University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering alumna Siddika Demir (1993 BSCE) received the Society of Women Engineers’ 2006 Emerging Leaders Award for her work with Bechtel Corp, an engineering, construction and project management firm based in San Francisco, Calif.
The award, which was presented at the SWE’s annual conference last month, honors women engineers who have demonstrated outstanding technical excellence resulting in significant accomplishments.
Demir was recognized for her work as manager of Corporate Services Six Sigma at Bechtel. Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology used to eliminate defects and inefficiencies in various business processes. In this position, Demir sets Six Sigma strategies and goals for corporate service organizations including finance, human resources, corporate affairs, and the legal and risk management departments. She has oversight of 140 Six Sigma-trained individuals, and is responsible for the successful implementation of Six Sigma goals by five senior vice presidents.
Before becoming a Six Sigma manager, Demir worked as a civil/structural engineer, senior estimator and subcontractor specialist for Bechtel.
Demir has been involved with SWE for more than 14 years, originally joining the group as an undergraduate. Currently, she is the organization’s Region A Governor and a member of the national Awards & Recognition Committee.
“I knew the company nominated me for the award,” said Demir. “I was very pleasantly surprised when I got the good news that I had received the award.”