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Sarasota

About Us

High school students in the Sarasota area can now benefit from a nationwide program designed to introduce them to the wide range of career opportunities open to young people in architecture, construction, engineering, and related areas of the building design and construction industry.

At weekly meetings, student teams work directly with professionals from leading area firms, who volunteer their time to mentor the teams as they design hypothetical projects, tour local construction sites, and visit architectural, engineering and construction offices.

For students, it’s a unique chance to discover and develop new skills, solidify future goals and get on track to exciting, rewarding careers. In addition, many students form positive relationships with industry professionals who can provide important references for obtaining college admissions, scholarships, internships and full-time employment.

Our Team Projects

Students in the ACE program typically work closely with their mentors on projects that provide hands-on experience in solving the types of design, engineering and construction challenges industry professionals confront every day.

The teams often learn how to use advanced computerized tools, such as AutoCAD, while special exercises and activities illustrate the industry’s demand for young people skilled in math, physics, economics, art and other disciplines.

Many ACE affiliates culminate their program year with special events at which teams present their concepts to mentors, families, teachers and community leaders.

Participate in ACE!

If you’d like to experience ACE’s challenges, opportunities and rewards for yourself, just contact the ACE leader listed in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Our Board

Melanie Smith, P.E., President
Stantec
Melanie Smith, PE, LEED GA is the president of the ACE Mentor Program of Sarasota. Mrs. Smith graduated from the University of Florida in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, interned with WilsonMiller/Stantec from 2008-2012, and became a registered PE in December 2012. She has assisted in the design and management of numerous land development projects over that period. Her professional interests include the use of modern computational tools, such as ArcGIS to create more efficient infrastructure, as well as working with ACE as a mentor to aspiring engineers. Her personal interests include being a mommy to a toddler, and all things soccer. 

Tara Sall, E.I., Vice-President
Stantec
Tara is a committee member for developing Stantec’s training and company engineering standards, and is Vice-President of the ACE Mentor Program’s Sarasota Affiliate Branch. She has a fondness for helping students find their potential in the math, science, and engineering fields, and has dedicated much of her free time to this endeavor. She went to college at the Missouri University of Science and Technology and graduated in 2008 with B.S. in Architectural Engineering, Cum Laude. After college she went to work for a large general contractor and worked on variety of projects including sky-scrapers and an engineering college campus. Upon coming back to Florida in the down-turn of the economy, Tara worked in various jobs until she started with Stantec in 2013. She has been there since and works in Community Development. A majority of Tara’s responsibility involves large scale watershed modeling and community planning.

Mara Putt, P.E., Secretary
Stantec
Mara Putt has over six years of experience in civil design, permitting and construction phase services for urban land development and infrastructure projects. Her experience includes site layout, utility layout, and stormwater management systems for commercial, residential, and master planned communities. Mara obtained her Professional Engineering license in 2014. In her free time, she enjoys anything outdoors, including kayaking, gardening, and fishing.

Frank Domingo, P.E., Community Growth
Stantec
Frank Domingo is a professional engineer with over 29 years in the transportation industry.  He has wide range of experience in both the public and private sector.   His public sector experience includes over eight years with the California Department of Transportation where he worked up from an entry level engineer to be a program manager of the capital improvement program for the District. Frank also served in several roles including Mobility General Manager and County Engineer for Sarasota County Government during a nine year period.  Frank currently is the Discipline Leader for Transportation Planning/Traffic Engineering in the Gulf Region of the United States on behalf of Stantec Consulting Services Inc. in Sarasota, Florida where he has worked for the past 12 years.  He is a registered professional engineer (civil) in Florida and California.  He has been married to his wife Dorothy for 29 years, and has two daughters, Molly (25) and Maggie (22).  He enjoys inshore fishing, traveling, watching Gator football and listening to music.

Anthony Catalano III, AIA, NCARB, Architecture Development
TMPartners, PLLC
After receiving a BA in Mathematics from Washington and Lee University, Anthony Catalano earned a Master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Florida. In 1998, Anthony joined TMPartners in Nashville, Tennessee and began practicing architecture throughout Florida and the southeast with a primary focus on healthcare.
Returning to Florida in 2003, Anthony worked as an architect on a number of projects in Sarasota, including healthcare, commercial, religious, medical office, multi-family, and mixed-use developments. In 2007, TMPartners opened a Florida branch under Anthony's leadership. As an Associate Principal, he manages the Florida operations from their office located in Lakewood Ranch.
As a native of southwest Florida, Anthony understands the unique nature of Florida’s construction, communities, regulations, and agencies. With a primary focus in Healthcare Architecture, Anthony has overseen many projects from replacement hospitals to additions and renovations at various healthcare facilities throughout the state of Florida and the Southeast, combining his local experience with a regional knowledge of the industry.
Anthony has also served as Chair of the Sarasota County Contractor’s Licensing and Exam Board and the Chair of the St. Thomas More Building Committee. He currently serves as the Chair of the St. Thomas More Pastoral Council.

Scott Huber, Contractor Development – Seat 1
ET MacKenzie of Florida, Inc.

Craig Holliday, Contractor Development – Seat 2
Holliday Group

Our Mentors

Steve Arrington Tandem Construction Riverview High School	Douglas Brauer Stantec Riverview High School	John Brosnan Gilbane Building Company Riverview High School	Laney Cummings TMPartners, PLLC Riverview High School
Mike Elfers, P.E. Sarasota County Public Works Riverview High School	Travis Fledderman Stantec Riverview High School	Jordan Hoover Gilbane Building Company Riverview High School	Anita Keitel Hall Architects Riverview High School
Joe Kelly Hive Architects Inc. Riverview High School	Gwen Leroy-Kelly Hive Architects Inc. Riverview High School	Kevin Morris Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Riverview High School	Mara Putt Stantec Riverview High School, Lead Mentor
Bretton (Brett) Raymaker Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. Riverview High School	Tara Sall Stantec Venice High School, Lead Mentor	Kenneth Slezak Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. Riverview High School

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