September 2, 2025
By Ashley Ritchie

Two alumni of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering have been selected to lead the Woodruff School Advisory Board. Barry Powell, B.S. ME 1989, M.S. ME 1991, will serve as board chair, and Michael Alesandro, ME 1983, will step into the role of vice chair.

The Woodruff School Advisory Board provides strategic guidance on curriculum, research, and student support initiatives while working closely with the school chair and faculty to strengthen the School’s impact.

“Barry and Michael are exceptional leaders who embody Georgia Tech’s values,” said Shreyes Melkote, interim school chair. “Their professional expertise and dedication to the Institute will help shape the School’s future and expand opportunities for our students.”

Powell is the North American President/Regional CEO of Electrical Products within Siemens Smart Infrastructure, where he leads nearly 10,000 employees and oversees a $4 billion business across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Over his two decades at Siemens, he has held a variety of leadership roles spanning product development, operations, and general management. He also serves as vice chair of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and he was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Electrical Distributors. Last year, Powell received the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from the Georgia Tech College of Engineering.

“Guided by Georgia Tech’s motto of Progress and Service, as board chair, I want to ensure the board supports the key initiatives of the incoming school chair and leaves a lasting legacy,” Powell said.

Alesandro began his career as an engineer with Combustion Engineering, working on nuclear reactor design, and later with Lockheed Missiles and Space, where he contributed to missile guidance system development. After earning an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he moved into management consulting with Ernst & Young and Deloitte. In 1993, he founded Integrated Business Systems, Inc., which grew into a leading software development firm for hedge funds before being acquired by SunGard in 2006. He continued as President and CEO of SunGard VPM until his retirement in 2008. In addition to his corporate career, Alesandro taught as an adjunct professor at several universities and has served on multiple nonprofit and corporate boards. In addition to the Woodruff School Advisory Board, he sits on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board. His daughter, Holly A. Alesandro, is a Georgia Tech student majoring in mechanical and nuclear engineering.

“As the vice chair of the advisory board, I look forward to helping the board set and achieve goals to support key initiatives for the Woodruff School,” Alesandro said.