Career Development
- The following events are open to Notre Dame graduate and undergraduate students only with some registration required.
Monday, September 18
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., location tba
What's It Really Like?: Working for Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions with Erin Ludwig ‘22
Erin Ludwig ‘22 interned with Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions as a rising senior and joined them full-time after graduation. As an intern, she was trained for her current job, in which she assists in the development of commercial-scale solar sites. This entails using various analytic tools and mapping software to identify and analyze potential sites on which to build new renewable energy generation and storage projects.
Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions works in solar, wind, energy infrastructure, and energy resilience. Launched in 2021, this brand unified various subsidiaries owned by Duke Energy. They offer summer internships and are currently hiring full-time analysts.
Join Erin for lunch in a small group setting to learn more about her career path and potential employment opportunities with Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. RSVP (Closed)
Monday, September 18
12:30-1:30 p.m., location tbd
What’s It Really Like?: Working in Nuclear at Kinectrics with Marlena Fernandez ‘17
Marlena Fernandez ‘17 is a licensed Professional Engineer at Kinectrics with over three years of experience working in the nuclear power industry. Her emphasis is on the design and repair of steel structures, welded and bolted connections, and evaluation of heavy haul paths and lifting devices. Prior to entering the nuclear industry, she gained experience on commercial and industrial construction sites in project management and technical roles, including rooftop solar arrays.
Kinectrics provides lifecycle management services to the power generation, transmission, and distribution industries. Their U.S. offices primarily provide consulting to nuclear power plants across the country. They are hiring engineers and project managers with an interest in nuclear energy.
Join Marlena for lunch in a small group setting to learn more about her career path and potential employment opportunities with Kinectrics. RSVP (Closed)
Monday, September 18
5:30-7:30 p.m., 8th Floor, Duncan Student Center
Notre Dame Sustainability Expo 🏆
The annual Notre Dame Sustainability Expo is held in conjunction with the Fall Career Fair and connects students with professionals seeking talented individuals to fill jobs, internships, fellowships, academic programs, research projects, and experiential learning and services opportunities in the fields of energy, the environment, and sustainability. Students attending this event will earn points for their residence hall in the annual Sustainability Cup sponsored by Student Government.
Wednesday, September 20
9:00-10:30 a.m., 512 Duncan Student Center
Energy Summit Panel Discussion and Q&A
The Meruelo Family Center for Career Development is hosting an Energy Summit Panel Discussion and Q&A with representatives from BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil focused on current efforts in the oil and gas industry to develop sustainable energy solutions including renewables and high energy-efficient systems, processes, and technologies to achieve net zero and carbon neutrality. Panelists include Kevin Dewan, BP, Mark Gess, Chevron, Greg Goodman and Lukas Cepkauskas, ExxonMobil, and Frank Kelly as the moderator.
A light breakfast will be served. Register on Handshake!
Biographies
Lukas Cepkauskas (CBE ’19) currently works for ExxonMobil Production Solutions in Baton Rouge, LA as a Supply Coordinator. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and minor in Engineering Corporate Practice. After interning in the Baton Rouge Refinery’s fluidized catalytic cracking area, Lukas started his career as a crude distillation process engineer, also at the Baton Rouge Refinery. During his two years as a process engineer, Lukas led a process hazard analysis, tested novel equipment cleaning technologies, and provided daily operations’ support for the 500+ thousand barrel per day crude units. In the last two years, Lukas has worked in the Coordination and Product Quality department, leading numerous feedstock processing test plans as well as coordinating integrated process unit downtimes and optimizing refinery operating signals with market behaviors. Outside of work, Lukas enjoys running, beach volleyball, and skiing.
Kevin J. Dewan is Modernization Manager for the Western Hemisphere for bp’s Trading & Shipping organization where he leads various projects to solve today’s problems and help bp achieve its Net Zero ambitions by 2050. Kevin’s primary responsibilities are managing the Early Talent Development programs in the Americas to build bp’s pipeline of future Traders, Analysts, Marketers & Originators, and Supply Chain Operators. Prior to transitioning into this role in 2021, Kevin was the Head of Learning & Development with bp’s Midstream Academy. Kevin has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining bp, Kevin initially worked on upstream research and performed data analysis for an oil well services firm. Following that, Kevin worked on a variety of advertising campaigns for Pennzoil’s lubricants. Kevin joined BP Amoco in 1999. Since joining, he has held finance, accounting, and negotiation roles in bp’s downstream supply organization. Later, Kevin moved into bp’s trading division where he operated domestic & international movements for a variety of crude oil & refined products blends. Also, he traded a variety of physical & financial products for the US Midwest markets. Kevin has held several leadership roles, including for process & systems improvements globally, serving as Chief of Staff for bp’s trading division in North America, as well as Head of Learning & Development. Kevin has taught trading & supply chain courses internationally, including in Canada, London, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Raised in Houston, Kevin graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, double majoring in Marketing and Psychology. Kevin is currently based in Chicago, IL, and is married with a son and two daughters.
