In a nod to their outstanding accomplishments, seven distinguished alumni from the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) were honored on Saturday, April 20 at the 2024 College of Engineering Award Ceremony.  

The College of Engineering (CoE) Alumni Awards, established in 1994 by then Dean John A. White, is an invitation-only induction ceremony that recognizes the significant impact of Georgia Tech alumni on the world. These outstanding alumni are reviewed by committees within each of the eight schools within the College and formally submitted for selection. 

Raheem A. Beyah, the Dean of CoE and the Southern Company Chair, and President Ángel Cabrera both gave speeches to start the evening. 

Beyah began the ceremony, remarking on the vast impact that Georgia Tech engineers make on the world.   

“This evening, we are again reminded of their tremendous contributions to society... through their stories and triumphs, we celebrate the many ways this year’s honorees have shaped the past and are helping define our future.” 

President Cabrera extended a warm welcome and congratulation to all the honorees.  

“You are a lasting symbol of Georgia Tech’s enduring reputation for excellence and innovation, and a living testament to our mission of developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition,” he said. 

Here are the ISyE Alumni who were honored with awards: 

Frederick Grimm, (IE ‘14) Chief Operating Officer, FIXD 

Frederick Grimm, John Gattuso, and Julian Knight were seniors at Georgia Institute of Technology when they started FIXD, a diagnostic screening app for your car. The trio launched the business on Kickstarter in 2014 with a campaign that raised $37,000, and it has since grown exponentially. 

• The Award: The Dean’s Impact Award has been established to recognize the efforts of these alumni who are focused on developing globally-relevant, locally-sustainable designs and innovations that meet societal challenges across the world. This award recognizes those graduates who embrace engineering and have a vision to find solutions focused on the world’s grand challenges. 

Isabella Thavi Sanders, Ph.D. (IE ‘21), Assistant Professor, Dept. of Systems Engineering, United States Military Academy 

Dr. Isabella Sanders is an Assistant Professor at United States Military Academy in the Systems Engineering Department. Her current research focuses on creating supply chain innovations using methodologies in Operations Research, GIS, and Strategic Management, in the application areas of food and defense. 

• The Award: The Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional practice and/or service to the Institute, the engineering profession, or society at large. They are on the “fast track” and have made rapid advancement within their organizations, and they have been recognized for early achievements by others within their profession, field, or organization. 

Rita M. Breen, M.S. (IE ‘92), Executive Director, Georgia Power and Southern Company Charitable Foundations 

Rita Breen received a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Rita is the Charitable Giving Executive Director for Georgia Power. In this role, she is responsible for Foundation and Corporate Giving programs, with a focus on the Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.    

• The Award: The Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have provided distinguished contributions to the Institute, profession, field, or society at large. Candidates are highly placed executives and are actively involved in engineering, management, industry, academia, or government. 

R. Scott Herren, (IE ‘84), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Cisco Systems 

R. Scott Herren is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Cisco, managing the financial strategy, global finance organization, procurement, and mergers/ acquisitions and integrations for the company with total revenue for fiscal year 2023 of $57 billion and 84,900 employees. Herren is focused on accelerating Cisco’s shift towards a more recurring revenue business model, maximizing long-term shareholder value, and maintaining the high level of integrity and transparency for which Cisco is known. 

• The Award: The Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have provided distinguished contributions to the Institute, profession, field, or society at large. Candidates are highly placed executives and are actively involved in engineering, management, industry, academia, or government. 

Engineering Hall of Fame:  

1. Michael K. Anderson, (IE ‘79), Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. And Southern Company Foundation 

2. Ronald J. Beerman, (IE ‘73) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Profitmaster Displays, Inc. 

3. Andrea L. Laliberte, (IE ‘82), M.S. IE 1984 Former Senior Vice President – Distribution & Consumer Service, Coach, Inc.  

Michael K. Anderson managed the company’s Community and Corporate Relations organization and is also a member of the Georgia Power Management Council. Prior to this position, Mike served as vice president of Corporate Services. In this role, he was responsible for Corporate Safety, Labor Relations, Fleet Management, Workforce Development and Workforce Training. 

Ronald J. Beerman and his wife Carol T. Beerman gave back to the Institute in the form of four endowments, all of which support faculty and graduate students in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) and the Ernest Scheller Jr. College of Business. 

Andrea L. Laliberte has been recognized for implementing new facilities, processes and initiatives to increase capacity, reduce costs and improve service and has a proven track record of leadership, problem solving, project management, negotiating and people development skills. 

• The Award: Membership in the Engineering Alumni Hall of Fame is reserved for individuals holding a Georgia Tech engineering degree or who have been awarded an honorary degree from Georgia Tech. Those chosen have made meritorious engineering and/or managerial contributions during their careers. The Hall of Fame recognizes successful alumni who have reached the highest levels of achievement in their professional endeavors and who are committed to maintaining the highest standards of their profession. 

From corporate giants to innovative startups, their impact resonates far beyond our campus, shaping communities and organizations worldwide.