Wednesday, February 11, 2026
3:00 to 6:00 PM
The Wisconsin Club
900 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Mark your calendars and register today for the 73rd Annual Celebration of STEM event, scheduled for February 11, 2026, at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee.
We’re excited to be featuring a fantastic new venue, the Wisconsin Club, and a reception format this year. As part of this celebratory event, we will hear from a keynote speaker and honor STEM trailblazers with the Spirit of STEM Award, the Engineer of the Year Award, and the Young Engineer of the Year Award. We will also hear from the 1st Place Future City Competition team. You won’t want to miss this engaging event with a chance to network with those passionate about STEM!
Keynote Speaker:
Peggy Williams-Smith
President & CEO of Visit Milwaukee
As the Celebration of STEM keynote speaker, Peggy Williams-Smith will share insights on why Southeastern Wisconsin is a dynamic place to live, work, and innovate, while offering a preview of the exciting developments shaping the region’s future. A Milwaukee native and hospitality industry veteran, Williams-Smith joined Visit Milwaukee in 2019 as the organization’s first female President and CEO. Her strategic leadership has fueled consecutive years of economic growth across the region. Attendees will gain a compelling perspective that is valuable to organizations and leaders focused on talent attraction and enhancing the quality of life in Greater Milwaukee!
Sponsorship Information:
Explore our Celebration of STEM sponsorship opportunities, including reserved guest tables and recognition throughout the event. Sponsor today and celebrate STEM excellence with us! If you have a question about sponsorship, please contact Maureen Haeger at mhaeger@stemforward.org.
The STEM Forward Engineer of the Year (EOY) Award and the Young Engineer of the Year (YEOY) Award (engineer under 40) have been presented annually since 1953 to outstanding contributors to the engineering profession from the greater Milwaukee area. Past winners have helped raise the profession's and the region's visibility while serving as role models to many.
Congratulations to the Award Winners!
Heidi Balestrieri
Director of Engineering - Sentry Equipment
2025 Engineer of the Year
Heidi Balestrieri is the Director of Engineering at Sentry Equipment, a peerless global provider of sampling and process improvement technologies that protect people and the environment for a safer world. Heidi has led many initiatives that offer creative solutions, drawing on her unmatched expertise and experience. Heidi spends her time coaching and mentoring the Sentry engineering team and developing long-term engineering visions for the company. Eager to make an impact, Balestrieri has taken her passion for elevating women in STEM by advocating for learning and inspiring the next generation through her work with STEM-related organizations. As a long-time partner of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Heidi served as the SWE Wisconsin Section VP of Outreach, where they impacted over 800 children. Lately, she acted as the WE Local Milwaukee Chair, leading the local host committee to a successful conference with over 500 attendees from 33 states.
Priyatha (Priya) Premnath, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
2025 Young engineer of the year
Dr. Priyatha (Priya) Premnath is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Her research focuses on advancing bone health by integrating fundamental biological insights with innovative pharmaceutical and biomaterials-based solutions. She leads an interdisciplinary research laboratory that brings together biomedical, mechanical, and computer engineers to address complex challenges in musculoskeletal health. Beyond her research, Dr. Premnath is a dedicated educator and mentor with a strong commitment to community engagement. She has a long-standing record of STEM outreach, having served as an engineering liaison to local high schools during her doctoral training and later, during her postdoctoral fellowship, led outreach initiatives focused on supporting Indigenous communities. In Milwaukee, she continues to collaborate with local high schools and elementary schools, including summer programs that introduce high school girls to engineering. She also actively mentors undergraduate researchers in her laboratory, many of whom have presented their work at regional and national conferences and have gone on to secure employment in Milwaukee’s engineering and biomedical industries.
The Spirit of STEM Award was established in 2013 to honor organizations committed to advancing STEM education and building talent in southeastern Wisconsin. Their efforts significantly impact STEM education and talent. Past recipients include Direct Supply, GE Healthcare, Komatsu, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, We Energies, American Family Insurance, Harley Davidson, and Milwaukee Tool.
2026 Spirit of STEM
Badger Meter is a highly deserving Spirit of STEM Award recipient, acknowledged for its support of Milwaukee Public Schools student tours, career fairs, and youth apprenticeships; its long-standing investment in Discovery World exhibit development and funding; its volunteer engagement with STEM Forward programs; participation in the Learn Deep Fellows Program; and its partnerships with Brown Deer Middle School, among many other meaningful contributions.
