marine Corps camp every year and touched the lives of everyone engaged at the camp. Like most volunteer positions, the more you give, the more you get. Joe and all of our volunteer camp leaders and mentors exhibit leadership at its best!
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
Supporting STEM. It imperative that we encourage young kids to embrace STEM. We can’t leave this mission to our schools; we have to engage at every level and grow our future workforce. Donations to the Foundation are so impactful and they do make a difference. So just Say Yes, and make your donation today!
Jim Carter, F.SAME, National Sales Director, EMAX Laboratories Inc., and SAME Regional Vice President, California Region / Jorge Rodriguez, P.E., Vice President, M.S. Hatch Consulting, and Orange County Post President
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Carter: As RVP for the California Region, I am helping raise funds for the SAME Foundation as part of this fundraising cycle. As presented, the goal is $40K from Corporate Sponsors and $40K in matching funds from the Posts in the California Region. As RVP, I am encouraging all the Posts in the California Region to contribute what they can. The Orange County Post’s E&M Fund is currently above our target corpus, and the committee voted in favor of making a $15K matching donation. The Sacramento Post also has pledged a $5K donation. The Foundation supports worthwhile activities and is worth supporting!
Rodriguez: For me, I would say it was being part of the inaugural Leader Development Program (LDP) class. That allowed me to see first-hand what the Foundation is able to provide and how it really did help future leaders of the Society. That was my primary focus for what drew me to support the Foundation.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Carter: The LDP and SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps are the two areas I am most interested in. LDP has the added value of providing Regional/Post benefits—the current President and Vice President in the OC Post are both recent LDP graduates. The SAME Camps are fantastic as well. It is really inspiring to see each student’s excitement and energy related to the activities they are exposed to and the things they learn. If you have the chance to participate/be a mentor—do it!
Rodriguez: The LDP is one of them, since it touched me personally and supported me and my growth as a professional. But also the SAME STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps, since that was really my first introduction to SAME as a young engineer. Being able to go up to the Navy Camp and just help out with the students there is one of my goals as Post President. We want to do whatever we can for STEM, from supporting the ability of campers to go to the camps to supporting local STEM programs in our area. It’s an area that really touched me and I want to support.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
Carter: The LDP and Camps are both investments in our collective futures—our future SAME leaders and our future A/E/C leaders that America’s strong future is so dependent upon. It is very important that we all support these and the other activities that the SAME Foundation makes possible!
Rodriguez: For me, it’s the support for the young engineers who are bringing up the engineering profession and getting STEM out there. I think the Foundation is doing a great job in building these programs in a way that the Posts can then build their own smaller programs, such as the American Indian/Alaska Native outreach program that came out from one of the LDP groups and now a few Posts are directly engaged in at their level. I know that the Posts want to do as much as we can locally, but it’s always great to have a Foundation that we can learn from and can provide us support.
Manish Mardia, P.E., Owner, President, and Principle-in-Charge of MSMM Engineering LLC
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Over the past 30 years, I’ve strived to uplift and empower student engineers through focused mentorship and education. My work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has encouraged me toward advocacy in the military engineering sector, making the SAME Foundation an especially well-aligned association. Since my work with the Foundation, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many of the SAME leaders, all of whom displayed a similar mindset of support and guidance toward future engineers.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
The SAME STEM Camps exemplify my belief in nurturing hope and talent through education. Guiding students through in-person training allows them to foster an even more keen interest in the STEM field, furthering their confidence and know-how in a way that positively impacts the entire industry.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
The ambitions of the SAME Foundation are similar to my own ambitions, both personally and professionally. Their mission to build leaders strongly resonates with me, as my continuous goal lies in the mentorship and education of tomorrow’s industry professionals. The SAME Foundation provides me with a meaningful, clear-cut avenue to achieve that goal.
Ernesto Enrique, P.E., Chairman & CEO, CMS Coporation
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
We proudly support the SAME Foundation because, at CMS, we are committed to bolstering the STEM pipeline. We recognize the vital role it plays in fostering a future workforce for the engineering and construction industry. By investing in the SAME Foundation, we are not only supporting the Foundation but cultivating leaders to fortify our defense industrial base. Additionally, my sister, Mercedes Enrique, CMS President, is personally committed to the Foundation’s mission and its present and future impact.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
We are particularly enthusiastic about the funding that aims to support the Construction and Engineering Summer Camps organized by SAME, SAME Regions, and Posts. These week-long experiences provide high school students with invaluable hands-on exposure to engaging construction and engineering projects. At a crucial juncture in their academic journey, these camps offer students the opportunity to explore their interests and passions while shaping their future educational paths. By investing in these camps, we are empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders in the construction and engineering fields.
The biggest benefit to Claudia was her mentor at the camp, Joe Angell. Joe has run the Marine Corps camp every year since it started and touched the lives of everyone engaged at the camp. Like most volunteer positions, the more you give, the more you get. Joe and all of our volunteer camp leaders and mentors exhibit leadership at its best!
