Executive Board (FY19)
Lindsay Hess - President
Lindsay Hess is a Project Engineer on International Blackhawk Programs at Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company. In this role, Lindsay is responsible for leading a team in the design, manufacturing, test, and qualification efforts associated with unique customer configuration needs. Lindsay has worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for 12 years, beginning as a structural loads analyst and crashworthiness engineer and has held roles of increasing responsibility leading to her current assignment. Lindsay holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Haven and an MBA from University of New Haven. Lindsay has been a SWE member for several years as a professional member. Recently she has been involved with the Jean Beers scholarship recipient selection committee and community outreach activities. Lindsay is passionate about advocating for women and girls in STEM fields and works to advance STEM opportunities through SWE as well as through work-related outreach activities. She hopes to be able to make an even greater contribution by joining the SWE CT Officers.
Rochelle LaPorte - Vice President
Rochelle LaPorte completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson
University, and a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. Rochelle began her full time career in 2012 as a Manufacturing Engineer on the Final Assembly line for Black Hawk helicopters at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut. From there, Rochelle transitioned to become Sikorsky’s Engineering and Technology Achieving Enterprise Excellence Leader. In this role, she was responsible for the oversight of all continuous improvement initiatives for over 3,000 engineering employees. Recently though, Rochelle accepted a new position as Lead Manufacturing Engineering for the Combat Rescue Helicopter program. In addition to her new role, Rochelle is the Co-Chair for Sikorsky’s Professional Development Network (PDN) Employee Resource Group and a Sikorsky STEM Council representative. Through PDN sponsorship, she helped design and build a 5k run obstacle for the Sterling House Community Center’s largest fundraiser to date. Rochelle is an active SWE member and held board positions for the SWE Connecticut (CT) professional section including Section Representative, Alternate Section Representative, and Vice President. As a SWE professional, Rochelle has participated
in local University career panels, K-12th grade (STEM) activities, and represented Sikorsky Aircraft at six WE Conferences.
University, and a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Quinnipiac University. Rochelle began her full time career in 2012 as a Manufacturing Engineer on the Final Assembly line for Black Hawk helicopters at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut. From there, Rochelle transitioned to become Sikorsky’s Engineering and Technology Achieving Enterprise Excellence Leader. In this role, she was responsible for the oversight of all continuous improvement initiatives for over 3,000 engineering employees. Recently though, Rochelle accepted a new position as Lead Manufacturing Engineering for the Combat Rescue Helicopter program. In addition to her new role, Rochelle is the Co-Chair for Sikorsky’s Professional Development Network (PDN) Employee Resource Group and a Sikorsky STEM Council representative. Through PDN sponsorship, she helped design and build a 5k run obstacle for the Sterling House Community Center’s largest fundraiser to date. Rochelle is an active SWE member and held board positions for the SWE Connecticut (CT) professional section including Section Representative, Alternate Section Representative, and Vice President. As a SWE professional, Rochelle has participated
in local University career panels, K-12th grade (STEM) activities, and represented Sikorsky Aircraft at six WE Conferences.
Nicole Karinchak - Treasurer
Nicole Karinchak is a Project Engineer at Eversource Energy. In this role, Nicole is responsible for the design of gas distribution pipelines, regulator stations and other critical infrastructure required to safely deliver gas to customers in Connecticut. Nicole has worked at Eversource for over two years. Prior to Eversource, Nicole was the Zinc Technical Manager at Platt Brothers in Waterbury, CT from 2013-2016 and she worked from 2009- 2013 as a Marine Corrosion Engineer for Corrosion Control International in Seymour, CT. She graduated from Manhattan College in 2007 with a bachelors in civil engineering and a minor in mathematics; then graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in 2009 with a masters degree in Ocean Engineering. She conducted her thesis research on elastomeric wraps to prevent biofouling on marine instrumentation. She is a NACE certified Corrosion Technician and CP Technologist, CP3. After moving from Florida to Connecticut, Nicole contacted SWE CT in January 2010; later that year she became the Section Representative and later in 2011 she was elected Treasurer and she still happily holds that position today.
Chelsea Fanara - Secretary
Chelsea Fanara is a Project Engineer at GHD and has been with the company for four years. In this role she is responsible for the design and management of several wastewater treatment improvements projects as a consulting engineer. She has recently obtained her Professional Engineer license in the state of New York. Chelsea graduated from Clarkson University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering and minor in a Project Management. In 2013 she began her career as a wastewater engineer in Syracuse, NY and became an active member of the Greater Syracuse Area Section. During her time with the Section she served as the President-FY17, Vice President-FY16, and Scholarship Coordinator. Chelsea relocated to Connecticut in 2017 and works out of GHD's White Plains office. She is excited to get involved as the Secretary and hopes to continue making SWE connections.
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