Feb

Engineers Week Dean's Networking Reception

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Academic Admission: Free Audience: Alumni Audience: Graduate/Professional ... Audience: Public Audience: Staff Audience: Undergraduate Students Featured in The Daily Format: In-Person Free Food Series: Explore Activities and C... Topic: Career and Networking Topic: Engineering

Back to Engineers Week 2026

Wed, Feb 25, 2026

4 PM – 6 PM EST (GMT-5)

Private Location (sign in to display)

234

Registered

Registration

Registration is now closed (this event already took place).

Details

Each year, Engineers Week (E-Week) unites engineers, students, and communities across the nation to celebrate how engineering shapes our world. Founded by NSPE in 1951, E-Week (CWRU's E-Week dates are February 20-28, 2026) is more than a week of recognition; it’s also a movement to inspire the next generation of innovators, spotlight the impact of our profession, and strengthen connections across our engineering community. This year's theme, "Transform Your Future" reminds us that engineering shapes our world and the futures we can imagine for ourselves and our communities.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25th, Interim Dean Christian Zorman will host the Engineers Week Dean’s Networking Reception to bring together engineering students, alumni, faculty, and industry partners for an evening of connection, celebration, and professional growth. Featuring guest speaker and alumnus Milind Bhanoo, Vice Chairman & Co-founder at LayerZero Power Systems, Inc. The event offers attendees the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, expand their professional networks, and explore career paths within the engineering field. Join us to celebrate!

Dress is business casual or wear your CWRU spirit attire or company attire.

Fees:
This is a free event but registration is required. There is a fee for parking.

Parking:
Campus Center Parking Garage (Lot S-29)
Guests are encouraged to park in the underground garage located at 11173 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. Parking fees can be found by clicking on the link:
https://case.edu/universitycenter/about/directions

Sponsorship Opportunities:
We invite employers and alumni to explore sponsorship opportunities for the Engineers Week Dean’s Networking Reception and our student-focused E-Week events! Sponsorship offers you and your organization the opportunity to:
•   Connect with Talented students in meaningful ways
•   Increase brand visibility through events signage and promotions
•   Demonstrate your organization’s commitment to student success
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities contact Genine Apidone: Genine.Apidone@case.edu or 216-368-5024.

https://case.edu/universitycenter/

Food Provided (A variety of Hors d'oeuvres and desserts provided! Vegetarian and gluten free options available. )

Speakers

Christian Zorman

Interim Dean

Case School of Engineering

F. Alex Nason Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Case School of Engineering

Christian A. Zorman, PhD (GRS ‘91, ‘94) was appointed interim dean of Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University in July 2025. In this role, he is responsible for driving the strategic vision and operations of Case School of Engineering, from its academic programs to the research enterprise and beyond.

Background

Zorman received a BS cum laude in physics and a BA cum laude in economics from The Ohio State University in 1988, followed by a MS and PhD in physics from Case Western Reserve University in 1991 and 1994, respectively. After graduation, he took a postdoctoral position in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics at CWRU to advance research in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). He joined the faculty of the Case School of Engineering in 2002 and is currently the F. Alex Nason Professor I in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, with secondary faculty appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He assumed school-wide leadership in 2017 when he was named associate dean of research, with a more recent appointment as senior associate dean bringing oversight to both the research and the academic mission of the Case School of Engineering.

Milind Bhanoo

Vice Chairman & Co-founder

LayerZero Power Systems, Inc.

Milind M. Bhanoo co-founded LayerZero Power Systems in 2001 and served as President for 24 years, helping to shape the company into a trusted leader in mission-critical power distribution. Some of LayerZero’s products include static transfer switches, which are billed as the “most reliable solid state power switch in existence,” and power distribution units. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles across product development, sales, marketing, and general management. Milind holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, an M.S. in Systems and Control Engineering, and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

The Founding of LayerZero Power Systems

Founded in 2001 by Case Western Reserve University alumni Milind Bhanoo and James M. Galm, LayerZero Power Systems began as a self-funded venture rooted in engineering excellence and a commitment to reliability. Working out of a garage, the founders designed and built the company’s first prototype, establishing a new standard for mission-critical power distribution focused on safety, fault tolerance, and advanced monitoring.

As the company grew, Bhanoo and Galm assembled a multidisciplinary engineering team that developed the Optical Power Transfer Switch (OPTS), a triple-modular redundant static transfer switch that differentiated LayerZero from legacy solutions. Early innovations, such as fiber-optic controls, redundant architectures, fault-tolerant mechanical design, touchscreen interfaces, network connectivity, and waveform capture, helped secure early customer adoption and positioned LayerZero as a trusted provider for data centers, financial institutions, and other mission-critical environments.

From those humble beginnings, LayerZero has grown into a 500+ person company with facilities in Aurora and Streetsboro, Ohio, and a global reputation for reliability. In 2025, the company entered a new chapter through a strategic partnership with Advent International, accelerating growth, expanding manufacturing and engineering capabilities, and creating new opportunities for local talent across Northeast Ohio. Recent milestones include a 120,000-square-foot expansion of the Philipp Parkway facility in Streetsboro, the creation of more full-time jobs, and continued investment in AI-ready, mission-critical power infrastructure—reinforcing LayerZero’s long-standing commitment to local manufacturing and delivering the most reliable power systems.

Hosted By

Division of Engineering Leadership and Professional Practice | Website | View More Events
Co-hosted with: Explore