The SME Member Council was created in the fall of 2003 to lead the member engagement activities of SME's volunteer networks. It is responsible for assisting SME in recognizing and meeting the needs of its membership in a rapidly changing environment, building on the long-term SME strategic goals, strengthening local activities and formulating recommendations relative to SME membership recruitment, retention and engagement.

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Chair

Dan Braley, FSME, CAMT
Boeing Global Services

Dan Braley is a Boeing associate technical fellow and the Boeing Global Services additive manufacturing technical focal and initiatives leader. In this role, he serves sustainment of all Boeing military, commercial and derivative aircraft platforms through use of additive manufacturing technologies. Braley has more than 17 years of aerospace program and R&D experience in additive manufacturing, technical program management, materials and process engineering, composites, electromagnetic product development and manufacturing technology development. Prior to his current role, he was a USN/USMC air vehicle technical integrator with Boeing focusing on F/A-18 Flight Control Surfaces, wings, complex spares and repairs. Braley has held positions with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, L-3 Communications ESSCO and the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin AFB as well. He is a past recipient of the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, the Boeing Meritorious & High Honors Invention Awards, the Northrop Grumman Innovation Award, the F-35 Lightning Rod Award and currently holds 28 U.S. and international patents. Braley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Florida State University as well as a master’s degree in engineering management from Drexel University. He was elected an SME Fellow in 2022, is an SME Certified Additive Manufacturing Technician (CAM-T) and an advisor for SME's RAPID + TCT event. SME Member Since 2015

Chair–Elect

Matthew Clegg
Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS

As a community and user advocacy manager at Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS, Matthew Clegg leads 500 elite SOLIDWORKS users from 54 countries in the Champions Program and 17 global YouTube creators in the Influencer Program and supports 22 commercial customers in the Sponsorship Program. A Washington native currently living in Ohio, Matthew graduated from Central Washington University with dual degrees in music performance and industrial engineering technology. His decade of industry experience spans extensive SOLIDWORKS certification, additive manufacturing, laser scanning, reverse engineering, foundry, machining, metal fabrication, construction and forestry equipment, and marine design. In addition to serving on the SME Member Council, Matthew co-chairs the SME Chapter Funding and Award working group and has previously served on the SME Emerging Professional working group. With a strong connection to his alma mater, he serves on the Central Washington University Technology Education Program Advisory Committee. In 2021, he received the SME International Award of Merit. During two terms as chair of SME Seattle Chapter 39, Matthew focused on bolstering local college engineering programs by supporting five student chapters, forming the SME Seattle Memorial Endowed Scholarship, and growing the Seattle senior chapter to be one of the largest in the nation. He now serves as chapter advisor and enjoys mentoring student chapter members. In the music world, he loves to play trombone in local orchestras and jazz bands, and coaches young musicians. SME Member Since 2014

Immediate Past Chair

Gabriela Darras
Microsoft

Gabriela Darras has several years of experience in the manufacturing industry.  As an industry executive at Microsoft, she worked with manufacturing companies in the development of digital transformation strategies and introduction of cutting-edge technology. Prior to this role, Gabriela was a manufacturing engineering manager at Caterpillar Inc. where she led end-to-end value chain projects and manufacturing excellence workshops. Previously, as a director of operations at ITC Inc., she led a team of technical experts in delivering integrated business solutions for manufacturing and technology that helped customers thrive in their transformation towards flexible and digital manufacturing. Gabriela is pursuing an MBA, holds a master’s degree in manufacturing engineering, and bachelor degrees in industrial and production engineering. She was a recipient of the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. Passionate about manufacturing, Gabriela was an active chapter officer for SME’s Chapter 31 (2013- 20), serving as chair in 2014. She was the co-chair of SME’s Chapter Enhancement Committee in 2020 and has been part of the Member Council since 2021. Throughout this time, Gabriela worked alongside SME teams to enhance membership value, supporting the development of local chapters and member communities. SME Member Since 2010

Council Representatives

Zachary Bibik, LSME, CAMF, CAMT
United Launch Alliance

Bibik is an additive manufacturing (AM) mechanical engineer focused on mass optimization at United Launch Alliance. Previously, he worked in manufacturing research and development at Vestas. Bibik’s industry experience revolves around AM and automation integration. His primary goal remains using manufacturing to enhance human life. Bibik envisions a future with diverse energy resources, equitable human rights and abundant economic opportunities driven by technological advancements in manufacturing. In 2015, he was the SME Education Foundation Family Scholarship winner, and for the last nine years, Bibik has participated on the SME Member Council, Chapter Enhancement Committee, Emerging Professionals Task Group and served as chair of SME Northern Colorado Chapter 354. Bibik is an advocate for continuous improvement in membership benefits to foster SME's growth. SME Member Since 2015

