 Big Ridge Elementary Students Explore the Science of Nanofibers
Chattanooga, TENN (May 13, 2010) -- Fifth graders at Big Ridge Elementary School had the opportunity to tour eSpin Technologies' labs and manufacturing facilities today. Chemists and engineers gave presentations about the functions of lab equipment and took questions from 80 students and teachers.
Field trips provide important opportunities for students to ask questions that utilize the knowledge gained in the classroom and to see how their studies apply to a real world setting. Employees at eSpin Technologies also recognize the value in the opportunity to interact with students. Cristin Keary, an Analytical Chemist, at eSpin Technologies credits her academic path and career selection on her positive field trip experiences when she was a student. Ms. Keary recalls, "one of the greatest memories was a field trip to a local fossil pit. My teacher was so enthusiastic that it was hard not to enjoy his class and learning about science." The visit to eSpin Technologies highlighted the scientific research and development that was happening within the student's community, demonstrating how these activities can lead to products the students use everyday. Encouraging youth to be curious about science and how things work helps to foster the scientists and engineers of future generations.
eSpin Technologies, Inc. is a nanotechnology company leading the commercial production of nanofibers and nanofiber-based products. Located in Chattanooga, TN, eSpin Technologies has established in-house capability to develop nanofiber products with applications like filtration, advanced textiles, fuel cells, composites, cosmetics, and biomedical devices. In 2009, eSpin Technologies received the prestigious Technology Innovation Program award by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to commercialize a prototype of the carbon nanofiber manufacturing process. The finished product would be the first of its kind in the world to manufacture carbon and activated carbon nanofibers on a commercial scale. In collaboration with fully functional physical and chemical laboratories, eSpin Technologies plans to continue leading technological innovations to expand the applications of nanofiber products.
For additional information contact Fallon Skinner at 423.267.6266.
February 18, 2010 Engineers Week 2010 Awards
Five awards were given during Engineers Week in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 Engineer of the Decade went to Dr. J. Don Brock, CEO/Chairman/Founder/President of Astec Industries.
 The Jo Conn Guild Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award was given to Larry G. Akens, P.E., Manager of Compliance and Emergency Preparedness for Tennessee Valley Authority's Transmission & Reliability Organization.
 The Gen. Robert Neyland Young Engineer of the Year Award went to Benjamin M. Berry, P.E., Project Manager for Miller-McCoy, Inc.
 The Carlisle Jordan Technician of the Year Award went to Jason Payne, Civil Engineering Tech II for the City of Chattanooga.
 The Phillip J. Sutton People-to-People Award was given to James W. Frierson, Executive Director of Advanced Transportation Technology Institute (ATTI).
February 2009: Annual Engineers Week Awards Named...
Four awards were given during Engineers Week in Chattanooga at a banquet on February 19, 2009. Three are newly named, and each represents a fitting tribute to its honoree. In order of establishment, the Jo Conn Guild Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award went to Truman Sherrill, the Gen. Robert Neyland Young Engineer of the Year Award went to Shane Pike, the Carlisle Jordan Technician of the Year Award went to Kirk Shore, and the Phillip J. Sutton People-to-People Award went to Judy Driggans.
The Outstanding Engineer of the Year award has been named in honor of Chattanooga engineer Jo Conn Guild (1887-1969).
 This award has been given every year since 1960 to a local professional engineer who has made outstanding contributions to his or her profession or to public welfare and humanity.
Jo Conn Guild was born in Chattanooga, graduated from the Baylor School and entered the University of Virginia in 1905 as a student in engineering. He completed his engineering studies at Vanderbilt University. Mr. Guild began his career as an inspector during the construction of Hales Bar Dam and power-house, a project begun by his father and other investors in 1905. In 1913, he assumed charge of survey and power line construction and the securing of business for Chattanooga and Tennessee River Power Company. In 1914, he became Assistant General Manager of this company in charge of distribution design and construction, and from 1915 to 1922 he served as General Manager.
Mr. Guild became Vice President of the Tennessee Electric Power Company in 1922 and served in many capacities before becoming President in 1935. He served as President until the sale of the utility in 1939 to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Afterwards, Mr. Guild became President of the Southern Coach Company, operators of the street transportation systems in Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee.
Mr. Guild's interests and talents were many. He served as director for several large financial and commercial enterprises, including American National Bank and Trust, Chattanooga Coca Cola Bottling, Provident Life and Accident Insurance, Southern Coach Lines and United Transit.