Mark Gess (CBE ’86) currently works for Chevron in their Americas Upstream business unit. He has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. After receiving his B.S in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Penn State University, he started his career with Exxon. He supported operations at the Baton Rouge refinery for several years before switching careers to become a management consultant for McKinsey and Company and then Accenture. For more than a decade he advised oil and gas companies (and other industries) on strategy and operations improvement efforts. He switched careers again to join Chevron in 2006 and has served in various roles since then in Downstream, Pipeline, and Upstream. He currently manages a portfolio of midstream agreements to ensure Chevron’s growing Permian crude and gas production is effectively delivered to desired markets across the globe. Mark lives and works in the Houston, TX area.
Greg Goodman (CBE ’13) currently works for ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering in the Houston, TX area as a Distillation & Separations Process Engineer. He started his career in Houston with ExxonMobil after receiving his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2013. He supported process engineering and design of small and large capital projects for 2 years before moving to ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge Refinery as a Contact Engineer and later as a Technical Lead engineer. For 6 years he provided operational guidance and long-term strategy for the 500+ thousand barrel per day Crude Distillation units as well as several other smaller process units. He also oversaw the successful completion of several unit downtimes and expansions in the Baton Rouge Refinery. Greg now lives in Houston, TX and works at ExxonMobil’s Spring campus within the Distillation & Separations Process Engineering group. He provides direct support to the Joliet, IL refinery and completes design work across a wide array of capital projects spanning traditional petroleum products as well as low carbon solutions. In his spare time Greg enjoys running, breweries, and traveling.
Frank Kelly (CBE ’83) retired from ExxonMobil in March 2019 following a 30+ year career. Frank started his career with Mobil Process Research in 1988 after receiving his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. Frank’s areas of technical expertise include process modeling, optimization, logistics, hydrocarbon characterization, and fuels manufacturing. More recently, Frank managed ExxonMobil’s process modeling and optimization section, directed the R&D portfolio and associated IP for manufacturing and logistics optimization & modeling, built up data science and life cycle analysis capabilities within the Process Technology organization, and directed the company-wide Modeling Enterprise. Frank also led ExxonMobil’s engineering recruiting activity at Notre Dame for many years. Since retiring, Frank has supported the CBE senior design class as a team mentor for carbon capture projects. Frank currently lives just outside Princeton, NJ, with his wife Ana (ND ’82 MechE) and son Benjamin.
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Friday, September 22
1:00-3:00 p.m., 210 Duncan Student Center
Golden Gateway Networking Reception
The Meruelo Family Center for Career Development is hosting its inaugural "Golden Gateway" Networking Reception: Shining Connections from the Bay Area for alumni and representatives from employers in Northern California, including many involved with energy and climate change, to network with Notre Dame students.
Step into a World of Opportunity: This exclusive event is your golden ticket to connect with some of the most influential Notre Dame alumni and friends who have fervently supported the "Golden Gateway" program over the past year.
Unveiling the Power of Networks: The Golden Gateway program has brought together a league of visionary alumni and friends who have championed the dreams of Notre Dame students. This reception is your chance to rub shoulders with these remarkable individuals and glean insights from their remarkable journeys.
Forge Connections: Engage in conversations with alumni hailing from Notre Dame students’ "Dream Employers" – the very organizations that capture the aspirations of our student body. From industry titans to trailblazing entrepreneurs, this event boasts a constellation of stars you'll want to connect with.
Global Reach: The Golden Gateway program transcends boundaries. Whether you're a student aspiring to step into the world or an alumnus with a heart for Notre Dame's growth, this event connects you to a global network of change-makers and thought leaders. Note: This event is exclusively for Notre Dame students, alumni, and affiliates that have participated in and supported the “Golden Gateway” program this past year.
This event is for Notre Dame students only. Register on Handshake!
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