Kayla Jordan
General Dynamics Land Systems

Jordan is working at General Dynamics Land Systems as a platform cybersecurity engineer. Prior to General Dynamics, Jordan worked in the Information Security and Systems Engineering group at L3Harris, a global aerospace and defense technology company, leading risk management framework, information assurance and bid/proposal efforts. Additionally, Jordan has more than five years’ experience in automotive manufacturing and audio DSP industries. She co-hosts the “SheTooSTEM: Black.STEM.Queens” podcast, a venture she started in 2018 with two colleagues from the National Society of Black Engineers. Jordan was featured in SME’s 30 Under 30 publication in 2022 and is an SME Membership Series webinar speaker. She holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and an MBA in international business, both from Wayne State University. Jordan earned her master’s degree in information and cybersecurity in 2023 from the University of California, Berkeley. SME Member Since 2022

Susan Kolinski
PennEngineering

Susan Kolinski has over 25 years of technical sales experience in the global automotive and commercial vehicle industries, and currently works within the manufacturing industry focusing on making connections with people and products using core values and fundamentals to ensure the best products are used for suitable applications. Her career advancement is a process of learning, finding the value of a person, product, or technology, and then working with others to put that to practical use. Susan’s career in the industry started as an applications engineer and then as a technical sales engineer, progressing to focus on new business development of manufacturing products and services for companies including Schaeffler, Stoneridge and Agrati. She is currently an automotive electronics business development manager at PennEngineering. She has a bachelor’s in material science and mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. SME Member Since 2022

Allison Ledford, PhD
Auburn University

Allison Ledford, PhD is an assistant research professor in industrial and systems engineering at Auburn University. Her primary research is in digital engineering with the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS). She recently completed her Ph.D. at Auburn University, and her dissertation work in data element mapping and analysis is patent pending, with two additional patentable inventions in the works. During her undergraduate years, she was a founding member and first chair of the SME chapter at Auburn University. She is very thankful to SME for introducing her to the world of manufacturing and inspiring her to do the work she loves. She currently sits on the SME Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Group. Allison is passionate about introducing manufacturing to young and underrepresented communities. She recently served as an academic advisor to a team of middle school students who won honorable mention in the 2024 SME Digital Manufacturing Challenge for a device that enables communication between deaf and hearing individuals. Allison's position is based out of the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville, Alabama, where she works extensively in enabling digital engineering and digital manufacturing for the U.S. Army. SME Member Since 2020

Stephen Marth, CMfgE, LBC
Toyota

Stephen Marth is a production engineer with Toyota. Prior to Toyota, Marth was a senior manufacturing engineer on Precor Inc.'s manufacturing team, a division of Peloton Interactive. Before joining Precor, he worked for a diverse range of organizations, including Energizer and Honda of America Manufacturing. In addition to his work at Precor, Marth is passionate about lean manufacturing and has served on the executive boards of both SME Seattle Chapter 39 and SME Northern Piedmont Chapter 82 in North Carolina. As chair of Chapter 39, Marth hosted a Pacific Northwest Chapter regional meeting in 2016 and helped the chapter receive/achieve its second Platinum Award for the SME Annual Chapter Recognition. Marth served on the SME Chapter Enhancement Committee and the Chapter Revitalization Committee. He is an SME Certified Manufacturing Engineer, Lean Bronze Certified and holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. SME Member Since 2007

Brock T. Strunk
Epic Aircraft

Brock T. Strunk is currently chief engineer at Epic Aircraft, working on the FAA certified E1000GX all composite aircraft. He joined SME in 1999 as a student at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT). He currently serves on the board of directors for the Oregon SME Chapter 423. Additionally, he has held multiple leadership roles as a SME member on both the international and chapter level including, co-chair of the Technical Community Network, chair and vice-chair of the Member Council, vice-chair of the Plastics, Composites & Coatings Community; an advisor for the Composites Manufacturing Tech Group, vice-chair and treasurer of the Denver Senior Chapter, and vice-chair of the OIT Student Chapter. In 2008, Strunk was awarded SME's Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. He has presented at multiple SME conferences on composite repair and manufacturing. Strunk has worked on numerous aircraft certification programs during his tenure in the aerospace community. Previously, he worked as a senior engineer at Erickson Helicopters, a level three engineer at Spirit AeroSystems, an engineering manager at Adam Aircraft and a senior engineer at Lancair Aircraft. Strunk earned a bachelor’s in manufacturing engineering and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from OIT. SME Member Since 1999

Tara Thomasson
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.

Tara Thomasson is a Technical Fellow at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and is on the SME Member Council. She is a subject matter expert in the areas of advanced materials and processing, thermoplastic additive manufacturing and manufacturing technology and strategy. At Lockheed Martin, Tara is a member of the Operations Technology group developing and transitioning new manufacturing process and technology solutions to solve manufacturing challenges across the Aeronautics portfolio. Prior to becoming a Fellow, Tara was the Operations Digital Transformation Lead and the Manufacturing Technology Contract Research and Development/Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Manager. In addition to Tara’s work at Lockheed Martin, she serves as an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University in the College of Science & Engineering. SME Member Since 2018