Become a Mentor

Alumni of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland hold degrees in mechanical, reliability, or nuclear engineering. They form a unique community that stays connected and also gives back through a combination of time, talent, and treasure.

Conrad Laskowski, B.S. ‘08

Conrad Laskowski earned a BS in mechanical engineering with honors from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2008, where he was a Division I student-athlete in cross-country and track and field.

He is currently the Director of Engineering at Root3 Labs, a Maryland State-recognized small business. Credited on over ten patents and with work featured in the Motorola Solutions catalog, Conrad has worked on countless endeavours in his career including work with GE Healthcare on the world’s smallest MRI for the NICU, Canon US Life Sciences leveraging microfluidics for rPCR-based diagnostics, and TRX Systems developing signal-denied mapping and tracking technology for first responders.

A dedicated mentor, Conrad has guided numerous Terp engineers over the past decade and is proud to support the Mechanical Engineering Department’s pursuit of a fearless future.

Cara Martin, B.S. '06 M.S. '07

After earning her Bachelor’s and Master's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Cara launched her career in Albany NY, consulting on energy efficiency solutions and supporting LEED® certification. She returned home to Maryland in 2013 to support the development and growth of Optimized Thermal Systems (OTS), a company founded by University of Maryland professor Dr. Reinhard Radermacher. In 2023, OTS split its assets and formed OTS R&D, a 100% employee owned worker cooperative focused on supporting the HVAC industry with advanced research and product development. Cara is a member owner of OTS R&D and proudly serves as its CEO since January 2024.

Justin Di Palo, B.S. ‘11 M.S. ‘12

A childhood fascination with cars fueled University of Maryland (UMD) alumnus Justin Di Palo’s (‘11, M.S. ‘12) interest in engineering. As a professional engineer, however, he’s turned his focus to a broader concern: developing technologies that can support sustainable living and help save the planet.

Today, Di Palo has built a career as a decarbonization expert and currently serves as associate partner and national sustainability integration lead for the Syska Hennessey Group. A global mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design consultation firm, it specializes in large commercial projects, including in areas such as industry, commerce, healthcare, and aviation.