UCA Committees

To learn more information on any of the Underground Construction Association committees, please select from the list below.

Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2050
Name Position Start End
Bruen, Michael Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Carlson, Jarrett Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2027
Deyoe, Jonathan SME Staff 4/22/2025 6/30/2030
Committee Members not available at this time.
The purpose of this committee is to promote women in the tunneling industry.
Name Position Start End
Chastka, Maria Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Comis, Elisa Past Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/3027
Davis, Tara SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Diaz, Diana Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Foster, Molly Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Ghaychi Afrouz, Setareh Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Gilbert, Lizan Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Housson, Audrey Secretary 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Kundu, Ritika Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Landmesser, Hallee Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Masedi, Botlhe Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Monge Fabian, Guadalupe Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Salvi, Mansi Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Sketchley, Jennifer Vice Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
Wachenfeld, Amanda Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2027
The Committee shall have oversight of all activities within the UCA Division.
Name Position Start End
Arabshahi, Jay Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Bruen, Michael Member 7/1/2019 6/30/2026
Crow, Matthew Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2026
DiPonio, John Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2026
Dorfman, David Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2029
Dube, Steffen Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Hurt, Jon Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2028
Jacobs, Leon Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2027
Johnson, Mark Member 7/1/2018 6/30/2026
Kanagy, David Secretary 7/1/2010 6/30/2026
Klug, Jonathan Member 7/1/2019 6/30/2027
Lacerda, Lauro Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2029
Lawrence, Colin Vice Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2027
Litton, Everett Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2027
Madsen, Paul Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2027
Moonin, Erika Past Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2027
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 2/3/2021 6/30/2050
Pooley, Anthony Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2027
Russell, Melissa Secretary 9/29/2025 6/30/2045
Scialpi, Martino Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2029
Wilson, Sarah Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2029
Yanagisawa, Shane Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2028
Name Position Start End
Avila, Luis Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Bruen, Michael Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Carlin, Maureen Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Chastka, Maria Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Clare, Joseph Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Comis, Elisa Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Del Nero, Don Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Engler, Theresa Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Firth, Shaun Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Flanagan, Michael Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Gangrade, Rajat Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Gettinger, Brian Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Gilbert, Lizan Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Glynn, Brian Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Hanson, Kim Member 7/1/2024
Hardison, Shalea SME Staff 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Hashimee, Rahim Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Heydarpour, Parsa Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Housson, Audrey Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Isaacson, Ike Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Johnson, Kenneth Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Khetwal, Anuradha Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Kilduff, Todd Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Kore-Quaye, James Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Kumas, Hazar Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Kundu, Ritika Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Lawrence, Jack Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Linden, Christine Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Litton, Everett Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Maruvanchery, Varun Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Mason, Drew Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Mast, David Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Mencke, Andrew Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Parkes, James Member 7/1/2024 7/1/2026
Pennington, Thomas Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Piek, M Luis Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Pitzer, Carl Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Plaza Castel, Alexandre Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Pollak, Seth Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Sadek, Samer Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Schmall, Paul Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Sheba, David Guy Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Sketchley, Jennifer Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Smiley, Lisa Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Sokol, Nikolas Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Stier, Robert Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Taylor, Aidan Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Ulizio, Matthew Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Vakili, Rouzbeh Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Webb, Kari Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Wellman, Edward Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Williams, Kyle Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Wilson, Sarah Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Woods, Christopher Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Yanagisawa, Shane Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Davis, Tara SME Staff 7/1/2023 6/30/2030
The purpose of this committee is to select nominees to replace members rotating off the committee and to select a new vice chair every 2 years.
Name Position Start End
Homyack, Genny SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Moonin, Erika Member 7/1/2021 6/30/2027
Committee Members not available at this time.
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021
Pooley, Anthony Member 4/16/2025 6/30/2026
The UCA Division Scholarship Committee is a standing committee of the Underground Construction Association of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (UCA of SME). It's purpose is to select nominees for the available division scholarships.