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
We are committed to the SAME Foundation’s mission, particularly its emphasis on enhancing the accessibility of STEM education and the imperative of reinforcing the engineering and construction pipeline. Our alignment with these principles underscores our dedication to ensuring that all students have equal access to opportunities in STEM fields. By strengthening the engineering and construction pipeline, we are not only nurturing talent but also laying the groundwork for a robust and inclusive future workforce. Through our collaboration with the SAME Foundation, we are proud to contribute to building a more diverse and resilient foundation for the industries of tomorrow.
Murphy Tuomey, F.SAME, Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President, A. Thomas Morton & Associates
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
In 1986, my supervisor, mentor, and friend, Rose Dela Vega, F.SAME, introduced me to and encouraged me to become active in SAME. Since that time, AMT, many staff members, and I have become involved in numerous Posts, their committees, and activities. AMT values the Foundation’s commitment to STEM initiatives that benefits the military, civilians, and SAME member firms. Cultivating the youth of today to be future leaders in the A/E/C industry assists this nation in having a pipeline of quality engineers, construction managers, and environmentalists. SAME has paved the way for AMT to make a positive impact on providing engineering services to major military bases and government clients in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
I support the SAME Leader Development Program and commend the Foundation’s efforts to cultivate capable leaders. This program is instrumental in giving individuals from within SAME membership the opportunity to develop critical leadership experience while exploring their own strengths, expanding problem-solving skills, and collaborating with industry colleagues.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
We believe in STEM mentoring for youth, supporting young scholars on their journeys to STEM careers, witnessing students actualize their talent through Foundation scholarships, and developing future leaders within the A/E/C profession. The Foundation’s mission of Fostering Engineering Leadership on all levels for the nation is compelling and purposeful. Through the Foundation’s concentrated STEM efforts, industry and this nation together will benefit and the service to our military will be invaluable.
Bobbi Jo Lang, Business Development Manager, Tepa LLC
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Tepa LLC has always supported the efforts of SAME and is proud to support the Foundation’s initiatives to support leadership development and STEM. Across the United States, our team volunteers at a variety of board positions throughout multiple Posts as well as providing support for various programs at these Posts.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Personally, I am very interested in supporting STEM and STEM Camp programs. I have worked with our Student Chapters in Nebraska, as well as volunteered as a mentor for the past seven years for the Omaha Post’s 30-year-old Student Mentor Program and as a mentor for the Scott Field Post’s STEM Camp. I have seen first hand how these programs impact the young individuals who participate.
Tepa has always encouraged our team to participate in leadership roles within our Posts and fully supports our volunteer efforts in our local STEM programs.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
The SAME Foundation’s goal of developing a system to support leadership and STEM programs across the Society for years to come is strongly resonates with Tepa and myself personally.
Regina Babcock, CEO/President of Jack Wayte Construction Co., Inc.
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
The SAME Foundation supports programming aimed at developing the future architects, engineers, and construction professionals our nation depends on. At Jack Wayte Construction Co., Inc., we recognize the pipeline of A/E/C professionals is shrinking, and we wholeheartedly believe in the Foundation’s efforts to reverse this trend.
I have experienced firsthand the benefits afforded to small businesses in the construction industry by SAME. In 2011, I met my mentor, and was invited to attended my first JETC Conference in Los Angeles, Calif. Since then, I’ve attended SBC annually, making the most of the educational offerings and invaluable networking opportunities. By all accounts, SAME is an excellent organization, and the SAME Foundation is no exception.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Due to the significant shortage of people pursuing the A/E/C professions, I think it is safe to say that many businesses are fighting in the same small pool for the same talent that is currently available. I do not foresee this trend improving in the next decade without immediate attention. I hold myself accountable to be part of the solution to this issue.
The SAME Foundation provides an excellent avenue to support this endeavor through the STEM/Engineering and Construction camps! As a proud mom of three young boys, I can personally attest that children learn best from hands-on experiences. These camps provide experiences that allow the students to see how A/E/C professionals work to create, innovate, and solve problems. By providing real-life engineering and construction experience, the SAME Foundation builds an on-ramp for students to pursue careers in the industry.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
Jack Wayte Construction Co., Inc. looks forward to being a part of the SAME Foundation’s mission in providing STEM education to the youth of our nation for years to come. We want to ensure that our industry continues to nurture new talent, innovators, and most importantly future leaders. We believe that the Foundation wholeheartedly supports this mission and hold true to the quote by Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus, “True generosity toward the future consists in giving everything to the present.”
Jed Richard, Founder and CEO of Richard Group.
What drew you to donate to the SAME Foundation?
Investing in the future leaders of the A/E/C world is critical, now more than ever. With technology rapidly changing, we need to cultivate and encourage the next generation to explore their interests in STEM-related careers. Our industry depends on forward thinking and purpose-driven individuals to push innovation and infrastructure forward.
The scholarships offered by the SAME Foundation assist in removing obstacles and barriers that could prevent these individuals from continuing their journey. As a construction business leader, I believe I have a responsibility to help support initiatives fostering the future of engineering and construction. At the forefront of every SAME Foundation program is leadership, mentorship, and service. These are values I strive to instill within my team, and I’m honored to be able to support the SAME Foundation.
