Inver grads earn engineering degrees at University of Minnesota
Liz and Bill Schlesky went to Henry Sibley High School together, Liz graduating in 1998, Bill a year earlier. Both Liz and Bill attended Inver Hills Community College and earned Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees. Liz graduated in 2003; Bill is a 2009 alumnus. Both worked as math tutors while going to college, and Liz was in Math League.
Liz continued her education at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering. She belonged to Pi Tau Sigma, the International Honor Society for Mechanical Engineers. Bill also found his calling in the engineering profession after exploring careers in computer networking, music technology and as a restaurateur, operating Baja Sol in Minneapolis. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the U of M in 2012.
Today, Bill is applying his electrical engineering knowledge as a fix-it-now engineer at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Station in Red Wing, Minnesota. His duties take him to various locations at the facility. Problem-solving and creative thinking are must-have skills in his time-critical job.
“I’ve learned to do complex math problems in my head without the help of a calculator,” Bill said. “You can’t always bring devices along on a task.”
The two pressurized water reactors at the Prairie Island facility generate about 20 percent of the electricity used by Xcel Energy’s customers in the Upper Midwest. Each reactor can generate about 550 megawatts of electricity, for total plant output of about 1,100 megawatts, enough to power about 1 million homes.
In a pressurized water reactor, water is highly pressurized so it does not boil as it flows through the reactor. While flowing through the reactor, it picks up heat released by the fission of uranium atoms.¹ Learn more…
Prairie Island NGP—photo: Utilities Service Alliance
Liz works as an engineering project manager at TSI Incorporated in Shoreview, Minnesota. She started her new role at TSI in January 2019 after working as a design engineer at Andersen Windows for nearly 15 years. The focus of her new job at TSI is supporting new product development for contamination control and critical environments.
“We make particle counters that monitor the air quality inside clean rooms to make sure they don’t go out of compliance,” Liz said. “As a project manager at TSI, I oversee the new product development process. That starts with a new product idea and leads to defining the project requirements, including what it’s going to look like and all the way through the design, development, testing and commercialization phases.”
TSI Incorporated serves a global market by investigating, identifying and solving measurement problems. As an industry leader in the design and production of precision measurement instruments, TSI partners with research institutions and customers around the world to set the standard for measurements relating to aerosol science, air flow, indoor air quality, fluid dynamics and biohazard detection.
With headquarters based in the U.S. and field offices throughout Europe and Asia, TSI has established a worldwide presence in the markets we serve. Every day, our dedicated employees turn research into reality.² Learn more…
Image: TSI Incorporated
More about Liz and Bill…
Liz and Bill lead active lives as professional engineers in demanding workplaces. They also make plenty of time to raise three young children, Vinny, 7, Sully, 5, and Daisy, 2. The family has a cat called Luna.
In his free time, Bill enjoys running and bowling. He’s looking forward to passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Electrical and Computer exam, which takes eight hours and has 80 questions.
Liz likes spending time with her best friends from grade school, Missy and Katie, at least once a month. She performs in a professional Christmas caroling group, DeCantus, an activity that keeps her busy every year from September through the holidays. During the summer months, Liz, Bill and their kids visit the lake as often as they can. The Schlesky family resides in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Liz Schlesky • Q & A
Liz Schlesky
Why did you choose engineering as your career field? My dad worked as a civil engineer—and I’ve always liked math and science. Engineering looked like a good career choice.
How did your education at Inver Hills help you enter the field? I earned my A.A. and the transfer curriculum got me into the U of M.
What advice would you give students considering engineering as a career path? Anyone can do it if they’re willing to put in the time and work. It’s not as intimidating as it sounds, so don’t be put off.
What is one thing every engineer should know? You need to understand root-cause analysis. If you have a problem, you need to figure out the cause. You need to keeping asking why until you find out the true cause of the problem.
Three words that describe you as an engineer:
DRIVEN. RESOURCEFUL. PERSONABLE.
What are your principle duties in your job as a TSI project manager? I oversee the whole process and manage the triple constraints of scope, schedule, and cost.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Estimating how much time a project will take. You don’t know what you don’t know.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? I like being in a facilitator position. I like removing roadblocks and watching out for upcoming milestones.
Why should Inver Hills alumni stay engaged with the college? Staying engaged allows you to keep giving back to an excellent school that’s too often overlooked. Community college has so many great resources and your contributions are part of that.
What person has influenced you the most in life? My mom, Joanne. My husband, Bill, is my biggest advocate and motivator.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
What Mechanical Engineers Do
Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.
Work Environment
Mechanical engineers generally work in offices. They may occasionally visit worksites where a problem or piece of equipment needs their personal attention. Mechanical engineers work mostly in engineering services, research and development, and manufacturing.
Pay
The median annual wage for mechanical engineers was $85,880 ($41.29/hour) in May 2017.
Job Outlook
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects may be best for those who stay abreast of the most recent advances in technology.
— Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. DOL
Engineering Fundamentals at Inver Hills
The Engineering department at Inver Hills stands out as a wise starting point if you are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, including civil, electrical or mechanical at the following universities:
The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Engineering Fundamentals prepares you for transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree in one of the following engineering disciplines:
Aerospace
Biomedical
Chemical
Civil
Computer
Electrical
Environmental
Manufacturing
Materials
Mechanical
Nuclear
The program covers courses typically offered in freshman and sophomore years of an accredited engineering curriculum in the United States. Learn more…
Bill Schlesky • Q & A
Bill Schlesky
Why did you choose engineering as your career field? It’s easier than running a restaurant.
How did your education at Inver Hills help you enter the field? The math fundamentals are amazing. The college has great resources.
What advice would you give students considering engineering as a career path? Keep an open mind. The field of engineering has many different branches with plenty of opportunities.
What is one thing every engineer should know? Calculus.
Three words that describe you as an engineer:
DECISIVE. FORCEFUL. RESOURCEFUL.
What are your principle duties in your job as a fix-it-now engineer? I’m involved in the day-to-day operations at the plant along with long-term projects.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Not knowing what I’m going to do every day. My work is dictated by what happens in the last 24 hours.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Same as above.
Why should Inver Hills alumni stay engaged with the college? It’s good to give college kids an idea about what’s out there. You can offer a different perspective.
What person has influenced you the most in life? My wife, Liz.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
What Electrical Engineers Do
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment.
Work Environment
Electrical engineers work in industries, including research and development, engineering services, manufacturing, telecommunications, and the federal government. Electrical engineers generally work indoors in offices. However, they may have to visit sites to observe a problem or a piece of complex equipment.
How to Become an Electrical Engineer
Electrical engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.
Pay
The median annual wage for electrical engineers was $95,060 ($47.10/hour) in May 2017.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of electrical engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
— Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. DOL
