The Intertek engineering team in Plano, Texas, is helping shape the future of STEM by introducing university students to careers in product safety, compliance, and regulatory engineering.

Led by Brunno Covolan, PhD, P.E., Operations Manager, the initiative brought together a dedicated group of professionals who are passionate about mentoring and engaging with the next generation of engineers. Recently, the team partnered with University of Texas at Dallas to provide students with insights into career paths that combine technical expertise with safety and compliance responsibilities.

In February, the team hosted an open lecture attended by 57 students and five faculty members. The session focused on ethics in engineering and featured a real-world case study, offering attendees a practical look at how product safety and compliance play a critical role in protecting consumers while enabling innovation.

This event is part of a broader outreach effort that extends beyond one institution. The team has also collaborated with University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, and the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers. Through these partnerships, they have hosted networking and educational events designed to raise awareness of product safety as a dynamic and rewarding career path.

Brunno Covolan shared:
“Hosting these events has been a great opportunity to encourage engineering students to think about product safety and the product design process, and how it can connect to their own professional journeys. It also gives us the chance to introduce them to Intertek and the work we do. It’s a great investment in both our future and theirs.”

By engaging directly with students through lectures, networking sessions, and mentorship opportunities, the Plano team is helping to attract emerging engineering talent while highlighting career paths that many students may not have previously considered. These efforts not only strengthen the future workforce but also reinforce the importance of safety, ethics, and innovation in engineering.