Name Position Start End
Deyoe, Jonathan SME Staff 4/22/2025 6/30/2030
Lawrence, Colin Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Avila, Luis Member 3/1/2025 6/30/2026
Gangrade, Rajat Member 3/1/2025 6/30/2026
Mooney, Mike Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Sadek, Samer Member 3/1/2025 6/30/2026
Thomas, Mary SME Staff 4/16/2025 6/30/2030
Tsang, Wylie Member 3/1/2025 6/30/2026
Yanagisawa, Shane Member 3/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Brandt, Jeff Member 5/1/2022
Chastka, Maria Member 12/16/2022
Coibion, Jacob Member 12/15/2023
Falco, Louis Member 9/12/2025
Fuegenschuh, Norbert Member 5/1/2022
Geers, William Member 9/15/2023
Goss, Christoph Member 5/1/2022
Gould, Rob Member 2/10/2023
Hallett, Gregory Member 9/16/2022
Hanskat, Charles Member 7/1/2021
Hunter, Jacob Member 12/19/2024
Kundu, Ritika Member 6/20/2025
Lacerda, Lauro Chair 5/1/2022
Martin, Patrick Member 4/18/2025
Mockus, Paul Member 4/18/2025
Murt, Tanner Member 9/15/2023
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Robertson, Kevin Member 6/23/2023
Skovajsova, Zuzana Member 8/13/2025
Thompson, Andrew Member 6/19/2024
Vargas, Grover Member 5/1/2022
Von Der Hofen, Marcus Member 7/1/2021
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Scialpi, Martino Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Grothen, Brad Chair 7/1/2021 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Gall, Vojtech Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Avila, Luis Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Vardakos, Sotirios Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Asiedu, Emmanuella Member 7/1/2025
Del Nero, Don Chair 7/1/2023
Feeney, Christopher Member 7/1/2025
Goodfellow, Robert Member 7/1/2024
Habimana, Jean Member 7/1/2025
Hunt, Steven Member 7/1/2025
Johnson, Mark Member 7/1/2025
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Prada, Julian Member 7/1/2025
Raines, Gregory Member 7/1/2025
Romero, Victor Member 7/1/2025
Sivaram, Aswathy Member 7/1/2021
Sozer, Zeynep Member 7/1/2025
Wone, Moussa Member 7/1/2025
Wongkaew, Mike Member 7/1/2025
Name Position Start End
Gall, Vojtech Ernst Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Pollak, Seth Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Edgerton, William Chair 7/1/2021 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Wilson, Sarah Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Avanessian, Armen Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2027
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Name Position Start End
Huh, John Substitute Lead 7/1/2021 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
Russell, Henry Chair 7/1/2023 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Felice, Conrad Chair 7/1/2021 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
UCA Young Members is a standing committee of the Underground Construction Association of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (UCA of SME).
Name Position Start End
Assaf, Waleed Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Avila, Luis Liaison 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Boyd, Lane Co-Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Chegwidden, Andrew Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Dogra, Anvesha Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Encapera, Victoria Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Gangrade, Rajat Past Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Grimes, Rachel SME Staff 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Khetwal, Anuradha Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Lawrence, Jack Vice Chair 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
McClafferty, Kevin Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Moore, Emma Publicity 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Patil, Piyush Liaison 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie Liaison 8/15/2024 6/30/2026
Pugh, Kieran Treasurer 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Taylor, Aidan Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Wallace, Jeff Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Warren, Alex Secretary 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Wilk, Tara Advisory Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Name Position Start End
Chastka, Maria Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Davis, Tara SME Staff 4/13/2017 6/30/2050
Dobson, Dawn Past Chair 7/1/2014 6/30/2026
Dube, Steffen Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Falco, Louis Vice Chair 7/1/2018 6/30/2026
Gallo, Anthony Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2028
Geers, William Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Joens, Nicholas Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Kerr, Amanda Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2028
Knasinski, Cori SME Staff 4/13/2017 6/30/2050
Martinez, Julio Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Morgan, Amanda Chair 7/1/2018 6/30/2026
Morton, Josh Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Njoloma, Stephen Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2030
Savard, Paul Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Schneider, Jesse Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Wilson, Kimberly Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Name Position Start End
Chastka, Maria Vice Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Chohan, Kushwant Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Cimiotti, Claudio Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Colzani, Gregory Past Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Comis, Elisa Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2028
Davis, Tara SME Staff 12/31/2016 12/31/2025
Goodfellow, Robert Member 7/1/2014 6/30/2028
Hashimee, Rahim Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Krulc, Michael Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Kundu, Ritika Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Madsen, Paul Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
O'Carroll, Joe Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Patil, Piyush Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Sketchley, Jennifer Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2028
Wilhelmstoetter, Franz Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2029
Name Position Start End
Cermak, Jan Member 7/1/2025
Dorfman, David Vice Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Fareth, Arne Member 7/1/2024
Gallo, Anthony Member 7/1/2020
Gilbert, Lizan Member 7/1/2019
Goodfellow, Robert Member 7/1/2021
Jacobs, Leon Liaison 7/1/2025
Klug, David Member 7/1/2017
Mergentime, Stephen Member 7/1/2020
Moonin, Erika Liaison 7/1/2023
Morrison, James Member 7/1/2024
Palermo, Robert Member 7/1/2020
Paterno, Victor Past Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Rush, Jim Member 7/1/2020
Schmall, Paul Member 7/1/2017
Sozer, Zeynep Member 7/1/2024
Zlatanic, Sanja Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026

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The UCA administers and presents four recognition awards for outstanding individual and group achievements in the tunneling and underground construction industries. View the UCA Awards.