Anita Rebarchak Named Recipient of the ASME Old Guard Early Career Award

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2012 – Anita Rebarchak, E.I.T., a resident of Wethersfield, Conn., and senior systems engineer at Pratt & Whitney (East Hartford, Conn.) was honored by ASME.  She was recognized for continuous dedication and service to ASME, from college freshman through professional member, including numerous section, district and Society-level positions; for remarkable technical and professional achievements; and for mentoring students and early career engineers, and inspiring engineers and volunteers of all ages.  She received the Society's Old Guard Early Career Award.

The award, established in 1994, is to help young engineers bridge the gap between college and professional life.  It was presented to Ms. Rebarchak at the ASME Honors Assembly, held Nov. 12, in conjunction with the 2012 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition held in Houston, Nov. 9 through 15.

In her current position, Rebarchak supports Pratt & Whitney's 5th generation engine programs.  As team lead, she works closely with the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin.  Previously, Rebarchak was a coatings manufacturing process engineer in Pratt & Whitney's Turbine Module Center.  Her responsibilities included developing and standardizing processes for coatings on turbine blades, day-to-day production support and implementation of process certification initiatives to improve quality and operational efficiency.  While in this position, she completed her Six Sigma Black Belt certification and filed a patent application for tooling used in the coating process.

Beyond her role as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney, Rebarchak is involved in corporate initiatives, such as intern and peer mentoring, employee engagement, environmental health and safety assessments, internal AS9100 certification auditing; and she actively contributes to Pratt & Whitney's continuous improvement program.

Rebarchak has been a member of ASME since 2001, joining as a freshman at Drexel University, Philadelphia.  At Drexel, she served the Student Section as freshman class representative (2002), sophomore class representative (2002-03) and vice chair (2003-06).  She is director (2010-14) of the Hartford Section, where she serves as student liaison and Early Career representative.  At the regional level, she is secretary (2011-14) of the District A Operating Board.  Current societywide participation includes serving as chair (2011-14) of the Committee on Early Career Development; member-at-large on the Board on Students and Early Career (2011-14) and on the Knowledge and Communities

Information and Communication Committee (2009-12); VOLT (volunteer orientation and leadership training) certified trainer (2009-present); member of various ASME Affinity Groups (2006-present); and as an eMentor (2011-present).  She has attended numerous ASME conferences, and has served as presenter and Early Career Forum moderator. 

She has participated in various community service activities, most recently as a FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics mentor (2012); and she volunteers as a mentor for local university/college students. 

Rebarchak earned her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, with a minor in business administration, at Drexel University in 2006.  In 2009, she earned her master's degree in engineering science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Hartford, Conn.).  She anticipates receiving her master's degree in engineering management from Drexel University in December 2012.  Rebarchak is a registered engineer in training in Pennsylvania.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.