Which SAME Foundation program are you most interested in, and why?
Each program provides crucial mentoring and training needed for developing the skills and leadership needed to ensure our future workforce. The Camps Mentoring Program stood out to me as it focuses on building a support system through mentorship early in the camper’s career journey.
The A/E/C industry is demanding and can be overwhelming to someone pursuing a STEM career. This program provides resources for advice and guidance during their journey. A robust workforce is needed to meet the demands of future infrastructure challenges, and we need to put in every effort possible to encourage the growth of the industry.
What part of the SAME Foundation’s mission resonates the most with you?
The SAME Foundation’s mission encompasses an ethos that resonates greatly with me. Ingrained within the Richard Group culture is a purpose-driven mentality, with our motto being “We’re building to solve the world’s greatest construction challenges.” Ambitious, innovated team players seeking to deliver solutions through purpose-filled work are the cornerstone of Richard Group. I saw a similar vision with the SAME Foundation’s mission to foster A/E/C leadership by discovering and nurturing the talent needed to face our country’s complex infrastructure challenges and remain on the cutting edge of readiness. Success in this mission is structured on mentorship, leadership training, and service, all of which the programs provide.
Silent Auction, SAME Regions
Learn more about the amazing contributions of so many donors to the SAME Foundation in 2024. Each week during the first quarter, Foundation Friday messages recapped the contributions from donors and include an interview with a featured donor on why they are supporting the SAME Foundation and its compelling purpose to “foster engineering leadership for the nation.”
Foundation Fridays Updates
Phase 1 Weekly Summaries
Week 4 (1/26) | Week 5 (2/2) | Week 6 (2/9) | Week 7 (2/16) | Week 8 (2/23) | Week 9 (3/1) | Week 10 (3/8) | Week 11 (3/15) | Week 12 (3/22) | Week 13 (3/29)
2024 Donor Spotlights
Developing Tomorrow’s Engineering Leaders, Today
America faces a complex national security landscape. Infrastructure challenges, disruptive geopolitcal events, resource challenges, and global threats to the balance of power increase in frequency and severity every year. To assure our nation’s safety and prosperity into the future, skilled and dedicated engineering leaders capable of meeting these dynamic challenges head-on will play a critical role.
The SAME Foundation, since its establishment in 2016, has invested in programs focused directly on developing the next generation of military, government, and industry leaders who will strengthen the engineering profession for tomorrow.
Through its support of STEM outreach, youth mentoring, and professional training and development—and because of the generous contribtuions of people like you—the SAME Foundation is meeting its compelling purpose to Foster Engineering Leadership for the Nation.
Learn MoreMaking a Difference, Together
As SAME moves forward in its second century, the SAME Foundation through your support will lead the way in helping develop the next generation of engineering leaders for our nation. We can make a lasting difference by providing Society members, America’s youth, veterans, and others in the engineering community with unmatched opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.
The camp mentors and cadets were extremely supportive throughout the week; they have definitely provided me with new ideas that I appreciate and expect will influence my future growth. From the moment I was accepted to this camp, to the moment I left the grounds, I was in excellent hands!
Ava Johnson, 2022 SAME/ Air Force Academy Camp
Leader Development Program
The SAME Leader Development Program nurtures leadership skills in high-potential members through a dynamic curriculum of speakers, book discussions, and group exercises. Funded entirely by the SAME Foundation, the training culminates with a Utilization Project to advance a significant engineering issue. Several alumni have gone onto executive level leadership roles and even served on the SAME Board of Direction.
Camps Mentoring Program
SAME’s STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps for over 20 years have helped produce thousands of inspired STEM leaders. Now through a Camps Mentoring Program, the SAME Foundation is helping enable even more young professionals, servicemembers, cadets, and teachers the chance to give back (and grow) as camp mentors. This unique hands-on opportunity provides leadership training in real-time.
Indigenous STEM Program
Designed as a framework for SAME Posts to engage AI/AN communities in STEM, the “We Must Go to Them” project (created through the Leader Development Program) was selected for a grant from the United Engineering Foundation in 2021 and 2023. The SAME Foundation has furthered this effort by underwriting the cost-match required to conduct pilot activities in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Florida.
Investing in Their Future, and Ours
By donating to the SAME Foundation, you are helping expand programs that directly invest in the military, government, and industry engineering leaders of tomorrow. Through your support, we can do our part to ensure that the strength and resilience of America’s engineering community remains a constant reminder of our nation’s technological advantage on the world’s stage. The SAME Foundation has received a Platinum Seal of Transparency by Candid (GuideStar) and a four-star rating with Charity Navigator.
America’s future is bright. Let’s help make it brighter!
Donate TodayThe SAME Foundation is registered as a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law—EIN: 81-1960637.
Did You Know? The SAME Foundation has its own LinkedIn Group. Let’s build up this community and create awareness about fostering engineering leadership for the nation. Join today and follow along with us!
The future of our nation is in their hands; but because of you today, we can ensure they are ready. On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support of your SAME Foundation.
Rear Adm. David Nash, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USN (Ret.), President, SAME Foundation