Coaching Circles 2025
Topic: Learn a few simple ways to respond with confidence in a group setting when responding to a question or making an impromptu comment. Rise to the occasion and practice your elevator speech!
Dorothy Benveniste, Retired, Boeing (Lead)
Dorothy Benveniste, recently retired Project Engineer. Ideas on how to give back, to support young women engineers, have been percolating and are now ready for action. Giving back – to students of the Ӱ BESST Program, to 8th graders at Prairie Vista Middle School in Hawthorne – and most importantly by forming 100+ Women Strong here at The Beach.
I’ll pull the curtain back for a glimpse into my long engineering education journey and the mentors who helped along the way. The first step on my journey to an engineering career began when a fellow worker took an interest in me. And encouraged me. I met her engineer friend, who also pushed, prodded, and cajoled me to grow. To see more. To be more. To do more.
Co-Leads:
Topic: Healthy work-life balance is how you consciously managing your time and energy to meet both professional and personal commitments while prioritizing self-care and well-being. Learn key ways to find the correct balance in your life.
Monica Amalfitano '94, Director of Design and Construction Services, Campus Engineer, Ӱ (Lead)
Monica Amalfitano has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ӱ and is a professionally licensed Engineer in the State of Ӱwith over 28 years of management, design and construction, and facility operations experience in Higher Education. Before coming to Ӱ, she was a Project Manager and Senior Mechanical Engineer for P2S Engineering. She served as Campus Engineer to Ӱ, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSUF and other UCs and community colleges. Monica has her LEED BD+C credentials, and as Campus Engineer, leads Ӱ’s sustainability conversations and decisions related to campuswide utility infrastructure and building design and renovations. Monica enjoys mentoring women in Design, Construction, Facilities and STEM careers.
Co-Leads:
Topic: What Makes You an Engineer? Your authentic engineering identity plays a vital role in your future work and career. Explore how to develop your engineering identity, while maintaining your authentic self.
Dana Cabbell, Director of Transmission System Planning & Strategy, Southern ӰEdison
Dana Cabbell, P.E has worked for Southern ӰEdison (SCE) for 40 years in the areas of transmission, subtransmission, and distribution long-term planning.
Presently, Dana is the Director of the Transmission System Planning & Strategy (TSP&S) in the Asset Strategy & Planning (ASP) organization. She is responsible for translating electric system regulatory policies and SCE’s long-term Pathway 2045 vision into transmission and subtransmission strategic project-development plans. TSP&S accomplishes this via the development of long- term scenario analyses to perform 10+ year system assessments to determine system capabilities, needs, and grid architectures in support of clean grid strategies.
Co-Leads:
Topic: Have you ever felt self-doubt,inadequate, or feared being exposed as a “fraud”? If so, you’re not alone. Many high achievers have faced Impostor Syndrome even after years of experience. We’ll explore how to harness this mindset to achieve remarkable success both professionally and personally.ud of your success!
Debbie Meeks, ’86, Corporate Relations, Shell USA (Lead)
Debbie manages climate policy for Shell USA. This role helps Shell’s existing businesses - traditional and low carbon fuels, Trading, Renewable Natural Gas, Hydrogen, Shell Recharge Solutions - navigate climate and energy policies in the western states. She supports Shell’s new business opportunities and potential future investments as an internal expert on regional carbon policies. As a Ӱ Chemical Engineering graduate, Debbie began her career at the ARCO Refinery in Carson, California.
Co-Leads:
Topic: So, you’ve landed your first internship or job, now what? There will be plenty to experience while you navigate your new situation; people to meet, processes to learn, and an organization to sort out. However, never lose sight of the larger picture, your career trajectory. You must keep current with market trends, industry drivers and most importantly, your goals. We will discuss what and how to position yourself for continued growth to help ensure you move forward along your career journey and ultimately unlock your true potential
Jennifer Didlo, President, Retired, AES Southland
Jennifer Didlo’s appointment in 2015 as Market Business Leader for the Western Portion of the United States for AES in addition to her responsibilities as President of AES Southland and AES Hawaii is a culmination of more than 25 years of leadership experience in power generation, including 20 years in California, Hawaii and Texas. AES’s Western portfolio includes more than 3,900 MW of natural gas fired and 180 MW of coal generation, 125 MW of wind generation and 40 MWhr of Battery Energy Storage.
Prior to working at AES, Ms. Didlo held Plant Manager, supervisory and engineering positions at Southern ӰEdison across multiple locations. She was an integral member of the SCE divestiture team during California’s electrical deregulation.
She holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the ӰState University at Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the ӰPolytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. As well, she is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California. Recently, Ms. Didlo has retired from her corporate role and now enjoys spending time with her husband and their teenage son and helping to promote women in energy and engineering through her involvement with both Ӱ and The Hawthorn Club.
Co -Leads:
Topic : Transitioning from a technical to a leadership role is a significant step for women in engineering. This journey often involves developing a unique set of skills, overcoming challenges, and embracing opportunities for growth.
Neveen Farag, Principal Electrical Engineer, Northrup Grumman
Note: Ӱ events and scholarships are open to all Ӱ students, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity.
