RISE Basecamp
Meet industry professionals in the RISE Network who are in various stages of their careers, from early-career to seasoned professionals, allowing them to provide an overview of their background and experience. RISE Basecamp is open to ALL students.
Meetings every other week during the semester.
RISE Basecamp Schedule
RISE Basecamp meets every other Thursday at 5:00 pm in the ICL Conference Room during the spring and fall semesters, located in Claxton 233. Sessions are open to ALL students at UT.
Dinner is provided.
March 27: Ines Voellinger
Ines Voellinger is a dynamic leader with a passion for digital transformation, particularly in the application of AI todrive innovation and process improvement. Over the past year, she has been at the forefront of AI initiatives withinVolkswagen Group of America, Inc., collaborating across functions to implement cutting-edge technologies. As anenthusiastic ambassador for new tech, she thrives on leveraging AI to enhance business performance andefficiency.
With a strong background in agile project management, change management, and transformation projects, shehas successfully navigated complex regulatory and product compliance landscapes. Her ability to cultivatecustomer satisfaction, pay meticulous attention to detail, and solve problems creatively has earned her areputation for delivering exceptional results.
Ines Voellinger combines an entrepreneurial mindset with a deep commitment to driving innovation. Known for heragile approach, she is excited to share her expertise in digital transformation and contribute to the future oftechnology-driven change.
April 24: Rupesh Patel
Rupesh Patel is Technical Fellow providing U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base and BlueForge Alliance with expertise in operational excellence, manufacturing engineering, quality, and continuous improvement.
Rupesh joined BlueForge Alliance in February 2024 and supports integration of the various suppliers, industry partners, and U.S. Navy to meet the intense and urgent demand to build capacity for the defense industrial base. He is an active leader ensuring strategic execution and alignment for industrial base initiatives and associated standard work.
Rupesh immigrated from India in 1978 to Northern Kentucky where he obtained his US citizenship and attended grade school. He honorably served the US Marine Corp from 1990 to 1998, ultimately leading a Force Reconnaissance team in multiple theaters of war in the Middle East. He has since accumulated 27 years of technical experience in a variety of defense and aerospace systems.
He started in process engineering at United Defense (now BAE Ground Systems) providing OCONUS support for co-production of the M88A2 Heavy Recovery Armored vehicle between the US Stated Department and Egyptian Military.
He later supported several programs at Lockheed Martin, including startup of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Missile Defense and final assembly of the F-22 Raptor. He also led the production engineering team for the P-3 Orion Mid-Life Upgrade Program (MLU) working closely with DCMA, NavAir, US Navy and multiple international military operators.
He also served as Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and Product Development for GKN Aerospace North America leading approximately 500 technical staff across 10 production sites. In September of 2018 he joined Triumph Group as the Senior Director of Quality and added Process Engineering team to his responsibilities in 2019. He later played a critical leadership role of divesting three Triumph Group facilities to start a new company, Qarbon Aerospace, as the Head of Quality & Process Engineering leading all strategic technical support and quality initiatives, and associated policy and standard work.
Rupesh received an Associates of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Ohio Mechanics Institute – College of Applied Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of Cincinnati. He is also a certified Lean & Six Sigma Blackbelt.
May 8: Year-End Celebration
Join us for a year-end celebration and recognition ceremony!
Interested in participating in RISE?
The RISE network is diverse, dynamic, and constantly expanding. If you or your organization are interested in being a part of RISE, please submit the form below. Someone from CECS will be in touch shortly.