Alfredo Boratto, Kim Felix, John McKenney, Steve Necessary, and Ronda Sides joined Georgia Tech’s Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISyE) Advisory Board in the spring of 2017. These five alumni are joining 15 other distinguished professional and community leaders, serving as a sounding board for the School Chair in an advisory capacity, as well assisting with the School’s development goals. Each member will serve a four-year term (2017-2021).

Major General Kelly McKeague was inducted as the Advisory Board’s new chair. He will lead the board for a one-year term.

Kelly McKeague, Advisory Board Chair

Kelly McKeague (BSIE 81, MSIE 87) retired in 2015 after a 34-year U.S. Air Force career which began in 1981. Following his commission from Georgia Tech’s Air Force ROTC program, he served in various industrial engineering positions. As a major general, his last assignments were leading the Department of Defense POW/MIA mission, which has worldwide responsibility for the analysis and investigation, search and recovery, and forensic operations to account for Americans missing from World War II to the first Persian Gulf War. McKeague is currently an independent consultant providing strategic and operational consulting to small-capital corporations seeking to develop business lines and/or product and services placement with federal agencies in Washington, D.C.

He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Alexandria, Va.

Alfredo Boratto

Alfredo Boratto (BSIE 89, MSIE 91) is an accomplished entrepreneurial executive with experience across top-tier companies valued for driving multimillion-dollar new business growth and investment programs in the technology, health care, and life sciences industries by leading investment, strategy, new business development, and sales and marketing teams.

Previously, Boratto was the segment leader for IBM responsible for new business opportunities and the creation of strategic relationships (including equity positions) with venture-funded emerging technology companies in the health care and life sciences arena. His prior positions at IBM included business development, sales, and strategy formulation roles for the health care and life sciences business units. Boratto has also worked for Tenix in Australia and Merck & Co. in the U.S.

In addition to his degrees from ISyE, Boratto earned an MBA from the Executive Program at Columbia Business School, and he is a graduate of The Wharton School Management Program from the University of Pennsylvania. Boratto is a dual citizen of the United States and Europe and is a native Italian speaker with a working knowledge of Spanish.

 Kim Felix

Kim Felix (BSIE 88) is vice president of information technology for UPS. Felix currently leads the enterprise computer, collaboration, and data services portfolio responsible for global computer operations, technology support, collaboration tools and services, IT practices, data strategy and services, and advanced analytics. Prior to her current assignment, Felix led the transportation technology group portfolio responsible for UPS airline, global brokerage, and global transportation technology solutions. She began her UPS career in the customer technology portfolio, leading teams in the expansion and build out of internet based applications on UPS.com, including the development of web services and tools used for customer integration services, shipping, and visibility solutions. 

In addition to her degree from ISyE, Felix has a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Southern California, a master’s certificate in project management from the Stevens Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Spelman College. 

Community engagement is a priority for Felix. She serves on the Overseers Board for NJIT and the United Way Bergen County Board. Felix is executive advisor for the IS African American Business Resource Group. She has a particular interest in STEM-based programs that encourage young men and women to enter the science and technology fields and supports and sponsors multiple activities including the VEX Robotics International Competition hosted in Louisville, Ky.

John McKenney

John McKenney (BSIE 90) is president and chief executive officer for McKenney’s, Inc., a third-generation, employee-owned business headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. He began his career with Trane. During his successful six-plus years with Trane, he served as a sales engineer working with consulting engineers, mechanical contractors, and industrial owners to design and sell commercial and industrial air conditioning equipment and controls. He joined McKenney’s, Inc. in 1997, and has held the positions of project manager, senior project manager, and vice president of Atlanta Construction, all before his current role as president and chief executive officer.

McKenney is recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus by the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech. He serves as a trustee for the Atlanta Plumbers and Steamfitters Health and Welfare Fund. A member of the Atlanta Rotary Club, McKenney is a 2014 Graduate of Leadership Atlanta. He is past president, past board member, and current treasurer of the Mechanical Contractors’ Association of Georgia (MCAG) and board member of the Atlanta Area Council Boy Scouts of America. He served as an elder at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody and is an Eagle Scout.

Born and raised in Atlanta, McKenney and his wife, Janine, reside in Sandy Springs, and have two children in college.

Steve Necessary

Steve Necessary (BSEES 78) is executive vice president of product development and management for Cox Communications, where he has worked since 2005. He directs new development and lifecycle management for all products across residential and business portfolios. Previously, Necessary served as vice president of video product strategy, development, and management, and oversaw the conception, development, and deployment of new video products, including the company’s flagship Contour service.

Necessary is a member of Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), and Cable Pioneers. He is an emeritus member of the board of the Atlanta Ballet and Christians in Cable and is active in Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church.

In addition to his degree from Georgia Tech, Necessary earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Debbie, have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Ronda Sides

Ronda Sides (BSIE 83) and her husband, Alan (BME 83), are pleased to return to the United States after living in Singapore, the UK, Japan, and China since 1997. Sides’ professional experience includes computer software customer and sales support with Management Science America; investment banking with Bear Stearns & Co; and corporate valuation consulting with Morris and Associates. She is the co-founder of Omni Technology Centers (later Extreme Logic), a computer software training and consulting firm and Microsoft reseller.

Sides and her husband have 33 consecutive years of Roll Call support, and both established scholarships in 2000 during the Campaign for Georgia Tech. Additionally, she served on the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees, was named to the Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni, and served as Georgia Tech Student Government Association president.

Sides and her husband live in Alpharetta, Ga. with their two daughters. In addition to her degree from ISyE, Sides holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.