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
Scialpi, Martino Member 7/1/2025 6/30/2029
Wilson, Sarah Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2028
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
Lacerda, Lauro Chair 7/1/2023 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
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
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
Name Position Start End
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
Name Position Start End
Penoyar-Perez, Melanie SME Staff 7/1/2021 6/30/2030
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 Chair 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
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
Castro, Rafael Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
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 6/30/2026
Geers, William Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Joens, Nicholas Member 7/1/2022 6/30/2028
Kerr, Amanda Member 7/1/2020 6/30/2026
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
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
Chohan, Kushwant Member 7/1/2024 6/30/2030
Davis, Tara SME Staff 12/31/2016 12/31/2025
Wilhelmstoetter, Franz Member 7/1/2023 6/30/2029
Name Position Start End
Arland, Francis Member 7/1/2014
Dorfman, David Vice Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
Fareth, Arne Member 7/1/2024
Goodfellow, Robert Member 7/1/2024
Mergentime, Stephen Member 7/1/2020
Moonin, Erika Liaison 7/1/2023
Morrison, James Member 7/1/2024
Palermo, Robert Member 7/1/2024
Paterno, Victor Past Chair 7/1/2024 6/30/2026
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.