Join the STEAM Team!
Why STEAM Engine?
The steam engine exist to aid in ideation, showcase knowledge, foster proficiency, and build creative economy in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through discussion, entertainment, and education.
Green Bay is home to three major higher education institutes, an international sports icon and an abundance of progressive businesses. The STEAM Engine intends to leverage Green Bay's unique position by showcasing individuals and organizations in the region who are seeking new horizons in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. The STEAM Engine is an interactive event held at the Neville Museum that features speakers with exciting projects, new business ventures and cutting edge research. The mission of the STEAM Engine is to improve our creative economy, foster community discussion, and expand our collective knowledge. The events kick off at 6:30pm with presentations and Q & A then is followed by a social networking hour with beer, soda and popcorn.
STEAM Engine Board of Directors
Kent Hutchison
Kent is the STEAM Engine conductor and he’s filled with STEAM, loads of it. He may tell you he is a multidisciplinary artist who emphasizes in large scale public works and non-traditional event planning with the intent of elevating community interaction and broadening the artistic horizon in the Fox Valley, but really he’s just full of hot STEAM.
Amanda Chu
Amanda Chu - Before, after and in-between chasing around three kiddos, Amanda develops integrative production systems for organic farmers and is also the farm manager of the Sustainable Food and Agriculture program of Northeast WI Technical College. She has farmed in rural and urban settings for over 9 years and understands the vital component of community activism to create a culture that increases food security and builds local foods based economies. With a focus on holistic work/life balance, she actively seeks new skills and cultivates strengths that allow her to support and expand the work of conservation and sustainability efforts locally, nationally and worldwide
Jenny Brinker
Jenny Brinker, CEM recognizes and teaches the importance of saving energy, money and the environment, along with meeting customer comfort and production needs. Jenny has conducted hundreds of commercial energy audits and worked on contracts for energy management programs and utilities. Her work in developing programs involved training energy auditors, which has led to her current role as a sustainability and energy management instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Jenny’s teaching emphasizes learning from real-life projects. She holds a Master’s Degree in Land Resources and Energy Analysis and Policy from UW-Madison and achieved Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification.
John Arendt
John currently is responsible for seeking and developing relationships within the New North region of Wisconsin to support the mission of EMBI. That mission includes: providing outreach services to businesses and agencies that seek options for addressing environmental problems, enlisting students to participate in campus/community collaborations, and promoting research by faculty and students aimed improving environmental sustainability of the New North region.
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John also serves as the supervisor for many sustainability related internships, interacting with the internship sponsoring organization, the student(s) involved, and the Human Resources department at UW-Green Bay. His academic experience and interests include resource management, waste reduction, and sustainability. When not supporting STEAM events in the community, John loves to spend time with his lovely wife Lucy, his three grown sons, and three active granddaughters.
Dr. Lucy Arendt
Dr. Lucy Arendt is a Professor of Business Administration at St. Norbert College. The love of her life is John. Together, they have three adult sons (John, Michael, and David) and three granddaughters (John and Dana's beautiful girls). An expert on organizational and community decision making in the aftermath of natural disasters, Lucy also conducts research on humor and its impacts on health, happiness, creativity, and job satisfaction. Lucy has led students on a travel course to Mexico for many years and is planning to lead students on a travel course to Belgium, France, and Germany in 2018. She received her Ph.D. in Management Science from UW-Milwaukee, focusing on strategic management and organizational behavior.
Lucy teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in strategic management, organizational behavior, and leadership. She is widely published, belongs to several national and local professional associations, and serves on several Boards of Directors. She's involved in the STEAM Engine because she loves her hometown community and wants to help find ways to connect cool people and ideas.
​John F. Katers
John F. Katers is Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay (UWGB). Katers previously served as Chair of Natural and Applied Sciences (Engineering) and taught courses on pollution control, pollution prevention, waste management, renewable energy, and resource management.
Katers has been at UWGB since 1995, initially working for the University of Wisconsin Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center as a Recycling Specialist before joining the Natural and Applied Sciences faculty in 1999. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Business Administration and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from UWGB and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Marquette University.
Sam Hunt
Sam's claim to fame: on February 21, 2017, he was the first speaker at STEAM Engine I. On that occasion he shared an idea to create an affordable, prepared-food social enterprise that would make it easier for busy people to eat local food and support local farmers. Speaking at STEAM Engine enabled him to share this early stage idea with a large group of people - this led to the formation of a group of initial customers for The Local Food Experiment LLC. When he's not in a commercial kitchen making large batches of food, Sam studies Mathematics and Education at UW - Green Bay and likes spending time with his wife Megan, their three rescue pups, and three backyard chickens. A long time ago, he played golf for the New Zealand national team; although he never made it to the PGA tour, he now has patent application submitted for a golf training aid he invented that can help golfers of all abilities to improve their game.
Matt Buchanan
Matt is an urban planner, geographer, and proud supporter of the arts. Matt works for the City of Green Bay’s Economic Development team. Most of his work pertains to brownfield redevelopment and supporting Green Bay’s business improvement districts. He is also a member of the Green Bay Public Arts Commission and the ARTgarage Board of Directors.
Matt received a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Political Science from the University of Nebraska – Kearney. Up until recently, Matt has lived a nomad’s life, having lived in Nebraska; Austin, Texas; Washington, DC; Missouri; Kansas; and Portland, Oregon. In March 2017, Matt finally decided to put down roots in Wisconsin with his partner, Troy, and their dog, Jack. Having lived in so many great places, Matt hopes to bring some refreshing ideas to the Green Bay community.
Amy Soquet
Thinker. Doer. Makes It Happen. Right Brain/Left Brain.
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Organized, creative professional with 20+ years in the advertising industry. Experienced in development and execution of multi-faceted initiatives including Producer of Commercial Photography/Video Production at Image Studios, Experiential Media Design at Cineviz, Creative Production Management at Arketype and Advertising Manager at Shopko Headquarters. Amy Soquet serves on the board of American Advertising Federation - District 8 which covers Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Her community volunteer efforts include serving on several marketing committees including Downtown Green Bay Inc., Olde Main St. Inc., and On Broadway Inc. Soquet has the type of energy that creates contagious passion for community arts and graphic design. Her leadership and ability to inspire others has transformed organizations and the lives around her.
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