The Young Engineer of the Year award has been named after Gen. Robert Reese Neyland (1892-1962).
 This award has been given every year since 1984 to a local young engineer who made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and community during the early years of his or her career.
Robert R. Neyland entered Burleson Junior College in Greeneville, TX, after high school. A year later he transferred to Texas A&M, where he studied engineering and played baseball and football. In 1912, Neyland won a competitive appointment to West Point, where he continued his engineering studies and his athletic development.
After graduation from West Point in 1916, Neyland was sent to the Mexican border where he engaged in levee work and bridge and road construction. In 1920, he took additional course work in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning to West Point in 1921 as an assistant adjutant and assistant coach in football, baseball and basketball. He also served as aide-de-camp to Academy Superintendent General Douglas MacArthur.
In 1926, Neyland was assigned to the University of Tennessee as R.O.T.C. commandant. In 1930 he was appointed as district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Chattanooga. Col. Neyland's office was on the ninth floor of the Volunteer Building, and with his young family he resided on Lookout Mountain. In 1931, Neyland became district superintendent, supervising the dredging of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. He also oversaw the preliminary surveys for Norris Dam, which was later built by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Neyland coached football at Tennessee from 1926 to 1934. After about a year in the Panama Canal Zone, he retired in 1936 from the Army and returned to Tennessee as head football coach.
When the U.S. entered World War II, Neyland was called back into the service and assigned to Norfolk as district engineer. He was reassigned to Dallas before being sent to China and then Calcutta, India, where he served as port commander. He rose to the rank of brigadier general.
After wartime service, Gen. Neyland coached Tennessee football again from 1946 to 1954. He was the first coach in the South to use pressbox spotters and the telephone to assist him in making coaching decisions. Characteristically, he refused to lecture, write books, or appear on television, believing that the only thing that mattered was his winning record. Over the span of his coaching career, he produced nine undefeated teams, forty All-Conference stars, twenty-one All-Americans, five Southeastern Conference championships, and one national championship.
The Technician of the Year award has been named for a 58-year maintenance employee with Delta Airlines, Carlisle A. Jordan, Jr (1919-2004).
 This award has been given every year since 1994 to a Technician who has made notable contributions to his or her profession and community.
Mr. Jordan was attending Georgia Tech when he joined the US Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II. Until his death he could recite everything important about a DC3. Immediately after World War II he joined Delta Airlines in maintenance, working there continuously until his death in 2004.
Although Mr. Jordan did not grow up in Chattanooga, he was a descendant of several prominent Hamilton County families, including the Leggs. He and his sister inherited several pieces of property in Chattanooga, where he came every weekend to look after them. Mr. Jordan was interested in boats, trains, airplanes and especially cars. Through his business he met and came to have great confidence in Engineers Club member Fred Lupton--now the executor of Carlisle's substantial estate, all of which went to charity.
The Philip J. Sutton People-To-People award
 is given to a local individual for his or her unselfish devotion to public service. This award was first given in Feb. 1979 to Philip J. Sutton (1935-1979), whose life and career ended at the young age of 44.
Philip Sutton had a special capacity to inspire those around him. In the area of education, something he highly valued, he inspired many individuals to attend college, achieve advanced degrees, and broaden their areas of interest. He held a degree in civil engineering from Auburn University and masters degrees in both civil engineering and engineering administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His philosophy was to never stop learning. During his college years at Auburn, he worked on surveying and bridge construction. He also spent time on active duty for the Army working with their Highway Department.
Sutton contributed to his community on an ongoing basis. He was involved with numerous professional groups, community groups, and his church?Brainerd Hills Baptist. He held the position of president for the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) and of both the Chattanooga Branch and the Tennessee Valley Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He was active and held elected positions in many other organizations.
Throughout the seventeen years he worked for Hensley-Schmidt, Inc., he was involved with projects including water, sewers, airports, environmental impact statements and transportation planning. He worked closely with the City of Chattanooga since 1967 on capital budgeting and programming for the airport and sewer systems, among other projects.
The 2009 awards are funded by the Legg Memorial Fund, created by the will of Carlisle A. Jordan, Jr. Because of Mr. Jordan's interest in so many mechanical devices of the twentieth century, it is fitting that his Legg Memorial Fund underwrites this year's Engineers Week awards.
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