Mary Ann Zimmerman: BSCE and MSCE

Monday, March 30th
9:30 am - 11 am
ARMS nook

Bio:
Silver Spring MD

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Born in Washington DC. Raised in Michigan (Bay City and Kalamazoo). BS/MS in Civil Engineering (Transportation and Urban Planning), Purdue University 1966, 1968.  Honored by Purdue as a Distinguished Engineering Alumna (1986), an Old Master (1987), and as a School of Civil Engineering Centennial Lecturer (1987).

Worked as Traffic Engineer (American Public Works Association and City of Chicago); Technical Manager at Cummins Inc (Columbus IN); Management Consultant in the field of international development based primarily in Washington DC area, but also working in over 25 countries primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe for periods of two weeks to two years.

Retired in July 2012 after over 40 years of diverse management and consulting experience in government, nonprofit and business organizations in both domestic and international settings.  Since then have increasingly focused on community activities, utilizing the skills, expertise, and interests developed during her professional career. 

Career Highlights

Purdue (1962-68). Student organizations included: Society of Women Engineers, Band/Tau Beta Sigma, Chi Epsilon, Mortar Board, Gold Peppers, Mock Political Convention (Alabama chair).

Chicago IL (1968-1973). Traffic engineer with American Public Works Association; published comprehensive study of urban arterial street design practices in the U.S. and Canada, which continued to be in demand by traffic engineering professionals for at least ten years after publication. Traffic Engineer with City of Chicago; headed public-private team that planned the State Street Mall, sparking central city revitalization; initiated city's bikeway program, including rush hour bike lanes into central city.  Community activities focused heavily on civil rights through SCLC Operation Breadbasket and Operation PUSH.

Columbus IN (1973-1987).  Cummins Engine Company (now Cummins Inc); held variety of technical specialist/management positions in environmental management, new product development, service parts marketing and distribution, product planning, service engineering and employee development.  Representative activities: 1) leading multiple teams preparing the company’s response to an intricate set of US Environmental Protection Agency proposed regulations, 2) analyzing options of Japanese competitors for entering the US market, and 3) establishing innovative employee selection and development procedures in a union environment for new business startups.  Civic activities included: collaborating in formation of local branches of SWE, NOW, and NAACP; League of Women Voters (heading bi-partisan group developing redistricting options for the county), AAUW, and Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (President).  Helped create a women’s center and its domestic violence shelter, heading the board of the shelter when it became an independent organization.  During this period, was honored by Purdue as an Old Master and as a Distinguished Engineering Alumna; presented a Civil Engineering Centennial Lecture entitled: Civil Engineering in a Global Society.

Washington DC/Silver Spring MD (1987-present).  Management consultant in international development with expertise in strategic planning, program management, organizational development and project assessments/evaluations. Several significant  activites: 1) monitoring and evaluation of USAID management training and economics education project in Eastern Europe; 2) directing $21 million USAID grants and capacity-building program for nonprofit organizations in Senegal; and 3) developing and implementing training strategy within newly formed State Department organization for civilian staff from across the USG working in conflict prevention and response activities. As contract employee, recipient of four Department of State Certificiates of Appreciation.  Retired July 2012.  Civic activities currently include: Silver Spring Village (founding board member); Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) Riders Advisory Council; Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, focusing on transportation issues; and AAUW. Graduate of Leadership Montgomery and the IMPACT Silver Spring community empowerment program.